Free The Imposter by Judith Townsend Rocchiccioli

profile for this
type of crime?"  Alex's face paled as she considered the perp coming back
and attacking Angie while she was at CCMC.
    Nadine
and Jack looked at each other sadly.  Jack nodded while Nadine answered Alex's
questions.  "Yes, these profiles usually reveal that the rapist is mentally
ill.  Violently, mentally ill.  They are often psychotic."
    "Great
Day!  It is looking more and more like it could be a patient from the
Pavilion.  Do we have any inpatients that have such a profile?"  Alex's
headache was getting worse.
    "Don't
know yet.  There are several patients in the Pavilion now that are violent and
have diagnoses that could suggest such a profile.  However, rape is not noted
in their medical histories.  Dr.  Desmonde and the psych team are analyzing the
records that we pulled.  We should know something by this afternoon.  I'm sure
she will talk to us then," Nadine assured them.
    The
conversation was interrupted by a dietary aide delivering the lunch trays. 
Alex, Nadine, and Jack stared at the food as the aide departed.  The food looked
good, but no one was particularly hungry.  Finally, Jack spoke.
    "Alex,
there's one more thing.  You ain't going to like it.  Do you want to hear
it?"
    "Yes,
of course, Commander." Alex's formal tone was indicative of her distress.
    "This
kind of rapist likes to revisit his victim.  He likes to come back to terrorize
them over and over.   It could be here at CCMC or after she has recuperated and
gone home.   It could be in five years, who the hell knows.   But, they do
often return and stalk their victims."
    "Oh,
no.  We can't let this happen! No! What do we do?" Alex's voice was
approaching a hysterical level and her head was beating outside of her skull.
    "When
he comes back, he'll try to kill Angie.  I am sure of it." Jack was
feeling again for his gun.  "Don't worry, Alex.  In the meantime, we’ll
place police protection outside her room.  When he comes back, we'll get him.  
Count on it.  It's a given." Jack's face was red with anger. 
    Alex
stared at her plate of uneaten food.   She felt nauseated and was startled when
Jack's cell phone rang.  
    He
looked at the number.  "I've got to go."  He turned to Nadine and
said, "We caught the double homicide this morning in the Quarter.   The
young couple.   I got to get down to the Coroner's office."
    "Commander,
you're handling that?  I hear that's a bad case." Nadine's face was grim.
    "Yeah,
Nadine, it is.   It's looking real bad.   But then, this case is bad as well.  
Today has been nothing but bad." He looked at the lunch he had been so
eagerly anticipating and said, "Sorry, ladies.   I just lost my
appetite."
    After
Jack left, Alex and Nadine talked quietly and picked at their food.  Nadine
told Alex that she would be sure police protection for Angie had been arranged,
"just in case".  She also reminded Alex that she and Jack were
operating only on a theory and that they had no hard evidence.  Nadine promised
to keep in touch and the two women parted, leaving Alex tearfully depressed in
her office.   Shortly after she left, Alex remembered that she had forgotten to
ask Nadine about the puncture wounds on Angela's neck.   She'd call and ask her
later.  But, right now, Alex needed a little time alone.

Chapter 10
     
    Jack's
brain was bursting as he started his drive back down to Rampart to see Maddy
Jeanfreau.   He was doubly concerned about Angie's safety and felt there was a
risk the perp would try to finish her off, if she made it through surgery.  
Why did bad things happen to his friends?  He'd made a ton of friends over at
CCMC in the spring and the group had gotten together several times over the
previous months to keep their connection alive.   Several of the CCMC folks had
been piqued that he hadn't invited them to his Commander celebration.   As it
was, Jack had barely tolerated the evening.   He'd only invited the few folks
necessary to be