by Abby Deuel
“It turns out he had no relatives. His name was Phil Drilson. He had been adopted as a young boy. The adopted family didn’t work out so he spent the remainder of his adolescence in foster care. The poor guy got a bad deal for his whole life from what I can see. That certainly doesn’t give us a motive for anyone killing him,” said Gerry.
“I suppose not. Where was he living?” asked Mandy.
“The last known address was an apartment in Chicago. He hadn’t been there for some time, according to the landlord.”
“What did he do for a living?” asked Mandy.
“It seems he was a nurse of some sort. He had not worked in any one location long. He must have been a true lost soul. The trouble is that we don’t have full support to put a lot of resources into this case. A John Doe, so to speak, with no living relatives, no ties to the world, seems to be a closed case before it even opens,” said Gerry.
“That’s terrible. Everyone should have the dignity of a proper burial with the particulars about their death not left up in the air,” said Mandy.
“I was hoping that you’d say that,” said Gerry.
“Is this a trap?” asked Mandy.
“Not really. Neither of us can resist a mystery. And solving this one would help give closure to a poor man’s death who never got a chance to have a life,” said Gerry.
“I can see the logic in that. How very noble and proper of you. What’s next in the plan since it sounds like you’ve got a bunch of dead ends so far?” asked Mandy.
“We still have some samples to come back from the lab. Before we found out that it would be a case we couldn’t pursue, we had taken fingerprints, fibers, and anything that might help us from the crime scene. It’s too late to stop the processing of the samples. They should be back in the next day or so,” said Gerry.
“That will be a tremendous help. What about the post mortem? Any more from that?” asked Mandy.
“They are truly stumped there. He has had open heart surgery at some point in his life. They think that there was some underlying heart condition but I haven’t tracked down the medical records that would help figure that one out. He had been to so many different doctors everywhere he lived. He seemed to move a lot, working as a nurse,” said Gerry. “The preliminary on the cause of death is internal asphyxiation.”
“That’s so strange. How does that even happen?” asked Mandy.
“That’s your job. I need you to figure out how that can happen and what might cause it. As I get more of his medical records, I will pass them along to you,” said Gerry.
“What will Larry say?” asked Mandy.
“That’s the beauty of this case; Larry doesn’t really mind what happens since he won’t be watching us since it’s not an open case,” said Gerry.
“Dr. Bell, your next patient is here,” said Gillian.
“I must go. I wouldn’t get too cocky though. Larry’ll know if we are secretly working on something. Trust me on this one,” said Mandy. “We’ll catch up soon to compare notes.” With that, Mandy hung up the phone to re-direct her thoughts back to being a veterinarian. She had to admit to herself that it was exciting to be working alongside Gerry again. There was so much more to him for her to learn about.
Chapter 17
“What’s the next patient in for?” asked Mandy.
“It’s a pot-bellied pig named Fred,” said Gillian, using every amount of decorum she had to keep herself from giggling while informing Mandy of her next appointment. “She is here because they just got her and they want her checked out before they take her home. She will be an indoor house pet. Apparently it’s all the rage in the big cities. I just can’t imagine having a sow inside. The ones I have worked with were easily 500 pounds or more,” said Gillian.
“I’ve seen a fair number of these mini pigs in my relief work. They start out so cute. People think that they will stay small and then when they keep growing, they normally get moved outside or given to a family member who lives out in the country. There are some breeds that just stay little but they will never stay as little as a tiny piglet, which is where people get misled,” said Mandy.
“This is all new to me. What can I help you with?” asked Gillian, succeeding in her effort to take the matter of the pig appointment more seriously.
“Can you call Clara’s owner and give him an update?”
“He already called so I caught him up with the plan. I blocked off some time this afternoon for you to discharge her and talk to him,” said Gillian.
“Perfect,” Mandy said. Gillian was waiting as if there was something else she could do for Mandy. “I shouldn’t need any help this visit. Next time, she will likely need some vaccines and they tend to squeal and squirm worse than the ones at the piggery,” said Mandy.
Mandy entered the exam room to find a young couple cradling a piglet as if it was their first born. They were cooing and cuddling the piglet, which was swaddled in a baby’s blanket.
“So, this is Fred? Nice to meet her. Where did you get her from?” asked Mandy. The woman transferred her bundle of joy to Mandy’s arms, who embraced the sleeping piglet.
“We drove to one of the big cities to get her. We’ve just got back now. So far, she has just been sleeping,” said the woman.
“I see. Unfortunately, we are going to have to wake her up to be able to examine her,” said Mandy, gently disrobing the piglet from her warm cocoon. Underneath the soft baby blanket, the piglet was even smaller than one would first think. She was also so young that she had not started to grow much fur yet. Her pink skin looked so fresh and young. Her tiny little feet hadn’t formed any callouses yet; they were still so clean and trim. Mandy imagined that it wouldn’t be long before her tiny nails were painted by her new pseudo-porcine parents.
Mandy set Fred on the scale which showed a whopping two pounds. Mandy gently moved her from the scale to the exam table for a proper look. Fred responded by squealing and wriggling, showing more vibrancy than she had since the parents had adopted her. They looked at each other with an expression of both pride and disbelief at their new family member’s noises. Mandy did a full physical exam, from front to back, listening to Fred’s heart along the way. The parents waited in anticipation for Mandy’s conclusion.
“She seems fit as a fiddle. The main concern is how young she is. Sometimes when piglets are taken from their mothers and siblings this young, they decide to stop eating. Do you have any special food already for her?” asked Mandy.
“We picked up some mini piglet food when we were in the city. It’s in the car. I’ll go get it,” said the man.
“Do we need to bottle feed her?” asked the woman.
“That shouldn’t be necessary,” started Mandy, seeing the disappointment in the woman’s eyes. “We should be able to design a feeding regime that will keep her healthy until she is bigger. Have you thought about whether you will spay her?”
“No. We came here hoping that you would tell us everything we need to know,” said the woman as the man returned with a bag of food.
“Well, I would recommend spaying her when she is about 25 pounds. It prevents some health issues in the long run and also means you don’t have to worry about her going into heat. Vaccines are also a must for her. There are some diseases that she can give humans which is part of the reason why pigs get a bad reputation. We can start her first vaccines soon and then finish them off when we spay her. We will also give her an injection to treat and prevent any external parasites she may have. She appears to be a very clean, healthy pig, but we don’t want to leave any box unchecked. Let’s have a look at this food,” said Mandy, flipping over the bag to see the ingredient list.
“She seems hungry,” said the man, watching Fred nose around in her blanket.
“Do you mind if we open the bag of food?” asked Mandy. The couple both shook their head. Mandy retrieved a handful of the tiny pellets and offered them to Fred who sucked them right down. “I think she will eat this food just fine,” said Mandy, laugh
ing. “It was the right food to get for her. It has everything to help her grow and is a manageable size for her itty bitty mouth. I would offer her multiple small meals throughout the day. Sometimes if you leave food out all the time, they will eat too much since they are accustomed to having to compete for their share of food. Have you thought about potty training?”
“We read that pigs can be litter trained. We definitely want to try it. Any tips?” asked the man.
“It’s a combination between training a dog and a cat. First, you need a little box that you can cut a hole in for her to feel private when she’s in it. Just use a box as she will outgrow a cat litter box soon. Use pine shavings for the substrate. Don’t let her have free run of the house yet. You will want to to confine her to a small enough space with the litter box in it to encourage her to use it. Pigs are naturally clean animals so they will want to keep their area clean. Don’t keep the litter box too clean to start with as the smell will attract her and remind her what the box is for. Generally, you want her to go after she eats and sometime mid-day. So, watch her at those times and encourage her to go in it by not playing with her so she can focus. Do not use food as a reward. Pigs are too smart and will fake that they’ve done something if they think they might get food. In the beginning, she may have accidents, especially if she is focused on something else. Punishment does nothing. Simply praise when she does what you want,” said Mandy.
“This is a good project. We have a few days off work that we can use to start the training. We both work shifts and are home at different times which means she won’t be alone,” said the woman.
“That sounds ideal. You’ll have this piglet doing tricks in no time. You do know that they’re one of the smartest animals there is. They can learn more complicated tricks than some dogs. You have your work cut out for you making sure that she does not outsmart you,” said Mandy, winking at them.
“We have ordered a few books from the internet about keeping an indoor pig. We can’t wait to get started. The next time you see Fred, she’ll be able to do something entertaining. I’m not sure what we’ll start with,” said the man.
“I look forward to it. Surprise me,” said Mandy.
As the couple left with the new bundle of joy, Gillian poked her head in.
“A package has just come for you. Gerry dropped it off. I’m not sure what it’s about but here it is,” said Gillian.
Chapter 18
“Hmm. That’s interesting,” said Mandy, thinking out-loud, as she scanned the documents that were enclosed in the package.
“What is it?” asked Gillian.
“It seems that the medical records of the deceased man show that he spent way more than the average amount of time frequenting doctor’s offices. I won’t know for sure until I comb through these but he must have either been a hypochondriac or he suffered from some sort of disease,” said Mandy.
“Oh, this is about the murder case. I figured you would put your nose in it,” said Gillian.
“Actually, I did not intend to. I was content to investigate my mini murder scene at the chicken coop on my own time. I even had a fur sample that I was going to check under the microscope today,” said Mandy.
“And then what happened?” asked Gillian.
“Gerry called and practically begged me to help him. It turns out that the poor man had nothing and no one. The police have backed off of the investigation, leaving it to be an unsolved case. They have other ways to spend their budget. Gerry just doesn’t believe in laying a man to rest without an answer so he’s asked me to help him,” said Mandy.
“Do you honestly believe that’s the only reason he’s trying to get you on board?” asked Gillian.
“What else is there?” asked Mandy.
“You really are thick sometimes. He’s sweet on you. This is just another excuse to spend time with you,” said Gillian. “What could be more romantic than sleuthing together for a cop?”
“Nah. You’re mistaken. We’re just good friends,” said Mandy. “And he knows that I am made from the same cloth that would make a person want an honorable ending for a life.”
“If you say so. I can’t help you see it if you want to be in denial. How are you going to stay out of Larry’s path?” asked Gillian.
“Gerry is convinced that Larry won’t be nosing around since the case has been pulled. I’m not convinced so I am keeping myself as much out of the limelight as I can. Most of the detective work that I can help with is by long distance communication anyway so Larry won’t even see me doing anything,” said Mandy.
“More denial. I see how this is going to play out. Just promise me that you won’t let yourself get hurt this time. I am more than happy to help nurse you through any ailment you come across. However, if we can avoid you almost getting killed, that would be preferable,” said Gillian.
“I hear you. I will be more careful this time,” said Mandy.
“Please do. For now, it looks like your next patient is coming through the doors. It should be a little more normal than your last one. How was Fred anyway?” asked Gillian.
“She was a delightful patient. Her new parents are well suited to raising her. It should be fun to watch the relationship come along as Fred gets more of a personality,” said Mandy. “Pigs are so much more of a pet than most people give them credit for. Some people have told me that if they had gotten a pig first, they would never have gotten a dog.”
“That is remarkable. I had no idea they could become part of a household like that. Talking about remarkable, your next patient is a twenty-three-year old cat. Sounds like it has never been sick but it’s been acting strange lately,” said Gillian.
“Thanks. I’m on my way,” said Mandy, putting down the medical records. She could look at them later. It was time to focus on her veterinary duties.
Mandy entered the room to find a sweet-looking elderly woman quietly talking to her gray feline friend. The cat was curled up in a ball on the woman’s lap. They were so in tune with each other that neither one of them noticed Mandy walk in.
“Hi there, I’m Dr. Bell. Felicity here seems to be under the weather, eh? I’m very impressed that she is twenty-three,” said Mandy.
“I’m Imogene. I’ve had Felicity since the summer my husband passed away. She’s been my constant companion all these years. I don’t really want to imagine life without her. I think she was a gift from my husband so he would know that I would have someone to keep me company. I mean, I talk to my husband everyday so it’s not like I am truly alone. I think he just knew that having something warm to curl up on my lap would help me through the tougher times. Something has got her not feeling herself, though,” said Imogene.
“Let’s have a look and see what’s troubling Felicity,” said Mandy. Imogene gently transferred her fluffy cat to the exam table where Mandy received her with open arms. Mandy took extra care to show respect to these two since they embodied what it meant to find companionship in the human-animal bond. She started by examining Felicity’s head, finding no cause for her illness there. She moved down the thorax and abdomen, palpating for any abnormalities. She listened to the heart and lungs, characterizing the rhythm and counting the rate. She checked her hydration status, temperature, and every other part her body for clues.
“What do you think, Dr. Bell?” asked Imogene.
“She seems rather dehydrated. Has she been drinking?” asked Dr. Bell.
“Not as much as normal. And I don’t think she has peed as much,” said Imogene.
“I see. How about vomiting or diarrhea?” asked Mandy.
“No. She doesn’t go outside. Since it’s only her and me in my little house, I would know if she was doing anything like that,” said Imogene.
“Well, I don’t want to jump to conclusions without blood work. However, her kidneys are smaller than I would expect. That, combined with the dehydration, could mean that she has some kidney issues. I won’t know if it’s acute or chronic until we run some tests. For now, I think we be
tter give her some fluids,” said Mandy.
“I see. Do you need to keep her here?” asked Imogene. “I want what’s best for her. If there’s anything I can do to help, I am ready and willing. I was a nurse in the war. I’ve done worse things than give fluids to a cat.”
“I imagine that you have. Someday we’ll have to have lunch together and you can tell me stories about your life in the war. You seem like the kind of woman who has seen more than most people can ever imagine. For Felicity, I think we can draw the blood and set you up with what you need to keep her comfortable until we have the results tomorrow. I wouldn’t normally send home a patient like this. However, I can see the rapport you two have and I trust that you make a tremendous nurse,” said Mandy.
“Oh, I so appreciate it. I am ready and willing to do whatever I can to help Felicity,” said Imogene, as she started to roll up her sleeves. “Are we putting the fluids under the skin?”
“Indeed we are. I will grab a couple of other medicines to give her as well. We can draw the blood after we have administered the first round of fluids,” said Mandy as she prepared the necessary items for Felicity. Gillian appeared from nowhere to help the two women. They worked together to give Felicity all of the treatments she needed and draw blood to send off. Felicity was so calm that Mandy was slightly concerned that she was sicker than she was letting on. On the other hand, the calmness in the room was palpable to all and it could have been that Felicity genuinely knew that everyone was there to help her. Every so often, Mandy found that an animal in need surrendered not to the illness but to those trying to help it. This may have been one of those times.
“How often would you like me to give fluids and how much?” asked Imogene.
“I would do another 50 mls twice more today and then again in the morning. We should have results back by then so we can determine what the next step will be,” said Mandy.
“Consider it done. Felicity and I will await your call in the morning,” said Imogene.
