>Dead Drunk- Part 1 >by Laura Laura > >Cedars was unusually quiet that day. So quiet that many of the staff had been let off early. Alexandra makes her way to Ed's office to discuss funding for an Aids Research Foundation. She is running a little late, having had to deal with a crisis in the Spaulding satellite merger. The Chief of Staff's Office is dark and Ed's scrupulous secretary is nowhere to be found. Curiously, she opens the door to Ed's inner office. The light from the evening sunset washes the interior in crimson hues. Alex walks over to the desk to turn on the lamp and wait for Ed. > >As she nears the desk, her heart slows to a dull thud. A white shoe, the type that nurses wear, peeks out from the far side of the desk. A shapely leg, encased in white stockings, is attached to the shoe. Cautiously, Alex moves around the desk to determine the owner. The long legs stretch up to encounter the hem of a short white nurse's uniform. Alex's eyes travel further up the body to the scarlet stain that soaks the taut white fabric across the victim's breasts. The blood from the recent chest wound trickles down in little rivulets across her breast bone and around her throat. Her arms are spread away from her torso, her hands tightly fisted. The ends of her blond hair now drip with the sticky red substance. Alex gasps in recognition of the macabre figure. Annie Dutton Lewis lies mouth agape, eyes open. Alex bends carefully to take her pulse. No signs of life, not that she expected any. Blood is everywhere. It is beginning to saturate the carpet beneath the body. > >Backing away, Alex pauses to compose herself. "The police must be called. Did I touch anything? No....except the door handle." She hurries out into the secretary's office and dials 911. > >"Hello, police? Yes, this is Alexandra Spaulding." she begins shakily. "I'm at Cedars Hospital.....In the Chief of Staff's Office. Someone's been killed. There's blood everywhere." She pauses to listen to the instructions from the other end. "No, I don't think the murderer is still here. I didn't see anyone. I just came in and she was lying there.....Yes, yes. I'll wait....No, I won't let anyone in......No Dr. Bauer isn't here.....Please hurry." Alex hangs up the phone. She paces the floor nervously, wringing her hands. > >The outer door opens. A disheveled, grease-stained Ed walks in. "Sorry, I'm late Alex. I had a flat and the damn nuts were on too tight. Come on in." > >"Ed....Don't touch that handle." Alex interrupts. "You can't go in there." > >"Why?" He notices Alex's ashen face. "What's wrong Alex?" > >"There's.....there's someone in there. Dead." He makes a move to enter the office. "No Ed. She's dead. You can't help her. I've called the police. They want us to stay out." > >"Why d'you call the police?" Ed asks dully. > >"She's been murdered, Ed. It's Annie Lewis and she's been stabbed or something." > > Ed sinks into a nearby chair. "You sure she's dead?" > >"Yes. There's blood everywhere....And her eyes...they're just staring into space, staring at nothing." Alex raises a hand to rub her brow. > >"Alex, maybe you should sit down. I'll get you some water." Ed leads her to the couch in the sitting area. > >"No....I'll be ok. Frankly, I don't like being alone with her in there." Both sit down. The silence stretches as they wait for the police. > >Ed gets up. "I have to take a look, Alex. I'm a doctor. I have to see if I can help her. You stay here." > >"No, I'll come with you." Ed starts to protest but realizes it's useless. The room is now dark. Ed reaches to turn on the light. "Don't touch anything, Ed. We shouldn't be in here." > >"The lady's right Ed." They both jump at the deep voice behind them. "Detective Jason Forsythe, Springfield PD. What have we got here?" > >Alex and Ed turn in relief to look at the unknown officer. He's tall with a dark beard and equally dark, penetrating eyes. He is accompanied by several official looking people. "There's a body....over by the desk." Alex is the first to recover. > >"Are you sure the victim's dead?" the detective asks. > >"Look for yourself. I'm getting out of here." > >"I'm sorry, you can't leave ma'am. Were you the woman who made the call?" Alex nods her head. "I need you to stay here for questioning. You can wait out there if you'd like though." > > Alex gratefully exits the room. "Why don't you wait outside too?" the detective addresses Ed. > >"I'm the Chief of Staff here, Ed Bauer. I'd like to stay. Also, from what Alex said, I know the victim. She's on staff here." > >"Where's the light switch, Dr. Bauer?" > >"I'll get it." > >"No. Don't touch anything. I'll get it. Just show me where it is." After a few moments, light floods the room. Detective Forsythe, the Springfield murder investigation team, and Ed Bauer make their way over to the desk. Annie Lewis lays just as Alex described. Her eyes seem to reflect surprise at be caught in such an inelegant position. The blood no longer flows over the body but has begun to clot. "Do you know the victim?" Forsythe questions. > >"Yes. It's Annie, Annie Dutton Lewis. She's a nurse here." Ed sways under the shock. > > Detective Forsythe steadies him and helps him to the outer office. "Wait here." > >The detective moves over to the body. His eyes take in the youthful beauty of the victim. Before getting too involved, he turns to one of the investigators and asks, "Ok, what do we have?" > >"The victim looks to be in her late twenties. She has alcohol on her breath; probably had been drinking. The coroner will be able to tell for certain. Unusual for a nurse on duty, don't you think?" The detective doesn't answer. "Anyway, she hasn't been dead long. Rigor mortis hasn't set in and the blood hasn't finished clotting.. She was stabbed, severing the aorta; probably with those scissors over there." Forsythe casts a glance towards the sterling silver shears lying innocently on the desk. Their shine is muted by a thin red film on the blades. "It looks like the murderer wiped the shears....rather hastily too. He, or she, probably wanted to wipe the fingerprints and didn't care much about the blood." The detective walks over to the alleged weapon. > >"What's the inscription on the inside of the blades?" Forsythe asks. > >"'To Ed, A friend indeed to a friend in need. Lillian.' Expensive scissors. But I guess that's what you give to the man who has everything." > >"Another thing you might want to know. She was probably married. She has a ring the size of Plymouth Rock on her left hand." > >"Thanks. She looked surprised, didn't she? She didn't expect it. But then, they rarely do. Let me know when you're finished." The detective walks out into the secretary's office. > >He is immediately accosted by Ed. "Will you tell your officer to let me use the phone. Her husband ought to know." > >"Who is her husband, Dr. Bauer?" > >"Joshua Lewis...of Lewis Oil." > >Lillian walks in the office before Forsythe has time to respond. "Ed, what's going on? Everyone in the hospital is wondering." Ed looks in askance over at the detective. > >Forsythe nods his head. "Give me his phone number and I'll call him." > >"I can do that, Detective." Alex intervenes. She leads him over to the phone. > >"What's going on, Ed?" Lillian persists. > >"There's been a murder." At Lillian's shocked face, he pauses. "It's Annie." > >"What????" Lillian grabs Ed's arm for support. "How?" she asks dazedly. > >"I didn't get a good look. I didn't want to. But it looks like she's been stabbed." > >"Oh God, Ed. Josh and the kids." > >"The detective is trying to reach them now. Are you going to be ok?" She nods but tears well in her eyes. Ed takes her in his arms and gives her a warm hug. > >"I can't believe it. I just can't believe Annie's dead. I was just talking with her this afternoon. Oh God. We had an argument." > >"Lillian, don't go regretting your last hours with her. I did too much of that with Maureen. It doesn't do anybody any good. Annie knew what a good friend you were. The sum of your relationship is more important than the last moments you have with someone. Remember that." > >"Thanks. How are you doing?" > >"I'm ok. I'm worried how Rick will take it though. I know he's moved on but you never really stop loving someone." > >"Do you want me to get him up here?" > >"That'd be good of you. Can you calm the staff down too?" > >"What are head nurses for?" she gives him a brave grin and leaves the office. > >Alex walks over to Ed. "Josh is on his way." > >"Thanks, Alex. Will they let you leave yet?" > >"No. They still have some questions to ask me. I guess we'll have to postpone our meeting." > >From the inner office, one of the investigators calls Detective Forsythe over. They shut the door. "Thought you'd like to know Detective. We found this piece of paper in the victim's right hand." The paper in question is now neatly tucked into a plastic bag. Some of the edges are jagged. One side is blank but typed on the other side are the numbers 12-93. > >"A date?" Forsythe suggests. > >"Could be. But that's your job. Mine's to make sure you have all the evidence." He grins and turns back to his job. > >Forsythe returns to the secretary's office. "I'm ready to speak with you, Ms. Spaulding. Dr. Bauer, is there somewhere we can talk privately?" > >Before Ed has a chance to respond, a distraught Josh Lewis bursts into the office. "Where is she?" > >Forsythe walks over to him. "Mr. Lewis. I was the officer who called you." > >"Where is she? Where's Annie?" Josh demands combatively. > >"She's in there. If you'd like to wait, until you feel more up to it....." Josh pushes past him into Ed's office. He looks searchingly around the office until he notices the crowd formed on the far side of the desk. He makes a move towards them, when Forsythe grabs his arm to restrain him. > >He looks calmly at Josh while speaking to the investigator. "Is the deceased ready for identification, Smit?" The investigator nods. Forsythe escorts a more controlled Josh over to the body. The man named Smit lifts the sheet. Annie's eyes and mouth have been closed. She rests peacefully on the floor. > >"Oh God. Oh God, Annie." The detective escorts a dazed Josh out of the room. "What happened to her?" > >"Mr. Lewis, your wife was stabbed sometime early this evening. We've identified the murder weapon but we haven't had time to do much else. Are you able to answer some questions?" > >Josh swallows with difficulty. "Yes. I don't know how much I can help you. I just saw her earlier today. She was so alive....." > >"Dr. Bauer, is there somewhere private?" > >"Yes, come this way." Ed leads them to an empty conference room connected to his office suite. > >"Can we have some coffee too?" the detective requests. > >"Sure, Detective. Would you like some Josh?" Josh sits down, unresponsive. Addressing the detective, Ed adds, "I'll bring him some too." > >"Thanks, tell the woman who found the body...." > >"Alexandra Spaulding." > >"Yes, Ms. Spaulding that I'll be with her as soon as I can." > >The door closes. Josh continues to stare bewilderedly at the empty table before him. "Mr. Lewis?" Josh looks up dumbly. "Are you sure you can answer some questions?" > >"Yes. Yes, anything you need." > >"You said you saw your wife, today." The detective continues. "When was that?" > >"I saw her around 2:00. She was in a great mood. Seems they had just released a patient she'd been worried about, with a clean bill of health. We had a bite to eat and I left. I don't work far from here." > >"Where do you work?" > >"Lewis Construction. We're rebuilding 5th Street. My office is only about five minutes away." > >"You didn't notice anything wrong? Anything that might be upsetting her?" > >"No....Why?" > >The detective pauses, debating on how much he should reveal. "There was alcohol on her breath." He states, carefully watching Josh's reaction. > >Josh does not disappointment him. "Are you sure?" he questions, but apparently is not surprised. > >"We'll know for sure tomorrow." Detective Forsythe replies. "You don't seem surprised. Did your wife make a habit of drinking on the job?" > >"It wasn't like that." Josh attempts to defend his dead wife. "She has.....had a problem with alcohol. She'd been off it for months. But recently, we've had......some personal problems." > >"What kind of problems?" > >"Are you going to dissect her life like your going to dissect her body?" Josh asks angrily. > >"Mr. Lewis. Do you want us to find out who did this?" he asks calmly. > >Josh relents. "Yes. Yes, I want to know who did this. In answer to your question, my former wife has recently come back to Springfield. I thought she had died in a car accident over five years ago. A few months ago, I married Annie. Then, Reva came back. You can imagine the emotional strain on all of us. I have two kids from my previous marriage. They looked on Annie as their mother. At first they hated their mother for abandoning them. I'm afraid I did a little hating too. But then they began to love her; as much as they did before. Annie......well, it upset her greatly. She thought she was losing her family." > >"Did you stop hating your wife too?" the detective asks perceptively. > >"What kind of a question is that? I loved Annie." > >"I'm sure you did, Mr. Lewis. But that doesn't necessarily preclude you from loving your ex-wife." > >"I don't think that's an issue here." > >"It might be. I need to know the lay of the land if I'm going to do my job." > >"All right. I did still have feelings for Reva. If you knew her, you'd understand. Any man Reva sets her sights for, never forgets her. But I was trying to make my marriage work." > >"Were you succeeding?" the detective queries. > >"You mean why was Annie drinking? Yes, she had slipped a few weeks ago." Josh admits. "But she told me she was going to her AA meetings again." > >"But you weren't surprised that we found alcohol on her breath today." > >"I was a little surprised. She seemed happy earlier. I don't know what happened." > >"Did your wife have any enemies?" > >"You mean someone who'd want to kill her? No....no one like that." > >"Your ex-wife?" > >"NO! Reva likes getting her way but she'd never kill anyone. Your fishing in an empty pond, Detective." > >"One last question, Mr. Lewis. Does the date 12-93 mean anything to you?" > >Josh thinks for a moment. "No.....no it doesn't. Why?" > >"Your wife was clutching a piece of paper with those numbers on it. We were wondering if you knew what it might mean." Forsythe pauses. "I guess that's all for now, Mr. Lewis. Thanks for your cooperation. I know this has been difficult for you." The detective escorts Josh back to the secretary's office. There are now several unofficial people in the office. The Chief of Staff appears to be comforting another doctor. The nurse who came in earlier sits next to them. Ms. Spaulding drums her fingers with some impatience at the desk. The other doctor stands as they enter. He and Josh exchange glances; the doctor's look is angry; Josh's is guilty. "We'll keep you informed. Ms. Spaulding, I'm ready to talk to you now." Josh slowly retreats from the office. > >In the conference room, Alex sinks into the chair at the head of the table and returns to her impatient drumming. "Would you like some coffee?" the detective asks politely. > >"No thank you, Inspector. If you don't mind, I'd like to get this over with. I have other appointments." > >"It's detective. And I'm sorry this murder has been such an inconvenience to you." Alex has the grace to be embarrassed. "Now Ms. Spaulding, can you tell me how you discovered the body?" > >"It's quite uncomplicated, Detective." Alex ends pointedly. "I had an appointment with Ed.....Dr. Bauer, to discuss a new foundation we were trying to establish. He was late and I went in to wait. I went to sit down at his desk when I saw her....well, not her, her shoe. I went around the desk and there she was, dead." > >"Did you touch anything?" > >"Just the door handle." > >"Did you see anyone near the office when you came in?" > >"No, no one was around. I thought it was rather strange. Ed's secretary wasn't even here." > >"When did Dr. Bauer arrive?" > >"A few minutes after I called 911. He had a flat tire. That's why he was late." > >"Did you know the deceased?" > >"Yes, but not very well." > >"Do you know anyone who might have had a reason to kill her." > >"Like I said I didn't know her well." > >"What about Mr. Lewis' ex-wife?" > >"Reva?" Alex is somewhat surprised. "Well....it's no secret that Reva didn't like Annie taking away her favorite toy. But Reva had allegedly move on to more profitable ventures.....my brother." > >"You don't seem pleased about their relationship." > >"Detective, I really don't see what my brother's penchant for flaxen-haired floozies has to do with this." > >"You'd be amazed at how important the insignificant can become." > >"Yes...well, is that all Detective?" Alex responds indifferently. > >"Yes. That's all for now. I may contact you later if I have any other questions." > >"I don't think that will be necessary Detective. I've told you everything I know." > >"Ms. Spaulding, did you know that statistics show in the majority of cases, that the person who reports the murder is the killer?" > >"Detective Forsythe, did you know that Spaulding Enterprises provides jobs for 15 percent of the work force in this little community? The next time we talk, you better have a damn good reason." Without a backward glance, Alexandra Spaulding sails out of the room. > >The detective smiles speculatively at the retreating figure. "Frank, you've lived in this town awhile." He turns to the officer recording his interviews. "How well do you know the Springfield elite?" > >"They're ok. I've known Alex for years; did some work for her when I was a PI. My sister is married to her nephew." > >"What about the Lewises?" > >"Oil people from Oklahoma. Good people too. I guess both families tend to assume they're above the law sometimes." > >"Could Mr. Lewis have killed his wife?" Forsythe asks bluntly. > >"What??? No, Jason. I don't think so." > >"What about his ex-wife?" > >"Reva? Well....as Josh said, Reva likes having her own way. But I don't think she'd murder someone to get it." > >"People are never all good or all bad, Frank." the detective muses, almost to himself. "You never really know a person until you've seen them backed into a corner. That's when they make the choice." Then recovering himself, "Anyhow, this isn't helping that murdered young woman in there. Did you know her too?" > >"Yes, but not very well. She was relatively new to Springfield." > >"No matter. Can you ask Dr. Bauer to come in?" > >"Yes, sir." > >A few minutes pass before Dr. Ed Bauer joins him in the conference room. Ed still has tire grease smudges on his shirt and hands. He sits down tiredly. "Thanks for waiting, Doctor. I'll try not to keep you too long." > >"Thanks. It's been a rather trying day. I knew Annie very well....It's all so hard to take in." > > "You say you knew her well?" the detective asks encouragingly. > >"Yes. She had been working here for over a year. She was one of the best trauma nurses Cedars had. My son knew her in Chicago. They were......they were married. It didn't work out and she came out here to work." > >"Dr. Bauer...Did you know she had a drinking problem?" > >"Yes, I knew." Ed answers calmly. "You see, I'm an alcoholic too. We went to the same AA meetings." > >"Had she been attending regularly?" > >"You mean recently?" The detective nods his head. "No she hadn't been in awhile. I guess you might as well know. I was going to suspend her tonight. The head nurse had told me she had been drinking on the job." > >"Was that what your meeting with her was about?" > >"How did you know that?" Ed asks in surprise. "Oh, you saw my calendar on the desk. Yes, we had a meeting scheduled for 5:00. It was just a suspension; until she got her life back in order." > >"Yes, her husband said she was having personal problems." > >"That's an understatement. Reva was her worst nightmare come true. She needed time to cope with the situation. It was best for her and the hospital." > >"You said you had car trouble? That's why you were late?" > >Yes. My tire blew out on the parkway. It took me a long time to change it because I had just had it serviced and the mechanic screwed the nuts on too tight. I guess if I'd been on time, she would still be alive." > >"Not necessarily, Doctor. We haven't pinpointed the exact time of death." > >"I'm a doctor, Detective. From Alex's account and what I saw, it's clear she hadn't been dead long." > >"Your son's a doctor too?" Ed nods. "Here at Cedars?" > >"Yes. He recently came back from Chicago." > >"You say he was married to Mrs. Lewis?" > >"Yes. He loved her very much." > >"Why did they get divorced then?" > >"Is this necessary, Detective?" Ed questions uncomfortably. > >"The more I know about Annie Lewis, the better chance I have of catching her killer." > >"Yeah. I know. Annie left Rick...my son. She started drinking when they first got married. She became a real party girl. I don't know all the details. You should ask my son if you really need to know." > >"Was that your son your were talking to in the office?" > >"Yes." > >"Is he still there?" Ed nods again. "You're a man of few words, aren't you doctor?" > >"I don't speculate, Detective. I'm only interested in facts. I'm sure you can appreciate that." > >"You're a very interesting man, Doctor. Thank you for your cooperation. Will you ask your son to come in?" > >"Fine. Just remember. He loved her once. Take it easy on him." > >"I will." The doctor turns to leave when Detective Forsythe calls him back. "One more question, Doctor. Does the date 12-93 mean anything to you?" > >"No. Why?" > >"We found a piece of paper in Mrs. Lewis' hand. It had that date typed on it." > >"Sorry. I can't help you. Anything else?" > >"No. We'll be finished here pretty soon. Can you ask the staff if they saw anyone entering or leaving this office around 5:00? Also, can you please ask the head nurse to wait. I'd like to talk to her as well." > >"Will do. See you later Frank." Ed walks out of the room. > >The detective looks over at Officer Cooper. "You have a lot of connections in this town, don't you?" > >"I've lived here all my life, Jason." > >"I think you're going to be invaluable to me." > >The door opens and a tall, good-looking, but distraught man walks in. "My father says you want to ask me some questions." The man states reluctantly. > >"Thanks for coming in Doctor. My name is Detective Jason Forsythe, and yours?" > >"Dr. Bauer. Dr. Rick Bauer." Rick remains standing. > >"Your father says you were once married to the deceased." Rick nods. "Can you tell me what caused you to divorce?" > >"Incompatibility." he answers tersely. > >"Can you be a little more specific?" > >"What the hell does this have to do with anything." Rick rages. "She's lying in their dead. Someone killed her. Stop asking stupid questions and go out and find the murderer. I'll give you two very good suspects....Reva Shayne and Joshua Lewis. Even if they didn't plunge the knife into her, they killed her just the same. I begged her not to marry him. But she wouldn't listen. Now she's dead....." Rick sits down heavily and sobs. For several seconds, the painful sounds filled the room. The detective waits quietly. > >"Are you up to continuing this interview, Dr. Bauer?" the detective queries as the sobs subside. > >"I'm sorry. I never stopped loving her, you see. It was apparent to everyone but her. Good ole Rick. I just wish she had taken my advice. To answer your question about our divorce, Annie left me. She started drinking and began hanging around with the wrong people. She....she had an affair and moved in with the guy. A few months later they were in a car accident. He was driving and had been drinking. The driver of the other car died. Jake was convicted of vehicular homicide and sent to prison." > >"Jake who?" > >"Jake Williams, her drinking buddy." he pauses. "Anyway she'd been too drunk to help the other driver. That's what finally drove her to seek help. She had to watch that other driver die because she was too drunk to help him. I don't think she ever forgave herself for that. I think she always thought she wasn't good enough for Josh. Though why she was so insecure given Reva's colorful past, I'll never know." > >"When was this accident?" > >"December of '93, I believe." > >"What kind of colorful past?" > >"What?...Oh, Reva. Well let's just say, that except for a brief stint as an Amish healer, Reva has never lacked for male companionship. And she didn't like being told no. Josh was hers and she wasn't gonna let Annie steal him away. Annie was just another casualty of Josh and Reva's explosive relationship. It's ironic how they always seem to come out of their skirmishes unscarred, while the rest of us end up with the mortal wounds." > >"Did you see Annie today?" Rick doesn't answer, still lost in his grief. "Dr. Bauer?" > >"Sorry. Yes I saw her several times today." > >"How did she appear?" > >"She seemed to be in a good mood. We'd had a patient she was close to, released with a clean bill of health. Annie was on cloud nine." > >"Yes. Well, thanks Dr. Bauer. I appreciate your candor. Could you please send in the head nurse?" > >"Lillian?" > >"Yes, I'd appreciate it." Rick gets up and wanders numbly out of the room. > >"Well, Frank. I suppose you know him too." > >"Yeah. Not very well. He was in the diner one night with Annie when it was robbed. He helped my mom, who was hit by one of the men." > >"So you like him too? You don't think he's capable of a jealous rage?" > >"No, sir. Not Rick." > >"I have to agree with you. He implied she was stabbed by a knife. Of course, he could just be saying that to throw us off. I'd like you to check out this Jake Williams when we're finished with these interviews." > >"Yes, sir." > >An attractive, older woman in a nurses uniform walks in. > >"Lillian Raines, Detective Forsythe." Frank introduces. > >"Have a seat." the detective offers. Nurse Raines is still pale with shock. Her hands shake slightly as they rest on the table in front of her. > >"I don't see how I can help Detective." she begins. > >"Ms. Raines, you'd be amazed at how the little details always lead to the solution of the crime. I need to ask you for some of those seemingly meaningless details." > >"Anything to help Annie." > >"You knew the deceased well?" > >"Yes. We have worked with each other for over a year. I went to her wedding. We were very close." Tears well in her eyes. > >"You told Dr. Bauer that you had had a fight with Annie?" > >"You heard?....Yes. I suppose Dr. Bauer told you about the suspension?" The detective nods. "Well, I caught her drinking again today. She didn't really know what the meeting with Ed....Dr. Bauer was about. I accidentally spilled the beans. Needless to say, she didn't handle the news well." > >"Do you have any idea why the date 12-93 would be significant to her?" > >"No. None at all." Lillian answers bewilderedly. > >"As far as you know, did she have any enemies? Anyone that would do this to her?" > >"No. No one." > >"Thanks, Ms. Raines. I've asked Dr. Bauer to ask the staff if they saw anyone around this office at 5:00. You could help by asking them yourself." > >"Anything to help detective....Poor Annie. She had such little happiness. Reva wouldn't give her or Josh any peace. How I wish Reva had never come back." Lillian rises from her chair and leaves. > >"The ex-Mrs. Lewis appears to be the villain in all this. Do you know her too?" > >"A little. I know these people think she's the scourge of Springfield. I've heard it put more crudely. But she's been a help to my sisters in the past. She and my dad are friends of a sort, too." > >"Well, I think we should plan a visit with her soon....." > >The door opens suddenly and Dr. Bauer walks in with a nurse the detective does not recognize. "Yes, Dr. Bauer?" > >"I thought you'd be interested in this, Detective. This is Mary Ryan. Mary, tell him what you told me." > >"Well, I was on my way to the cafeteria for a break at around 5:00 , when I saw Reva Shayne coming out of this office." > >"Do you know Ms. Shayne?" > >"No sir. But she's been in the papers for months now, what with coming back from the dead and now this public custody battle." > >"So you're sure it was her?" > >"Yes, sir." > >"Thank you. Frank here will get some information from you in case we need to ask you further questions." Frank takes Nurse Ryan to the side and begins to take down the requisite information. The detective turns to the doctor. "Thanks for your patience Dr. Bauer. I think we're about finished here. We would like to look at any personal effects she kept here at the hospital." > >"Fine. I'll show you the way." > >"That's ok. Maybe the nurse here can show us. You've given us enough of your valuable time. Has Mrs. Lewis been taken from the office?" > >"Yes. I suppose you want people to stay out of the office for awhile." > >"Yes. We'll try not to inconvenience for too long." Frank brings the nurse over to Ed. "Thanks again for your cooperation doctor." Ed turns to take his leave. "Oh Doctor. One more thing. Could the men get a copy of your fingerprints? We'll need them to isolate any anomalous prints we find." > >"Sure, I'll see to it now." > >"Ms. Ryan? Do you mind showing us where Mrs. Lewis kept her belongings?" > >"Not at all." They walk down a maze of hallways until they reach a room filled with lockers. Upon entering, they startle Lillian, who is removing several items from one of the lockers. She slumps in relief as she recognizes them. > >"Sorry, I guess I'm just a bit jumpy." > >"I understand, Ms. Raines. Thank you, Ms. Ryan. Dr. Bauer said we could find Mrs. Lewis' personal effects down here." Mary Ryan leaves the room. > >"Yes, I was just getting ready to take them over to Josh." > >"May we see them first?" > >"Of course." Frank and the detective look through the small collection of Annie Lewis' possessions. The items include her street clothes, a purse, a make-up kit, and a personal calendar. Frank looks through the purse while Jason leafs through the calendar. Today's date shows two entries: Ed-5:00 PM and A-7:00 PM. > >"Do you know who this might be, Ms. Raines?" he asks. > >"A.....No, I can't think of anyone she knows with the initial A." > >"Anything, Frank?" > >"Just the usual stuff." > >"We'd like to keep her purse and calendar, Ms. Raines, if you don't mind." > >"Why?" > >"There may contain evidence we're overlooking. Is there anything else in the locker?" Lillian's color deepens. > >"Yes, there's a half-empty bottle of champagne in there. That's not important is it?" > >"I think we'll keep that too. You never know what may or may not be important." > >"Damn, Reva. It never would have come to this if she hadn't come back." Lillian mutters with unusual vehemence, tears once again streaming down her face. > >"I'm very sorry for you loss, Ms. Raines. Thank you for your help." Frank and Jason quietly leave Lillian to finish folding the belongings of her friend. > >"It seems events are conspiring against your friend, Frank." Jason comments as the door closes. " I think our next stop will be Ms. Shayne's residence. Lead the way." > >Jason and Frank reach Reva's apartment just after 9:00. Bright lights shine from every window. A beautiful woman with short blond hair answers the door. > >"Ms. Shayne?" the detective asks. > >"Yes? Hi Frank." > >"Reva, this is Detective Forsythe of the Springfield Police. We have some questions we'd like to ask you." > >"Ah...the official visit. The wicked woman of Springfield has woven a web of mayhem and murder and Marshall Dillon and Festus have come to serve justice. Come in Marshall. Will my head on a platter do? I believe you already know Joshua." An uncomfortable Joshua Lewis nods to him from the fireplace. "I must disabuse you of any co-conspiracy between me and my ex-husband. Hatred of Annie Oakley was confined only to those suffering severe allergies to anything saccharine. Joshua suffers from a terrible sweet tooth." > >"Reva...." Josh interrupts her monologue. "Detective Forsythe, I have told Reva about Annie as you've probably guessed. We have to decide how to break the news to the children. Why are you here?" > >"Ms. Shayne, were you at the hospital today at around 5:00?" the detective asks, ignoring Josh. > >"Yes, I traded my red dress in for a white one. I accompanied my father in for a check-up at around 4:30. Detective, can you picture me as an angel of mercy?" > >Did you go anywhere else; other than the doctor's office?" > >"Well....I did step out for a cup of coffee. Is caffeine considered an illegal substance now?" > >"Did you go anywhere else?" the detective asks, maintaining his formality. > >"What are you getting at, Detective?" Josh has recovered from his rare bout of self-consciousness. > >"Ms. Shayne?" the detective addresses Reva. > >"It appears my movements have been reported to the police, Joshua. Yes, I was in Ed's office this evening. No one was there." > >"Why were you there?" > >"Reva, I don't think you should answer anymore questions without an attorney." Josh warns. > >"Thank you, Joshua. I appreciate your concern but I have nothing to hide.....for once. My dear Detective, I was rifling through the good doctor's papers looking for evidence that Florence Nightingale had been flying too high and too often, lately. She shared custody of my children. I thought it was my right to know whether I should prepare them for her crash landing." > >"Why did you go to Dr. Bauer's office?" > >"When I went to get some coffee......yes, Detective, I did leave my father to get some coffee....I overheard Lillian Raines arguing with ditzy Dutton about her problem and I eavesdropped. You may add that infraction to the arrest warrant, as well." > >"You didn't like her much, did you?" > >"Detective Forsythe, how would you feel if you'd been robbed of five years of your life, only to find that upon your return, your husband, your children, and your friends had been stolen from you by a bubbly, bouncy, blond ex-booze hound." > >"Reva, stop this." Josh shakes her. "You'll have to forgive her, Detective. This has been a shock for her and I'm afraid I gave her a drink to calm her nerves." > >"Joshua, you really are quite chivalrous, but I'm afraid the detective had drawn his own conclusions before I opened my door. Besides, I'm not going to hide my feelings for the woman. It wouldn't matter anyway; I've made it pretty clear in public how I feel about the 'Saint of Springfield.' I wonder if the citizens of this city will clip her wings and confiscate her halo?" Reva murmurs speculatively. "They're an unforgiving lot for all their Christian heritage. Anyway, I didn't want her dead but I did want her out of my life. " > >"Did you see her when you were in Dr. Bauer's office?" > >"No, Detective. I did not. I heard some one enter the outer office and made my escape through the other connecting room." > >"Ms. Shayne, I'd like you to come down to the station and make a statement. You may want your attorney present." Jason is interrupted by the ring of the phone. Josh answers and after a brief conversation hands it to the detective. > >"It's for you." > >The detective listens to the caller on the other end, nodding occasionally. Finally, he hangs up. Turning to the interested on-lookers he states, "They found some very feminine prints all over Dr. Bauer's desk." > >"I told you I'd been searching his desk." Reva replies defensively. > >"I know, Ms. Shayne. The prints match one we found on the murder weapon." > >Reva stares in disbelief. "I'd contact that lawyer of yours now." > >End of Part 1. > YEEAAAHHHH STTEEEEEEELLLLLEEEEEERRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!! YEEAAAHHHHH STTEEEEEEELLLLLEEEEEERRRRRRRSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!! YEEAAAHHHHHH STTEEEEEEELLLLLEEEEEERRRRRRRSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!! YEEAAAHHHHHHH STTEEEEEEELLLLLEEEEEERRRRRRRSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEAAAHHHHHHHH STTEEEEEEELLLLLEEEEEERRRRRRRSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEAAAHHHHHHHHH STTEEEEEEELLLLLEEEEEERRRRRRRSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YEEAAAHHHHHHHHHH STTEEEEEEELLLLLEEEEEERRRRRRRS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!