Chaos at Crescent City Medical Center (32 page)

"Good news.  They found your address book, near the dogs.  Apparently he lost it in the bushes, and was so eager to get you, he didn't notice.  So, your friends and family are safe.
No cell, though.  They didn’t find your cell.
" 

Alex was not mollified.  My cell?  All of my personal information is in my cell.  That’s even worse than my phone book.  Oh my God.  He can even access my email.”

The captain glared
at Alex
and said, “Chill out.  We don’t even know if he
has
it!”

Alex heaved
an audible sigh of relief.

Robert said, "What else?"

"Well, seems there was an attack on the governor tonight, here in New Orleans in his temporary residence.  Some son of a bitch broke in through the glass doors about midnight and tried to strangle him.  Killed two state troopers assigned to guard the governor.  Strangled them."

"Is George okay?"
Robert asked,
as he wondered
once again about his part in these events. 

"Yeah, seems to be.  He's resting under strict guard.  There was a long silence as the three thought about the attack on Governor Raccine.

Alex broke the silence.  "It's tied together.  The ponytail must have done it.  He was at my house at two this morning, right after Mitch called."  Alex stopped to think, and continued, "He strangled the dogs.
  He strangled the state police.
  That's why he didn't shoot us, Robert. This man strangles people.  I can still feel that killer grip he had on my neck at the voodoo feast.  It must be the same man who attacked Governor Raccine."

Robert and Francois nodded, then Francois spoke.
"Yeah, but he didn't want the G
overnor dead.  Must still need him alive for some reason, or he'd have killed him, too.  Just don't know his motive.
We are missing that piece and it’s a big one.
"

"Do you know who he is?  If we knew that, we could probably put it together."  Robert directed his question to Jack.

"No, but I gave a description to the local agent
who was
working
out
of the emergency department situation
,
and he sent it to the FBI at Quantico.  I was hoping we'd get fingerprints from
Alex's house to speed things up
but no such luck.  It could take weeks to get a match on a description only."

"Yes, but since he's attacked the governor, maybe they'd give it priority," Robert said.

"Yeah, m
aybe, but we've got to get the g
overnor's permission, though.  I'm not sure he'll cooperate."  

Robert gave a short laugh.  "Ridiculous.  Raccine's a law and order man.  I'd stake my life on his cooperation."

"Hope you're right, Robert.  I think Raccine's knee-deep in shit at this point.  I doubt he'd be willing to push it." 

"Raccine's been a good governor.  You know the excuses we've had for governors.  Besides, I know him.
He’s like my second father.
He'll cooperate." 

"Well, we'll see.  In the meantime, I've got to get you guys to a safe place so we can all make it to the Extravaganza tonight.  You two mind spending the day together?"  Fra
ncois looked at Robert and Alex happily grinning from ear to ear.

"None of you leave before breakfast," Steve hollered from the kitchen.  "Then you can all get
the hell
out of here, so I can go to bed."  Steve came into the living room with four
omelets
accompanied by link sausages, tomato juice, and a pot of coffee.

"I'll eat.  No problem for me."  Francois said.  "Smells delicious."  Jack reached for a plate.   The other three laughed and followed.

Jack pushed back his plate, looked at his watch, and said, "Well, it's six.  Got to move you guys before daylight.  Don't want to run into any trouble.  I'm saving up my energy for tonight.  Any
way to get out of here other than riding that
damn
albatross
elevator
?"  Francois
asked as he
eyed Steve.

"Not unless you jump through the window.  Bourbon Street is three stories
down.  Could be a hard landing,
” Steve laughed
at the police captain.
 

"What comes up must go down.  I'll make it.  Thanks for letting us hang out."

"My pleasure.  You can return the sweats later.  Robert, next time settle for a drink on the house instead of an escape from death?  You guys be careful.  Take care of them."

Francois nodded and moaned as he
stepped gingerly into the elevator.
“
Wake me up when we land.”
 

After an uneventful couple of minutes, Jack said, “Humph, g
uess I must have
beaten
this thi
ng,
” obviously
pleased with himself for not panicking.

"Maybe, but the true test is riding it every week for three months.  Then you're cured," Alex said definitively.

"Not a chance.  I pick my battles,
” Francois
said.

After the three of them got in the captain's car, Alex said, "Where're you taking us?  Is this really necessary?"

"No lip.
It sure as hell is if you want to live.  Besides, we have a b
a
ll to attend tonight.
You're going.  You've got to rest up for tonight."   

The safe house was a pit.  The apartment was a third-story walk-up on Constance Street, in the outskirts of the Warehouse District.  It looked as though it'd seen its last renovation in the early l970s.  The living room had gold shag carpeting.  The appliances in the closet-sized kitchenette were avocado, as were the fixtures in the small bath. 
The half bath even had a pink toilet.

Alex was intrigued as she surveyed her
surroundings. “This
place is incredible, it looks like a hippie movie set.  At any moment I expect to see Jerry Rubin, Abbie Hoffman or any
one else in
the Chicago Seven c
ome bounding in here”, Alex
said as she
glanced
around the living room.
  “Maybe even Martin Luther King
Jr.
or Peter, Paul and Mary….”

“Yeah, it sure is.
That ancient TV
could
co
me on any
minute and report
the Kent State Shootings
or the Viet Nam war
.  I'm glad we're on
ly going to be here today," Robert agreed,
as he smiled
at Alex who was checking out the kitchen.

"At least it's neat and clean, and the
kitchen
'
s
stocked. We'll make out
.  Besides, Retro is really in now
," she said cheerfully,
"
You know, the new pop
-
up culture!”

Robert had opened up the cabinet of the old hi-fi.  "Yep, I feel like I'm caught in a time warp, too.  Look at this record collection.  Some of these album covers are collector's items."  As he sorted through the record cabinet he
continued
, "Some good tunes here.  Want
to play
some?"  Robert smiled at Alex and eyed
albums on top of the ancient
hi-fi player.

"
You mean play a record?  I’m not sure I could figure out how to work it. 
Sure,
put a stack on
but
not too loud, though.  We're supposed to be hiding you know."  Alex laughed as she poured each of them a glass of orange juice.

Without talking, they sat on the couch and listened to music.
Robert was dropping off to sleep when Alex exclaimed, "How can I go to the ball tonight?  I don't have any clothes, neither do you.  I've got to call Yvonne to ask her to deliver my gown and everything else I'll need.  I'm sure she'd bring it here."

Robert raised his hand in objection.  "Call Francois first.  We can't give anyone our locati
on.  He told us to not
even use our cell
phone
s
unless it was an emergency."

"This is an emergency
!
  I'm going to the biggest Mardi Gras ball in New Orleans and I have nothing to wear, except this sweat
suit.  You're not looking too spiffy yourself.  Call him,
”
Alex
demanded as she pointed at his
phone.

Robert reached for the cellular phone and
entered their number in Jack’s
pager and Francois returned their call immediately.  They talked for a few minutes while Alex tried to decipher
t
he conversation from her end.  Finally, Robert handed the phone to her.

Francois' speech was rapid.  "Order everything you need from whats-her-name and I'll have someone pick it up.  I'll bring it to you around five this afternoon.  I'm getting Robert a tux, too.  We'll go to the ball toget
her."  He sounded almost
jovial
-
probably punch drunk Alex thought to herself.

"Jack, you need to get some rest.  You've got to be at your best tonight."  Alex's voice was reprimanding but earnest.

"I'm okay. 
Running on pure adrenalin. 
Listen, this is important.  Your phone kept ringing this morning so my me
n put a new trace on your voicemail
just to see who was trying so hard to get in touch with you.
”

Alex looked puzzled.  “I can’t imagine.”

 
“
Your grandfather was the persistent caller.
”
 

Alex laughed and said, “On second thought, I can imagine.”

“
First he told your
voice mail to go
to hell, that he had important information for you.  He hung up and called back fifteen minutes later.  He was obviously agitated because it was six in the morning and you weren't at home.  Sounds like a real character,
” Francois
added.

Alex laughed, as she could imagine what he grandfather had said to her machine.  "
That is an enormous understatement.
Yep, he's quite a man.  He doesn't mince a lot of words.  Don't let him fool you, Jack.  He's a political genius and always gets what he wants."

"What's he do?"  Francois was intrigued.

"He's the Senior Congressman from Virginia, Adam Patrick Lee."

Francois had heard of Adam Patrick Lee, and knew that he was a law-and-order politician.  He
’d
had no idea Lee was Alex's grandfather. 

"Well, I called Virginia and talked to your grandmother.  She said your grandfather was a wild man
and that
he was so ups
et about you
that he'd hopped a jet to New Orleans.
  He'd already left for Dulles
International Airport, and he's due to arrive at three-fifty this afternoon.  I'll have one of my men pick him up and we'll be there about five."

"You'd better get my grandfather a tux, too.  I can assure y
ou he'll attend the Ball as well. 
He’s never missed a good party!
"

"But, I don't have his measurements."  Jack Francois began, pissed because he'd become everyone's personal valet
.

"You can handle the 'buts' with him personally, Captain.  In the meantime, I suggest you order him a tux.  You can call my grandmother for his measurements, or still better, call Nathan's Clothier on Main Street in Richmond.  That's his tailor."

"
OK, OK, OK. 
If you insist."  Francois was resigned.
What the hell Jack thought to himself.
The last thing he needed was a rift with a senior politician from Virginia about a damn tuxedo.

"Do you mind if I call my grandmother from this phone?  I think she'd feel better if she heard from me."

"Sure, what's your grandfather know about things here?"

"I talked with him last night.  You need to know that my grandfather can squeeze blood out of a turnip so I had no choice but to tell him everything.  He knows all about CCMC and about Mitch.  I told him about the voodoo meeting and the man trying to grab me from the meeting.
  He’s also a close friend of Governor Raccine and suggested that Raccine’s probably in some kind of trouble.  He may have some information for us.
" 

  "Now I know why he's coming.  Can't say I wouldn't be doing the same if you were my granddaughter.  What kind of info do you think he has?"

"No telling.  Adam's great at bending political arms.  You know, Jack, I meant to tell you earlier this morning. 
Granddad
saw the
Raccine’s
at the Washington Club recently.  The governor was mee
ting with some people from Health
Trust and quite frankly, my grandfather was eavesdropping.
"
Anyway," Alex
shrugged her shoulders and
continued, "he heard CCMC come up in conversation and he listened even more carefully.  Later he and my grandm
other went over and invited the
Raccine’s
to dinner the next day."

"And, then what?"

"The
Raccine’s
accepted
, and Adam tried to pigeonhole the governor into talking about his dinner meeting.
They had a lively meeting about the perils of Obama Care which almost lead to a brawl
.
A
ccording to my grandmother
, neither the
Raccine’s
n
or Adam
got
anywhere
with their banter
.  The go
vernor just said that Health Trust
was buying up several smaller hospitals in Louisiana and that they'd approached CCMC and we weren't interested.  That's common
knowledge."

"Yeah, I guess it is.  Anything else?" 

"
No, not
really.  Said Raccine seemed uncomfortable with the conversation and he'd felt he was preoccupied earlier this week.  My grandfather was appalled when I told him about the governor threatening to close CCMC.  Said it was the most ridiculous thing he'd ever heard.   He swears that something's rotten with
Raccine. 
Granddad
is also pissed
because Raccine is going soft on
parole at the federal and state level.
" Alex finished.

"I think your grandfather's a wise man.  I'm looking forward to meeting him and hearing what he's got.  You and Robert get some sleep.  We've got a big night ahead.  I'll see you at five with your grandfather in tow.  Go to bed and rest."

"You do the same, Captain."  Alex yawned. 
“Granddad
seems to think someone is blackmailing Raccine.
"

"
Could be,” Jack rubbed his forehead. 
"
Certainly not out of the question.”

"
I'm turning in as soon as I call Grand.  See you soon
,
" Alex
said as she
pressed down the phone hook.

Alex dialed her
g
randmother at Wyndley. 
She could picture her grandmother sitting in her checkered green chair in the great room at the family farm watching her prized horses in the pasture through the huge double window wall that lined the back of the house. Her
grandmother answered immediately. 

"
Alex, what
in the hell's going on?  Your grandfather's been trying to reach you since dawn.  Where are you?" 

Alex recognized the fear
and strain in her grandmother's voice and immediately felt guilty for all the grief and anxiety she had caused her aging grandparents.
The fact that Grand had
cursed w
as indicative of her stress.  Kathryn believed that points could be made without using profanity, reserving its use for the
only the
most
serious and
dire occasions.

"I'm fine.  I'm in a safe place with Robert.  Captain Francois
of the NOPD
is watching us."

Kathryn Lee wasn't placated.  "Why can't you stay at home?"  Not waiting for an answer, she continued, "Your grandfather received some sort of priority call at three this morning from his Congressi
onal aide who'd been checking up on
the
Raccine’s
since yesterday afternoon.  I don't know what's going on, but your grandfather left here in a big hurry.  Tried
to charter a flight to New Orleans, but
a
commercial jet was faster.  What's happening?  I'm worried to death about you both."  Alex had never heard her stoic grandmother sound so worried.

"There was an attempt on the governor's life last night, and you know about this conspiracy against CCMC.  To be honest, I don't know what's happening.  I only know that someone wants to put Robert and CCMC out of business, and
Granddad
thinks that Governor Raccine's somehow involved.  Anyway, I'm fine, Robert's fine, and if you really love me, you'll let me hang up and go to bed.  I haven't slept much lately, and I'm taking
Granddad
to the Endymion Extravaganza tonight," Alex finished brightly.

"How's George Raccine?" 

"He's fine and resting comfortably.  Promise I'll call you late this afternoon after
Granddad
gets here and I get up."

"Okay.  You win.  You're the only person I know as stubborn as your grandfather.  I know you're
holding back on me
,
but I also know that’s all I am going to get.
"  Kathryn Lee sighed
heavily
and said, "Call me later.  I love you." 

Once again Alex felt a pa
ng
of guilt for upsetting the people she loved most in the world.  She responded,
"Love you too, Grand.  I'll call you later. Bye." 

Alex
took several moments to work through her guilt and
then consoled
herself, firm in the belief
there was nothing else that she could tell her.  Grand knew the gist of the matter.