Chaos at Crescent City Medical Center (34 page)

"I'll assist and I'm going in the ambulance."  Robert
said as he
left with the paramedics.

Alex looked around and saw members of the NOPD covering Mitch and preparing to
remove his body.  Even from where she stood, she could see that Mitch looked peaceful in death.
She went over to kneel by him and kissed him on his cheek.
I loved him, she thought.  I really loved him.  She looked up f
rom Mitch's still body and searched
blindly for a friend.
Someone who cared for her, someon
e who loved her.  Someone she lo
ved but
t
here was no one. 
Then, t
urning to leave, she found the comforting arms of her grandfather.

It took Alex and Adam several hours to reach CCMC because of traffic.  Upon arrival, they learned both Jack and Robert were being operated on.  Doctors Ashley and Monique Desmonde joined them in the waiting room.

Both doctors hugged Alex and shook hands with Adam.  Alex was quiet as they discussed the events at the ball.  Her shoulder was hurting dreadfully and pains were shooting down her arm into her back.  She could hardly sit up.

"
Alex, you okay?"   Monique
looked hard at her.

"My arm h
u
rts
!
"  Alex said angrily.  She looked at the psychiatrist and said,
"I loved Mitch
.  He was my friend and now he's dead.
Hell no, I’m not OK.
"

Monique's voice was matter-of-fact.  "Someone from NOPD
’
s coming to question you.  Do you need anything?"

"Maybe some Tylenol for my arm.  It's killing me and causing a spasm in my back.  I need some clean clothes.  Are there some sc
rubs I can wear?  This ball gown has
had it and all this
blood all over it is creeping me out.
" 

Dr. Ashley gave Alex a muscle relaxer and a pair of green scrubs from the supply room.

"How're Ro
bert and Jack doing?"  Alex asked
.

Dr. Ashley responded.  "The Captain's doing
pretty well.  The bullet missed his heart and lodged in his left side.  He's a lucky man.  The surgeon said he'd
be
okay in a few days."

"What about Robert's arm?" 

The impact for a surgeon with a bullet in his arm had just occurred to Alex.  Her eyes had a panicked look in them.

Dr. Ashley sighed.  "We don't know.  The bullet went through his arm
after hitting the bone
, but
it
damaged the medial nerve.  Anyway, he'll live, that's the important thing."

"Maybe Mercier did get his wish.  Perhaps Robert will be out of practice.  He'll never adjust to not being
able
to operate.  Even worse than death for him."  Alex was so despondent that Dr. Ashley reached for her hand.

"Alex," her grandfather said, "it's too early to know that.  Keep your chin up."

"Who killed Mercier?  He was going to shoot Robert."  Alex began to shudder.

"Don't know yet.  Police're working on it.  They'll be questioning you about shooting the monster.  You up to it?"  Congressman Lee
carefully
looke
d at his granddaughter
.

"Does anybody know his name yet?"  Alex looked around quickly.

"No," replied Doctor Desmonde, "but the name monster suits him well."

Several hours passed while Alex and her grandfather gave a report to a police officer.  The surgeon reported that Francois, was out of recovery.  Alex and her grandfather went to see him. 

***

Alex could not believe her eye
s.  She was expecting the police
captain to be asleep, recovering from the anesthesia but instead,
Francois was proving to be
a
difficult patient.  He was bellowing for coffee and running the nurses ragged demanding that they fax letters and bring him responses immediately.  He'd set up a mini-police station in his room by having hospital engineering hook up a portable fax and a multiple-line phone
and wireless internet
. Jack was on the phone to the FBI branch in Quantico when Alex and Adam entered his suite.

He waved them both toward the sofa.  They looked at each other with their eyebrows raised.   Alex couldn't believe he'd just gone undergone major surgery and yet, was sitting up working. 

Francois' voice was weak.  "Glad to see you.  Need you to fill me in on the details.  My men aren't here yet, and I can't remember everything.  Where's Robert?" 

His voice was low, and a little hoarse from the endotracheal tube.  Nevertheless, it was remarkable he was even alert.

Alex immediately knew he was unaware Robert had been shot.    She said gently, "He's in surgery, Jack.  He took a bullet in his arm
- he had it raised to protect you.  The bullet hit the bone and
ricocheted
off.  It hit Mitch in the neck.  Mitch is dead," Alex said with a tear in her eye.

"I don't remember seeing Landry."  Francois was confused.  "Tell me what happened?  I thought I knew but now I'm not sure."  Jack was hesitant.

Alex looked at her grandfather.  "Want me to tell?"  Adam nodded.

Then Alex started, "It all happened so fast.   The man, the sea monster, appeared in the doorway and you and Robert went after him.  I followed with my derringer."

"Shit, you had a gun?"  Francois was incredulous.

  "Yep."   Alex smiled.  "Anyway, Robert held up his arm, and Mercier's bullet went through his arm into Mitch's neck, killing him instantly."  Alex paused, a big lump in her throat.  She glanced at the captain who was listening intently, and continued, "At that point, you got shot."

"Yeah, yeah,
that pa
rt I know.  Who killed the shooter?"

Alex and her grandfather looked at each other.  Adam nodded at Alex.

"I did.  I had my grandmother's derringer and I shot him twice."

Francois's face was shocked.  "Huh?  You killed the Ponytail
with a derringer
?
Wow, you go girl.”  Jack leaned over attempting to give Alex a high five
, but quickly fell back onto the bed
groaning with pain. 
Gasping, he said,
“
Good job.  Who killed Mercier?"  

"No idea. I don't think the police know either.  Mercier was getting ready to shoot Robert, when, all of a sudden, someone
out
of nowhere, shot him in the head.  Guess it was the police."  Alex looked perplexed.

"Wasn't the police.  That much we know for sure."   His voice was weak, tired.

"Jack, you've got to rest.  We've got a lot of work to do to put this case to bed, and I need you alive."

Francois nodded his head feebly. 

  Congressman Lee grasped his hand.  "Alex is right, Captain.  We'll figure the rest out tomorrow."

Alex and her grandfather left Francois in the care of a nurse and headed toward the recovery room to see Robert.  He was in relatively good spirits, but was concerned about his arm.  Alex offered him as much reassurance as she could, but both knew that nerve damage would be fatal to his career.

It was after midnight when they arrived home.  Alex was so tired, and in so much pain, she took two pain pills before she went to bed.  She slept for twelve straight hours.

Alex staggered out of bed to the smell of coffee.  Her grandfather was in the den watching TV and reading the Sunday paper.

She joined him with a cup of coffee.  Her grandfather said,

"Francois called.  Wants us to join him for lunch at CCMC so he can give us some new information.  You feel up to going?"

"Sure.  I'm much better today.  How's he's feeling?"

"Pretty good, but he sounded a little weak on the phone.  You know, I'm impressed by him.  Like to have more police like him in Virginia."

Alex smiled at the Congressman.  "Forget it.  He's committed.
This is his home.
"

"You know better than that.  I could use him in Washington, maybe at the Federal level."

Alex couldn't control her laughter.  "Jack Francois would never make it with a bunch of Washington bureaucrats.  He'd either die or kill them."

Her grandfather smiled.  "We'll see.  Get dressed."

Alex and her grandfather entered Francois' VIP suite and were greeted by Doctor Ashley, Elizabeth, and Don Montgomery. 

Francois was sitting up in the bed.  "By the way, I like these digs.  You arrange for them?"  The captain gestured around the VIP suite.

Don immediately stepped forward.  "I arranged it.  How can we ever repay all you've done for us."

Don was interrupted as a nurse rolled Robert into the room followed by Andre Renou, who was looking stricken and sad.  Robert was pale and wan.

Uh oh, Alex thought.  Something's wrong.  Her gut knotted up.

Francois began saying, "It's been a long week for all of us but I think we've got some answers.  First of all, the Ponytail or sea
monster
has been identified by the FBI as Monte Salvadal.  He's a paid assassin, suspected in a number of international corporate hits in recent years.  His favorite method of killing was strangulation.  Raccine confirmed that Salvadal was responsible for the voodoo attack on the first lady and identified him a
s the man who forced entry into
his home several days ago."

Andre Renou interrupted Francois.  "Before we go any further, I'd like to read a statement from the governor.  First of all, he's unable to be here today but he's happy to report that his wife is now awake and doing well at East Jefferson."

Everyone applauded, delighted with the news.

"I also h
ave a written statement from Governor
Raccine." 

The group waited expectantly while Renou
unfolded
a piece of official stationary
, his hands shaking
and read, "I'm pleased to hear things at CCMC are resolved.  My congratulations to its leadership and staff.  CCMC is, and has always been, the finest hospital in Louisiana.  On another note, I wanted you to
know
that I've resigned as the Executive Officer of the State of
Louisiana.  I wish to be with my wife as she proceeds towards a complete recovery.  Godspeed to you in the rebuilding process."

Alex spoke
and broke
the silence. "Please tell the governor we wish h
im
and Mrs. Raccine the very best."

"Thank you, Ms. Destephano.  I'll relay that message.  If there are no questions, I need to go.  Feel free to contact me if you need anything at all.
"
 

Robert looked devastated after Renou left.  Don, Elizabeth, and Doctor Ashley looked surprised. 

"Well, let me continue," Francois said after several moments.
"We thin
k Salvadal was working for Health
Trust, and was in effect, a
ssisting in the
takeover
of
CCMC
and other large health conglomerates
."

Don
smiling broadly in his vindication, interrupted
.  "I told you it was a conspiracy against us.  Knew these couldn't be accidents."     

Robert interrupted, "Jack, we know that Salvadal was responsible for the attack on Grace Raccine.  What about the shootout in the emergency department and the lady that was burned by her EKG machine?"

"Don't know for sure, as I
said
it
'
s
speculation."  Francois poured a cup of water from his bedside pitcher, and then continued, "Raccine told us Salvadal admitted working for
Health
Trust, and said he'd been hired to deliver CCMC to them.  Of course,
Health
Trust denies this.  Salvadal also claimed the attack on Mrs. Raccine.  We can't yet prove that Salvadal was responsible for the other attacks." 

"Of course, he was
!
  He was trying to ruin our image and credibility.  Any moron can
see that," Don, red faced and blustering, said.

Francois looked placatingly at Don.  "Proving it is another story.  We will, at some point.  We do know that Salvadal,
Frederico
Petrelli, and Jonathan Mercier had been seen together several times over the past few weeks, mostly in local restaurants.  Of course Mercier is dead, and
Frederico
is hiding behind the mob lawyers out of Chicago.  He denies knowing either man or anything about a conspiracy to ruin CCMC."

Alex said, "Why d
o
you think they were together?  What's in it for this
Frederico
?  Who is he?"

"Don't know for sure. 
Frederico
heads the mob here and is interested in gambling,
drugs, and prostit
ution."  Francois turned toward
Robert and said, "Jonathan Mercier's motive was to get you.  We figure the three shared common interests and were working together
,
but we don't know how they met
or
Frederico
's motives.  That's it for now."  Francois took a sip of water.

"Who murdered Mercier?  Do you know yet," Alex said quietly.

"Nope.  Trying to put it together.  None of the bullet trajectories for the NOPD match up.  From the location of Mercier's wound, the shot had to have been fired from behind him. 
The bullet was from a
.
308 Winchester - a
high-power
ed hunting rifle
cartridge
. 
We're not sure of the make of the gun. 
Nobody saw the rifle, so the shooter must not have been close.
We're questioning people, but so far, nothing."  Francois looked around.  "Any other questions?"