Free Chaos at Crescent City Medical Center by Judith Townsend Rocchiccioli

Ashley, I don't understand.  If Mrs. Raccine wasn't injured, where'd the blood come from?"
    Dr. Ashley took another deep breath. "There was a dead rooster in the room lying on Mrs. Raccine’ s chest.  We found a mutilated snake under her bed and a black candle on her bedside table.  Her windows had been shrouded with black cloth."
    Mr. LaSalle looked confused, and then dismayed, the emotions playin g across his face.  His knuckles whitened as he clutched the conference t able as the implications became clear to him.    Ms. Marquette looked absolutely terrified.  Kevin Anderson appeared incredulous, and Christina Baptiste , a younger board member , gasped for breath and ran from the room.   Elizabeth , shocked by the behavior followed Mrs. Baptiste. After his initial response, Kevin Anderson’s re sponse was even more perplexing. He actually clasped his hands, gave a brief smile, and looked away.  Alex was puzzled and thought he looked pleased at the story and then immediately chastised herself for her negative impression.  I don't even know the man, she thought , but still, this is really weird .
    Several moments of silence followed John Ashley's revelation. As Alex continued to reflect on the response s to Dr. Ashley's announcement, she became uncomfortable, and then aware that a feeling of fear was permeating the room. 
    Kevin Anderson still appeared the least affected and spoke first, and appeared confused.  "I don't know a great deal about Louisian a, since I came here from Texas several years ago. Anybody hear anything or see anyone entering Mrs. Raccine's room?"
    Alex intervened , “ No, once again, Mr. Anderson, our information is still sketchy, but the nursing staff report no unusual activity around Mrs. Raccine's room during the late night or early morning hours.  Hospital security didn't report anything either."
     
    Mr. LaSalle spoke up, his voice impatient.  "Certainly someone was in her room, at some time, during the night.  Don't you all write things down; you know things about how patients are doing?"
    Alex quickly responded, " Of course we do. We document status and vital signs.  Unfortunately, the Six North nursing unit was very busy last night.  The RNs were tied up with a heart attack at the far end of the hall between one-forty-five and four-thirty.  A nursing assistant, Bessie Comstock , charted at two am. that Mrs. Raccine was resting.   The charge nurse  reported that Bessie left sick shortly after four am. Th e charge nurse said Ms. Comstock was ashen and appeared very ill.  The charge nurse asked about her patients, and Bessie reported that she had just made her four o 'clock rounds, and that all the patients were sleeping.  At that point , Bessie left. ”
    “What did this staff member chart about Mrs. Raccine ? ” Mr. LaSalle asked.  
    Alex continued, hating to say the words, “ Unfortunately, Bessie did her four am. chart ing on her patients up to Mrs. Raccine.  Bessie made no 4 am. chart entry in Mrs. Raccine's medical record and there are no entries between two and five-fifteen."  As she finished talking, Alex noted that Andre Renou was taking notes.
    Elizabeth Tippett returned to the room, her face reflect ing surprise.  "Mrs. Baptiste has left the meeting.  She said she can be of no use in this situation , and she'd see us at the April meeting."
    Alex immediately thought that Mrs. Baptiste's behavior was unusual, odd even, but re-considered when she remembered her family was good friends with Grace Raccine. 
    Mr. Anderson spoke again, "How's Mrs. Raccine doing?"
    Robert glanced nervously at Kevin Anderson and said, "Mrs. Raccine's stable, but unresponsive."
    The group was startled when the door opened and Captain Francois entered the board room without knocking .  Dr. Ashley suggested a short break prior to the captain's report.  Alex turned to John Marigny.
    "John, should we let all these people stay for Francois' report?  He struck me as a little hostile,