The Imposter (17 page)

Monique
and Alex looked at each other, sharing a look that communicated their disgust
with the man, as well as their questions about his inappropriate behavior.

Monique
looked at him curiously.  "No, Mr. Whitset.  We'll discourage the
Smithsons from seeing their mother.  As a matter of fact, Ms.  Destephano and,
I hope, Mr.  Montgomery will see them shortly.”

Whitset
interrupted Monique and said, "I'll be glad to see the family.  After all,
I am the administrator for psychiatric services here at Crescent City. 
Besides, Don, you don't need to be involved with this, particularly since you
are not comfortable.  Right?"  Whitset gave Don an old boy, placating look
and patted him on the back.

Montgomery
gave broad smile.  "Hell, no.  You go, Lester.  I hate this kind of
stuff.  Makes me look bad.  This one's going to hurt, too.  Where the hell is
Elizabeth? Hasn't she had enough time to puke her guts out?" Don glared
angrily towards the door.

Alex
spoke, "I'll bring Elizabeth up to date.  We'll figure out a media
strategy and pass it by you." Her voice was cold, and she stared at Don,
disgusted again at his inability to deal with unpleasant situations.  Of
course, he was always available to claim the praise for everyone else's
achievements and awards.  What a bastard.  She was finding it harder and harder
to tolerate him.

"Okay."
Don looked relieved.  He looked at his watch.  "I'm going home.  It's only
5:00 AM.  I still have time for some shut eye.  Don't bother me until noon. 
I'll be in sometime around then.”

Alex
and Monique eyed each other with amazement as Donald Montgomery left the room. 
Joanne asked to be excused as well.  Jack was incensed by the chicken shit
administrator's lack of interest and leadership and uttered a string of
profanities under his breath at the CEO’s behavior.  Monique stepped on his
foot to shut him up.

Whitset
had been watching them closely, enjoying their disillusionment with Don.   He
smiled at them and said in a cold, but smooth voice, "Mr.  Montgomery
doesn't need to be involved in this.  I can handle it myself.  No problem. 
When shall we meet with the family?" His eyes were clear and he was
completely composed.  He seemed eager to see the Smithson family and he was
getting off on splitting staff between Don and his administration team.  He
rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

Alex
reached across the table and offered the administrator her hand. 
"Later.   Let's see them after lunch.  Thank you, Whitset.  We'll keep you
posted." Alex's voice was low and throaty.  Monique and Jack met each
other's eyes, questioning Alex's strategy as they rose to leave.

Whitset
held on to Alex's hand just a little too long and then returned it to her, his
eyes again raking her body.  "I'll be waiting to hear from you,
Alex," he said softly.  He nodded to the others and left the room.   Alex
shivered at his arctic cold touch and watched him leave.

Françoise
spoke first and roared, "Let's get outta here.  What the hell was that,
Alex?  That little pervert incites my killer instinct."  Monique nodded in
agreement.  Alex didn't respond. 

On
their way down the hall, they ran into a pale and wan Elizabeth, who
immediately started to apologize even though the three tried to wave her
apologies away.

Alex
said roughly, "Save it, Liz.  I want to get outta here.  Let's go to my
office."

On
the way out of the Pavilion, Françoise caught up Josh Martin and told him to
keep an eye on Ms. Tippett.  The police officer agreed and gave Elizabeth a
concerned smile.  He asked her, "Are you all right, Ms. Tippett?"

"Yes,
thank you, Josh.  It's been a little rough this morning." Elizabeth smiled
brightly at the police officer.

"It's
going to be a long day, Ms. Tippett.  It's just a little after 5:00 AM,"
Josh said, gesturing to his watch.  "Let me know if there is anything you
need."

"Yes,
I know.  I'll make it.  I've done it before." Elizabeth waved bye to Josh
Martin and caught up with the others at the elevator, while Alex wondered if
there was a new romance in the making.   She turned to comment on this to Jack
and Monique, but they were obviously tied up with each other.   Once again Alex
felt loneliness engulf her.

"A
little romance in the making? He's good-looking!" Alex joked and poked Liz
in the ribs.

"Sure,
Al," Elizabeth quipped.  "I'm sure Officer Bennett really thinks I'm
really attractive, especially after he heard me throwing my guts up in the
ladies room." Elizabeth laughed and shook her head and added, "The
irony of it all.   He is really cute.   I could go for him!"

"Don't
get too excited, Liz.   It probably raised the protective instinct in him.  I
understand policeman have a bad case of it," Monique joked as she looked
sideways at Françoise.

Françoise
nodded his head.  "Yep, we do.   We like to protect all of the good
looking ladies.   I am training Josh right,"  he reminded the three ladies,
then said, "I'll meet you all on the first floor.  I still don't ride in
elevators if there's another way down." He looked sheepishly at Alex and
Monique, a little ashamed of his continual elevator phobia.

They
laughed at him, and after a couple of seconds, he joined in.  "Laugh all
you like -- but remember, if the power goes out, I won't be the one stuck in a
tin can or, in this case, an iron albatross!"  With that, he turned and
headed toward the stairway.   Fortunately, the Smithsons had left the foyer of
the Pavilion, relieving the stress of the group on the ground floor.

Françoise
drove the three women to the main hospital in his prized silver Cadillac.  Jack
loved the luxury of his wheels.   Jack defended the expense by saying he spent
days at a time in his car.  Besides, when he needed to move, he needed to move,
and the car was fast.  Fortunately, since he was now the Commander, he got less
grief from the higher-ups.

Alex
pressed against the cushions in the back seat and directed the air-conditioning
vent towards her.   She loved the tinted windows and the comfort of Jack's
car.   It was already hot and it wasn't yet 6 o'clock in the morning.  Damn New
Orleans in August, she thought to herself.  "Do you think the crime scene
in the Pavilion will provoke any further violence," she asked Monique, who
was sitting in the front seat next to Jack.

Monique
looked at Alex through the rearview mirror and replied, "I'm not sure.  I
hope not.  But anything can set them off.  After the last two days, we could
have a riot!" Her tone was light, but her face was dead serious. 
"We've got to step up security on the unit, at least for the next few
days.  I guess I'll have to check with Whitset." Monique looked aggravated
at the thought.   "He is such a slime ball," she added.

Françoise
minced no words when he spoke to the women.  "I'm going to tell you gals
straight up.   He raised red flags for me! I think that bastard's as nuts as
most of the patients.  Strikes me as a real psycho." He looked at Monique
sitting next to him in the car and tried to catch Alex's and Elizabeth's eyes
in the rearview mirror.

Alex
was quick to respond.  "I agree, Jack.  The man gives me the creeps.  I
despise the way he looks at me.  Besides, I think he knows something.  He is so
sneaky.   He looked as though he couldn't wait to talk with the Smithsons.  It
was almost as if he was looking forward to it.  I don't trust him at all.”

Monique
turned around and looked at Alex.  "Is that the reason you are playing
patsy with him, Al? It's pretty dangerous, even if he is sane.  I think the
guy’s a lech at the very least." She studied Alex’s face in the back
seat.  "What up with that?"

"I
don't know for sure.  I agree with Jack and I think he knows something, too. 
I'd like to psych him out.  There's no way he went to bed last night.  His
clothes were rumpled and …."

"He
could've put the same clothes back on, Alex.  Besides, he never said he went to
bed.   You just inferred that.  There’s no proof."  Françoise looked again
at her through the rearview mirror.

"It's
proof to me that he's a liar! That's a good beginning.  So far he's a lech and
a liar.   Why is he always at the hospital at night?  It just doesn't add
up!" Alex stopped for a minute, thinking.  She asked suddenly, "When
did he see Mrs. Smithson's body?"

Françoise
shrugged his shoulders and looked at her in the rearview mirror.  "I don't
know.  He could have gone in there at some point.  I'll check with my men. 
They were stationed in the room. Why?"

"Because
he came to my house to pick me up this morning a little after 4.  He beat the
police.  He said he knew her face was gone," Alex said with a chill. 
"There is something about him that just wigs me out."

Monique
cautioned her.   "Alex, you seem to hang on to every word he says and you
are playing mind games with him.  It’s very serious and you shouldn't do it.  I
frankly don't like the way you are interacting with him.   It could be
dangerous"

Alex
was silent for several seconds trying to find a way to express her feelings.  
She was a little piqued with Monique's critique of her behavior.   "You
know, Monique, you are right.   There is something about him that I find
powerful and I am at some level fascinated with him.   I know it sounds crazy,
but I find something about him mesmerizing."

Monique
turned around  and glared at her.   "Alex, you need to get over that.  
The man is at least sociopathic based on his behavior today.   He relished,
actually loved, the crime scene and was excited by it.   Please, please be
careful around him.   He may mistake your attention and assume you are 'coming
on' to him."

Alex
felt defensive, "Really, Monique.  I wasn't born yesterday.   I can see
through him and am sure I can handle myself around him.  Don't worry."

Elizabeth
was taking all of this in and added, "I agree with Alex, there is
something about him that is charming, even if it is in a sick sort of way. 
But, trust me," she patted Monique's shoulder, "Alex and I can handle
ourselves.  Not to worry."

Monique
still looked uncertain and said, “O.K., just be careful and don't play any
games with him."

Françoise
was thoughtful.  "You girls listen to Monique.  He's a slimy little
bastard and I'd like to kill him.  I'll check him out today.  That being said,
I imagine he saw Mrs. Smithson when the nurse, Joanne, found Mrs. Smithson's
body.  

Alex
was thoughtful and pensive.  "You know, you're probably right but the
timing is important, Jack.  We know he didn't see her after I arrived.  There
wasn't time."

"I
know.   I realize that.  I'll check into it, Alex.  Don't worry.  The man is
messed up at best.  He even gives me the creeps."  Jack turned to
Elizabeth.  "What do you think, Liz?"

"Commander,
I can't honestly say.  I'd never seen the man before this morning and then only
briefly, but he is weird.  He does seem to like Alex, though." She looked
at Alex and laughed.  "You lucky girl," she teased.

"Wow,
thanks Liz," Alex responded ruefully.

Françoise
pulled his big, silver caddy up directly in front of the hospital.  "Alex,
you think I'll get a ticket if I park my wheels here?"

"If
you do Jack, I'll fix it for you.   But you'll have to repay me when I get my
next one in the French Quarter!" The group laughed at the idea of a lawyer
fixing a ticket for a cop.

"Thanks. 
I'm gonna go by the cafeteria and pick up some donuts and cinnamon buns.  You
make the coffee, Alex.  You gals want anything special?"

"I'll
eat whatever you bring, Jack," Monique said, as she smiled at him
brightly.

"Ditto
for me," Alex said, deciding she deserved some junk food and carbs to get
through her day."

"I'm
in, Commander, I'll take whatever," Elizabeth added.  

Thirty
minutes later, seated at the conference table in Alex's office, they all felt
better.  After several cups of coffee and a little sugar buzz, Alex and
Elizabeth were talking nonstop and Monique was less wan.   Eventually, the
conversation returned to the crime.

"Where's
Jim McMurdie in  this, Jack? Do you think he's responsible for the
murder?" Alex glanced at the Commander, who was slowly munching his third
jelly donut.

Jack
was noncommittal, savoring his jelly donut.  "I wish they'd learn to make
low-fat, low-calorie donuts.  Sure would help my weight and cholesterol.  To
answer your question, Alex, McMurdie's in chains in his room at the Pavilion. 
I don't know if he's guilty or not, but it looks bad for him.  What do you
think Monique?"

"I
don't know.  He was covered with blood when we found him sleeping in his
room.   That was after we discovered Mrs.  Smithson's body.  At least, there
was blood on his hands.  We searched his room, but we didn't find anything.  He
became upset when he saw the blood and he started crying.  He'd been heavily
medicated both around dinner time and at bedtime.  He had enough Thorazine to
quiet an elephant.  It's the heaviest dose he's had since admission.  I don't
know… He could have, but I'm not convinced.   Most people would have slept for
48 hours after receiving that much Thorazine.   Jim's not that big of a
guy."

"Does
he have a history of violent outbursts," Elizabeth asked Dr.  Desmonde. 

"Yep,"
said Monique.  "He has delusional jealousy concerning his wife.  I think
he has Othello syndrome – a syndrome named after Shakespeare's character who
killed his wife in a jealous rage.  I haven't made a final diagnosis yet.  Jim's
had several violent outbreaks during his admission and assaulted several men
prior to coming in.  He thought they were having affairs with his wife.  He's
very sick, psychotic, and delusional."

"Why
haven't you confirmed your diagnosis, Dr.  Desmonde?  What's holding you
back," Elizabeth asked with growing curiosity.  It wasn't like Monique to
procrastinate about anything.

Monique
was quiet for a moment reflecting on how she had been asked the question the
night before.   "It's probably because I don't want to and I need more
time to study his case.   The syndrome has a poor prognosis.  Another reason is
that the violence is usually directed towards the spouse in Othello's – – not
other people.  Of course, Jim is delusional.  Other than that, Liz, Jim
McMurdie is a classic example of Othello's." Monique's voice was sad and
pensive.

"So,
Monique, do you think McMurdie could have been delusional and thought Mrs.
Smithson was his wife?  Would that be a possible motive for the crime?"
Alex marveled at what a good thinker Liz was.  It was a good question.

Monique
shrugged her shoulders helplessly.  "Of course, that's possible,
Elizabeth.  I've thought about it myself."

Françoise
leaned forward expectantly.  "Dr. Desmonde, do you think Jim McMurdie
could be responsible for the rape and beating of Angie, as well as the attack
and murder of Mrs. Smithson?"

"Commander,"
Monique's tone was cool, aloof, "I told you yesterday and I'm telling you
again today, I don't know!  I just don't know!  Do you understand that?  If I
knew, I'd tell you!" Her face was flushed with resentment.

Alex
gave Elizabeth a quick look and intervened to diffuse the situation. 
"Jack, there are 25 patients in the Pavilion who could be responsible for
the rapes and deaths.  Plenty of them are overtly psychotic.  Besides, you said
the forensic evidence would tell.  And, it's possible it isn't a patient."
Alex's voice was calm but her teeth were gritted and Jack understood the back
off look she gave him.

In
a way, Jack Françoise was a little ashamed.  "I accept your reprimand,
Alex.  You're right.  Sorry, Monique.  I'm having the department run a check on
our local felons in the area.  If the door of the unit was open Monday night,
it could have been opened last night, too."  He saw now that Monique's
face was livid with anger.  "Let me out of here before you're all mad at
me.   I can tell this isn't going well for me," Jack said plaintively as
he rose to leave.

Jack's
departure was interrupted by the surprising appearance of Lester Whitset in Alex's
office, unannounced and unwelcome.  His shadow in the doorframe seemed to dim
the beauty of Alex's well appointed inner sanctum.  Alex loathed the sight of
him, but remained fascinated with him -- a fact that totally disgusted her.

"Oh,
sorry if I interrupted anything.  I didn't think of calling first."
Whitset had the same angelic smile on his face as he looked around at the
group, knowing they were shocked to see him.   "I'm especially glad to see
you, Commander.  I found something you might be interested in.  I was going to
give it to Alex, but since you are here …."  Whitset turned his head, gave
Alex a sweet smile, and withdrew a shirt from a plastic bag -- it was covered
with brown stains.

The
room was deathly silent.   All eyes were focused on Whitset.   He looked
directly at Monique, his eyes cold and glaring.  "I just found this shirt
in the bottom of Jim McMurdie's locker on the unit.  It looks like dried blood
– – certainly older than today's massacre." Whitset turned towards Monique
and said in a sneering voice, "Really, Dr.  Desmonde, I expected more
professional behavior from you.”

Monique
felt a flush come over her.  Whitset's words stung her like the bite of a
thousand fire ants.  She didn't know if she was embarrassed or just enraged. 
She tried to will away the crimson in her cheeks.   She muttered in a small
voice, "I beg your pardon?"

Whitset
continued, sneering at Monique, who looked like a deer cornered in the
headlights.  "I thought you had the unit searched by the staff yesterday. 
And, Commander Françoise, I thought your men searched as well?"

Jack
stared at Whitset, his face impassive.   Alex could see and feel the invisible
steam of anger that poured from his ears.   Jack's eyes cut into Whitset's face
and he looked like he could kill him at any moment.

Whitset
stared back at him with his cold fish look, nonplussed, carefully surveying the
reactions of the Commander and the CCMC group.  "I'll leave this 'evidence
'with you, Commander.  I trust you'll handle
it
appropriately.  By the
way, you may want to test it for the nurse's blood." Whitset's voice and
manner were condescending as he handed the bloodied shirt to Commander
Françoise.  He turned to leave, but on his way out, said to Alex in his soft,
sensual voice, "See you later, Alex, my pretty lass." He smiled his
pure, beautiful smile at her and abruptly left the office.

Alex
shuddered in disgust.  Françoise erupted.  "That bastard boils my blood
and gives me the creeps at the same time.  There is something wrong with him. 
He's not human.  He slithers around everywhere, just like a little worm.  I
think I'll rush that background check on him!"