Murder on the Mainline: another Mike Claymore Mystery Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN
4TH WEDNESDAY

The alarm wakes Mike at six thirty. He quickly turns it off so as to not disturb Marlene. She’s laying half on top of him and he tries to slip out from under her without her waking. She stirs and mutters, “Why you getting up so early? The kids won’t be up for an hour yet.” She wiggles back over him.

Mike stretches and explains he has to be in New Westminster at nine. With the morning rush hour he’s going to need an hour and a half. He finishes his explanation by slapping both hands down over the cheeks of her ass and pulling her tight to his center. “So let’s get to it.” They both laugh and do just that.

Mike has to rush to get on the road by seven thirty but succeeds and melds in with the others rushing toward Vancouver. He gets a lucky break and catches the lights through Langley so he arrives in Surrey in under an hour, crosses the bridge and arrives at Royal Columbian in New Westminster by eight forty. He goes right up to the Recovery Room and finds they have just moved Marie to Intensive Care. He walks over to the IC ward and Charlie greets him with a smile.

“Traffic heavy this morning?”

“Not too bad. I caught the green lights in Langley, so I just whipped right through. How is she?”

“Hurting. They moved her just a few minutes ago. Doctor hasn’t been in yet. RCMP detective was in to get a statement from her just after eight. Didn’t hang around. Said she might be back. The patient was awake frequently through the night and disoriented. She sure is scared of that old man of hers but I was able to reassure her. I guess that’s all. Left a shift report there for you. Need me again tonight?”

“I don’t know, Chuck. I’ll have to play it by ear today. It doesn’t look like her boyfriend’s going to be arrested so I’m going to have to arrange protection for her until she can get out of his reach. I’ll try to give you as much warning as I can if I need you.”

“Okay lad, I’m out of here then. See you later.”

Mike checks on Marie who is sleeping restlessly. A nurse comes in briefly to check on her.

“The desk had a call from a man who claims he’s her husband. He just called a few minutes ago and wanted to know about visiting. They told him she cannot have visitors at this time, but he insisted he was family. He may come in.”

“I expected that. When will the doctor be in?”

“He’s in now. He will be right along.”

“Can I get a phone in here? I can’t use my cell phone because of hospital rules.”

“I’ll try to arrange one right away.”

“Thank you. She must not see the man who says he’s her husband. She’s terrified of him. He put her in here. Can you have hospital security give me a call?”

“I’ll do that. Here’s the doctor now.”

She goes and speaks with the doctor briefly. They check on other patients in the ward and confer. As they come to Marie, the doctor checks her chart.

“X-rays are available on her now. I looked them over this morning. This young lady is lucky to be alive. She has a bad concussion and damage to her ear canal. Probably she’s suffering some hearing loss. Her jaw is also fractured on that side and the collarbone is broken. We’ll have to get her into OR ASAP. Her vitals are good but she must be suffering from a lot of pain. I’ll schedule her for surgery this morning.”

“Continue with the pain drugs for now then?”

“Stop all meds for now. IV only. We’ll get her in as early as possible. I’ll speak to the team.”

“Yes, doctor.” She makes a note on her chart.

Mike steps forward and speaks to the doctor. “It’s imperative she be moved to a place where the man who did this to her can’t reach her. How soon can she be moved?”

“We have a secure ward on this floor. It’s designed to hold inmates from the Penitentiary Service. I don’t think it’s in use now. If you can get they’re approval we can move her down there. Would that help?”

“I’ll call them right away. Thank you.”

The doctor and nurse move along to the last patient and Mike checks on Marie again. She’s still sleeping. Mike sits down in the chair near her bed and reads over Charlie’s report. In about fifteen minutes a nurse’s aid arrives with a phone. She says the nursing station has given approval for him to move the phone to the secure ward if he can arrange for it. He thanks her and calls the Penitentiary Service Regional Office in Abbotsford.

He asks to speak with a friend of his who is a member of the Regional Management Team. Through him he gets recommendations on who to contact and some assurances he will have success. Within half an hour he has the approval. As he hangs up Marie is being wheeled away to the Operating Room (OR). Her eyes are on him as they wheel her out and he winks at her. Her eyes soften a bit.

He follows along and watches them wheel her through the operating room door. Then he goes to the nursing station. The nurse who helped him earlier offers him coffee.

“Thanks. I could use a cup. I have the approval to use the secure ward.”

“I know. They just called. You must have some pull.”

“I worked for them a few years back. Made a few friends in the right places, I guess.”

“I’m curious. Her B.C. Medical will cover most of this work in hospital but who pays you and the other security guard?”

“For now, I guess I’m the one to foot that bill. Someone has to look out for her.”

“Why?”

Mike explains her situation and who her boyfriend is. He goes on to explain about the murder case and Robert’s connection. When he finishes she just shakes her head.

“Are you married?” When he nods she says, “Your wife must not sleep too well at night with you doing the work you do. What will you do if this Robert shows up here?”

“Try to convince him to leave.”

“I’m glad it’s not my job.”

“Did you get hold of hospital security?”

“Didn’t he call you yet?”

“I’ve had the phone tied up until they wheeled her to the OR. Then I came down here.”

“Just a minute. I’ll page him.”

In a few minutes a very competent looking man with steel gray hair and glasses approaches. “You paged me?”

“Roger, this is Mike Claymore. Mr. Claymore, this is our security head, Roger Epstein.”

They shake hands and Roger gets a coffee as Mike explains the situation. “I know some of the story. I was informed when they brought her in. We’ve been on the lookout for this Robert Hanson since his call this morning. He won’t make it up to this floor, I assure you. He visits her only at her explicit request.”

“Good. I’m glad to hear that. We’re moving her to the secure ward when she comes out of the OR. Can you put a man on there?”

“Sounds like a good idea. Any problems, we’ll contact you immediately. Leave your number with the switchboard.”

“Thanks, Roger.