Black Monday, A Stan Turner Mystery Vol 7

  Chapter 28

  THE ORDERLY

   

  The next morning, I got up early and went to the hospital. It was a long drive and the rush hour traffic was horrible. The trip was worth it though since I found out Stan had awakened and seemed to be okay. The nurse told me that he was visiting with Rebekah and the kids and that I could see him when they were finished. I took a seat in the waiting room and started flipping through a magazine. As I was reading an article on wedding decorations an orderly walked in, looked around, and then left. A few moments later Rebekah and the kids came in the waiting room.

  "Paula," Rebekah said.

  "Hi. I heard Stan is awake."

  "Yes, isn't that wonderful?"

  "Oh, my God, yes. We were all so worried about him."

  "Well, I'm glad you're here. I need to take the kids home. They've got to go to school and I hate Stan to be alone. It will just take me about an hour or so."

  "No problem. I can stay until you get back."

  "Great, I really appreciate it."

  We talked for a few more minutes and then I went to Stan's room. It startled me to see a policeman on duty just outside. There hadn't been one there the previous evening. I presumed Besch was responsible for this extra precaution and I was grateful. As I stepped in the room Stan smiled.

  "Paula. Come in and sit down. Rebekah and kids just left."

  "I know. I talked to them. How are you feeling?"

  "Not too bad. Just a little sore and groggy from the meds."

  I shook my head. "I can't believe this happened."

  Stan shrugged. "Well, I guess I halfway expected something."

  "It's a good thing somebody blew out your windshield when they did."

  "Yeah, it must have been my guardian angel."

  "Who could it have been; you think?"

  Stan shrugged. "I know it sounds bizarre, but people had been following me in DC. Maybe someone who was following me saw someone else plant the bomb in my car."

  "That is bizarre. But I'd like to thank whoever it was," I said.

  "Who do you think were following you in DC?"

  "I don't know, but they picked me up at the airport and stayed on me like glue."

  Stan filled me in on his adventures in DC. I couldn't believe he'd enlisted an old flame to help out. I'd heard about Nicole. He claimed not to have had sex with her, but I wasn't so sure about that. Why had she been so eager to help him prove his innocence unless she was more than a friend? And why would she drop everything to help him now? A tinge of jealousy came over me. He was like a damn sailor with a girl in every port.

  He said, "So, I should be out of here in a couple days the doctor says."

  "Good. Jodie and I miss you."

  He smiled. "Anything new with you?"

  "Yes, I've been dying to tell you. I found us a great suspect in the Don Baker and Amanda Black murders."

  "You're kidding? Who?"

  I told him about Philip Smart and his infatuation with Amanda Black. Then I filled him in on the other developments in the case. He listened intently but he was starting to look tired so I figured it was time to leave.

  "Listen. I'm going to go wait for Rebekah in the waiting room. You need to get some rest."

  He didn't argue—just nodded struggling to keep his eyes open.

  "Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate it. I think I will get a little shut eye now. These drugs really make me sleepy."

  As I was leaving the ward, I noticed the same orderly that I had seen earlier. He was standing in front of the drinking fountain next to a cart full of medications. He was looking at me but when our eyes met he turned away. There was something about him that seemed strange but I couldn't figure it out. I continued on to the waiting room and saw Detective Besch and a man coming toward me.

  "Detective Besch," I called out.

  "Hi. Paula. This is Agent Roger Benson with the FBI."

  I extended my hand and said, "Nice to meet you."

  We shook hands and he said, "The pleasure's mine. I'm glad to finally meet you. I've read a lot about you in the newspaper."

  "Really. Are you from around here?"

  "Memphis is my home, but I'm on temporary duty here in Dallas."

  "So, what brings you to Methodist Hospital?"

  "Your telephone call last night," Besch said.

  "Did you find the car?"

  "Yes, that's why we're here. It's right here in the hospital parking lot."

  "What! That means the killer is in the hospital?"

  "Shhh!" Besch said. "Yes, the killer is somewhere on the hospital grounds. He probably doesn't realize you followed him to his car last night and got his license number. I'd bet he's just waiting for the right moment to finish-off Stan."

  "Oh, shit. The orderly—he's the assassin."

  I turned and rushed back toward Stan's room. Besch and Benson started chasing after me. I pushed open the big swinging door and looked at the spot I'd last seen the orderly. He wasn't there. Besch and Benson came running up behind me.

  "What did he look like?" Besch asked.

  "He was short, medium build, and salt and pepper hair—Greek or Italian maybe. He had on a green hospital uniform. We better check on Stan."

  We all started running down the hall toward Stan's room. As we turned the corner, my heart nearly stopped. The guard who had been standing in front of Stan's room was gone. We rushed over to the door. Benson and Besch pulled out their revolvers and prepared to enter the room. Benson gave the signal and they both burst in ready to do battle.

  Stan was asleep and the orderly was preparing to inject something into his arm with a long needle. When he saw the two officers, he grabbed Stan's shoulder and put a gun to his head. Stan woke up abruptly and tried to move away, but the man put his arm around his neck and got him a choke hold.

  "You move and he's a dead man."

  "Hold on now," Besch said. "It's all over. There's no way out of here. Just drop your weapon."

  The orderly pulled Stan backward and said, "Get up."

  Stan struggled to his feet the best he could with his neck in a choke hold. He screamed when the IV needle was jerked from his arm. The man pulled him up straight and led him slowly right at us.

  "Move over to the right and let me through or Turner's gonna get a bullet in his head."

  I moved back outside and Benson and Besch moved over as they were told. Once outside the room, the man walked backward toward the stairs still holding the gun at Stan's head. When he got to the stairwell, he lowered the gun to open the door. Kicking the door open he looked up at Benson and then at Besch who had their guns raised. I feared he was about to blow Stan's brains out. If he had tried, he would have died too. I guess he knew that because he shoved Stan out of his way and started hurdling himself down the stairwell.

  Benson went after him and Besch and I went to the elevator. Besch pushed the button. Ten seconds later it opened and we got in. The ride to the bottom seemed like it took forever. As we got out of the elevator, I noticed the stairwell door opening on the ground floor. The orderly flew out and ran toward the front door. Besch spotted him and gave chase. He tackled him before he made it to the door. They scuffled for a moment until Benson showed up and slammed the orderly to the ground. Besch grabbed a pair of cuffs and slapped them around the man's wrists.

  Knowing the assassin was safely in custody I took the next elevator upstairs to check on Stan. A nurse was escorting him back to his room. He was shaken but not hurt. They found the police officer who had been guarding Stan in a closet. He'd been knocked out but was otherwise okay. The assassin had obviously hoped to slip in and out unnoticed and be miles away before anyone noticed Stan was dead.