Five - The Gang’s All Here

Harry sat between the body and his counselor in case he awoke before help arrived. Security guards streamed into the room. Some attended to the counselor, trying in vain to revive him. Others started in the direction of the body.

“Don’t touch anything! You’ll destroy evidence!” Harry didn’t trust these rent-a-cops to have enough sense to handle themselves appropriately at a murder scene. Not even he was qualified to work a homicide. “I’ve already called in the cavalry. Just make sure the area is secure. Don’t touch any door handles or pick up anything in the hallways. Keep other people out of them, too. Don’t let anyone come in, either, till the detectives tell you otherwise.”

The security guards held Harry until the detectives arrived, since he was the most likely suspect in the room. Sorenson and Sipowicz interviewed the weeping counselor and several other stunned staff members. Jones and Medavoy worked with the officers who were collecting physical evidence at the scene. Russell finally came into the group room and looked around. Her auburn locks were moist and clung to her forehead, and her navy blue linen pantsuit was wrinkled. He noticed a ring of moisture in the chest area of her white silk blouse. She had a somewhat wild look in her eyes as she scanned the room. Finally, she saw Denby, and strode purposefully over to him.

“Boy, Denby, you just can’t stay out of trouble for a minute these days, can you?”

“What can I say, Diane? I still have this need to be the center of attention at all times. I haven’t been here long enough for them to cure me of that.”

“I have been running all over this hospital trying to check out your story. There are no orderlies named Hector on the staff here.”

“Holy shit.”

“And no one on staff remembers any Hector, much less babysitting you with another orderly while you showered.”

“Well, who the hell checked me in to the sixth room on the sixth floor?”

“You checked yourself in, according to the log.”

“And the nurse behind the desk doesn’t remember me being wheeled up? What about the guards on both floors?”

“No one remembered you or Hector. And get this: your own initials were on the chart for the transfer to the sixth floor.”

“It’s amazing how well I get around when I’m locked to a wheelchair.” Denby scratched his forehead. “What about Louise? Nurse Louise on the third floor?”