The Doctor Digs a Grave (15 page)
Read The Doctor Digs a Grave Online
Authors: Robin Hathaway
Horatio had already begun to work on the most formidable of the locks. With a heartening click, it snapped open. He moved on to the next. Convinced that Horatio had the situation in hand, Fenimore passed the time by moseying around the laboratory. He examined equipment and peered into cages. The first two cages were filled with mice, each with an electrode attached to its side. In the next, he found a white rat making its way easily through a plastic maze. The last two cagesâthe source of the loudest squeaksâheld half a dozen small monkeys. Engrossed in their quaint antics, he was startled by a loud hiss from Horatio. The monkeys, startled too, began rushing frantically around their cages, screeching and chattering.
“What's up?”
The boy was standing by the open window, looking down.
Fenimore joined him. What he saw was not reassuring. Two men, dressed in security officer uniforms, were staring up at the window. Fenimore's eyes flicked to the refrigerator. One chain remained intact. Horatio went back to work. When the chain clanked to the floor, Fenimore opened the door. Inside the lighted interior were racks of tubes in neat rows. Fenimore removed the top rack. By the light from the refrigerator he checked the dates on the labels. The top rack held the most recent samples. He began scanning the names.
Horatio returned to his post at the window. Careful to keep well out of sight, he watched the action below. There was only one man now. Could the other one be on his way up to the lab?
“Step on it, Doc,” he whispered.
Farmer. Fedder. Field ⦠Fenimore grabbed the tube. Taking an empty tube from his pocket, he removed the plastic cap. He took the cap off Applethorn's tube and tipped it, intending to transfer some of its contents into his tube. Nothing happened. He peered into the tube. Frozen solid. What he had assumed was a refrigerator was actually a freezer. Now what? He didn't dare steal the whole tube. Applethorn, or one of his assistants, would surely notice that it was missing and send up an alarm the next morning.
“What's the matter?”
He told him.
“No sweat,” He came over and offered him a cigarette lighter.
“You smoke?”
“Nah. But it's cool to carry one.”
“Sorry. It won't help. The tube's plastic. It'll melt or burn. But I have an idea.” He went over to one of the stainless steel sinks and turned on the hot water. He added some cold to make it lukewarm. If it was too hot, it might upset the delicate chemical balance of the blood serum. He let the stream of water play on the tube. It would take longer this way, but eventually it would defrost. The seconds ticked by. The only sounds were of
the water running and the animals scurrying to and fro. Anxious, Horatio went back to the window.
the water running and the animals scurrying to and fro. Anxious, Horatio went back to the window.
The guard below seemed restless. He kept glancing up at the window. Horatio was afraid he might try to climb the fire escape. “Hurry, Doc!”
Gradually, frustratingly slowly, the serum finally dissolved. Fenimore poured a small amount into his tube, capped both tubes, returned Applethorn's to its place in the rack, and slipped the other into his pocket. He shut the freezer door. Horatio gave up his surveillance and came to help rebind the freezer. They were snapping the last padlock in place when they heard footsteps. They looked around. The room had three doors. Fenimore tried the one nearest him. Locked. It probably led to Applethorn's office. The second door opened. In the glow of Horatio's lighter, they made out a closet full of antique scientific equipment, battered science textbooks, and a skeleton. It was only a teaching chart, but the way it gleamed in the flickering flame ⦠He closed that door and tried the third one. It opened into the hall. The footsteps grew louder. Horatio, who until now had been breathing down his neck, ran over to one of the cages and fiddled with the door. Before Fenimore realized what he was up to, there were monkeys everywhereâclimbing, jumping, swinging, running, and chattering. Horatio shoved Fenimore out the door and down the hall, away from the footsteps.
They ran until they came to a fire door. Fenimore yanked it open. Horatio darted ahead of him, seeming hell-bent on going all the way to the ground floor. A hoarse command from Fenimore stopped him. “There may be a guard at the bottom. We'd better get out on another floor and lie low for a while.”
Horatio retraced his steps, and they crept out a door marked with a big black 3. The corridor was empty. They turned the corner, and for once Fenimore was grateful for the party in the nurses' station. As they passed, no one even looked up. Fenimore and Horatio glanced longingly at the bank of elevators but kept
going. If there was a guard at the bottom of the fire stairs, there would certainly be one at the bottom of the elevators. Fenimore peered into a room. One patient asleep, the other glued to the television screen. He looked in the next. Empty. He pulled Horatio in after him. There was only one bed, neatly made up, awaiting a new patient. The chances of one coming in at this hour were slim. He sat down on the edge of the bed. Horatio slumped in a chair. The only sound was their quick breathing. While Fenimore caught his breath, he had time to think about Horatio's daring deed. He would never have thought of letting the monkeys out. His scientific training was too strong. He had too much respect for the trials of academic research. Although the chances of Applethorn coming up with anything of scientific significance were doubtful, those monkeys may have gone through months, even years, of painstaking preparations. And it would take many more years to ready more monkeys for whatever experiments he had in mind. Horatio, of course, had no way of knowing this. And his act
had
helped them escape. He decided not to waste any more sympathy on Applethornâor his monkeys.
going. If there was a guard at the bottom of the fire stairs, there would certainly be one at the bottom of the elevators. Fenimore peered into a room. One patient asleep, the other glued to the television screen. He looked in the next. Empty. He pulled Horatio in after him. There was only one bed, neatly made up, awaiting a new patient. The chances of one coming in at this hour were slim. He sat down on the edge of the bed. Horatio slumped in a chair. The only sound was their quick breathing. While Fenimore caught his breath, he had time to think about Horatio's daring deed. He would never have thought of letting the monkeys out. His scientific training was too strong. He had too much respect for the trials of academic research. Although the chances of Applethorn coming up with anything of scientific significance were doubtful, those monkeys may have gone through months, even years, of painstaking preparations. And it would take many more years to ready more monkeys for whatever experiments he had in mind. Horatio, of course, had no way of knowing this. And his act
had
helped them escape. He decided not to waste any more sympathy on Applethornâor his monkeys.
“Did you hear that?” Horatio was sitting bolt upright.
Fenimore listened. A tiny scratching sound. “Must be a mouse.”
“I thought hospitals were clean.”
Fenimore didn't enlighten him on that point.
More scratching.
The noise led Fenimore to the adjoining bathroom. He stepped inside. Afraid to turn on the light, he stood still, listening. It seemed to be coming from the bathtub. He stared into its depths.
“Cheetcheetcheetcheetcheet.”
The shrill cry sent him careening backward into Horatio. Without a thought about being seen or caught, they fled. There had been something primeval in that cry, something harking back to the jungle, before civilization, to
an earlier, more primitive time. Fenimore was still shuddering when he reached the fire door. Horatio was right behind him. As he yanked it open, something skittered between their legs. Before dashing down the stairs, the monkey turned and jeered at them.
The shrill cry sent him careening backward into Horatio. Without a thought about being seen or caught, they fled. There had been something primeval in that cry, something harking back to the jungle, before civilization, to
an earlier, more primitive time. Fenimore was still shuddering when he reached the fire door. Horatio was right behind him. As he yanked it open, something skittered between their legs. Before dashing down the stairs, the monkey turned and jeered at them.
On the way home, Fenimore puzzled over how that monkey got from the fifth floor to the third ahead of them. There was only one answer. He must have taken the elevator.
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5 (GUY FAWKES DAY)
F
enimore arrived a few minutes late at the office. He had gone to the hospital early, to see Mr. Liska off. His niece had arrived well in advance of the appointed time for his release, and they had spent an enjoyable half hour trading political jokes. Fenimore had come away with the impression that the assistant district attorney was a thoroughly nice woman and that he was leaving Mr. Liska in very good hands.
enimore arrived a few minutes late at the office. He had gone to the hospital early, to see Mr. Liska off. His niece had arrived well in advance of the appointed time for his release, and they had spent an enjoyable half hour trading political jokes. Fenimore had come away with the impression that the assistant district attorney was a thoroughly nice woman and that he was leaving Mr. Liska in very good hands.
As he entered the office, Mrs. Doyle nodded toward the waiting room. Gracing an old, beat-up easy chair from the Salvation Army was Roaring Wings. He stood up and announced, “I've come for my sister.”
“Come in.” Fenimore waved him into his inner office.
When the man with the piercing eyes was seated on a straight-backed chair facing Fenimore, he said, “I came to you first, before the police. You are more courteous.”
“Were they rough on you?” Fenimore's hackles rose.
Roaring Wings held up his hand. “I am used to them. Since I was a boy, when they would stop me in the street for no reason,
I learned how to handle them. Never fight fire with fire. Always fight fire with water.”
I learned how to handle them. Never fight fire with fire. Always fight fire with water.”
“Water?”
“Courtesy. When you are polite to a policeman, he becomes all thumbs. It is like a bucket of cold water. Have you never noticed?”
“No,” Fenimore said, “but it's an interesting theory. I'll try it next time I run a red light.” He couldn't wait to share this theory with Rafferty.
Roaring Wings was silent, fixing Fenimore with his eyes.
Fenimore rearranged some things on his desk. Two pens, a saucer full of paper clips, and a prescription pad changed places.
“I stayed away three days,” Roaring Wings spoke finally, “time enough for their investigations. Now I am here.”
“I'll call Rafferty and tell him.” He reached for the phone. Before dialing, he asked, “Er, have you made arrangements for the removal ⦠?”
“Not yet. Later.”
Fenimore dialed. “Raff? I have Roaring Wings here. Ms. Field's brother. He would like to collect his sister's body.” Fenimore nodded to Roaring Wings, to let him know that everything was okay. “I'll send him right over.” He hung up. “You may collect the body anytime.”
“âCollect'?” Roaring Wings repeated, shaking his head. “The English language.” He waved his hand, dismissing it. “For removing a loved one to her final resting place, the Lenape would say,
Lap a Gishelamukaong.
”
Lap a Gishelamukaong.
”
Fenimore waited for the translation.
“âOnce more to the Creator.'”
“Much more suitable.” Fenimore nodded. “The English language has more appropriate words for such a move too. âIn my father's house there are many mansions,'” he quoted.
“Mansions?” Roaring Wings's tone was derisive.
“Well, in the newer version âmansions' has been changed to rooms.”
“Better.” He nodded.
Fenimore disagreed. He thought the new version reduced heaven to a kind of seedy boardinghouse. But he refrained from saying so.
The phone rang. Fenimore let Mrs. Doyle answer it. Cupping her hand over the mouthpiece, she called, “It's young Hardwick.”
Fenimore lifted the receiver. “Yes, Ted?” As he listened, he glanced warily at Roaring Wings. “Well, there may be some complications. Your fiancée's brother, Roaring Wings, is here with me now. He's come for Sweet Grass too.”
Roaring Wings sat impassively.
After a minute, Fenimore said, “All right. I'll tell him,” and replaced the receiver.
“What is it?”
“Ted Hardwick wants to talk to you about the burial. He asked if you would please wait. He's coming right over from the university.”
Roaring Wings's eyes swiveled around the room once, before coming to rest on Fenimore. “She's my sister. I'm the next of kin. It is my right to bury her the way I choose.” His eyes burned into Fenimore's. “He had his chanceâand bungled it.”
“There's no proof of that.” He paused. “And Ted loved your sister. It's only common courtesy to talk to him. Perhaps you could have two ceremonies.”
The Lenape made an unpleasant noise in the back of his throat, something between a laugh and a grunt.
For the first time, Fenimore disliked him. “Will you wait?”
He shrugged.
Fenimore rose, indicating that their discussion was over and
he should return to the waiting room. He did. Fenimore busied himself with desk work and phone calls.
he should return to the waiting room. He did. Fenimore busied himself with desk work and phone calls.
When Ted arrived, Fenimore offered the two men his office to confer in. Suddenly he felt the need of fresh air. He told Mrs. Doyle he was going for a short walk. Even though it was Guy Fawkes Day, he had no desire to witness any fireworks. When Officer Santino got up from his seat in the corner to follow him, Fenimore wanted to scream. There had been no more threats, no incidents of violence for several days. He must speak to Rafferty tonight about relieving Santino of his post. Surely there were more important duties for such an able policeman to attend to. When Fenimore returned, Roaring Wings had left but Ted was still there. From his dejected countenance, it was obvious who had won the contest.
“How'd it go?”
He looked up. “I let him have his way.”
“Which was?”
“He'll take care of all the arrangements. But my family and I and a few friends are welcome to attend the ceremony.”
“Damned generous,” Fenimore snorted. “When is it?”
“Tomorrow at ten.”
He showed his surprise.
“Well, it's already been six days, and ⦔
“Of course,” Fenimore said hastily.
Ted got to his feet. “Thanks for your office.” His face showed the strain of the recent interview. “I'll see you tomorrow, then?”
“Certainly.”
He started for the door.
“And Ted ⦔
He turned.
Fenimore ached to restore Sweet Grass to him, alive and well. “You did the right thing,” he said lamely.
Fenimore sat down and went through his mail. An envelope
from the lab. It had been delivered by messenger, as he had requested. The results of Sweet Grass's blood serum analysis. A glance told him what he wanted to know. There was enough digoxin in her blood to knock off two horses.
from the lab. It had been delivered by messenger, as he had requested. The results of Sweet Grass's blood serum analysis. A glance told him what he wanted to know. There was enough digoxin in her blood to knock off two horses.
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