“Then pneumonia developed rapidly,” Dr. Pilsner continued. “I’ve tried everything. Nothing seemed to make a difference.”
They arrived at the ICU. Dr. Pilsner hesitated, leaning against the door. He sighed from exhaustion. “I’m afraid she’s now in septic shock. We’re having to maintain her blood pressure. It doesn’t look good at all. I’m afraid I’m going to lose her.”
They went into the unit. Caroline was in a coma. A tube issued from her mouth and was connected to a respirator. Her body was covered with wires and intravenous lines. Monitors recorded her pulse and blood pressure. David shuddered as he looked down at the stricken child. In his mind’s eye he saw Nikki in Caroline’s place, and the image terrorized him.
The ICU nurse handling Caroline gave a capsule report. Nothing had improved since Dr. Pilsner had left an hour earlier. As soon as Dr. Pilsner had been fully briefed, he and David walked over to the central desk. David used the opportunity to discuss Nikki’s condition with him. Dr. Pilsner listened and then agreed that oral antibiotics were indicated. He suggested the type and dosage.
Before leaving the unit David tried to bolster Dr. Pilsner with an encouraging word. David knew all too well how the pediatrician felt.
Before seeing his office patients, David called Angela to tell her about Nikki’s antibiotics. Then he told her about Caroline. Angela was dumbstruck.
“You think she’s going to die?” Angela asked.
“That’s Dr. Pilsner’s feeling,” David said.
“Nikki was with her yesterday,” Angela said.
“You don’t have to remind me,” David said. “But Caroline was much better. She was afebrile.”
“Oh, God,” Angela said. “It seems to be one thing after another. Can you get the antibiotics for Nikki and take them home over your lunch hour?”
“Okay,” David said agreeably.
“I’ll be heading up to Burlington as planned,” Angela said.
“You’re still going?” David asked.
“Of course,” Angela said. “Calhoun called me to confirm. Apparently he’s already spoken to the officer in charge of the crime-scene division up in Burlington.”
“Have a good trip,” David said. He hung up before he could say something he might regret. Angela’s priorities irked him. While he was worrying himself sick about Caroline and Nikki, she was still obsessed with the Hodges affair.
“I appreciate your seeing me,” Calhoun said as he took a chair in front of Helen Beaton’s desk. “As I told your secretary, I only have a few questions.”
“And I have a question for you,” Beaton said.
“Who should go first?” Calhoun asked. Then he held up his pack of cigars. “May I smoke?”
“No, you may not smoke,” Beaton said. “There’s no smoking in this hospital. And I think I should ask my questions first. The answer might affect the duration of this interview.”
“By all means,” Calhoun said. “You first.”
“Who hired you?” Beaton asked.
“That’s an unfair question,” Calhoun said.
“And why is that?”
“Because my clients have a right to privacy,” Calhoun said. “Now it’s my turn. I understand that Dr. Hodges was a frequent visitor to your office.”
“If I may interrupt,” Beaton said. “If your clients choose to withhold their identity, then I see no reason to cooperate with you.”
“That’s up to you,” Calhoun said. “Of course there are those who might wonder why the president of a hospital would have a problem speaking about her immediate predecessor. They might even start thinking you know who killed Hodges.”
“Thank you for coming in,” Beaton said. She stood up and smiled. “You won’t goad me into talking, not without my knowing just who’s behind your efforts. My main concern is the hospital. Good day, Mr. Calhoun.”
Calhoun got to his feet. “I have a feeling I’ll be seeing you again,” he said.
Calhoun left administration and descended to the basement. His next interviewee was Werner Van Slyke. Calhoun found him in the hospital shop replacing electrical motors in several hospital beds.
“Werner Van Slyke?” Calhoun questioned.
“Yeah,” Van Slyke said in his monotone.
“Name’s Calhoun. Mind if I have a chat with you?”
“What about?”
“Dr. Dennis Hodges,” Calhoun said.
“If you don’t mind my working,” Van Slyke said. He turned his attention back to the motors.