Chaos at Crescent City Medical Center (29 page)

Alex laughed.  "Yep, Adam, we got some real rotten stuff.  Worse part is, I don't have anything solid on what's happening, and neither does anybody else."

"Tell me everything," Adam Patrick Lee demanded, "from the top."

Alex
could
see her grandfather in his study as he lounged
in his green recliner, his favorite dog Beau at his feet and his Jack Daniels in a glass next to him.  Piles of legislation stacked everywhere
around
the handsomely appointed room.  She shook her head as she remembered her grandmother’s tirades every time she entered the room.  It b
r
ought a much
needed smile to her face.

“Alex, would
you talk, what’s the hold up?”
  Her grandfather voice was
impatient and
demanding.

Alex
related the e
ntire story to her grandfather and included
the part about
Frederico
and t
he ponytailed man, but excluded
the attack on her, and Francois' concern about her safety.  She also didn't mention Mitch or any part he might play. 

Her grandfather listened carefully, without interruption.  When she mentioned that Governor Raccine was planning to close the medical center
,
her grandfather exploded again with a blast of fiery expletives.  "That's the dumbest damned thing I've ever heard.  A gove
rnor closing the finest medical care facility
in the State, not to mention it's
a world-class medical center
.  The loss of
revenues would kill him and cut deeply into
budg
et
!
” 

Adam paused for a moment and then continued, “Yep, you got something really bad
going on
,
m
aybe
even
crooked
.  What motive could Raccine possibly have for closing CCMC?"

"Well, he claimed it was affecting tourism,
and, of course, it's Mardi Gras, the biggest tourism season on the year.
  He suggested that people were finding New Orleans an unsafe place to visit based on
the voodoo scare at the medical center
.  Apparently, his tourism office reported substantial cancellations for Mardi Gras festivities."

"That
is
unadulterated bullshit. You know it,
and so do I. That would make
more people come to New Orleans, especially all of the sickos and perverts.
  This story is selling hotel rooms. It will draw tourists, especially at Mardi Gras, particularly if you threw a few
ghosts in there
 
There's something bigger here.  Is he ju
st upset because of
Grace?"   Congressman Lee asked
.

Alex could see her grandfather
’s
furrowed face as he contemplated the situation.
"I'm sure he's concerned.  It's especially bad
for us
since the
Raccine’s
usually go to East Jeff anyway. 
First time they've come to CCMC, so moving her gave us a vote of no
confidence
.
"

"
For sure. 
Why'd they come this time?"  Congressman Lee's voice was suspicious.

"Well, Grace has cancer and CCMC has the best cancer treatment program.  Besides, Robert only operates at CCMC and he's Grace's surgeon.  Why?"

"Nothing really.  Robert still Grace's doctor?"

Alex responded, "
Yes, he is
. I know he applied for special privileges to treat her at Jeff.  I haven't heard anything different.  But, to be honest, I don't know for sure."

"Find out. Just a little bit of information I'm going to throw your way.  Don't know that it
means anything, but it's worth repeating.

"Some weeks ago
,
your Grandmother and I ran into George and Grace at the Washington Club.  They were dining with some corporate hospital group.  Their conversation seemed pretty intense.  I wasn't listening, but when they mentioned New Orleans hospitals, I did listen a little harder."

Alex smiled a little as she visualized her grandfather eavesdropping for bits and pieces of communication that could affect him.

"Anyway," her grandfather continued, "I heard CCMC mentioned several times throughout the conversation, so Kathryn and I invited George and Grace for Sunday dinner at Wynd
ley.  I tried to pigeonhole
George into spilling the beans, but all he said was that this hospital conglomerate was planning to buy up some smaller hospitals in south Louisiana.  He played it off as a small deal, you know, no political thing.  Claimed that
he
was trying to get himself educated on health care reform.
  Isn’t that some bull shit since none of us, not even Obama, know what’s in that 1,000 page healthcare bill.
  I asked him about CCMC, feigning interest because of your position there. 
Raccine s
aid
CCM
C
had
been approached, but wasn't for sale.  He
led
me to believe that CCMC was so financially solvent that a merger or acquisition w
ere
n't even a possibility.  Anyway, that's my story."

Alex thought for a second before she answered, "Well, CCMC
was
approached by a hospital conglomerate.  I assume this gro
up you're talking about is Health
Trust.  They've bought up most of the hospitals in Louisiana, and they're pretty powerful with a lot of international connections.  I suppose that's why they wanted CCMC.
We have an enormous international patient base for transplants, orthopedics, cancer and even plastic surgery.
I don't really think it means a lot, but I'll keep it in mind."

"I still think something's rotten.  I'm gonna put my aide on it tomorrow.  I'll let him look into it.  I need this kind of information anyway.  I'll let you know if there's anything interesting that comes out of it.  You're sure you're okay?"

Alex hesitated to
o long.  "Sure, I'm fine.  I'm r
eally okay."

"
The hell you are.  I can tell from your voice.
What the hell else is happening down
there?
  Speak up, or I'm coming back down."

"It's really nothing."  

Briefly, Alex outlined her visit to the voodoo museum and her visit to the voodoo
meeting the evening before.  She casually mentioned her injured shoulder.

"Shit, why are they after you?  Something ain't right.   Speak up, dam
n you!
  Tell me everything, Alex.  Now, or I'll charter a
friggin’
jet and come there to s
erve as your personal bodyguard…and…I may bring the Virginia National Guard with me.
  How'd you like that?" 

Alex grimaced at her grandfather's tone of voice.  Consequently, she told him about Mitch and their relationship. When she mentioned that Mitch was missing, her grandfather became absolutely livid.
  Alex could feel his anger jumping through the phone wires.  She knew he’d keep her grandmother up all night long now.  She could kick herself for hesitating.

"Alex, this man was pumping you for information.  Don't you see that?  If he's missing or dead, they'll come after you.  I'm coming down.  What information could you have that they possibly could want?"

"
I don’t know, I have no idea at all.
For all we know, they have Mitch somewhere.  Anyway, Captain Francois has an officer sitting outside my house as we speak.  I'm perfectly safe.  When Robert calls later, I may ask him to come over for a while.
”  She pleaded, “Please d
on't worry, I'm okay."  Alex knew she was unsuccessful in convincing her grandfather.

"Shit, sounds to me like Bonnet would be the bait
, the cherry on top of the pudding
.  I wouldn't have him over.  Call me first thing in the morning.  I'm going to make a few calls on my own.  I do have some connections, you know."

"Really
Granddad
, keep this to yourself and don't tell Grand.  She'll just worry and
become upset,” Alex pleaded, probably to no avail.

"Hell, maybe I'll send her down there with that sawed-off shotgun of hers.  She'd kill anybody that came within ten f
eet of your door.  How’d you like that?  W
oman's
scary
...
unstoppable
!
"

"Both of you stay in Virginia.
This’ll blow over.
I promise I'll call you in the morning."

"One more thing, Alex.  Is George Raccine u
p for re-election? How popular is
he
now
?"

Alex thought a minute.  "Yeah, he's up for election.  He's reasonably popular, but he's vulnerable.
  Many people don’t think he’s done anything.
"

"That's what I picked up earlier this week.  Very interesting.  Man doesn't have a platform anymore.  Soft on everything.  Call me tomorrow."   Her grandfather's voice became gentle as he said, "I love you."

"Love you too,
Granddad
.  I'll talk to you in the morning.  Sleep tight."

Ale
x hung up feeling very homesick wishing she could get a jet out of New Orleans
straight
to the family farm.
 

She spent the next h
our thumbing through magazines and hoped that Mitch would call. T
hen went into her bedroom to take some pain medicine.  She reconsidered and instead took two extra-strength Tylenol.  At eleven, she called it a night and went into her bedroom.  She peered out her bedroom door and saw the unmarked police car in front of her house.  Taking some comfort in that, she changed into her gown and went to bed. 

***

At two in the morning, she was awakened from a fitful sleep by the phone.  She answered just as her answering machine picked up.  It was Mitch.

"Alex,
” Mitch
began breathlessly, "Sorry to call so late.  I'm o
ut of town, but I'll meet you
tomorrow at the Fairmount.  If I don't see you there,
I'll meet
you at the ball.  I'm so sorry to call and awaken you, but some things have come up.  And, please don't tell anyone, I mean anyone, you've talked to me.  I've got a lot to tell you, a lot to explain.  I love you and I'm ashamed for whatever you
may now think about me."

"Where are you," Alex asked, but it was useless.  The phone was dead.

Alex went to the kitchen for a glass of water so she could take more Tylenol.  The pain in her shoulder was excruciating. 

She
was jerked into reality
and
almost passed out when she saw the dark shadow of a man lurking at her back door.  As she opened her mouth to scream, the intruder broke through the glass, turned the knob, and stared at her, face to face.

***

At precisely midnight, Governor Raccine was reading in his recliner in the library of the make-shift executive mansion in New Orleans.  He was i
n desperate need of sleep due to his
t
ravel
betw
een Baton Rouge and New Orleans.
K
eeping up with state business had worn him out
, not to mention his concerns about his wife and CCMC
. 

He dozed for several moments and awoke, startled at the sight of a tall, swarthy man entering his library through the glass doors from the courtyard. 

"What the hell," he began, but he was immediately silenced by the dark, evil look of the man standing in front of him. 

The stranger stared at the governor for several seconds before he said, "Evening,
Governor.  Late night?"  The stranger's was soft and menacing.  "Getting your business in order?"

"Who the hell're you," the governor blustered as he frantically searched the room for a weapon.  It was useless because there weren't any.  The governor had always felt safe in Baton Rouge, but this was New Orleans and he'd forgotten his gun.  Damn, he thought to himself.  I'm really slipping.  No weapo
n, no security, little chance of defending himself
.  "Who're you and what d'
y
ou
want," he said, his voice angry.

The dark man said nothing
and continued to stare at him, a half smile on his swarthy face
.

The governor watched in awe as the intruder sat on a footstool in front of his chair.  T
he stranger was silent as he stroked
his leather belt.