Free Rohn Federbush - Sally Bianco 03 - The Recorder's Way by Rohn Federbush Page B

car-jacking.”
    “Captain Tedler was surely upset.” Helen put her arm around her dad.
    Max apologized. “Sorry, Andrew. I know you and Mrs. Costello are friends of Sally Bianco.”
    Andrew nodded unable to speak for a moment. “Let’s look at the file.”
    “The file clerk, Sharon Daley, says a Marilyn Helms worked with her on the cases.” Helen pointed to Marilyn’s name in the file. “Larry Schneider was only a boy when he died in the emergency room.”
    Max tugged on his curls. “I think the same Marilyn was doing community service at the convent. Sally invited her for a drive in Waterloo, according to the Mother Superior. They’re both missing, now.”
    Helen said. “The nurses were both fired after the three deaths.”
    “Nurses don’t hurt people, Andrew.” Max wasn’t as sure of his statement as he wanted to be but he wanted to relieve Andrew from any unnecessary worry.”
    “I’ve got to see Tedler,” Andrew said.
    H elen took a step toward Max as her father left. She slipped her arm around his waist. He knew she needed something or someone to hold onto. as if they were playing tag and Max was home base.
    “We shouldn’t get involved , with each other?” Max disengaged himself and sorted through the file Andrew had abandoned. “We shouldn’t jump to conclusions about Sally either. Larry Schneider,” he read. “Spinal meningitis was the cause of death?”
    “ Sharon said University of Michigan consultants were let go during a budget crisis at St. Anthony’s Hospital.”
    “A Dr. Benjamin Handler signed the death certificate?”
    “After the patients died, the doctors were reinstated.” Helen’s professionalism returned.
    “In t ime to ward off any damage suits to the hospital?” Max asked.
    ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
    In the car, Andrew Costello rubbed his bum thigh. Whenever he needed to think, his leg acted up almost demanding his attention to painful subjects. He didn’t want to talk to Tedler or Julia. He wanted to think. Helen and Max were no longer just friends. They were falling in love. He liked Max. The self-doubt Max exhibited reassured Andrew. The man owned a reflective soul. But was Helen, his daughter, his baby mature enough for marriage and children? Those dollhouses of hers, no one would want to marry a child. Raising one of your own was fine, but marriage required a mature mate.
    Julia was such a treasure now. He felt his wife was showing him new aspects of her personality, more to love. The secret of Helen’s birth father must have dogged every one of her steps, censured every thought. The deception had been a plaque on her heart. The truth had set her free of the pestilence. She no longer needed to place every fork directly on top of the next. She finally agreed after twenty-one years his tee shirts did not need to be ironed. The living room could appear lived in and they could afford to eat at restaurants as often as she liked. Their lovemaking was becoming a little more exploratory, healthy. Andrew smiled. He wondered if he should talk to Julia about Max and their daughter. So much was happening; maybe he’d wait until Julia came to him about their romance from her point of view. He’d try to act surprised.
    ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦ ♦
    The Day of the Crime, First Sunday in May, 2008
    Portage Lake
    Marilyn Helms walked her dog down to the boat ramp. His muzzle and fur were drenched in red. Finding several sticks, Marilyn threw them one at a time into Portage Lake until Rufus was immaculate. “Good dog,” she said. “Time to go.”
    The Honda waited for them. The weather was beautiful. Rufus needed a long walk to calm him down from his little adventure. Marilyn re-attached the leash but let it run all the way out. She didn’t feel like patting his ears. She would drive to Brighton for lunch, and keep going east. Easterners were easy to con. Once she was settled with her grandmother in Cape May, she could always phone Dr. Handler and Dr. Whidbey. They’d probably