Again he was at a loss for words. Though now he was processing what she’d said. A murder? That he could accept, but a family? That didn’t fit his MO. Jack wouldn’t harm women or children.
“Mr. Dalton.”
Flustered, he answered, “Yes. Um. Go ahead.” He pulled up a chair and sat down.
“I’ve tried multiple times to set up a visit at the facility but they’re denying access. I’m also unable to find any information about Dana Grant or why Jack was in Apalachin besides what the court released. The details were minimal. I was hoping that perhaps you might have better luck?”
He brought a hand up. “What’s the name of the hospital?”
“Holbrook State in upstate New York.”
Dalton leaned back in his chair. “What are you getting out of this?”
“What do you mean?”
“Your reason for getting involved in the disappearance of Dana.”
“I have my reasons.”
“And I have mine for telling you to stay out of it. For your own good. Those who get involved with Jack don’t tend to come out better for it.”
“You seem to have managed okay.”
Dalton drummed his fingers against the table. It was true but then again he’d always kept his distance from Jack’s work. He had a wife and child to think about.
“Jack is a friend but there are lines that even I won’t cross.”
“Look, Mr. Dalton, I am staying at the Evergreen Motel in Ray Brook until the end of the week. If you make any progress and get in, I would really appreciate it if you let me tag along. I won’t take up much of his time. I just…”
He was quick to cut her off. “Ms. Armstrong. I don’t think you understand. If you’re smart you will head back to San Francisco and not give this another second of your time. Now I appreciate the call but this conversation is over.” With that said he hung up, then told Violet to say that he was out of the office if she received any more calls from Armstrong. Reporters were only after one thing and that was dirt. He’d yet to meet any that weren’t looking for some angle to advance their career, and the last person he wanted to throw under the bus was Jack.
Dalton leaned back and brought a hand up to his forehead. What had he got himself into now? He knew Jack was trying to find Dana but since Arkansas he hadn’t heard from him. Dalton pulled up his computer and did a search for the hospital. He clicked on a website and browsed to the section on visitors to see their policy. Strange. There was nothing unusual. Friends or family were allowed. Why was she being denied? Figuring he would find out, he dialed the number for Holbrook from his cell phone and presented himself as family. A few minutes of being placed on hold and one of the staff came back and told him the following: “At this time all visitation rights have been terminated for Mr. Winchester. Please check back at a later date.” It was said like the person was reading a script.
“Why? What’s the issue?”
“I’m sorry but we’re unable to discuss that.”
“So when should I call back?”
“Unfortunately at this time I can’t give you a date.”
With that said, the call ended abruptly leaving him guessing. Could they do that? Digging a little deeper on the website, under general visitor guidelines it stipulated that the nurse-in-charge could terminate or modify visits for clinical or safety reasons, and the hospital had the right to refuse until a review.
If Jack had landed himself inside a seclusion room, Dalton could see that being an issue, but something about it didn’t ring true. A further search of the site brought him to a page that listed a pastor who ran services on Sundays. He figured his connection with the mission might give him a way in. Using the main phone he made the call. Of course he couldn’t disclose his true reasons but he came up with a story that he was looking to support ministries that were reaching out to patients and was hoping for a chance to see how they operated so he could do the same in Los Angeles.
“That’s a long way to travel, Mr. Dalton. I would have thought you would stay local,” Pastor Boone said.
“I am but I’ve heard good things about what you’re doing there, and well, I think it would be a great benefit for me to learn from you.”
A pause. He needed to offer more. Boone wasn’t buying it.
“I also think it would be a great ministry for us to donate to.”
Donations. Now that was like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey. There wasn’t a ministry on the face of the planet that would turn down money.
“Then by all means, come, I look forward to your arrival.”
They briefly discussed dates and times before Dalton hung up and sat there for a minute or two staring into space. He got up and grabbed his brown leather briefcase and slid a few notebooks inside, snatched up the keys to his vehicle and locked the office. “Violet.
