by Robert Olsen
“Detective Peters and Detective O’Donnell just left.”
“Oh no, they were here to see me again? Enough is enough, Barbara. I’m all questioned out!”
“No, no they weren’t here to see you.”
What?”
“They came back to talk to Dr. Andreyushkin.”
“They did? Did they talk with him?”
“Yes. I apologize Kathryn, but when they asked for you, I told them I didn’t expect you back. Then, they wrote this note and told me to give it to you. Sorry, but I read it, couldn’t resist. I think it’s something you’re going to like.”
“Kathryn, jumped up and grabbed the note, quickly opening it and reading it.”
Miss Becker,
We managed to meet with Dr. Andreyushkin, as you suggested. He doesn’t own a MacBook and not aware of anyone in the company who does. We asked several questions, and frankly we have no interest in him. As it turns out, he was in California, with the president of your company, on Friday, the night of the first murder. Because of his alibi, there is no reason to question him any further.
Thanks,
Detective Peters
“Well, I’ll be damned. Isn’t that a surprise? Maybe now, they’ll give up the search for the mysterious MacBook.”
Thank you, Anton. I bet the man in the trench coat has a MacBook.
“I agree Barbara that was good news. Now, I think I’m going to try and find Donald Gingrich. This shouldn’t take too long. I’ll be back soon.”
She just rounded the corner, and walked straight through the doorway into Donald’s office without even knocking. Not certain he would be there, she suddenly stopped cold and gasped! Donald’s office looked like a tornado just blew through it tossing everything in its path. Donald, personally was on his knees crawling around on the floor near several piles of papers, books, computer parts, and other junk stacked in messy piles adjacent to his desk.
“Donald! What the heck are you doing? Did you lose something?”
Donald’s office always looked atrocious with random stuff, usually computer related, lying all over the place. Extra Ethernet cables, a mouse or two, mouse pads, keyboards, even a couple of monitors could always be found throughout his office. In addition, magazines, books, loose papers were scattered everywhere. It always looked a mess, but amazingly, Donald normally seemed to know where everything was. His normal disposition was organized chaos not only in his cluttered office, but in the way he dressed and his overall appearance. But, today was not organized clutter. He obviously looked like he was in a panic trying to find something that had been lost or misplaced.
“Kathryn! Ah, sorry,” he said looking up at her from the floor. “I seemed to have dropped something. It’ll turn up eventually. These things always do. What are you doing here? Do you need something?”
“Oh just a quick question. But, what is it you’re looking for?” she asked.
“Oh nothing, just a small converter.”
“A small what?”
“Converter. A little plug of sorts that connects two normally non-compatible devices. It’ll show up, I’m sure.”
“I’ll help you find it, if you’d like. What color is it?” She said getting down on the floor near Donald.
“It’s white, but you don’t need to get down on your knees. I’ll get it later,” he said starting to get up off the floor. “Come on Kathryn, get up. You’ll get all dirty down there.”
As Kathryn, started to get back up, she reached over to the small table nearby, and placed her hand on the surface for balance.”
“I can do this later. Please, let me help you up. What was it, you came in here for anyway?”
As she tried to steady herself leaning on the table, it shook and several books and magazines fell from under her hand, knocking them to the floor. Oh no, look what I’ve done, she said as she looked down at a MacBook Air sitting on the table that was hidden by the pile of books and magazines.
“What was your question? Did you need something?”
Kathryn couldn’t believe what she saw. It flustered her so, she stuttered realizing she was going to ask him about the MacBook mystery.
Holy shit, what do I say to him? This can’t be!
“Oh, nothing much, I was...... I happened to be.....I was walking back from her office......thought maybe you......” She spluttered out, panicking over what to say.”
“What?” Donald asked completely confused over what she was trying to say. “Why don’t you come sit over here? Can I get you some coffee?”
“Oh Donald, that’d be wonderful. Thank you,” she said as Donald went to fetch a cup of coffee, and she tried to compose herself. She was still shaky over the realization that Donald had a MacBook Air.
When he returned with the coffee, she looked much more relaxed.
“So, what was it that brought you in here?”
“I just wanted you to know Donald that I do listen to you. You are very smart, and, well, I know I’ve been rude to you and I’m sorry. I wanted to apologize to you.”
“That’s ok Kathryn, but you don’t have to ever apologize to me, I understand you. You have always been a good friend to me, and I tell you certain things because I not only trust you, but I know you can get certain things accomplished that, well, I probably could never achieve. I appreciate what you do for me.”
“But, honestly Donald, I think you give me more credit than I deserve. I can’t always do what you think I can. I know you don’t like Dr. Andreyushkin, and I understand. He got the job that you wanted during your entire career. Ted just completely ignored your ability and choose Anton. I’m sorry.”
“Yes. And look at the mess we’re in! I warned folks this would happen.”
“I know. I know how you feel. Donald you really scared me when you came to my office telling me the Diage pump is a killer. Then those horrible deaths happened? You have no idea how I felt.”
“But Kathryn, it’s not too late. You can help convince them to take down the device. That’s why I keep telling you, that you must go to Ted Duncan and explain or to the police or something and expose Andreyushkin as the problem that he really is.”
“I did Donald, and I just don’t know what else I can possibly do.”
“Wait a minute. What’d you say? You did what?”
“I went to the police.”
“What did you tell the police, Kathryn? I don’t understand.”
“They were asking me all sorts of questions, Donald. The police even started questioning me as if I was the one who committed the murders. I told the police they had to talk to Dr. Andreyushkin. He was the one who invented the pump. He knows everything about it, what it can do, everything. I just wanted them to question him, that’s all. Isn’t that what you wanted me to do?”
“Yes, but what happened? Did they do it?”
“Yes. But after they spoke with him, they told me they have no further interest in Dr. Andreyushkin. Apparently, Anton was in California when the murders were committed and because of his alibi, they dismissed him as a suspect. They refuse to bother with him anymore.”
“That’s unacceptable. I’m telling you, he’s a problem.”
“Maybe, but the problem is people died, and the police are convinced it’s murder, not some defective pump. And, Anton is not the murderer. The police are looking for someone else.”
“Shit!” Donald screamed. “I can’t believe this.” Donald started acting pretty weird, once again scarring Kathryn with his volatile, and explosive personality.”
“Donald, maybe you’re wrong. Maybe everything really is ok and Dr. Andreyushkin hasn’t done anything wrong.”
“Bullshit. I also told you about the testing Kathryn, it’s flawed. The device is a problem.”
“I don’t know what to tell you Donald. Nothing’s going to change. I even went to Ted about i
t.”
“Ted Duncan? You went to Ted about the pump?”
“Yes. You wanted me to do that too, and I did. I told Ted all these problems could be a violation of the FDA laws. We probably at the very least have a reportable event that must be disclosed to the FDA within 30 days of our first suspicions that something could be wrong with the pump. I told Ted, we’re running out of time.”
“Excellent! He probably paid attention to that one. Hell. That should have knocked his socks off. Probably scared the shit out of him, too!” Donald said, as if talking to himself. He laughed out loud at the thought, too.
“He didn’t.”
“He didn’t what?”
“He didn’t pay attention. He didn’t believe me. Said my idea was preposterous and he didn’t want to hear any more ......rubbish. I think he called it rubbish.”
“What did you do?”
“Donald, what could I do? Nothing and you need to do nothing. Just drop all this crap, Donald. No one believes there is any problem with the pump or with Dr. Andreyushkin, and frankly I’m beginning to think they’re right. I can’t do anything else.”
“Yes you can. You can’t quit. I’m telling you, I’m right and if they don’t do something fast things will get a lot worse, I promise.”
“I’m over it Donald. I don’t know of anything else I can do, so I’m just going to do my job and ignore this bullshit.”
“Kathryn, no! Please don’t be like all the rest of these idiots. You’re not like them, you’re different. I know you can convince them. There is always something we can do until we win!”
“Well, good luck, Donald. It was nice knowing you. I hope you win! I gotta go!”
With that, Kathryn got up and left his office.
Donald Gingrich was not happy.
Chapter 26
It was a quiet afternoon at New York City’s 17th Precinct, on east 51st street. Detective Peters was in his office reviewing the murder case of Jennifer Ellington still convinced the murderer was an employee of Rockne Pharmaceuticals, when Detective O’Donnell knocked at his door.
The only reason Detective Peters had an office was because of his First Grade rank. All detectives in the NYPD, whether in a Third Grade class or at the second grade level, worked on the floor as did police officers. But First Grade was comprised of an elite group of highly experienced detectives appointed to the position by the commissioner. Even their pay grade was elite, falling slightly below that of lieutenant even though the lower rank of Sargent was responsible for managing all detectives.
“Hey boss, just for the record, Dr. Anton Andreyushkin’s alibi checked out. The gentleman that Andreyushkin said he was meeting with, turned out to be the damn President of the Company. His alibi is as solid as a rock. He couldn’t have committed the murders at the Cafe 63. He was in California at the time.”
“Come on in O’Donnell, close the door and sit down a minute. Even with what you just said, that Russian still bugs the shit out of me. Maybe it was his flippant personality. Arrogant son of a bitch, too. What’s the damn academy tell you guys about having a hunch? You know what I mean? You can just tell something’s wrong, and you know you just don’t like the person, but you can’t do shit because of all the political bullshit flying.”
O’Donnell was a relatively new graduate of the police academy who recently joined the 17th precinct eight months ago as a detective third class. Detective Peters frequently joked with him about what is taught today in all the various academic institutions.
“You know boss what they’d say. No different than that Dragnet show you old farts used to watch - just the facts ma’am, only the facts. They always warned us not to assume anything and to maintain the politically correct path.”
“That figures. Meanwhile, nobody’s got the balls these days to go against the tide even though they know it’s the right thing to do. Anyway, do you believe what this guy, Andreyushkin, said about the MacBook?”
“You mean that he doesn’t have one?”
“Yeah, and that the company doesn’t use them.”
“Actually yes, I do believe him.”
“Well, I think somebody in that company has one, even if they privately own it.”
“What are you thinking? Why is this MacBook Air so important?
Why would that jump drive we found with Rockne’s confidential files on it, be in the hands of the murderer? Whoever, he or she is, they are running around town with the names of innocent people who are wearing these computerized pumps. And if these pumps are computerized, is it possible the murder is sending some kind of instructions to the pump using a computer?”
“You’re suggesting they hacked into the pump’s microprocessor? How do we run down who has a MacBook?”
“I think we start with one Miss Kathryn Becker.”
“Oh shit, boss, that reminds me, I found out a few other tid-bits I think you’ll find interesting. Let me go to my desk. I’ll be right back.”
“Take your time, I’m going to get me a cup of coffee.”
Detective Peters headed down the hall to a break room. Several patrolmen were hanging around shooting the shit as they would say. A minute or two later, another detective, named Matt Tinny, walked in and started immediately talking with the patrolmen. While pouring the coffee, Peters overheard Tinny, talking about finding a funny looking machine in a garbage pile.
“You should have heard this guy,” Detective Tinny said to the patrolmen standing nearby. “We were over on 63rd Street, and this guy comes running out of a small alley screaming something about a bomb.”
When Detective Peters heard him say 63rd street, it naturally caught his attention. That’s where the Cafe 63 was located.
“This nut is insisting there is some terrorist plot to blow up the building. We thought he was just crazy but he said the bomb was lying in a pile of trash near a back entranceway into the building. So we walked over to see if anything was there, and damn if we didn’t find this small X-Box-like device on the ground.”
“You didn’t go over to that damn thing did you?” Asked one of the patrolmen.
“No, it was suspicious looking, so we had to call the bomb squad.”
“Hey Matt,” Peters yelled over. “Wasn’t that near the Cafe 63 restaurant?”
“Yeah, in that small alley next to it,” Tinny answered.
“What happened?”
“Turned out to be a dud. They think maybe it was part of some game device. They said it looked like some Bluetooth transmitter or something like that.”
“Did they bring it back here?”
“I think so. Should be in the back room.”
Detective Peters grabbed his coffee and headed straight for the back room. There was a clerk at the counter of the metal caged room. He spoke with her a few minutes, she brought the device out to show him, than he ultimately instructed her to tag the device as evidence in the Cafe 63 murder investigation. She did so, and detective Peters returned to his office.
O’Donnell was there when Peters returned.
“That must have been one hell of a big cup of coffee, boss!”
“Wait until, you here this one,” Peters said as he proceeded to share the story.
“Holy shit.”
“Yeah, it was quite something. Now, what did you find out about Miss Becker?”
“You know she is in charge of sales and marketing at a pharmaceutical company. Well, I wondered what kind of background she needed to qualify her for a job like that. I found out she went to the State University at Stony Brook, out on Long Island. She graduated with a degree in biology. From there it starts getting interesting. She transfers to Columbia University, here in the city. She was accepted into medical school. She was studying to be a doctor.”
“Didn’t our friend, Dr. Richard Marks attend Columbia?”
“Yep, though not at th
e same time. He’s older. But, he was there when she was, acting as an adjunct professor. He was a teacher.”
“So she was his student and you’re going to tell me, he was her lover?”
“No, not that simple, boss.”
“While at school, she met another student, Edward Levine, also a Pre-Med student in his final year. They apparently got pretty serious, and dated for two years. They were together all the time. He was her lover, not Marks. He also became an assistant - a personal aide of sorts - to Dr. Marks. He was one of Mark’s students and after class did a great deal of work for Marks, perhaps functioning almost like an intern, directly working for him.”
“So, that’s how Miss Becker met Dr. Marks.”
“Most likely. I guess it’s possible, she may have met him at one point, but I do know she at least would have known of him through her boyfriend. I could only find one instance where she actually met him. It was at a speech Marks was giving. Edward Levine wrote the speech for Marks, and he and Kathryn attended the presentation. During the presentation, which was filmed, Marks brought Edward on stage to introduce him to the audience of doctors, faculty, and senior medical students. After the speech was over, the film shows Edward, standing with Marks, and Kathryn shaking hands with Marks.”
“Ok, O’Donnell, I’m getting lost. Kathryn dates Levine. Levine becomes her lover, Kathryn meets Dr. Marks. Then what?”
“That was quite a while ago. Isn’t it a strange coincidence that she meets Dr. Marks a long time ago, then with no evidence of any relationship or meeting happening between the two of them over a period of several years, she suddenly, like overnight, becomes awfully close, and personal, with our busy and famous doctor?”
“Happens all the time O’Donnell.”
“What would you say if I told you Levine was a diabetic?”
“So what?”
“A dead diabetic?”
“What?”
“Yep. Edward Levine graduated and became a doctor. Then one day, he disappears. They found him several days later, dead. Originally, the police thought it was murder, but oddly, nothing could be pieced together for a case. Ultimately, the notion of a murder was dropped, and was recorded as an unsolved mystery. The official cause of death was simply listed as natural causes associated with diabetes.”
