Bone of Contention: A Medical Thriller With Heart (The Gina Mazzio Series Book 4)

by Bette Golden Lamb

  “She’s not here,” Taneka said. “She and Thelma haven’t come back yet and I’m starting to get worried, what with all this rain and flooding.”

  “I thought you were having lunch with them.”

  “We went to the restaurant together, but I was called back for an emergency meeting of all the supervisors. They stayed on to have lunch.”

  “Well, like you say, maybe they’re just dealing with the deluge,” Harry said. “Traffic is probably a mess out there.”

  Taneka could tell he didn’t believe it. “I’ll have Gina call you as soon as she comes in.”

  “Okay, have her call my cell. I’m leaving here in a few minutes – grocery shopping, then home.”

  “Okay.” She stood and paced back and forth. In addition to worrying about Thelma and Gina, she didn’t like being called out of the administrative meeting to work the floor – it made her look weak, as though she couldn’t run her department efficiently.

  She sat down, scrolled into the computer, found Gina’s new cell number, and called it. It rang and rang, finally went to the mailbox.

  She also had Thelma’s number on speed dial. It took only two rings for her to pick up.

  “Yeah.”

  “Hi, Thelma, it’s Taneka. Is there something wrong? The two of you are unreasonably late ... we’re really jammed up here.”

  The phone went dead.

  She hung up on me? What the hell's going on here. There be a damn good explanation or head are damn sure going to roll.

  * * *

  “That was Taneka, wasn’t it?” Gina said. “Were you going to hijack her, too?”

  “Yeah, I had plans for her, only now it’s going to be easier with just you to deal with.”

  “But she’ll be looking for us. And so will my fiancé.”

  “Give me your phone.”

  “No way.”

  “You listen to me ... you get into that big bag you carry around and get that phone out.”

  “No!”

  As swift as a viper, Thelma pulled the syringe from her pocket and held it up to Gina’s neck.

  “What, you think I won’t use this?”

  “All right.” Gina put her hand in her purse and withdrew the cell, held it out to Thelma.

  Thelma ignored her for a moment as she signaled and pulled off Sausalito’s main street and onto the shoulder. “Okay, now toss the phone out the window.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. Get rid of it!”

  Gina hit the button and the window rolled down, allowing a gust of wind and a funnel of rain to splash across her and the front seat. She threw the phone out and quickly brought the window back up.

  Chapter 53

  Harry stood at the apartment window, looking down onto the street. Rain was inundating everything, and he still hadn’t heard from Gina. He watched water starting to back up from the street drains; it gave him a sense of foreboding He wanted to believe that Gina was all right, that the love of his life was safe, out of harm’s way. But something told him she was in trouble; he was sure of that as he was of his own name.

  He’d checked in again with Mulzini, who seemed to be moving at a snail’s pace. He recognized that the inspector was a professional who wouldn’t go off the deep end without evidence. But despite what Mulzini had told Gina, Harry didn’t give a rat’s ass right now about evidence – he wanted Gina back with him. Now!

  Vinnie popped into his head, which also was troubling. Would Vinnie ever trust Harry again if he didn’t tell him about what was going on with Gina? It would be much easier to dismiss him, say this situation was just another problem to add to his PTSD. But Harry knew better. Vinnie and Gina were not just close, they were extensions of one another. Vinnie would be furious if Harry withheld anything this serious, and rightfully so.

  He turned away from the window and walked into the kitchen to put away the rest of the groceries he’d picked up from the supermarket on his way home. Shopping was a poor second to having lunch with the love of his life, but it was a diverting activity ... for a very short time.

  He filled a glass with milk, right up to the brim. He sat on a counter stool and drank slowly. Since he was a kid, sitting and sipping milk allowed him to think and solve problems. Halfway through, he reached for his cell, which was charging on the kitchen counter.

  He called Vinnie’s hospital floor and asked to speak to him.

  “Vinnie? It’s me, Harry.”

  “What’s up, man?”

  “I’m worried about Gina.”

  Harry could hear Vinnie’s breath catch before he answered. “Is it Dominick?”

  “I don’t think so. She went to lunch with that medical assistant, Thelma—”

  “I know about that one. Gina told me she thought Thelma was responsible for the deaths of the abortion patients.”

  “That’s the one.”

  “Why’s she going to lunch with her?”

  “It was supposed to be the two of them, along with the charge nurse, Taneka.”

  “And no one knows what’s happened to them?”

  “Taneka’s had to go back to the clinic early and she has no idea what has happened to Gina and Thelma. The thing is, I didn’t want you to be in the dark about it, Vinnie.”

  “You’re home, right? I’ll be right there.”

  “No Vinnie, wait!”

  He’d hung up.

  * * *

  Vinnie’s head was exploding. He went into the nearest bathroom, locked himself in a stall, sat down on the toilet, and covered his ears. The blasting noise, the resounding blasts wouldn’t stop.

  Boom! Boom! Boom!

  “Can’t do this,” he said to the door. “Can’t fall apart now. I can’t. I can’t. I can’t.” He closed his eyes.

  Gina needs me ... needs me.

  He began to rock back and forth. Rocking, rocking – it was the only thing that seemed to calm him. He filled his lungs with deep breaths, concentrated on the air that went in and out of his body. The noises started to subside, little by little.

  He opened his eyes. He couldn’t, wouldn’t stay here.

  * * *

  “Inspector Mulzini, it’s Harry again. Thelma and Gina still haven’t returned from lunch.” His voice caught in his throat. “Did you hear me? I tried to call Gina and her charge nurse said they never came back from lunch and no one has heard a word from them.”

  “And you said she was with Thelma Karsh?”

  “Yes! That one!”

  “Calm down, Harry. It could be nothing more than the bad weather ... flooding, a minor fender-bender, any number of things.”

  “I don’t think you believe that any more than I do, Inspector. I want to, but I just can’t. Gina’s cell is turned off and Thelma answered a call from Ridgewood then immediately hung up. I know my Gina. She’s in trouble. She needs us.”

  “Okay. Where are you?”

  “I’m at home. My brother-in-law will be here any minute now.”

  “Is that the ex-Marine, the one who’s working at Ridgewood?”

  “Yeah.”

  “You two stay put ... you hear me, Harry?”

  “Maybe you can GPS her phone. That might help.”

  “Okay, Harry. Good suggestion. Hang tight.”

  Chapter 54

  Thelma parked her car in front of a dilapidated shed near the bay in northern Sausalito. “Did you think you could get away with pinning those deaths on me?” Thelma asked. “You may be a nurse, but you’re not as smart as you think you are. Taneka would never believe you.”

  “How do you know what Taneka would or wouldn’t believe?”

  “That’s a stupid question.”

  “Maybe I do underrate you, Thelma, but you sure as hell overrate yourself.”

  Thelma back handed her across the cheek again, fast and hard. Gina’s head snapped from the jolting blow.

  “Right here ... right now ... today, you’re going to learn what it feels like to be powerless. Then you’ll understand wha
t my life’s been like.”

  Gina bit back a retort. Thelma jerked the wheel to the right and turned off the main road. They drove toward the bay, then turned into a short flooded alley that fronted a row of gray, shed-like buildings. A white, crewcab pickup was parked in front of the sheds, its tires in about a half a foot of water.

  Gina looked long and hard at the truck. Her heart lurched; she wasn't certain it was the same vehicle she had been thrown into a few days ago, but it sure as hell looked familiar. A man was sitting behind the wheel; he opened the door, jumped down, and sloshed through the accumulated ground water toward the passenger side of the Honda.

  “Get out!” Thelma ordered.

  “Can’t you and I settle this?”

  Thelma had a broad smile on her face. “I believe this is when snotty people like you want to overlook our differences and just go along with the program.”

  “Please, Thelma.”

  “There’s nothing to settle, Miss High ‘n' Mighty. We’re never going to come to an understanding. And with you gone, I can continue to punish those murdering women. It might be at a different hospital or clinic, but I know how to do it now. I can go anywhere.” Thelma laughed. “Maybe I’ll even get a job at Planned Parenthood.”

  “You’re day-dreaming, Thelma. People know about my suspicions. I’ve spoken to the police department, my fiancé, Taneka.” Gina could hear the desperation clinging to her words. “I sent a culture to the lab of that bacteria-filled jelly you’ve been using to cause septicemia.”

  Thelma gave her that horrible cackle again, only this time it went on and on. “Did you hand-deliver that culture to the lab, Nurse Mazzio?”

  Gina’s breath caught in her throat. She knew what was coming. She’d made a fatal mistake by putting the culture into the delivery cart for pickup instead of taking it to the lab herself.

  “Well, did you?”

  Gina was silent.

  “They’ll get a culture all right, but it will be one of nice fresh KY jelly. Not a microbe in sight.” She jabbed a finger into Gina’s arm. “I told you not to underestimate me.”

  Gina turned away from Thelma’s ruthless gaze.

  “Now, get out!”

  “How are you going to explain my disappearance, Thelma? Everyone knew we were going to lunch together. They’ll come after you.”

  “Marvin and I will be long gone by the time they find you. And trust me, you won’t be in any shape to say anything.”

  “Thelma!”

  “Get your ass out of the car. Now!”

  * * *

  Vinnie and Harry waited for Mulzini in the apartment. Vinnie had just walked away from his job without a word to anyone.

  “You shouldn’t have done that, Vinnie. You really should have stayed have stayed until they brought on a replacement. You’ll probably get fired for this.”

  “Fuck it! I couldn’t care less about that right now,” Vinnie said. “This is about Gina. She’s in trouble.” He gulped down a glass of water. “Why wouldn’t anyone listen to me, to her, when she said Dominick was here and was after her? Even after the cut brake line, no one would listen.”

  “Hey, man, this is not Dominick! How many times to I have to tell you that.”

  “I don’t believe it. It’s him! He’s in San Francisco and he’s after her.”

  “Vinnie, sit down in one place and listen.”

  It took Vinnie a moment, but then he dropped down into the sofa and let his legs sprawl out in front of him.

  “Gina went out to lunch with Thelma Karsh and they never came back. Thelma’s married to Marvin Karsh and Mulzini thinks he’s the one who kidnapped Gina, tried to kill her, and then bury her in Golden Gate Park.” Harry eased down next to his future brother-in-law. “It’s not Dominick!”

  “I know that bastard is in the mix somewhere.”

  There was a knock at the door. Harry and Vinnie jumped up like twin puppets. When Harry went to the door, it was Mulzini.

  “Hi, didn’t hear you ring the entry buzzer,” Harry said.

  “I came in the building with one of your neighbors.” He looked at Vinnie and said, “You even look like your sister.” The Inspector shook Vinnie’s hand. “Thanks for keeping us safe over there.”

  Vinnie flushed as he always did when anyone mentioned his service in the military. “What do you plan on doing, Inspector? Where are we going?”

  “The two of you can ride along this time, even though I don’t like it one bit. But I can’t have you both out of control, doing something stupid, and messing up everything. That’s the only reason I agreed to take you along. At least I can keep an eye on you.”

  “Never realized you had such a low opinion of me,” Harry said.

  “Come on, Harry. It’s your gal out there. Can’t expect you to be at the top of your game with this whole business still hanging. By the way, was there ever a result on that culture Gina was talking about?”

  “Yeah, I called in,” Harry said.

  “Well?”

  “No apparent growth. It was negative.”

  “Well, shit, that really complicates things,” Mulzini said. “That was going to be my hard evidence.”

  Vinnie started pacing. “Okay, okay. Let’s stop the talk and start doing something.”

  * * *

  “There’s the number! That’s the apartment complex,” Harry said as they drove up to where the Karshes were listed as living.

  “Okay. Harry, Vinnie, you stay in the car.”

  “We want to go with you,” Harry said.

  “Well, Harry, that’s just tough shit. The both of you are going to stay right here, and if you give me any lip you’re going to be taking a cab back to your apartment, unless you prefer to walk.” He got out of the car and leaned in through the open door. “Don’t make me any sorrier than I am right now that I brought the two of you with me.”

  Both of them shut up and nodded.

  Must be getting soft in my old age bringing two civilians along with me.

  The complex was one of those mid-priced affairs that probably nabbed way too much money for just the average Joe to live in.

  But looking at the lineup of buzzers, he could see the place was probably full up. There was a name next to each slot.

  He buzzed the Apartment Manager and waited.

  Nothing.

  He poked #101 on the first floor. Almost immediately he was buzzed in.

  A tall woman, not much older than Mulzini and with large inquisitive eyes, opened the door and stepped into the hallway.

  “May I help you?”

  He pulled out his badge and ID; she looked at them very carefully. He knew she was memorizing all the pertinent info.

  “I’m looking for the manager.”

  “He’s not here. I saw him drive away in his truck a while ago.”

  “What kind of truck does he drive?”

  “No idea. Just a white pickup as far as I’m concerned.”

  “A crewcab?”

  “Don’t know what that means.”

  Mulzini sighed. “Extra space behind the seats for more people to ride.”

  “Oh, yeah. I think that’s what he drives.”

  “I see. Is there anything you can tell me about him?”

  “Has he done something wrong?”

  Mulzini used a small shrug as an answer.

  “He’s okay. He’d have more time to do his job if he’d stop trying to mess around with all the female tenants.”

  “Has he tried to hit on you?”

  Her face lit up and she gave him a wide smile. “He’s not that dumb. He knows I keep a baseball bat behind the door for just that occasion.”

  Mulzini laughed. “If you have an emergency relating to the apartment and he’s not here, how do you get in touch with him?”

  “I have his cell number. Let me get it for you.”

  Chapter 55

  Gina stepped out of Thelma's car into ankle-deep water. She looked at the tall, thin man who was carrying a large ba
ckpack over one shoulder. A sudden downpour of rain, driven by a strong gust of wind, drenched every inch of her.

  As he got closer, she could smell him. One whiff, even diluted by the heavy moisture, told her he was the same man who had grabbed her and thrown her into his truck.

  You asshole! Tried to kill me! Bury me!

  “I had you the other day, didn’t I?” the man said. “Thought you and I had finished our business ... thought we were done with each other.” He gave a nasty grunt. “My momma always said,” – he took a moment to cross himself – “never leave a job unfinished. And Marvin always made momma happy.”

  Gina was speechless. All she could think about was running, running as fast and far way as possible ... run like she always had to as a little girl. Get away! Get away now! They were going to hurt her, kill her.

  Run!

  It must have been plastered all over her face because Marvin clamped a hand onto her arm; she wasn’t going anywhere.

  Thelma came and took hold of her other arm. “In the time I’ve known you, Gina Mazzio, you can’t seem to ever button that lip of yours. Now you have nothing to say? Nothing?”

  Marvin pulled a ring of keys from his belt loop and went through several before finding the right one to open the padlock on the shed's door latch. The door almost fell off its hinges as he pushed it open. The whole barn-like structure looked like it might collapse at any moment.

  When Thelma tried to push her forward, Gina dug her heels into the mud. Heart thrumming, she tried to scream, but Marvin smothered her mouth with one hand and yanked her inside.

  Her eyes adjusted almost instantly. It was dim but she could see the interior was probably made up of at least two small rooms; chunks of muddy wood were floating on a flooded dirt floor. It was empty – there wasn’t a stick of anything in the building, and it was cold as an icebox. She was covered in goose bumps; her breath flew out and misted around her.

  “Cozy little place,” Thelma said, and punctuated her words with her patented cackle.

  Marvin laughed, too, as though Thelma had said something really clever. “The owners used to rent this mess to artists, like real cheap ... nobody else wanted to stay and work in this shithole, much less pay rent. When the land was bought up, no one wanted the fucking sheds for anything – and everyone was kicked out. This mess is coming down in a few weeks for redevelopment.”