“Darnell, let’s go,” Vaughn said. Darnell didn’t move. “Darnell?”
“I told you he doesn’t speak. If you think that he is somehow responsible for whatever happened last night—”
“Ms. Kachinski, do you guys have a printer here?” Darnell interrupted.
Sarah was taken aback.
“Of course—in the main office.”
“Think I could use it real quick?”
“For what?” Kachinski was suspicious now.
“Need to print something out for my taxes.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously. The printer at the PD is busted.”
Darnell was lying, but Vaughn had no idea where his partner was going with this.
“S-sure. I guess?”
They left Dr.Reeves standing where he was, hovering over the small chess board, and Ms. Kachinski led them down the hall. They passed several other patients, one in a wheelchair, but none wearing a mask.
“He always wear that mask?” Vaughn asked.
“Not always. But his face... some of the other guests find his appearance disturbing.”
“That bad, huh?”
Ms. Kachinski nodded.
“The printer’s in here.”
Darnell thanked the nurse and ducked into a small office.
When they were alone, Kachinski said, unprompted, “Ivy’s a good woman. She stayed by her father’s side. It would have been so easy for her to just bury herself in her work. Drop him off here and never come back. But she didn’t. The man’s insurance pays the bills, so...” Ms. Kachisnki paused, considering what she’d said earlier. “Even Gene’s wife left.”
This was the second mention of Wendy Reeves in as many hours.
“You ever meet her?”
The nurse shook her head.
“No. But Ivy visits at least once a week. Plays chess with her dad.”
Vaughn cocked his head.
“He plays chess?”
“No. He just sits there while Ivy moves the pieces around. Talks math with him.”
Darnell exited the office, a piece of paper in one hand.
“Got it,” he said. Vaughn tried to look at what the man had printed, but couldn’t make it out. “Thanks again.” Darnell produced a card. “Can you do us a favor? If Dr.Reeves leaves again, can you give us a call?”
Ms. Kachinski made the card disappear.
