“Yes, Doctor,” she replied, stowing the leather badge case back inside the folds of her jacket. “Edgar Virgil Reese. I’m given to understand he checked himself into this facility for observation yesterday afternoon.”
“Well, I’m afraid that it goes against policy to allow visitors during a seventy-two hour observation period, not to mention that it’s rather late…”
“I understand that,” she said, cutting him off. “The nurse already told me the same thing.”
“Good, then you are aware of our policy.”
“Yes, Doctor, I’m well aware, but as I told her, I can’t accept that.”
“She was just doing her job, Miz Mandalay.”
“Special Agent Mandalay, Doctor,” she corrected. “And I understand her position. That is why I’m now talking to you instead.”
He nodded and replied with a guarded, “I see.”
Constance couldn’t help but think about the fact that if Ben were here he would be cracking a joke about the psychiatrist’s stereotypical choice of words. She’d heard the detective rib his own sister over such things. Fortunately, Helen Storm was very good-humored where that was concerned. Something told her, however, that Doctor Poe didn’t share that trait.
This wasn’t her first go around with someone like him. She suspected that he was already profiling her as an insecure woman who was overcompensating because of her rampant penis envy. She’d been told something very similar once before by a psychiatrist who had stood between her and the resolution of a case. He hadn’t stood there much longer after that.
But right now she didn’t care. Doctor Poe could think whatever he wanted. The truth is, she had already profiled him as a mid-level administrator with a God complex, so technically they were even.
He fell silent and simply stared at her on the heels of his two-word commentary, seemingly sure that he had the upper hand. Constance mirrored his gaze and kept her own mouth shut. She had played this version of chicken before and with people far better at it than him. Psychiatrist or not, he was actually the one at a disadvantage in this stare-down test of wills. She had paid close attention to his face when she’d flashed her badge. Federal credentials almost always made people nervous, even when they were innocent, and he was no exception to that rule. He may not realize it yet, but he had already blinked before they ever started.
Silence filled the waiting room as an unseen second hand swept around a figurative clock. A minute passed, then a minute plus one-half. It never made it as far as two.
Doctor Poe shifted in place then cleared his throat and followed with a nervous-sounding cough. “May I ask why you want to speak with Mister Reese, Special Agent Mandalay?”
“It’s simply part of an ongoing investigation,” she replied.
“Is he a suspect in this investigation?”
“More like a person of interest.”
The doctor seemed unsatisfied with the answer. “I need to know if he poses a danger to the other patients.”
“Wouldn’t you be the one to answer that question?” she replied.
He appeared to ponder her return quip for a moment, then began to object, “Special Agent Mand-”
Before he could finish, Constance interjected, “I just want to ask him some questions, Doctor, that’s all.”
“Mister Reese is here for a seventy-two hour observation and evaluation.”
He regurgitated the same line she’d already heard a dozen times since her arrival here. Obviously he wasn’t going to easily give up his attempt to stonewall.
“Voluntary,” Constance added. “You and I both know that the Missouri revised statutes guarantee him the right to visitors unless you have good cause to deny such. Do you?”
“I believe it also states, at reasonable times,” he added.
“Hospital visiting hours don’t end until nine, Doctor,” she replied. “It’s only eight.”
“Those are general hours. The psychiatric wing hours end at eight.”
“I was here at seven-fifteen and you kept me waiting,” she countered.
“I’m very busy.”
“I’m sure, as am I.” Constance nodded then tried to relax her posture slightly, making a slightly conciliatory appeal. “Listen, Doctor Poe, I understand your situation, not to mention that it’s Christmas. Believe me, I’ve been away from home since the twenty-second. I’d rather not be here either, but with a little cooperation this can be relatively painless.”
“I’m sorry,” he replied, shaking his head. “Visiting hours are still at our discretion.”
“This is official, Doctor.”
“My hands are tied, Special Agent.”
“Okay, then,” Constance huffed as she reached down and retrieved her cell phone from her coat pocket. “Let me see if I can untie them for you. I’ll make a call and get a court order.”
“If you could do that you would have already had a court order in hand,” he rebuked.
She replied, “Do you really want to take that chance?”
He stared at her again, and she held his gaze, thumb hovering over the keypad of the cell. Finally, she keyed in a speed dial code and placed the device up to her ear. After a trio of rings it was answered at the other end.
“Yes, SSA Greene, this is Mandalay… Yes sir, Merry Christmas to you too… Yes, sir… Yes, that’s where I am right now, and it’s actually why I’m calling. I’m very sorry to be bothering you at home, but I’m meeting some resistance from Doctor Poe here at the hospital. Yes, sir… Yes, exactly… Yes, I think we might need to obtain a court order… Yes, sir… Yes, I’ve tried… Yes, sir, I know… All right, just a second…”
She lowered the cell for a moment. “What is your full name, Doctor Poe? The judge is going to want it for the warrant.”
“Wh-wh-why my name?”
“It’s just procedure,” she told him. “We like to have a paper trail in case there are any significant turns in the investigation, you understand.”
Doctor Poe quickly waved his hands and instead of answering said, “Slow down… Just… Let’s back up…”
Constance raised an eyebrow then pushed the phone back up to her ear and said, “I’m sorry, sir, could you hold for another minute? Thanks…”
She lowered the device again and stared questioningly back at the doctor.
He huffed out an exasperated sigh and said, “We don’t even know if Mister Reese is willing to take a visitor.”
“Why don’t you start with asking him?” she said.
He regarded her quietly for a moment before finally huffing again and all but spitting her title as if it were poison to his tongue. “All right, Special Agent Mandalay, we’ll do it your way. You don’t need to get a court order. But if Mister Reese refuses to speak with you, that isn’t my fault.”
“I understand. Thank you,” she replied, then pressed the phone back to her ear. “I’m sorry about that, sir… No, it actually appears that I bothered you for nothing. Doctor Poe has changed his mind. Yes, sir… Yes, sir… I will. You too… And Merry Christmas to your family… Sorry again for bothering you… Goodbye.”
Constance thumbed off the phone and breathed an inner sigh of relief. Given that she’d just carried on a one-sided conversation with her own answering machine at home, she was thankful the doctor hadn’t called her bluff.
“Follow me,” Poe said, turning to lead her toward the door from which he’d entered earlier. “I still want you to understand that this is highly irregular.”
She answered immediately while gathering up her coat, and mimicked his earlier tone of distaste with her title. “That’s okay, Doctor, this is a highly irregular investigation.”
CHAPTER 30
11:43 P.M. – December 25, 2010
Sheriff’s Department
Hulis Township – Northern Missouri
“Either two thousand-seven best director… That make sense to you?” Sheriff Carmichael asked aloud, not looking up from the crossword puzzle on his desk. “Four letters… Starts with C.”
“Coen,” Constance replied, her voice cold and flat. “C-O-E-N. Joel and Ethan. They’re brothers and they shared the award in oh-seven for No Country For Old Men.”