Part 26 (1/2)
”Sure, I can do that.” He walked behind the counter to the computer and began typing and clicking. After a few minutes he said, ”Let's see, between 12:00 and 1:00... n.o.body paid with a credit card during that period. Just a few cash payments.”
”What if they printed doc.u.ments from one of those computers?” said Greg, pointing to the four desktop computers along the back wall. ”Are copies of those doc.u.ments saved somewhere?”
”Yeah. They're saved on the print server for a week. I'll check it.” He worked at the computer a few more minutes and then said, ”Here's something.”
”Can I see it?” said Greg.
”Yeah. Come around.”
Greg and Cynthia walked behind the counter and looked over the man's shoulders. The t.i.tle of the doc.u.ment read: Informed Consent for Partic.i.p.ation in a Clinical Trial It didn't make sense to Greg. Why would the killer be involved in a clinical trial of experimental drugs for Alzheimer's disease? Beverly didn't have Alzheimer's. But Nancie Jo Gristel did. Who else? He had just heard of somebody else who had Alzheimer's. It was Mallie Mae Mobley. And her son had just taken a leave of absence from his medical practice.
Then he remembered the nurse at the hospital the other day. She seemed to know the Mobleys better than she let on. Maybe he was just grasping at straws. But it might be a clue. And right now it was the only one they had.
”Thanks. You've been a great help,” said Greg.
”I have?” said the man.
”Yes, you have.” He turned to Cynthia. ”Let's go.”
As they got into the car, Cynthia said, ”What's going on? Where are we going?”
”To see a nurse.”
Chapter29.
Macy checked the clock on the instrument panel as Elmo pulled into the garage. It was 9:34 PM. Their day was about to end. And what an amazing day it had been. She wished it could go on until midnight, until tomorrow, until forever. But now she had to walk Mallie Mae to her room and get her ready for bed.
Elmo and Macy got out of the car, and Macy was about to open the back door to wake up Mallie Mae. But Elmo walked around to her and motioned for her to wait. He looked in the back seat. Mallie Mae was in a peaceful slumber.
He took Macy in his arms and spoke softly. ”This has been the most wonderful day.”
Macy had so many things to say, but couldn't manage to say any of them before Elmo began to lean in to give her a kiss. Earlier in the evening, when he had kissed her forehead on the dance floor she had overwhelmed with emotion. This time he was going for the lips. She wondered if she would literally faint in his arms.
Realizing she was holding her breath, she tried to relax and inhale, which only served to fill her lungs with his marvelous scent and radiate quivers throughout her body. The few inches of movement from his lips to hers pa.s.sed in slow motion-probably because her brain was processing a million thoughts a second. Every nerve ending stood waiting on high alert.
But how could the real thing compare to her fantasies? What if it was a disappointment? Or worse yet, what if it was much better than her fantasies, but led nowhere? One exciting kiss wouldn't guarantee a happy ever after.
Quit thinking and just kiss him, Macy told herself.
She was surprised at how natural it felt-as though their lips had been created by G.o.d as a complemental set. She was kissing the only man she had ever loved. And now she knew her fantasies had been but a superficial portrayal of this exquisite reality.
When he gently pulled away and she came out of her trance, she had no idea how long it had lasted. But it was not long enough.
”Better get Mom to bed,” said Elmo.
”Okay.”
Macy turned to open the back door.
”And after you get her settled in, why don't you come down for a while? I'll be in my study,” said Elmo, smiling.
”Okay, I will.” Macy wondered just how fast she could get Mallie Mae to bed.
”Why are we going to see a nurse?” said Cynthia.
”It's just a hunch,” said Greg. ”Wednesday morning I was at the hospital sitting with a church member whose husband was having back surgery.”
”Yeah, I remember.”
”And we were talking about the Mobleys, and how Elmo was taking a leave from his medical practice because he had just discovered his mother had Alzheimer's. And there was a nurse over at the computer who seemed to be taking quite an interest in the conversation. I felt guilty when I started to feel that we were gossiping. So, I went over to the nurse and apologized.”
”Why did you apologize to her?”
”I don't know. I just had the impression she might be a close friend of the Mobley family, and that she might have been offended by what was being said.”
”So, what did shesay?”
”She told me it was okay. And she acted as though she was no more than a casual acquaintance. But I didn't buy it. She definitely knew more than she was saying,” said Greg.
He parked the Bonneville in the hospital parking lot and they got out and walked toward the main entrance.
”What's her name?” said Cynthia.
”I don't remember.”
”Well, then how are we going to find her?”
”I doremember that it sounded Biblical. Her name sounded like a character from the Bible.”
”Okay, this could take a while. Where do we start? Mary?”
”Mary... I think it isMary.”
”Mary who? Is her last name also Biblical?”
”Actually...I don't know. Maybe,” said Greg.
”Mary Magdalene? Surely not.”
”Wait-that's close.”
Cynthia looked at Greg in disbelief as they walked through the gla.s.s doors and into the lobby.
”May I help you,” said the elderly woman at the information desk.
”Yes,” said Greg. ”I need to find a particular nurse, but I'm not sure about her name.”