Murder On The Mainline - S01 E41

Story 3 days ago

Murder On The Mainline - S01 E41

Read Story: SEASON 1 EPISODE 41

Mike gets a chance to confront the abuser.

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. I'll hang around and see her transferred to the ward then I'll get some other business done." He speaks to the nurse, "Can I call here to get updates?"

"I'll give you the number for this nursing station and the phone you have for the secure ward."

She gives him both extension numbers. "You realize she will go to the recovery room from OR. She'll be there a few hours until she can be moved."

"Right. Guess I'll go back down to the OR."

Roger says, "I'll join you."

They go down the hall chatting together. They check with the OR nurse. The operation on the shoulder is progressing well and her jaw has been set. They're not going to be able to do anything about the head trauma except relieve any pressure from broken skull sections. It will possibly require a further operation when she has recovered enough strength to proceed. They found a sprained wrist as well and she has other cuts and bruises. She won't feel very spry for quite a while. They should be finished with her within an hour. Roger gets a page and goes to a nearby phone. He beckons to Mike and they set out down the hall.

"He's at the front desk. One of my people has been called to deal with him. He's quite adamant that he be allowed in. You want the police called in now, or speak to him first."

"I'd like to get a statement from him."

They hurry down the stairs and go to the front desk. Three people are there, talking. Roger asks, "Where is he?"

Another man, an apparent guard, says, "He just left in a huff. I don't think he'll come back."

Mike says, "He'll be back."

Instructions are left with the front desk to call security if he appears at the front door again. They are not to wait for contact with him. Mike says to Roger as they head to the elevator, "He'll go get drunk and be back this evening. He may be quite a handful. Can your people handle him until the police arrive?"

"We'll take care of it. She'll be safe in the secure ward, anyway."

Mike leaves Roger and moves the phone and his briefcase to the secure ward. He calls POCO RCMP and speaks to Nina.

"Everything is under control here and I'm freed up to do other things. That's the very latest."

"Thank you for letting me know. Can we have lunch together?"

"I don't think I'll be out of here before three or four. Sorry. I'll take a rain check, though."

"If we start having these nooners all the time, we're both going to lose weight. By the way, still no period. I'm almost certain now."

"Can't you take a pregnancy test?"

"I think it's too soon. I'll check it out."

"Are you sure you want to be pregnant? Have you thought it all through?"

"What? Of course I'm sure. I'm so happy about it. What ever made you ask me that?"

"I just want you and our baby to have the best possible future. I wish I knew how Jeff's going to react."

"You leave Jeff to me. I'll tell him when the time's right."

"Oh sure. Just before you go to the hospital?"

"I'll tell him when I'm sure."

When Mike gets off the phone he calls Marlene. He tells her he will try to be home for supper at six. Next he touches base with Trudy. He assures her he will move her by Sunday. He explains things and she says she understands, but he can hear the disappointment in her voice. When he gets off the phone he clears things in the small office of the secure ward.