Most Wanted (45 page)

“Then call me when—”

“Bye.” Christine hung up and beelined for the nurses, joined the back of the cluster, wedged her way next to the older nurse, and got her attention. “Hello,” she said, with a smile. “Remember we met at Gail's, at the memorial in front of her house?”

“Oh, yes, I do.” The older nurse smiled back at her, her hooded eyes glistening. “From the other day.”

“I'm so sorry for your loss.” Christine glanced over the older nurse's shoulder toward the center of the cluster, where a short nurse with a head of short blond curls stood out because of the brightness of her hair. She was comforting Gail's parents, their lined faces downcast and their narrow shoulders slumped together, a heartbreaking sight. Christine assumed the nurse was Dink and she had to get to her. It had started to drizzle, and Christine couldn't lose her chance.

The older nurse was saying, “Thank you, it was a wonderful service, wasn't it? I really felt as if Gail got her due.”

“Yes, it was.” Christine spotted the Asian nurse, looking over with teary eyes, and extended a hand. “Again, my condolences.”

“Thanks,” the young nurse nodded, then glanced up at the sky, which had clouded over, a dark pewter. “Looks like it's going to rain. The vigil ended just in time. It's so great to see such a large turnout, all for Gail.”

“Yes.” Christine pointed at the curly blond nurse. “That poor woman who's so upset, is that Dink, her best friend? Remember you told me about her?”

“Yes, that's her, with Gail's parents.” The older nurse looked at Dink and Gail's parents, shaking her head sadly, and as they watched, it appeared that two township officials were trying to make their way toward Gail's parents, touching her father on the shoulder and waiting for him to turn around, which Christine saw as her opening.

“I feel so bad for Dink, and like I said, girlfriends are so important. I think I'll take a moment to pay my respects.”

“Oh, okay,” the older nurse said, blinking in puzzlement, but Christine wasn't waiting for permission. She waded into the cluster of orthopedic surgery nurses, and just when the township officials managed to get the attention of Gail's parents, she reached Dink and touched her forearm.

“Dink, hi, my name's Christine Nilsson, and I'm so sorry for the loss of your friend. Gail seemed like an amazing person.”

“She was, thanks.” Dink wiped her eyes with the soggy Kleenex, but her tears had been spent. She had hazel-brown eyes, but they were puffy and bloodshot, and freckles everywhere on a wholesome, pretty face. She was trim in a black linen dress instead of scrubs.

“You don't know me, but could I speak with you for just a minute, about Gail?” Christine gripped her forearm lightly. “Privately?”

“Sure, what is it? Why?” Dink frowned slightly, but was upset enough to let Christine lead her out of the cluster, though some of the other nurses looked over curiously.

“Dink, this is going to sound random, but I was in the ladies' room just now and I overheard you crying and saying that Gail had a married boyfriend—”

“Oh my God!” Dink's hand flew to her mouth. “I didn't check under the doors. I was just so upset.”

“I know, and it's okay, but here's the thing.” Christine didn't want to start with the fact that she was working for Zachary's defense. “Did it ever occur to you that Gail was killed by her boyfriend?”

Dink recoiled, shaking her head. “No, they caught the guy who killed her. His name is Jeffcoat. He's a serial killer, the Nurse Murderer.”

“But what if they got the wrong guy? What if the real killer is Gail's boyfriend? Gail wanted to break up with him, right? What if he wanted to stop her or was angry at her, for wanting to end it?” Christine talked fast. “I say this because I found out that Linda Kent, the woman who lived directly across from Gail on Daley Street, was killed in an accident Sunday night.”

“Oh no, I know Linda. I met her. She was always out back. I didn't hear she was dead.” Dink frowned, confused, but she was listening.

“Right, I met her, too. She was always out back, spying on the neighbors. She told me that she saw other men on Gail's back steps, and I think she saw one of them on the day of the murder.”

“Not Jeffcoat?” Dink's lips parted in surprise.

“No.” Gail's phone started ringing in her purse, and she checked it quickly. It was Marcus calling, so she didn't answer.

“Who then?”

“I don't know. She didn't tell me. She called the police to tell them, but they didn't call her back, and she was killed.”

“Oh, man,” Dink said, hushed, her bloodshot eyes widening.

“She fell down her stairs, supposedly by accident, but I looked into it and found some things that made me think she was murdered.”

“What things?”

“It's a long story, but I think she was murdered because she knows who the real killer is. I don't think the real killer is Zachary Jeffcoat. The real killer could be Gail's boyfriend.”

“But that would mean he's a serial killer.” Dink shook her head, frowning. “He's a jerk, but I don't think he's a
serial killer
.”

“How do you know? You can't tell somebody's a serial killer just by looking. They can be very successful. They're selfish. Narcissists. Isn't that how you described him in the ladies' room? Doesn't that sound like her boyfriend?”

“Well, yes, it does.” Dink nodded, newly tense.

“Or, think about this possibility.” Christine was thinking aloud. “Maybe he's not the serial killer, but what if he killed Gail the same way the Nurse Murderer killed the other nurses, so the police would
think
the Nurse Murderer had killed Gail?”

“Like a copycat, like on
CSI
or something?”

“Yes, he knew about the Nurse Murderer, didn't he? It was on the national news.”

“He knew, we all did.” Dink's eyes flew open with a sudden realization. “Oh my God, he sent an email to us nurses three weeks ago, warning us about the Nurse Murderer and saying that we should be on the lookout.”

“Three weeks ago?” Christine's thoughts raced. “What if he was setting himself up to kill her? What if he planned the whole thing? Did he know she wanted to break up with him?”

“Yes, totally.” Dink met Christine's eye, a horrified expression coming over her face. “She told him she wanted to break up with him, over and over. He wouldn't take no for an answer. He's used to getting what he wants. He could have killed her, and nobody would believe it was him because of who he is.”

“Who is he? Which of the speakers was he?”

“Grant Hallstead,” Dink answered, glowering.

“The preppy one with the blue eyes?”

“Yes, that
bastard
.” Dink's bloodshot eyes glittered. “The head of our unit, orthopedic surgery.”

Christine thought fast. “As an orthopedic surgeon, would he have access to a Langenbeck bone saw? Do you know what that is?”

“Of course.” Dink's mouth twisted with bitter anger. “He could have killed her. I wouldn't put it past him.”

“So we have to go to the police. Let's go together. They'll investigate him and—”

“No.” Dink shook her head, flatly. “That's so
not
what we're doing.”

“Why not?” Christine asked, but in the next minute, she got her answer.

Dink had turned away and was stalking off in the direction of the stage.

“Dink?” Christine called out, hustling after her. “Dink!”

 

Chapter Forty-eight

Christine took off after Dink, realizing what was happening. The nurse was going to confront the man who she now believed had killed her best friend. Christine had to stop her. It wouldn't help Zachary unless Dink went to the police, and worse, it would alert Hallstead to the fact that he was suspected of Gail's murder. Christine shouted, “Dink, no!”

Dink ignored her, jogging through the crowd, her blond curls bouncing, her arms swinging, her stride strong and determined. She ran past the other orthopedic surgery nurses, who looked at her curiously, their heads turning in confusion.

One of the nurses, a tall African-American woman, grabbed Dink by the arm, trying to slow her step. “Honey, what's going on?”

“Amy, let me go. I know exactly what I'm doing.”

“Dink, wait! Hold up!” Christine reached the nurse, touching her other arm, flanking her. “Don't do it this way. You're just going to tip him off. He'll get a lawyer, he could leave town. Let's get him the right way. Let's go to the cops.”

“I don't care!” Dink didn't break stride or even look over. “I'm gonna call him out! I'm gonna bust him in front of everybody! He's going to pay for what he did to Gail!”

On the other side, Amy hustled to fall into step with Dink, her dark eyes flaring behind wire-rimmed glasses. “Dink, don't do this! You're going to get fired! He could even sue you!”

“He's a killer, Amy! He killed Gail! He killed her because he didn't want to let her go!”

“
What?
” Amy said, shocked, hustling to keep up with Dink. “What are you talking about?”

“Dink, no!” Christine grabbed the nurse's elbow, but she wrenched it away.

“Don't try and stop me! You didn't know Gail and you don't know me! Stay out of it!”

“Please, no!” Christine shouted, running beside Dink. People began to notice the commotion they were making, three women shouting and running through the astonished crowd. Nurses swiveled their heads to them in alarm, other hospital employees craned their necks to see what was going on, and people at the periphery looked askance, wondering who would disrupt such a solemn occasion.

Suddenly Dink broke into a run, her curls flying as she bolted forward, ignoring Christine's and Amy's shouts to stop. Amy outpaced Christine, who ran as hard as she could on her swollen feet.

“Dink, no!” Christine hollered futilely, as she watched Dink sprint around the right side of the stage and disappear behind the curtain, where the speakers had been. Christine picked up the pace, panicked as she ran through the crowd, which had parted to let them through. She veered around the side of the stage, where she saw that the speakers had dispersed, but Dink was running after them full-tilt as they walked toward the hospital entrance near the ER, Dr. Hallstead, Dr. Cohen, Dr. Verbena, with Rita Kaplan, some other men, and the women in pastel suits.

“Grant, Grant!” Dink shouted as she ran, but the group didn't hear her, crossing onto the sidewalk toward the entrance.

“Dink, stop!” Christine yelled, catching up with Amy, and the two of them ran side by side, shouting for Dink, who ignored them.

“Dr. Hallstead, Grant!” Dink hollered, and Grant Hallstead whirled around, his lips parting in shock. Dr. Cohen, Dr. Verbena, Ms. Kaplan, and the rest of the group turned around, too, confused and bewildered.

“You killed her!” Dink screamed. “You killed Gail because she wouldn't be with you! You're not going to get away with it! Not while I draw breath!”

“What are you talking about?” Hallstead asked, his eyes flaring.

“Don't you give me that crap! You were having an affair with her and you killed her because she wanted to break up with you!”

“No, no that's not true!” Hallstead's mouth dropped open, and the women gasped. Dr. Cohen looked over, frowning.

Dr. Verbena faced Hallstead in anger. “Grant?” he demanded, in an undeniably authoritative tone. “What is she talking about?”

“It's not true, it's not true!” Hallstead insisted, edging backwards.

Christine and Amy froze, watching the spectacle since there was no other choice.

Dr. Verbena gestured to Dink. “You may not know, Dink is my niece, Dolores Verbena. I've known her since birth. She doesn't lie, and she and Gail were the best of friends.”

Christine bit her tongue, thrilled and dismayed. She wished she'd had this confrontation in the police station, but she never would've guessed that Dink was related to the CEO of the hospital. It gave her accusation instant credibility.

Hallstead was shaking his head. “I would never kill anybody, I would never kill Gail. I was with Milt the night she was murdered. Right, Milt?” Hallstead appealed to Dr. Cohen, holding his palms outstretched. “Don't you remember? We were in New York that night, for that conference? We even shared the same hotel room to save money.”

“Oh, yes, right,” Dr. Cohen answered, rattled, then he addressed Dr. Verbena. “Adam, your niece must be mistaken. I was with Grant at the conference that night. We both came back the next day on the train. We got the news about Gail then. It's an awful mistake to think that he killed her, or that he would kill anybody. He's a physician. We're all physicians.”

Dink seemed stalled, and Amy went to her side, putting an arm around her. Christine felt shocked. Her theory was all wrong. Her lead was completely false. She didn't understand how she'd been so wrong. Hallstead might have been having an affair with Gail, but he hadn't killed her. He had a rock-solid explanation for where he was that night.

“Uncle Adam,” Dink said, beginning to sob, “he had an affair with her. I know that for a fact! He
was
having an affair with her! He's just the worst, the worst!” Dink burst into tears, finally breaking down, and Amy wrapped her arms around her, giving her a hug, then looked over her shoulder at Christine.

“Who are you, anyway? How do you know Grant? What's your involvement here?”

“Nothing, I'm sorry,” Christine said, backing away from the appalled crowd. She didn't want to give her name or any information.

“What did you tell her?” Amy called after her. “How do you know Grant? Who
are
you anyway?”