took whoever it was into Bob Randall’s private room.”
“How can they?” Renie demanded. “Isn’t that what
you’d call a crime scene?”
“Not as far as the hospital officials are concerned,”
SUTURE SELF
93
Judith said with a frown. “I don’t get it. Nurse Appleby
told us that the county has jurisdiction in a sudden hospital death. So why haven’t we seen the sheriff and his
men prowling around? The only real cop who showed
up was Johnny Boxx, who looks as if he hasn’t
sprouted a beard yet.”
“A beat cop at that,” Renie remarked. “Not a detective.”
“Exactly. Coz?” Judith leaned in Renie’s direction
and gestured toward the hallway with her thumb.
“Could you?”
Renie finishing cleaning up from her picnic lunch.
“Yeah, yeah, I can. I have to go to the bathroom anyway. I’ll do that first.”
“Good. See if you can hear anything through the
wall,” Judith urged.
Renie was in the bathroom for almost five minutes.
When she emerged, she looked triumphant. “It’s Addison Kirby, all right. I could hear a doctor talking to
him. A very humble doctor, I might add.”
“Which one?” Judith asked.
“I don’t know. Shall I?” Renie moved toward the
door.
“Please.” Judith tried to sit up a little straighter as
Renie peered out into the hall. “Anything?”
“Hold on.” Renie waited for at least a full minute before turning back to Judith. “It’s a damned parade,
coming from the other direction. TV people, with cameras and sound equipment, in apparent pursuit of a
woman in a sable coat.”
“Sable?” Judith was impressed.
“And a gold turban,” Renie noted. “
She turned to look at Judith. “It’s Blanche Van Boeck.
I recognize her from her photographs. They’ve stopped
94
Mary Daheim
down by that alcove with the seats for visitors. It looks
as if there’s going to be a press conference.”
“Is Mavis there from KINE-TV?” Judith asked,
once again undergoing a bout of frustration.
“It isn’t KINE, it’s KLIP,” Renie replied. “I don’t
know any of these people, do you?”
“No. Can you hear them?”
Again, Renie didn’t answer right away. Finally, she
stepped back into the room. “They’re too far down the
hall. I don’t dare go any farther because Dr. Garnett
just came out of Addison’s room and he’s standing
about six feet from where I parked myself. He doesn’t
look very happy, I might add.”
