“Hello, how can we help you?” one of the nurses asked us politely.
I told the woman my name, showed her my detective badge, and asked where the doctor was. She scanned her computer and then mentioned he would be getting out of a meeting with the chief physician soon.
I took the opportunity to ask her about Amanda.
“She was really sweet. Hard-working girl. She didn’t socialize much, but she worked so many hours I never thought much about it. She seemed tired all the time.” The woman looked sad for a loss of life, but not the loss of a friend.
“Do you know anyone who would want to cause her harm?”
She shook her head.
“She was nice to all the patients. She had a real knack for calming down the agitated ones. They seemed to act better around her. We haven’t told all the patients yet. I know some are going to be heartbroken at the news.”
“We’re sorry for your loss, and for the hospital’s loss. It sounds like she was very special here,” Rose told the woman, but not in her usual kind way. I looked to her with a brow raised, and she gestured for us to move on from the desk.
“Thank you for your time.”
The nurse nodded and went back to work.
“What?” I asked Rose as soon as we were out of earshot from the desk. Rose looked around then shrugged.
“She wasn’t very broken up about Amanda. I kept getting jealousy from her. Like Amanda got all the attention, and now she has a fighting chance to be noticed. I didn’t get violent vibes from her, though. Just a bitch.”
Okay then.
I noticed Asher and Draco talking to a nurse. Her cheeks were blushing as she stood next to the two good-looking men, Draco playing the silent, broody one, and Asher the smiling, charming, bad boy.
Internally I had a laugh. Asher may be a nonconformist to his people, but his bad boy habits included reading and rescuing nearly-dead cats—not exactly what most would think as a rebel.
“Thank you for speaking with me, Dorian,” a male voice said from the now-open wooden door to Dr. Bellmont’s office.
There were two men standing by the door, one tall with short black hair, and the other gentleman was bald and a few inches shorter.
“The tall, dark, and handsome one is Dr. Dorian, chief physician of the hospital. Nice guy. Isn’t too much of a talker, though. I bet the other is our guy.” Rose nodded toward the men, and I started walking over.
“Excuse me, gentlemen. Mind if I have a word?” I flashed them my badge. Dr. Bellmont gave me a kind smile, while Dr. Dorian looked at me like I was inconveniencing him, but he’d go along with it because he had to.
“My name is Echo Cross, Seahill P.D. We are investigating the murder of Amanda Johnson. She worked on this ward, correct?”
Dr. Bellmont agreed, and went on to talk about how gifted Amanda was at her job and how much she’d be missed. It seemed to be a common factor with Amanda. Good for her that she made such an impact on people just by being so kind.
“I have a few things I must attend to, but, Ms. Cross, please have one of the nurses escort you and Ms. Griffin to my office once you’re done with Dr. Bellmont. I have something I would like to speak with you about,” Dr. Dorian said, then nodded a goodbye and walked off without another word.
“He’s like that, all about business. Typical case of lone wolf syndrome with that one,” Dr. Bellmont commented, and I could see it.
“Come into my office, ladies.”
As soon as I walked in, my senses were hit with the scent.
“Oh, what is that smell?” I pretended like the strong smell was bothering me.
“Ah, sorry about that. Before Dorian had come in to talk, I had been polishing my shoes. It does have a strong scent.”
Shoe polish. The strange, waxy scent I’d picked up where Lisa had been attacked was shoe polish.
A clue, and I’d found the scent at the pastor’s office too. Many men polished their shoes, though, so that didn’t make the doctor the killer.
I took a moment to take him in as he walked over to his chair.
He was probably five foot nine, in his late forties, and not in great shape. Looked like the stress of his job had given him some premature wrinkling, along with the baldness. His clothes were bland business wear: a button-up shirt, slacks, and black polished shoes.
The doctor was chatty as he started to give us details about Amanda’s job. He too mentioned the calmness that she gave the patients. After a total of fifteen minutes, I decided it was time to go meet with Dr. Dorian.
Dr. Bellmont was very eager to keep talking, and I was afraid if I stayed any longer he would take it as an invitation to ask me out.
Rose confirmed he was very interested in me as soon as we were out the door.
