She had been checking on the man and they were aware that she was paying the bills. She spoke briefly to the two at the nurses’ station and started walking back to Room 236.
“Miss Rutherford,” one nurse called, “the man has gone.”
Hannah whirled around. “Gone!?” She came back to the station. “Where did he go? Did he regain his memory?”
The nurses looked at each other. “We don’t know any more than what is written on the medical report. All we know is that Chief Ed Wingate personally came and got him. He took him somewhere and said he would be responsible for him.”
“Well, was the man talking and did he tell anything about himself or what happened to him?”
The nurses looked at each other. One spoke. “As I said, we don’t know any more than is written on the medical records. There is no record of him telling anything or what his name is.”
“Why would the Chief take him and be responsible?” Hannah asked bewildered.
“You know as much as we do. Sorry. We can’t tell you any more.”
“Okay. Thank you ladies. Do you know where the Chief took him?”
“No.”
“Sorry to bother you.” She turned to walk off.
“No bother. I just wish we could help you. Truthfully, we’d like to know.”
Hannah smiled at them and left. Why is the Chief interested? Where could he take him? Is the Sheriff in on this? There is only one way to find out.
Hannah decided the walk would be good for her. She appreciated the time to think as she walked to the police station. It was apparently a shift change because uniformed and plain clothes officers were milling around with some shaking hands and either saying hello or so long.
“Excuse me, please.” Hannah tried to pass by a small knot of men and women.
“Hannah? Hannah Rutherford, is that you?” The call came from an older woman at the front desk. “My goodness, child. I’ve heard some nice things about you, but I’ve missed seeing your sweet smile. Come give me a hug.”
Hannah smiled broadly and made her way to the desk through a group that insisted on hugging her or slapping her on the back as she walked across the room. She was appreciative of the fact that she had a good reputation and was well liked. She had worked previously with many of these officers.
The sweet lady, Anna May Harkins, was ready to retire after twenty-six years as a receptionist for the police department. She had been like a mother to Hannah when she first came in as a rookie officer.
Darlene Harwood could not leave her job as dispatcher, but blew a kiss to Hannah and motioned for her to come talk inside the bullet-proof cubicle. She pushed a button to open the door so that Hannah could walk in. Hannah didn’t want to take Darlene’s attention from her job as she might be needed any second. She just darted in, gave Darlene a hug and a quick word and left.
Just as she stepped out of the booth, Chief Wingate stuck his head out of his office door and called. “Hannah! I heard you were here. Come in and talk a minute. I don’t have much time, but I want to see you.” He stepped back so that she could walk by him and enter his office. He offered her a chair and then went to sit behind his desk.
“I’m glad to see you, Chief. In fact, I came especially hoping to talk to you.”
“It’s always a pleasure to see you, Hannah. What can I do for you?”
“I went to see about the man who has amnesia. I have been paying his bills, and was told that you had moved him. I’m interested as a caring person should be about another. Did he regain his memory? Where did you take him?”
“Hannah, Hannah. I do admire your ability to care for the underdog and I know you did a great service for that man. You’ll just have to take my word for it. He is part of an ongoing investigation and I can’t tell you any of the details. He is in a safe, secluded place and will receive the very best medical care.”
“Chief! I worked with you for a long time and you know I can be trusted.”
“Yes, I know all of that, but it remains a police investigation. Not many of our present officers know what is going on. I do trust you, but you’re no longer one of us.”
“Oh, Chief. You don’t know how much that hurts.”
“I know, my dear, but rules are rules, and, as I remember, you were always a stickler for playing by the book”.
“I still am, but I can’t help but feel I can help”.
“You might do that, but I can’t chance getting into hot water for confiding to an - umm - outsider”.
“Oh, come on now. How dare you call me an outsider.”
“Hannah, I’m going to stick my neck out and share some vitally, important happenings with you. I hope I can count on you to keep it to yourself. Don’t even tell your staff until the case is solved.”
“Do I have to place my hand on a Bible and swear?”
“No, nothing like that. I do trust you. I’ve known you most of your life and know and admire your father.”
“Thank you, Chief. Now what is it?”
He took a deep breath and picked up a folder. He took some pictures out and handed them across the desk to her. She gasped, but quietly looked through them. “What’s the meaning of this?”
Chapter Six
“In the last week, we’ve found these three bodies down near the waterfront. They have been cut up. They had organs removed from their bodies. Liver, kidneys, and in one case, a heart. I’m afraid some of this so called surgery was begun while the person was still alive.”
“Why? Why were the organs removed?”
“Body parts sell for a lot of money. I hope to catch these butchers and catch the medical staff that’s buying them.”
“It has to be someone with medical knowledge to do this job. Could it be a doctor? Maybe an intern? They don’t make enough to pay off their schooling. I can imagine some of them would attempt anything.”
“I’m afraid you’re right. These cuts were made with a very sharp instrument, possibly a scalpel.”
“That’s illegal.”
“Of course. That’s why they operate in secret taking organs and leaving a body. Apparently they are afraid of being caught in the act or they would not leave the bodies where they can easily be found.”
“But you don’t want me involved.”
“That’s right. It could be very dangerous.”
“You forget all the training I had as a police officer and the experience I’ve had. I feel qualified.”
