The Silence That Speaks (14 page)

Marc made a disgusted sound.

“I understand your distaste for the situation,” Conrad responded. “It wasn’t one of Ronald’s finer qualities. But he was a good man and a good friend. So Doug and I put up with his weekly sexual updates, and focused on our weekly golf games.”

Doug Wilton. Casey remembered him well from the dedication ceremony.

“Doug spoke very highly of you,” she said. “As he did of Ronald. But in your case, he was pretty devastated that you might not come back. He respects you enormously as a surgeon.”

This time Conrad’s smile was genuine. “Doug is a great cardiologist and a great guy. We worked well together, and we were friends outside the hospital. I didn’t socialize much, since I spent most of my life in the O.R. But Doug, Ronald and I were pretty tight.”

Casey exchanged a quick glance with Marc. He understood. Her next job would be to talk to Janet. His would be to talk to Doug.

“One last question, and then we’ll let you get some rest,” she said. “Did Nancy Lexington know about her husband’s indiscretions?”

“Can I swear to it?” Conrad replied. “No. But Nancy is a very shrewd woman. She’d have to be very naive—which she’s not—to be totally unaware of Ronald’s sexual liaisons. When Madeline and I went out to dinner with them or socialized with them in any way, Nancy kept a tight watch on her husband. So I’d have to say yes, Nancy knew Ronald had a roving eye.”

“Thank you.” Casey rose. “We’ve tired you out enough. We’ll get back to work and let you lie down.”

“Did Ronald hit on Madeline?” Marc’s question came out of nowhere.

Conrad’s head shake was adamant. “Absolutely not. Ronald was a loyal friend. He would never do that to me. Plus, Madeline would have told me. She was not a fan of Ronald’s behavior.”

“Okay, then that’s a dead end,” Marc replied. “There’s no one who would be jealous of Madeline, at least not for that.”

“No.”

“This whole case could have nothing to do with Ronald Lexington,” Casey said. “But we have to check every angle, which we are. In fact, I’m going to lunch with Janet Moss tomorrow to see what I can learn.”

Conrad chuckled. “You’re going to the right source. No one sneezes in Manhattan Memorial without Janet knowing about it.”

“Then she might be a gold mine. By your own account, you practically lived at that hospital. And Madeline’s life is pretty tied up there, too. Not to mention the fact that whoever tried to kill you managed to be at Crest Haven and also knew what combination of meds would cause a massive overdose. So it’s probable that the perp works in your hospital or possibly even here.”

Conrad’s lips thinned into a grim line. “I know. That’s why I’m so grateful for the security you’re providing.”

“Don’t be grateful. Just let our security guys do their job. And make us the list of what might have been on that external hard drive. It’s possible we’ll spot something you’re missing.”

16

CASEY EDGED A
look at Marc as he drove out of the Crest Haven gates.

“Careful, navy SEAL. Your personal feelings are starting to show again.”

Marc’s jaw tightened. “The question was a legitimate one, and had nothing to do with personal feelings. I was trying to find a common motive that would explain why the killer wants to get rid of both Madeline and Conrad.”

“I get it. But you don’t usually ask questions with such passion.”

“Stop looking for things that aren’t there, Casey. I’m just doing my job.”

“Uh-huh.” Casey dropped the subject. She’d made her point.

“You’ll set up a meeting with Doug Wilton?” she asked.

“Yup. ASAP. Followed by Jacob Casper.” Marc frowned. “But when I talk with them, I’m going to concentrate on Conrad and Madeline, not just Ronald. I feel as if we’re forgetting who the intended victims are. Lexington is dead. He’s not a victim or a suspect. It’s a shame he died, but Conrad didn’t murder him. Nor did Madeline.”

“I agree.” Casey pursed her lips. “So you think we’re getting off track?”

“Unless the killers are the Lexingtons, yes. It’s been three months since Lexington’s death. Only his family could be so affected by his loss for their pain to fester and grow until it exploded into revenge against the people they hold responsible. Even then, Madeline’s guilt in the failed surgery is weak. Add up the pieces and the only people who fit the guilty bill are Nancy and her kids. And Ryan’s already all over that angle. So it’s time we spread our investigative wings and look elsewhere.”

“You’re right,” Casey agreed. “And I plan to do exactly that with Janet Moss. Tomorrow’s lunch will be very interesting.”

* * *

The next morning at 10:00 a.m. Casey’s cell phone rang.

Her heart sank when she saw Janet’s number. Dammit. The woman was probably canceling.

“Hi, Janet. What’s up?” She could hear the bustling hum of the hospital in the background.

“My schedule, that’s what’s up.” Janet sounded frazzled and upset. “I can’t get away at noon. I can take a one o’clock break, but probably only for forty-five minutes. I know this is a tacky thing to ask, but would you mind meeting me at the first-floor Au Bon Pain? I so don’t want to cancel, but unfortunately, convenience has to trump a good meal.”

How much more perfect could it get? Access to Janet and the hospital staff all at once.

“Of course I don’t mind,” Casey replied. “I’ll meet you outside the entrance at one.”

“Oh, thank you.” Janet sounded as relieved as Casey felt. “I want to hear all about you and Forensic Instincts.”

“And you will. I’ll see you at one.”

* * *

It was astonishing how “cafeterias” in hospitals had changed—at least this one, Casey noted, standing outside Au Bon Pain at 12:55 p.m. Gone was the old-fashioned institutional cafeteria. In its place was one of several small but modern, well-known eateries scattered throughout the hospital. Space-efficient and a lot more pleasing to the palette.

Scanning the busy first floor, Casey was pleased to see that the people passing through the corridor were either arriving visitors or destination-oriented personnel. The restaurant followed suit: its patrons were mostly those who were grabbing a quick cup of coffee or a light meal to take with them.

That meant that the little round tables and matching white chairs were almost completely empty. Casey suspected that the upper-level eateries had a lot more sit-down traffic, but this was the in-and-out level.

Maybe that’s why Janet had picked it.

At that moment, Janet appeared, weaving hurriedly between the passersby until she reached Casey’s side.

“I got here the moment I could,” she said breathlessly.

“I was early. You’re more than on time.” Casey extended her hand. “It’s good to see you again.”

“I’m thrilled.” Janet’s handshake was firm and friendly. “I can’t thank you enough for taking the time to talk with me.” She gestured at the restaurant. “Let’s get our food. The farthest table on the right is empty and the longest distance from the corridor. We’ll have some privacy to talk.”

“Great,” Casey replied. “You sound like you’ve done this before.”

“For more private conversations, yes.” Janet smiled. “After twenty-six years of working here, I’d better have picked up a few tricks. Otherwise, I’d be a complete idiot.”

The two women got their salads and coffee and sat down at the table Janet had indicated.

Casey glanced at her watch. Forty minutes to go. She’d spend fifteen of those minutes telling Janet the most exciting aspects of Forensic Instincts, and then shift the conversation where she wanted it—on Conrad, Madeline, Ronald and other hospital personnel.

Janet pushed aside her salad, propped her elbows on the table and leaned forward.

“So what’s it like running Forensic Instincts? Is it similar to what you see on
Criminal Minds?
You’re an expert in human behavior. That’s kind of like what they are on that show. It’s scary and riveting all at once.”

Casey had heard that question a dozen times.

“It’s a lot less Hollywood, but no less exciting,” she replied, giving Janet a mixture of the truth and the answer she wanted to hear. “We catch all kinds of criminals, from kidnappers, to money launderers, to rapists and murderers.”

Janet’s eyes grew huge. “I read all about your last case. You were the target. How terrifying. What happened when—?”

“Janet.” Casey held up her palm. There was no acting involved here. “I can’t talk about that case. It’s still too raw.”

“I understand.” She nodded sagely. “Can you tell me about your team? How did you put it together?”

That was a far easier question, one that Casey explained candidly. She was damned proud of the FI team, and tooting their horns was something she did without hesitation.

She gave Janet a few more highlights, then took a bite of her salad.

“I know you need to get back soon,” she said. “You must have a very significant job here.”

Janet puffed up a bit. “I started at the bottom. Twenty-six years later, I run the administrative wing. All the staff members there report to me.”

“Pretty impressive. I don’t know how you keep it all straight.”

“I have an unbelievable memory. I remember everything, not only about my staff but about everything that goes on in this hospital. Of course, I was outclassed by Ronald.” She smiled fondly. “He had a photographic memory. There was nothing he couldn’t recall. It was sometimes frustrating as hell to work with him.”

“I can imagine. But Jacob Casper must really appreciate you.”

“He does.” Janet sounded less than enthusiastic. “And he runs a very tight, by-the-book department. Truthfully, it was more interesting when Ronald was in charge.”

“Yes, from what I’m hearing he was a very charismatic man,” Casey said carefully. It was too soon to tread on Janet’s toes.

Janet picked up on the inference, anyway. It was written all over her face.

“Ronald was good, not only at his job but to his employees,” she replied. Her tone was politically correct. But it was also sincere. “He made them want to work there. The atmosphere was much more relaxed and friendly when he was at the helm.”

“I see.” Casey allowed a brief silence, hoping Janet would fill it.

She wasn’t disappointed.

“By
charismatic
I assume you’re referring to Ronald’s personal life.”

“Am I prying?”

Janet shrugged. “It’s hardly a secret. Ronald loved women and they loved him. But it was always mutual. No lines were crossed...except a few hospital lines.”

“No harm, no foul,” Casey responded. “If the women were willing and their work didn’t suffer—”

“I didn’t say that,” Janet interrupted. She lowered her voice to a whisper. “There was an incident some months back. Ronald was sleeping with two women in our department—Valerie Pintar and Francine Ryder. Each knew about the other, and there was genuine hatred between them. Their work went down the tubes. I had no choice but to go to Ronald with the problem. Both women had to be dismissed.”

“But there was no disciplinary action taken against Ronald?”

Janet shifted uncomfortably. “We kept Ronald’s name out of the report—although I think some people thought we should do otherwise.”

“Which people?”

“Conrad and Madeline Westfield.”

Casey blinked. “But they were close friends.”

“That’s why I think they backed down in the end,” Janet replied, picking at her salad. “Conrad had a huge argument with Ronald. I could hear it through the wall that connected our offices. He told Ronald bluntly that he couldn’t go on mixing personal and professional. He said he was uncomfortable looking the other way. Ronald was sheepish and admitted that he’d been wrong. I guess Conrad felt placated. Their voices had quieted before Conrad left the office.”

“What about Madeline? Where did she factor into it?”

“She went to Ronald separately,” Janet said. “Their conversation wasn’t as heated, but she was pretty firm. Ronald said he’d already talked to Conrad and he’d be changing his behavior. That’s all I could overhear.”

Casey went for it. “Is there any chance that Nancy Lexington knew about the affairs or the confrontations between her husband and the Westfields?”

Janet contemplated answering. Then she said, “You’re a private investigator so I know this will stay between us. Nancy was in the administrative wing that day. She was helping out since we were short staffed. I can’t be sure, but Conrad and Ronald were pretty loud. It’s very possible she overheard them. And she definitely saw Madeline go in there. She was right outside the door during that argument.”

More motive stacked up against Nancy Lexington.

“Wow,” Casey replied. “That must have been a tough one for a wife to swallow. I don’t envy her.”

“She knew who she was married to.”

“I suppose.” Enough on that subject. “But I hardly think there’d be any hard feelings when it came to Madeline. She’s such a warm, likable person.”

“Yes, she is,” Janet confirmed. “Everyone in the hospital adores her. When Diana first came to work here, Madeline mentored her in so many ways, so I’m biased. But I’m far from alone. When Conrad and Madeline’s divorce was final, a slew of people stood behind Madeline and offered their help and support. Conrad didn’t have nearly that big a fan club. Then again, he didn’t interact much with the staff. He was either in the O.R. or reviewing his own work.”

“So he was disliked?”

Another shrug. “I don’t think anyone was close enough to him to dislike him. He was resented, mostly by jealous staff members. Personable or not, his talent was unquestionable. But when the merger first came up, there were definite rumblings. Many people thought he was secretly cutthroat about getting that new job.”

“What about Sharon Gilding?”

Janet made a face. “She’s
always
cutthroat. And about being chief of surgery? I think she’d do anything short of killing someone for that position. Conrad is the front-runner, but she’s right on his heels. God help him if he gets that job—even though I truly believe he deserves it more. He’s been with the hospital longer, and his techniques in cardiothoracic surgery have been published everywhere. Plus, Sharon would run the surgical unit like a dictator. Everyone already hates her—that would put the icing on the cake. An atmosphere like that can’t help but breed negativity and lackluster performance.”

“So there’s no love lost between Sharon and Conrad.”

“None, at least from her perspective. I’m not even sure Conrad is aware of how deep her competitive instincts run.”

“And Madeline? Is she impacted by Dr. Gilding’s personality—more than the rest of the staff, I mean?”

Janet sighed. “Madeline is such a kind soul, I don’t think she realizes that people like Sharon think of her and Conrad as a package deal. I know they’re divorced, but that’s a moot point since they’ve been living apart for ages. The fact is, they began as friends and they’re still friends. They’re each other’s strongest advocates. From what I’ve heard through the neurology department’s grapevine, Sharon thinks of Madeline as an asset to Conrad that she wishes would go away.”

Casey was about to open her mouth when a tentative female voice interrupted her.

“Hi, Mom.”

Glancing up, Casey recognized the dark-haired young woman who was standing there holding a tray as Janet’s daughter, Diana.

“Well, hi, honey.” Janet went for surprise and failed miserably. “What brings you to this neck of the woods?”

Diana surprised Casey by answering honestly. “You don’t have to pretend on my account. We talked about this. I’ve seen Forensic Instincts on the news and online. I wanted to meet Ms. Woods. Having her here is the most exciting thing I can remember happening at the hospital.”

“I agree.” Janet shot Casey an apologetic look. “Do you mind if Diana joins us? I have to run in a few minutes, anyway, and I know she also wants to hear about you and your team.”

“Of course not.” Casey gestured for Diana to pull up a chair. This unexpected development had its benefits. Casey had gotten some good preliminary info from Janet. Maybe Diana could give her another point of view. She might not be a gossipmonger like her mother, but she was a nurse—right in the trenches.

“Thank you.” Diana slid into a chair and placed her tray, which contained a bowl of soup and a piece of French bread, on the table.

Janet glanced at her watch and rolled her eyes. “Five more minutes, max, or Jacob will have my head.” A hopeful look at Casey. “Maybe you and I could have dinner one evening after work so we can talk more about your exciting life at a time when I don’t have to cut things short and make you eat shrink-wrapped food.”

Casey chuckled. “I didn’t mind. It was nice getting to know you better. Sure, let’s check our schedules and set up a dinner.”

“Wonderful,” Janet said, looking once again like a kid in a candy store.

The next five minutes Casey spent recapping a lot of the same FI specifics that she had with Janet. Diana was quieter than her mother, but her listening skills were better. Her eyes stayed glued to Casey, wide and interested. She ate her soup on autopilot, not even seeming to notice it.