That was enough to satisfy the captain’s initial theory and curiosity. Aside from the overturned planter, the evidence told the story pretty much as he expected. He would have to think on it and figure out exactly how everything fit together. For now, the captain wanted to get to the hospital and keep an eye on Mrs. Harding himself. His gut was still telling him that she was in the middle of a much bigger plot, though he did not believe she was fully aware of it yet. The one thing Captain Erickson was certain of was that the young lady was still in danger. Whoever was doing this still needed her for some unknown reason.
Captain Erickson was determined that he was not going to permit this lady to suffer any more harm because of his lack of diligence. She had been through more personal trauma in the past few days than most normal people experience during their lifetime. She deserved some peace. He intended to solve this case and see that she was able to get it.
CHAPTER 17
Two officers met the ambulance when it arrived at the hospital where Salma worked. Once Salma made arrangements with the registration desk, the EMTs transferred Caeli to a private room on the third floor and the officers took up positions on either side of the door. By the time Salma finished a more thorough examination and hooked Caeli up to machines that would monitor her vital signs, Captain Erickson had arrived.
He was waiting outside the room while she worked on Caeli, allowing her a modicum of privacy. He politely drew Salma aside as she came out and inquired about Mrs. Harding’s status. Salma noted how rare it was to find such chivalry in men these days, and she appreciated a man who could make it look like such a natural trait.
"Her condition is unchanged. She still will not wake, but her vital signs are good," Salma answered.
"Well, there’s some good in that, I suppose. At least she'll get some rest. I gave instructions to my officers that nobody except myself and you are permitted to enter her room. No nurses, no orderlies, no food trays, not even another police officer. I don’t want anyone at all in that room."
"You think she is still in danger. Do you believe they might try to get to her here?" Salma asked, but was not surprised at the answer she received.
"Yes, I do. Something she said on the phone makes me believe she knew the person responsible for this. He was able to get close to her once, and I don’t intend to let it happen again. I’m going to sit with her tonight, and pray that your estimate is correct. Maybe she’ll improve as soon as the drug wears off."
"Really, Captain, you don’t need to do that. I’m on the late shift tonight. I will look out for her. You should go home to your family and come back in the morning," Salma explained. She had no intention of leaving the hospital while Caeli needed her help.
"My good Doctor, my job is my family; has been for years. Never found anyone quite as compatible and, as strange as it may sound, over the past two days, I have come to think of that young lady in there like the daughter I never had. Not to mention, there is something familiar about her; as if we'd met before. I just can't seem to recall the meeting. Besides, I am a bit obsessive with open cases. So, I will be staying, but thank you for your consideration."
"Since you put it like that, then you can stay. I will bring you a blanket and a pillow in a little while, so you’ll be a bit more comfortable." Salma smiled kindly at the man who continued to impress her.
"I’ve got to get started on my rounds anyway, and I want to check on Caeli’s blood work."
Captain Erickson watched Salma walk down the hall and disappear around the corner before he entered Caeli's room.
A few hours later, Salma returned with the promised sleeping accoutrements only to find the captain already snoozing in a chair with a spare bedside tray wheeled over in front of him. His head rested on his arms, which lay atop a pile of papers from the case file he had apparently been reviewing. The captain stirred and shook off his sleepiness when Salma quietly entered the room.
"Here are the items I promised you, and I brought you a token of my gratitude for watching over Caeli. Besides, looks like you could use it." She handed over the pillow and neatly folded blanket, which she carried in one hand, and then offered him the large styrofoam cup that she held in the other.
"Ah, that smells great. Thank you, Doc," he whispered.
"You’re welcome. I’m sorry I woke you, but I have learned some interesting news. Care to hear it?"
"Of course. Did you find out what drug was used?" He sipped at the coffee and straightened the papers before placing them back inside the file folder.
"Not exactly, but I know enough, I think. It was a very unusual application, and I’ve only seen it once or twice before. Whoever created it has either done a lot of research or might work in a lab of some sort. The tests we ran on her blood and on the additional swabs that I took when she first arrived showed an odd combination of chemicals. Some of them are similar to an adhesive. The others are bonding agents used to mix chemicals together. We found some particles of a powdery substance remaining in the microscopic beads of the adhesive agent. These were from the swabs of her hands. Do you understand what that means?"
Captain Erickson shook his head negatively, and Salma continued.
"It means that the drug was not injected, as would normally be the case with this type of toxin. And, though we were not able to determine the precise source of the powder, we did determine its nature. It is a neurotoxin. It can paralyze or cause pain or induce other symptoms similar to what Caeli described."
"Caeli? Is that Mrs. Harding's first name? Of course it is. I've heard it several times. It just didn't register." That name sounded even more familiar to Ben.
"Still cannot place her?" Salma remembered his previous mention of the familiarity.
"Not yet. So, how did he drug her if not through an injection? Was it in her food or a drink?"
"No. That’s the interesting part. Those other chemicals that I mentioned were used to coat the powder without dissolving it, and adhere it to some unknown object. Then, when that object came in contact with the oils of her bare skin, at normal body temperature, the powder was released from its adhesive glaze and absorbed directly into the bloodstream. It is a most unusual and cleverly designed delivery method. This took a great deal of intelligence and planning."
"So it was on something that she touched? How do we find out what that was? And how will you treat Mrs. Harding?" The captain found this very interesting and was also enjoyed listening to Salma explain it. He typically found these medical explanations boring and difficult to endure, but having Salma relate the details was quite a pleasant experience for the captain.
"Well, we got lucky. Caeli went to the bank earlier today to deposit a check from her husband’s life insurance payout. About two hours ago, a bank teller was admitted with symptoms very similar to what Caeli related. It turns out the sick teller was the one who waited on Caeli. They both touched that check, though the dose the teller received was much less than Caeli’s exposure. Unfortunately, she was not as healthy as Caeli, and the toxin severely damaged her nervous system. She died fifteen minutes ago."
"What!? Are you saying that, after all this, Mrs. Harding is going to die?" He asked in a slightly raised voice, startled by the unexpected news. Ben quickly regained his composure to allow Salma to continue.
"No, no. Let me finish. There’s more. The bank teller was already sick; she had a weakened immune system from the beginning, otherwise, she might have made it. Caeli has always been healthy and an unusually quick healer. She could get over the two-day flu in six hours. Plus, she’s a fighter, never one to let anything get the best of her. Given the circumstances, she should be able to kick this, too. Her body is metabolizing the toxin quickly, as I hoped, and I don’t think there will be any lasting side effects, though I am not certain on that part. Lastly, I have a theory that might help her, though I’m really not sure why." Salma walked into the restroom and retrieved a washcloth from the shelf, wet it with cold water from the sink, and brought it out with her while sh
e was explaining all of this to the captain.
"After I swabbed her hands for trace residue, I wiped them clean with a wet cloth. At the time, I didn’t give it much thought, but Caeli twitched her fingers after I was done. I figured it out later when I was retesting one of the samples. The ones that bonded to the oil in Caeli’s skin reacted when they were placed in water. They completely dissolved and their ability to induce the neurological effects was rapidly nullified. I tried the same thing on the teller’s samples, but the water had no effect at all."
Salma began bathing Caeli’s face, arms, and hands with the wet washcloth. She was pleased to note the little reactions as she did this. Caeli’s brow furrowed ever so slightly, and the fingers on her left hand uncurled just a bit. Ben rose to watch from the opposite side of the bed and noticed the movements as well. Aside from the subtle rise and fall of her chest, these were the first movements Caeli made since they found her on the couch.
"I believe that she will wake tomorrow, probably feeling a bit hung over."
"Doc, you're amazing! So water is the antidote?" Ben asked.
"No. For this particular toxin, there is no known antidote. Its effects are largely determined by the other chemicals that it is combined with and can be wide ranging. It is incredibly dangerous to handle and prepare in this manner. That is why it is so rarely seen. Nonetheless, I do not know why the water works on this combination, but it does. I would guess that it's an unexpected reaction to the unique nature of Caeli’s body chemistry."
"You’re a genius! Mrs. Harding looks better already," he smiled across the bed at Salma. She just finished the impromptu bath and set the washcloth on the table beside the bed. Salma moved to sit in a chair which she slid over beside the captain’s original seat, where he now returned.
"There, now we can talk quietly without disturbing her. I think we have your answer. At least, we know who, if not why."
"Gee Doc, now you are not only good at your own job, but seem to have a knack for mine as well. I was just coming to that same conclusion. You said the bank teller and Caeli both handled the check from the insurance company. The man that Caeli met with around ten o’clock this morning, the clumsy one, was the insurance agent who brought it to her. When Caeli phoned, she mentioned the check guy and insurance, but her words were so mixed up that I did not realize what she was trying to tell me. The insurance agent obviously returned to the house and somehow tipped his hand and alarmed her. I will have my men pick him up for questioning as soon as the morning shift signs in. We will see what role he plays in this, lackey or mastermind. I have to give that girl credit. She is mourning the loss of her husband, but she is not one to panic. She hid when the men broke in yesterday. She figured out that she was in trouble today and managed to call both of us. She's got some strength buried inside. I only wish she never needed to call it forth."
"Well, you're partially right, and you can thank her husband for teaching her the rest. But I agree; she is special. Now that we have that settled, why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself, Captain? I just finished my shift, and I’d like to keep you company for a while, if you don’t mind. As I was making my rounds, I remembered something you might find interesting."
"Really? What is that?" Captain Erickson asked.
"Your name. I seem to recall an officer in my ER with that very same name around the time that Caeli, Vin, and I first met. His partner's name was Matthews. Could that, by chance, have been you?"
Salma remembered the pair of officers who interviewed Caeli after a break-in at her house a long time ago. Salma never had the chance to speak with Officer Erickson, but Caeli told her how kind he had been. Matthews, on the other hand, had been nearly his opposite, intimidating Caeli and showing no concern for her welfare after the ordeal. Salma had taken it upon herself to ensure that Caeli did not have to speak with him a second time.
"I suppose it was. Sam Matthews was once my partner. He's the Chief now. He was always more into the politics than I was. That was, indeed, a long time ago. It had to be at least ten years ago, maybe longer. That girl's last name was Mee…something that started with an M. All be darned! Caeli! Of course! That young lass back then was Mrs. Harding before she was married, wasn't it? Oh, now I remember. She and her boyfriend were nearly killed by…wait a minute; Vin Harding? That was the young man's name. He was quite smitten with her; very protective of her, too. I'm not at all surprised that they married. They were quite the pair. And, if I recall correctly, her grandmother passed away around that same time."
"Yes. Unfortunately, I had to leave for a conference and was away when she died. I didn't learn of it until I got back. Caeli was devastated. Jaddah was her last living relative. I think she's the reason Caeli and I hit it off so well. Her grandmother and I shared a common background, having both been born in Egypt. I really would have liked the chance to meet her," Salma added.
"I spoke to her a few times back then. She was quite a confident and determined woman. She loved her granddaughter very much. Oddly, your own mannerisms remind me a lot of her. I suppose Mrs. Harding could have noticed the similarities, too. This is some coincidence, and quite a good memory you have, Doc. Thinking back on it now, I seem to recall a spirited ER doctor giving Sam a good lecture about his attitude toward the young lady. Would that have been you, by chance?" Ben asked with a smile. He never had the good fortune to cross paths with that doctor again, until now.
Salma and Ben talked late into the night until, eventually, the captain dozed off again, and Salma went to her private office to catch a few hours sleep on the leather sofa there.
Vin and Tabbris watched Salma leave the room after gently draping a blanket over the captain who was asleep in his chair. Vin moved to sit on the side of his wife’s bed and gently hold her hand in his.
"Ah, Caeli. I’m sorry you have to be stuck in the middle of all this. Tabbris, you were right. If I acted on my fist impulse, when Urim told us what was happening last night, I would have exposed my presence and provided Kent with the answer he sought, and endangered Caeli further. Thank you for your wise council. She is going to be ok, and the police are going to catch Kent. Perhaps that will finally bring an end to this whole ordeal."
"Perhaps, Eyvindr. Are you satisfied with what you have seen and heard? Shall we return now?" Tabbris asked.
Vin nodded his approval and reached up to caress Caeli’s cheek one final time before they began to fade out of the room. Vin refocused as he caught a glimpse of Urim in another corner maintaining the vigil he had been assigned. Vin walked over to Urim and clasped his hand.
"Thank you for looking after her. I know that you were assigned to do so, but I am grateful for your presence here and your actions on her behalf. I know that the insurance check falling into the dust on the bank floor, the captain’s business card sliding out from underneath the phone, and the flower stand, which was very clever by the way, all helped to prevent this from being a lot worse than it might have been. I most sincerely thank you for taking care of my wife."
Urim merely nodded in response, knowing no further answer was needed. Although, he might have told Vin that he volunteered for the duty. Before Urim could reconsider, Vin and Tabbris were gone from the room.
CHAPTER 18
Caeli woke to find herself in a hospital bed. Her entire body ached as if she had been beaten with a baseball bat from head to toe, but she saw no bruises to indicate that might actually be the case. She tried to focus her eyes and look around the room. She spotted a familiar police officer asleep in the chair, but could not remember what he was doing there.
Her throat was very dry. She saw a small pitcher of water on the table beside her bed and, leaning over to retrieve it, accidentally knocked loose one of the wires monitoring her vital signs. A loud beeping sound issued from the screen a few feet away, resounded loudly in her head, and caused it to begin throbbing wildly.
The police officer jumped up from his chair and rushed around the bed to help her. After he located and
reattached the loose wire to what he hoped was the proper electrode, the noise stopped, and Caeli fell back onto the pillow and waited for the pounding in her head and the spinning of the room to subside. The police officer was saying something to her, but she could not hear his words due to the drumbeat echoing in her brain.
While she laid there, another person in a white physician’s coat came running into the room. Recognizing her good friend, Salma, put Caeli at ease. She knew that if Salma was taking care of her, then she had no need to worry. Salma was an excellent doctor, and Caeli trusted her.
The police officer, whom she could now hear, explained to the doctor what happened. Salma gave the wires and monitors a quick review, then pulled up a tall stool beside the bed. The police officer poured a glass of water and passed it to Salma, who offered it to Caeli in turn.
Caeli sipped at the water with Salma’s assistance. She felt nearly drained of strength. It must be due to the accident. A pang of sudden grief caused Caeli to gasp out loud as she remembered how she lost Vin. She still couldn’t believe the strange tricks her mind played on her before his memorial and on the ride home. Thinking about it made her head hurt worse.
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