Ashburry gave her a chastising look which she brushed off by raising her eyebrows.“Well?”
Intent on lending his support, Adrian sent the doctor an equally expectant look, in response to which he sighed before saying, “The surgery wasn’t carried out here, meaning there’s no need for us to discern if we made a mistake.”
Adrian tilted his head.“What if I were to tell you there’s a good chance Mr.Booker was murdered?”
Ashburry seemed to reflect on that question while running one finger along the wound.“I don’t follow your logic, Mr.Croft.These stitches were made by an expert, and the appendix is not a vital organ.If anything, removing it if it were about to rupture may have saved Mr.Booker’s life.”
“Then why did he die?”Samantha asked.
Instead of answering, Ashburry returned his attention to the medical notes.“There’s no mention of a fever, as would have been the case with signs of infection.The wound is also described as neat.Non-festering.While the pulse was weak at only fifty-five beats per minute, it was steady.”He read the next part out loud.“The patient, though mostly unconscious, appears to be in recovery.”
“And yet he suddenly died, only two hours after arriving here,” Adrian pointed out.
Ashburry nodded.“These things do happen.If he suffered from another ailment, for instance, he might not have been as strong as he appeared.Undergoing surgery could, in such a case, have put too much strain on his heart.”
“Is that something Doctor Fellowes can figure out?”Adrian asked.
“Most likely, provided he’s given good reason to do so,” Ashburry said.
“Good reason?”Adrian stared at the doctor in disbelief.“I would say that everything we have learned thus far is more than enough.The cause of Mr.Booker’s death has yet to be determined.”
“Yes, but—”
“I’ll cover the expense, if that’s the issue.”Adrian gave Ashburry a hard look, forcing him to back up a step.
“Of course,” Ashburry said.“I’ll be sure to inform the administration.”
“In the meantime…” Adrian’s attention shifted toward the pile of clothes that were placed between Mr.Booker’s feet.He grabbed the trousers and started checking the pockets while Samantha picked up the jacket.
Finding only a handkerchief and some coins, Adrian refolded the trousers and observed his wife.She set aside each item she found: a pencil, a button, and a torn piece of paper containing what looked like a shopping list.
Adrian’s hope of recovering something helpful evaporated.He threw a glance over his shoulder toward the room where Fellowes worked and prepared to go speak with him.
“Looks like we know where to go from here,” Samantha said, her voice thoughtful.
Adrian sent her a quizzical glance and spotted the card she was holding toward him.He took it and read the name and address printed upon it.Doctor Islington.Number 1 Newburgh Street.Adrian’s pulse leapt with renewed enthusiasm.
He turned to Ashburry, whose lips had parted as though in surprise.“I’ll need those names you promised me earlier of any personnel who interacted with Mr.Booker after he arrived here.Have it delivered to my home at Number 5 Portman Square as soon as you’re able, please.”
“I’ll do my best,” Ashburry said.
Adrian gave him a tight smile.“In that case, I’m sure you’ll succeed.Thank you for your time, Doctor.”
He left the room with Samantha and approached Doctor Fellowes.“I believe Mr.Booker in there met a nefarious end.Please make sure he receives your full attention.”
“Of course, Mr.Croft.If there’s even the slightest hint of wrongdoing, I’ll inform you.”
Adrian thanked him and steered Samantha toward the exit.As soon as they returned home, he’d pen a note to Fellowes’s assistant, Simmons, who also happened to be a Croft associate.He’d cleaned up many of the family’s messes in the past and would be sure to keep a watchful eye on what went on at the morgue.
For although Adrian had a high opinion of Fellowes, experience warned him not to trust any physician until he figured out who was responsible for the deaths of these patients.
12
The late afternoon sun spread an ethereal glow across the London sky as Samantha left St.George’s with Adrian.Considering what they had learned, she knew they would not be returning home yet.So she wasn’t the least bit surprised when Adrian told their driver to take them to Doctor Islington’s place of business.
Despite a bit of congestion on Regent Street, they made good time, arriving at the doctor’s home in less than twenty minutes.They alighted as soon as the carriage stopped, and approached Islington’s door.Samantha gave it a firm rap and waited to see if someone would answer.
She shared a knowing look with Adrian when no one arrived, and made another attempt.Still no response.
