Chapter 24

Darrell and Gayle showed their badges to the receptionist. She looked at them both and excused herself to get one of the doctors on site. When one of the doctors came over she identified herself as Dr. Elizabeth Madeley.

“What can I do for you Detectives?”

“We are wondering if we can talk with you privately.”

“Sure, come on down to my office.” With a wave she beckoned the pair to follow her. When they got down to her office, the Detectives walked in and the doctor closed the door behind them. As she walked around to her chair behind the desk she asked again what she could do for the pair.

Darrell began.

“We wanted to know if we gave you a list of women, if you could tell us if they had been patients here.”

The doctor looked at them both, shook her head and said,

“I’m sorry; doctor patient privilege survives even death. I’m sure the both of you know this.”

Darrell nodded in agreement.

“I realize that Dr. Madeley, it’s just that we are short on time and to get a court order is really just something we don’t have time for.”

“I can understand your dilemma, however as I said…”

Gayle interrupted the doctor,

“I’m sure you have heard about all the murders of those girls?”

Gayle was blunt.

“That is what we are here about, we think these women all were patients here.”

The doctor swallowed hard as she stared at Gayle.

“Um well maybe I can help…I uuuh just have never had too much to do with these things. Once I give the perfunctory response most cops leave and then the receptionists deal with the court orders. Anyway, may I see the list?”

The doctor had changed color at least twice, pale to red to a little blue and then pale again.

As she looked at the list she gasped.

“All these people?”

“I’m afraid so.” Darrell spoke. “Can you please check? Time is not our friend here doc.”

As Dr. Madeley typed in the names from the list her face dropped as she got the results.

“Every one on your list has been a patient here. Did we do this?”

Darrell and Gayle looked at the doctor and shook their heads.

“No, you didn’t do this” Darrell reached for her hand.

“You did not do this, the person responsible did this. You were just trying to help these women.” Darrell looked deeply into the doctor’s eyes and made sure she saw that he was serious. “Thank you doctor for your help. I really appreciate it. If there is anything else, may I call you?”

“Yes of course, here is my number.” Dr. Madeley wrote her personal cell phone number on the back of the Family Planning Clinic’s card.

Darrell and Gayle shook the doctor’s hand and then opened the door and made their way out of the clinic. When outside, Gayle looked at Darrell. Before she spoke she tapped Darrell on the shoulder,

“I have an appointment that I need to get to; if it wasn’t important I wouldn’t go. Meet you back at the office?”

“Ya, sure, want me to drop you somewhere?” Darrell asked Gayle.

“Ya at the park that would be terrific.” Gayle said.

Darrell dropped Gayle off at the park as she had requested. After she got out, Darrell watched as she walked into the park. He drove off and went back to the office where he could share the new information he had just received with the FBI.

Gayle waited for the man she had called to meet her. She knew she shouldn’t have called him but she was getting nervous. The man came down the path and the look on his face said it all to Gayle. He was furious. He scolded her mercilessly and when he was finished he left in a huff. Gayle looked down at the path and then decided that walking home would be a good idea. She could clear her head and get her game face back on. All she had wanted was to warn the man about where the investigation was going and for that information she was severely reprimanded.