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- Crisis & Catharsis
-- Part XIX
Nora was sitting up in bed paging through a magazine when the
door opened and Hugh stuck his head in. “Feel like company?”
-
- Nora smiled. “Sure.
Come on in.” She set the magazine aside. "I'm so bored,
I could use the distraction."
-
- Hugh walked in and stood
beside her bed. “How are you feeling?”
-
- “I’m great now.
Michael knows what’s been causing the dizzy spells, I will
be good as new in no time.”
-
- Hugh sighed. “That’s
great news. We are so far behind on our cases. Judge Fitzwater
is ready to toss me in jail if I ask for any more continuances.”
-
- Nora laughed. “Fitzy’s
all bark and no bite. Don’t let her intimidate you.”
-
- Hugh shook his head. “Easy
for you to say. She likes you.”
-
- Nora chuckled. “It wasn’t
always like that. Remind me to tell you all about our storied
past.”
-
- Hugh nodded. “I’ll
hold you to that. It sounds juicy.”
-
- Nora sighed. “It’s
not pretty. Hey, tell me the latest gossip around the office.”
-
- Hugh smiled and took a seat.
“Not much to tell. You and Bo are the big topic and no one
seems to have the inside skinny on that.”
-
- Nora laughed. “Is that
what brings you by? Trying to get the goods?”
-
- Hugh shrugged. “Is there
anything to tell?”
-
- Nora turned serious. “Well,
you’re going to find out about this sooner or later. Bo
thinks it was Paige who was making me sick. They found Hemlock
in the cookies she’s been baking for me for months.”
-
- Hugh sat back in his chair,
stunned. “Wow! Dr. Miller? Didn’t see that coming.
There was a rumor this morning that she and Dr. Truman had been
pulled in for questioning but they were both released, so I didn’t
get details. Does Bo plan to file charges? Are you?’
-
- Nora shrugged. “I’m
still waiting for details from Bo. Paige is denying it, of course.
And it seems Spencer Truman may be involved as well.”
-
- Hugh shook his head. “That’s
quite a tale. When you feel up to it, we’ll have to have
a drink and you can tell me all about it.”
-
- Nora nodded. “It’s
a date.” She smiled sheepishly.
- “Okay, not a date. That’s
the last thing I need.”
-
- Hugh smiled. “I know
what you meant.” He stood beside her bed. “I should
let you get some rest so you can get back to helping me put all
the bad guys away.”
-
- “Thanks for stopping
by, Hugh. I hope to be back in the office soon.”
-
- Hugh pulled open the door,
looking back at her. “That’s music to my ears. Take
care, Nora.”
-
- The door closed behind Hugh
and Nora sat back with a smile, grabbing her magazine and continuing
to flip through it.
-
- ***************
Bo walked into the squad room, trailed by John and officer Jenkins
escorting Paige and Spencer. Bo turned to Jenkins. “Take
them to the interrogation room, we’ll be down in a minute.”
-
- “Yes, Sir.” Jenkins
turned to Paige and Spencer. “Follow me.”
-
- When Jenkins had herded them
out of the room, Bo turned to John. “I want you to sit in
on this one with me.”
-
- John nodded. “No problem.
What’s your angle on this?”
-
- Bo nodded toward his office
and John followed him in. “They both told different stories
this morning so I want to see how the story changes when they
tell it together.”
-
- John took a seat in front
of Bo’s desk. “That sounds like a good way to go. What’s
your take on it?”
-
- Bo sat behind his desk. “I
don’t know what to think. I guess I should believe Paige,
given our relationship, but something about this whole mess just
doesn’t sit right.”
-
- John nodded. “Can I
see the file?”
-
- Bo handed it to him. “Maybe
you can see something I’m missing.”
-
- John flipped through the
file. “Do you think the money Paige gave Spencer this morning
was for more of the poison?”
-
- Bo shrugged. “I don’t
know that the money and the poison are related. I’m not
sure why Paige was paying Truman off but it may have had nothing
to do with hurting Nora.”
-
- John shook his head. “This
doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. There is a piece missing.”
-
- “Yeah, that was my thought
too. Why don’t we head down and have a chat with them and
see if we can fill in the blank.”
- ****************************
Paige leaned toward Spencer. “I can’t believe I’m
in this mess because of you. Why can’t you just leave me
alone? We’ve been divorced for years. Just let it go.”
-
- Spencer smirked. “Come
on, Paige. You know me better than that. I never let anything
go. And why would you think this is my doing anyway? I have no
reason to want to hurt the Commissioner’s ex. You on the
other hand…”
-
- The door opened and John
entered, followed closely by Bo. John slapped the file on the
table and sat opposite Paige and Spencer. Bo joined him, facing
Paige.
-
- Bo folded his hands on the
table in front of him. “We all know why we’re here
so let’s not play any games.
- Where did you get the poison
you put in the cookies?”
-
- Paige jumped up. “I
never put poison in anything. I’m a doctor!”
-
- “Sit down,” John
said calmly. “We know Nora’s condition was caused by
trace amounts of Hemlock. Hemlock was found in the cookies you
baked and nowhere else. This is a pretty open and shut case.
We’re giving you the opportunity to explain. I suggest you
take it.”
-
- Paige looked pleadingly at
Bo. “You know me. You know I am not poisoning Nora.”
-
- Bo looked at her coldly.
“Answer John’s question.”
-
- Paige looked at Spencer.
“The only ‘foreign’ substance in those cookies
was the extract Spencer gave to me.”
-
- Spencer smirked. “I
don’t recall giving you any extract, Paige.”
-
- Paige stared at him. “What
are you talking about? Tell them you gave me an extract you got
from your mother. I ran out and you were going to get more from
her. Tell them!”
-
- Spencer looked at her calmly.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. My mother
has been dead for years. I can’t believe you would drag
her into this to try to cover your ass.”
-
- Paige shook her head. “Your
mother is not dead.”
-
- Spencer turned to Bo. “Ask
David. He will confirm I’m telling the truth.”
-
- Bo nodded. “I’ll
look into it. So why was Paige giving you money?”
-
- Spencer smiled. “I told
you before, it was for a fertility machine. I asked my assistant
to fax you over the information after our little chat this morning.
Have you not received it? Good help is so hard to find.”
-
- Bo shook his head. “I
guess it is still in transit. So you say you had nothing to do
with the poison in Paige’s cookies?”
-
- Spencer shook his head. “I
am divorced from Paige. I haven’t been privy to her baking
secrets for years. My only communications with her these days
are strictly professional. She is the head of the hospital and
I am under her supervision.”
-
- Bo nodded. “And you
have no problem with that?”
-
- Spencer smiled pleasantly.
“None at all. In fact, I was the one who encouraged her
to seek the Chief of Staff position.”
-
- Paige stared at him. “You
wanted me under your thumb! Bo, he has been blackmailing me since
he arrived in town.”
-
- Bo turned his attention to
Paige. “Why is that?”
-
- Paige shrugged, smiling at
Bo. “I have no idea.”
-
- “Is that what the money
was for?” John jumped in.
- “Blackmail?” Paige
nodded. “So what did he have on you that he could blackmail
you with?”
-
- Bo stared at Paige. “Did
Spencer find out you were poisoning Nora and threaten to reveal
it?”
-
- Paige slapped her hands on
the table. “NO! I was not poisoning Nora. You have to believe
me!”
-
- Bo watched her calmly. “Then
why were you paying Spencer off?”
-
- Paige shook her head. “It
had nothing to do with poison.”
-
- Bo nodded. “So you say.
Then what was the money for? You said this morning it was a heart
machine. Truman says it was for a fertility machine. Which is
it?”
-
- Paige looked at Spencer,
who just smiled. She turned her attention back to Bo. “Well…
It was for a diagnostic machine. I could have been mistaken as
to the exact nature of what the machine does… Perhaps Spencer
was correct…”
-
- Bo leaned forward. “You
asked me for $20,000 for this machine and you’re not sure
exactly what it would be used for?”
-
- Paige couldn’t meet
his stare. “I said I was mistaken, not that I didn’t
know what it was for. Now that I think more about it, it was
for the fertility machine. I was confusing it with another hospital
allocation. I’m new to this administrative stuff.”
-
- John scribbled in the file
in front of him before turning his attention to Paige. “Let’s
move along. If the Hemlock didn’t come from Spencer, where
did you get it and what made you decide to put it in Nora’s
cookies?”
-
- Paige sat back, exasperated.
“I told you, Bo! The extract was given to me by Spencer.
He’s been getting it from his mother for years.”
-
- Bo sighed. “Then how
do you explain the fact that he says his mother is dead?”
-
- Paige grabbed Spencer’s
arm. “Will you tell him the truth? You gave me that extract.”
-
- Spencer shook away from her
grip. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. Why
would I know anything about a cookie extract? I’m hardly
the baking type.”
-
- Paige glared at Bo, her smile
frozen on her face. “He’s lying, Bo. I was using an
extract he gave me and I thought it was harmless. I had no idea
he had switched it with Hemlock.”
-
- Spencer smiled at Bo. “What
you have here is a clear case of he said/she said. I presume
you have no evidence that the extract in question is indeed Hemlock,
nor that I ever provided Paige with any extract, poisonous or
not.”
-
- Bo nodded. “That’s
pretty much it.”
-
- Spencer stood. “Then
if you have nothing further, I’d like to get back to work.”
-
- Bo glanced at John, who nodded.
Bo stood. “You’re free to go, Truman. But don’t
go too far. We may have additional questions for you.”
-
- Paige stood beside Spencer.
“I’d like to go too.”
-
- Bo shook his head. “Sit
down. We’re not finished here.”
-
- Paige shook her head. “I
want a lawyer. If you’re not going to believe what I say,
I’m not saying another word.”
-
- John looked at Bo. “Fine
by me.”
-
- Bo nodded. “That’s
your right.” Bo stood, walking around the table and heading
toward the door.
-
- Paige turned to him. “Bo,
wait. Can we talk?”
-
- Bo turned to John. “Give
us a minute.” John nodded and left the room. Spencer shot
Paige a warning look and followed him. Bo turned his attention
back to Paige. “What’s on your mind?”
-
- Paige motioned to the door.
“Can we go to your office?”
-
- Bo stood. “Let’s
go.”
-
- Bo followed Paige out of
the interrogation room and down the hall to his office, closing
the door behind him. Paige took a seat in front of his desk and
Bo sank into his chair. “Okay, Paige. It’s just you
and me. What’s on your mind?”
-
- Paige smiled at him. “Things
have been good for us, haven’t they?”
-
- Bo nodded slowly. “I
thought so.”
-
- “So how can you believe
I would want to hurt Nora or Matthew?”
-
- Bo watched her, playing along.
“I don’t understand that either. Why would you want
to hurt Nora?”
-
- Paige shook her head, continuing
to smile at him. “I don’t. I want us to be a family
with Matthew.”
-
- Bo nodded. “And that
would be easier if Nora was out of the way.”
-
- Paige shook her head. “That’s
not what I mean.”
-
- Bo sighed. “Then what
do you mean, Paige? It’s been a long day and I’m not
in the mood to do this dance with you.”
-
- Paige glowered at him. “You’re
anxious to get back to Nora, aren’t you?”
-
- Bo shook his head. “No,
I’d actually like to go home and have a stiff drink and
forget this day ever happened. I have no idea how to explain
to Matthew that I’ve let another person into his life who
will hurt him. He’s just a little boy and I hate that he
has to live through something like this again so soon after Daniel.”
-
- “I’m nothing like
Daniel! I would never hurt Matthew and I would never kill someone,
Bo!”
-
- Bo sat back in his chair.
“Maybe not, but what you did is just as evil. I let you
into Matthew’s life – and Nora’s. And now I have
to explain to him why you would want to hurt his mom. Maybe you
should explain it to me first because it makes no sense to me.”
-
- Paige shook her head. “I
can’t explain it to you, Bo, because it’s not true.”
-
- Bo sighed. “I’m
tired of this game, Paige. You said you wanted to talk to me,
so talk. What is it that I need to know?”
-
- Paige remembered Spencer’s
warning about turning on him. She hesitated. “Bo, I…
The truth is…”
-
- Bo leaned forward. “What
is the truth, Paige?”
-
- Paige stared into space,
avoiding Bo’s stare. “Once upon a time, I believed
we could have a future. Listening to you now, I know that’s
not going to happen no matter what I say right now. So I think
I’ll keep the truth to myself.” She looked at Bo. “I
didn’t poison Nora and I know enough about the law to know
your evidence is circumstantial. You can prove there is poison
in the cookies, but you can’t prove I put it there. Since
I don’t have any more of the extract, that’s a dead
end for you too. I guess the next move is up to you. Are you
going to press charges?”
-
- Bo sat back in his chair
with a heavy sigh. “You’re right about the evidence
being circumstantial but it’s still a compelling case I
can make, given the situation with you wanting to be close to
Matthew. A good prosecutor could easily make it look like you
were willing to do anything to make that happen – and that
it would be much easier with Nora out of the way. And you know
Nora is a good prosecutor.”
-
- Paige shook her head sadly.
“So where do we go from here?”
-
- Bo took a deep breath. “I’ll
talk to Nora. It’s her call if she wants to press charges.
I’m not going to make any promises. I couldn’t blame
her if she wants to throw the book at you. I would suggest you
resign from the hospital either way. I wouldn’t imagine
the hospital wants to be associated with a doctor under suspicion
of poisoning their own patient. For me, I want you out of the
garret. And it goes without saying that I don’t want you
anywhere near Matthew. If you get within 500 yards of him, I’ll
make sure you regret it.”
-
- Paige watched him carefully.
“You really believe I did this? How can you have so little
faith in me, Bo?”
-
- Bo looked her straight in
the eye. “What I have faith in is my gut, and right now
it’s telling me you’re hiding something. Given the
fact that you refuse to confide in me, I’m forced to come
to my own conclusions. If you think I’m wrong, tell me something
that will change my mind.”
-
- Paige shook her head. “I
don’t think anything I say will change your mind. What about
Spencer? He gets away with this?”
-
- Bo shrugged. “I really
have nothing on him. You said the money you gave him was for
a medical machine. Was he blackmailing you about the Hemlock?”
-
- Paige shook her head. “I
already told you I didn’t know about the Hemlock.”
-
- Bo nodded. “So you said.
So the money really was for a hospital machine?”
-
- Paige hesitated before nodding.
“Yes, it was.”
-
- “Well, then that only
leaves the question of the extract. Spencer says he didn’t
give it to you and that his mother is dead. That should be easy
enough to prove one way or the other. If he set you up, he did
a whale of a job. I’ve got nothing on him unless you have
more to add.”
-
- Paige stood. “I have
nothing more to say to you, Bo.” She hesitated as she looked
at him. “I guess we’re through. I’ll get my stuff
out of the garret ASAP.”
-
- Bo nodded. “That would
be appreciated.”
-
- Paige watched him with a
sad smile. “We were good together, Bo. You’re going
to regret this.”
-
- Bo looked into her eyes.
“I don’t see why I would. Putting my son’s welfare
first isn’t something I could ever regret. Whether the Hemlock
story is true or not, you’re lying to me about something
and I don’t want my son exposed to someone I don't trust.”
-
- Paige turned to leave. “If
you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
-
- Bo shook his head. “I
won’t. And I will be checking with Viki to make sure you’ve
resigned from the hospital. Maybe it would be best if you started
over somewhere else. A change of scenery would be good for everyone.”
-
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