Medicine and Manners #2 (8 page)

“You're thinking of doing an autopsy,” Nancy repeated.

“You must think you're quite clever to presume to know my thoughts.”

“Ha!” Nancy said. “ 'Tis not that hard when I've been with you as long as I have. And it won't be the first time you've broken that particular law, now, will it? Are you going to ask Lord Dunsford to help you again?”

“If I remember correctly, the last time Lord Dunsford observed an autopsy he developed problems with his digestion and had to leave the building.”

“I'll get the boys to keep watch for us outside the mortuary while we do it,” Nancy said.

“I have never said I am going to perform an autopsy, and I certainly never said
we
would perform one. I couldn't be responsible for enticing you to break the law even if I did so myself, but, of course, I have no plans for such a thing.”

“Don't worry about getting in after the building is closed,” Nancy said as if Alexandra had not just offered an elaborate protest. “Rob can manage that for us, just like he did the last time. And if my memory serves me, you had no problem with me being there when you broke the law before.”

Alexandra and Nancy accompanied Deputy Poole's body, secured away in the meat wagon, to the undertaker's house. Percy Gibbs greeted them with one of his scriptural proclamations. “Through envy of the devil came death into the world.”

“You can't fool us, Percy,” Nancy retorted. “You don't believe in the devil.”

“Nor in God, either,” Percy said as he set about unloading the body with the help of one of his workers.

“Will you be wanting to examine the body?” Percy asked.

“Yes,” Alexandra said, without looking at him. “But I'm afraid I don't have the time at the moment. I shall do the exam later.” She knew he was referring to a cursory examination of the body and not an autopsy.

“I know I don't have to tell you that you mustn't wait too long. You know the way of all flesh as well as I know it myself.” Percy stood back from the wagon now, as his workers pushed the gurney on which the body had been placed. His hands were folded in front of him in what might have been called a pious manner if it had been anyone else.

“I shall get to the task as soon as possible,” Alexandra said.

“And I shall do all I can to help,” Percy said, “now that I shan't be bothered with repairing locks. Did I mention that someone broke the lock on the door sometime back?”

“Oh, what a shame,” Alexandra said. She felt certain he was referring to the lock Rob had broken for her the last time she'd found it necessary to perform an illegal autopsy.

“Rather an expensive repair. And surprising. It's hard to imagine why anyone would want to break into a place where there's nothing save dead bodies and coffins.”

“Indeed,” Alexandra said, feeling more and more uncomfortable with the conversation.

“I don't want any more broken locks. I prefer going about my work with the dead to trying to repair the contraptions. Should have called the locksmith. 'Twould have saved time, not to mention money, since I broke a lock trying to install it. But, that, of course, is my own concern and none of yours. As I said, I am eager to be of any help I can.” His gaze bore into Alexandra's eyes.

Alexandra looked at him in silence for a moment. “I appreciate your offer,” she said, finally. Was he offering to leave the building unlocked so she could accomplish her clandestine deed without doing the damage she had done before when Rob broke the lock for her?

“It seems as if we're completely without law enforcement in Newton-upon-Sea with the constable gone and the deputy dead. Could offer opportunities for those who wish to break the law,” Percy continued. “I should think if one were inclined, one wouldn't even have to wait until darkness falls.”

“Quite so,” Alexandra said. “Now, if you'll excuse me, I must get back to my medical practice.”

When they were safely out the door, Nancy leaned toward Alexandra and whispered, “Well, there was an invitation if ever I heard one.”

Alexandra didn't reply. Why bother, when she knew Nancy was already reading her mind?

“I think it best we wait until darkness falls, nevertheless,” Nancy added. “Wouldn't want any passersby to see us.”

“You're quite wise, Nancy,” Alexandra said, without looking at her. “Now, we won't speak of this again until the time comes.”

The time came sooner than either Nancy or Alexandra expected. They were able to close the surgery earlier than usual, and Alexandra called Artie and Rob into the house to give them instructions.

“Zack almost gave us away last time,” Alexandra said, speaking to both of them. “Your job is to keep Zack quiet while all three of you keep watch for anyone who might happen by. Zack has acted as a watchdog for me before, but he's not always discreet. You must do your best to keep him quiet so he won't attract attention.”

“We'll be going to the house of the dead again?” Artie asked. “Like we done that time before. That time ye cut into that bloke's body and looked at his innards?”

“Yes,” Nancy said, answering for Alexandra. “That's exactly what we'll be doing.”

Artie shuddered. “All I can say is, ye's got more guts than most.”

“Mind yer mouth, Artie!” Rob scolded. “Ye's not to use such language with ladies.”

“What? Ye means guts? She's a doctor, ain't she? She knows what guts is.”

“I said mind yer mouth!” This time Rob accompanied his words with a cuff at Artie's head.

“Enough from the two of you!” Nancy warned. “Now, get your caps and Zack and go on ahead of us. You're to make it look as if you're out for a stroll with the dog.”

“Then the two of ye will come up and break into the place.” Rob was unable to keep the excitement out of his voice. “I swears, if the two of ye hadn't chose the healing professions, ye coulda been thieves and scoundrels with the best of us. Never meant that in a bad way,” he added quickly when he saw the frown on Nancy's face and her mouth open as if she was about to scold again.

“We can all do without your opinion of what Dr. Gladstone and I are suited for,” Nancy said. “Now, keep your mouths shut and do your job.”

Alexandra and Nancy gave the boys a few minutes to get ahead of them before they started out on foot back to the village. Alexandra didn't want to risk riding Lucy and leaving her tied anywhere near the mortuary in case someone remembered seeing the little mare, who was familiar to everyone in Newton-upon-Sea.

As they approached the building where the mortuary was housed, Alexandra felt a sudden void in her chest when she saw Percy. He was on foot with Mrs. Gibbs on his arm. All he did, however, was touch the brim of his hat as he met the two of them, and Mrs. Gibbs gave them a smile of greeting before they continued on their way. Alexandra was almost certain, however, that Percy had winked as he passed by. That was quite a different reaction than he'd had before when she'd found it necessary to perform a postmortem examination. At that time, both he and Constable Snow had been unwilling to give permission for the task, not only because she was female, but because they'd insisted on her providing written permission from the family, something that, at the time, was impossible. This time, since no law officer was available, the question hadn't arisen. Alexandra knew she was taking a risk, nevertheless.

They were within a few feet of the entrance when both of them noticed Rob and Artie across the street and several yards beyond. Tossing a stick for Zack, they pretended not to see Nancy and Alexandra and quickly distracted Zack when he seemed about to bound across the street to greet his mistress. Rob pulled something soft and dripping blood from a bag and held it under the dog's nose for him to gobble. That would have given Nancy and Alexandra just enough time to disappear around the back of the mortuary building, had not Nicholas ridden by on his fine Arabian horse.

“Good evening, ladies. I hope it's not a medical emergency that brings you out this evening.” He was eyeing Alexandra's medical bag.

“No, my lord,” Alexandra said, her voice strained.

“I saw the boys across the street and wondered—”

“You
could
say it was an emergency of sorts,” Nancy said. “So I think it best we move along, don't you, miss?”

“Well, if you need…” Nicholas stopped speaking and seemed to take sudden notice of where they were. “Oh, I see,” he said. “That again. You must allow me to help.”

“You were more of a hindrance than a help in a similar situation in the past.” Alexandra kept her voice low, and there was a hint of anxiety in her tone. She wanted him to move on.

“If I know the law regarding these things, then I'm certain you are breaking—”

“I have no doubt that you know the law, my lord,” Alexandra said.

“Quite so,” Nicholas said. “And since that is the case, you must call upon me immediately should you suffer any consequences.”

“Thank you, my lord.” The conversation was making Alexandra even more nervous, and after her curt response, she moved away from Nicholas with quick steps. She, along with Nancy, went to the back of the building. To her surprise, Nicholas had dismounted his horse and was following closely behind. She opened the door with slow caution, grateful to find it unlocked. She stepped inside, followed by Nancy and then Nicholas. There was little light in the room, and it was cold, somewhat like the interior of a cave. The smell of decay was unmistakable, along with a caustic chemical smell.

“My lord Dunsford,” Alexandra said. “I'm afraid you will find this as unpleasant as you did before when you tried to witness the same procedure. I suggest you retire to Montmarsh, and I shall inform you of any pertinent results later.”

“Why do you always revert to calling me
my lord
when you're nervous? I'm still Nicholas, and I have no intention of telling anyone of your crime. And you needn't worry about me. I'm sure I'll be quite all right.”

Alexandra took a deep breath and tried to refrain from rolling her eyes. “Very well,” she said, and walked toward the interior of the large, cavernous room, where a body lay on a table, covered with a sheet. By this time, Nancy had lit two oil lamps and set them up next to the white lump that was the body.

Alexandra lifted the sheet to reveal a face. Although still recognizable, it had grown paler and more waxen looking than it had been the last time she'd seen it. She couldn't help remembering Danny Poole as a young boy, several years her junior, roughhousing with other boys in the streets of Newton-upon-Sea or running along the coastline, his hair tousled by the breeze. She touched the deputy's chest and noted the coolness, yet there was still a small amount of blanching of the skin under her fingertips. It would be a few more hours before full rigor mortis was established.

Working silently beside Alexandra, Nancy opened the medical bag and began to lay out instruments on a table next to where the body rested. Before Alexandra picked up a scalpel, she opened the mouth for examination. She found two teeth in the process of decay and a raw wound on the gums near one of the bad teeth. She'd seen the problem in others. Gums often became diseased in the presence of bad teeth. Such a sore could provide an opening for microscopic, disease-causing organisms, or even poison, to enter the blood and attack various organs. Once she was back in her surgery, she would examine all of the organs available to her. She also snipped a sample of hair from the dead man's head.

She made the first incision across the chest from shoulder to shoulder, and then another incision along the abdomen all the way to the pubis. She was vaguely aware of Nicholas standing behind her, but he made no sound or any apparent movements. She removed the liver first and placed it in a pan provided by Nancy. She would dissect the organ later and examine pieces under a microscope. Next she removed the adrenal glands and kidneys, then the stomach, pancreas, and intestines, examining each carefully as they were removed. When she opened the stomach to examine the contents, she thought she detected the faintly sweet scent she'd noted in the presence of the horseman. There was no way to be certain, however, since she often found her sense of smell distorted during such procedures.

Alexandra and Nancy worked for several hours before Alexandra signaled that it was time to close the incision and leave with the samples of organs Nancy had incised from each of them. Alexandra would have preferred to have access to each entire organ, but transporting them to her surgery would have been difficult, if not impossible.

“Nicholas! You're still here,” she said as she turned around, holding her bloodstained hands in front of her on the way to wash them at the pump and basin at the end of the room.

“Yes,” he said. “I have to admit it wasn't easy to stay. Nevertheless, I found it fascinating, and your skills amazing. You will take those little bits of the body you harvested to your microscope for examination, I assume.”

Alexandra nodded and wiped her forehead awkwardly with her upper arm where her sleeve was not bloodied.

“You look exhausted. You as well as Nancy.”

“It's hard work,” she said, almost too tired to speak.

“I shall see that you get home safely,” Nicholas said. “If only I'd known I was going to do this, I would have brought my carriage.”

At that moment, the sound of Zack's loud and angry bark reverberated through the room. Nancy and Alexandra looked at each other, alarmed.

“Someone's out there,” Nancy whispered.

Alexandra nodded and finished washing her hands under the pump.

“No one knows we're here, do they?” Nicholas asked.

“We can't be sure,” Nancy said, still whispering as she pumped water for her own washing.

Zack barked again, even louder, and the three of them inside the mortuary could hear the shouts of the two boys. It was not possible to make out what they were saying, except for the word
no,
repeated several times. There was a loud clatter at the front door as if someone was trying to enter, and then the sound of several voices. The three of them ran to the front and saw the door shaking on its hinges as something banged against it.

From the front window, they could see a mob of about twenty-five men, along with a few women. Their faces were distorted by the light from the torches they held high above them. It was a milling, rumbling, boiling pot of rage.

“They know we're in here!” Nancy said. “They want to kill us!”

“Of course they don't want to kill us,” Alexandra said. “That would be rather extreme.” Her words belied her feelings. Her heart was about to leap out of her chest, and all that was in her screamed for her escape, but she knew if she tried, she would be detected. She made herself walk into the parlor and closer to the undulating front door. If anyone out there was in danger, she had to be ready.

“I seen her go in there, and I know what she's doing!” a male voice shouted.