Gifts From The Kasbah by Robert F. Clifton (smart ebook reader txt) 📕

Wallace showed his badge and credentials, handed the butler his card and said, “I'm Captain Wallace of the Nautilus Beach Police Department. I'd like to speak to either Mr. or Mrs. Kerr.”

The butler took his card and said, “Please follow me sir. I will show you to the library. Someone will be with you soon.” When the butler left the room Wallace stood looking at and examining the rows of books on the shelves. He found Henry Miller, Joseph Conrad, George Bernard Shaw., and his favorite, Hemingway.

“By the way you are studying those shelves of books I would say that you must be an avid reader”, said a female voice behind him. Wallace turned to see a young woman in her mid to late twenties. She was neatly dressed in a gray suit. Her black hair was pulled back into a bun and she wore glasses. He did not see any signs of makeup. She didn't need any as her natural beauty was evident”.

He smiled and answered. “I'm afraid that you have exposed a weakness of mine. I do enjoy excellent literature. This is quite a collection”, he said.

“Most of them are first additions with a few actually autographed by the authors. Collecting is one of Mr Kerr's hobbies. At the moment he is in Florida on business. He's flying back this evening. I am Jane

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Chambers Mrs Kerr's private secretary. She sends her regrets that she can not meet with you Captain as she is in deep mourning for her daughter. However, she does suggest that I answer any questions that you might have. Do you find this agreeable?”

“For the moment. Is it Miss or Mrs. Chambers?”, he asked.

“It's Miss. Why don't we have a seat. Make yourself comfortable Captain. May I offer you a refreshment, coffee perhaps?”

“No thank you. Let me explain why I'm here. At this point we are merely examining the facts of Miss Kerr's death. The fact that it has been found that she died of heart failure at the age of nineteen presents first a question of her general health.”

“She was in good health. There were no problems related to her heart.', said Miss Chambers.

“Anything else?”, asked Wallace.

“Not that I can think of at the moment”.

“How about skin problems?”, asked Wallace.

“Maybe years ago when she was going through puberty, but nothing recent”.

“It is my understanding that the family wants an investigation conducted in this matter. Could you tell me why?”

“Mr Kerr is under the opinion that when his daughter was admitted to the emergency room that the attending physicians were incompetent and caused her untimely death.”

“I see...Do you happen to know where her pocketbook is? I checked with the hospital and they said that it was turned over to the family”, said Wallace.

“Actually, it was turned over to me. If you will wait, I'll go and get it”, said Jane.

“That would be very helpful...Thank you”

When Jane chambers left the room Wallace got up out of the chair and once again examined the Kerr collection of books. He found what he was

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looking for, the complete collection of Henry David Thoreau. In all, there were twenty volumes containing articles, essays, journals and poetry. As he looked at the row of books he fought the urge to reach up and select one, any one and then to take it to a chair where he could sit and read. However, his thoughts were interrupted with the return of Miss Chambers.

“I see you're still interested in Mr. Kerr's collection', she said.

“Guilty as charged”, Wallace replied as he returned to take a seat.

“Here is Elizabeth's pocketbook. I'm afraid it won't be of too much help. Inside it you'll find her credit cards, eighty dollars in cash, some loose change, a comb, her wallet, driver license, an address book and two tampons”, Jane said as she handed the purse to Wallace.

“Thank you' Wallace replied. He then looked through the belongings finding exactly what Jane Chambers said he would find. Taking the wallet in his hands he removed the cash and then the credit cards. When he removed the credit cards a small, white business card came into view. Wallace picked it up, turned it over and read: “Frederick Parven, M.D. Obstetrics and Gynecology” Looking at Miss Chambers he asked,“Was Elizabeth pregnant?”

“Heavens no”, she responded.

“I don't like getting personal, but did she have any female problems?”

“None that I know of”.

Wallace replaced the business card and credit cards put the wallet back in the pocketbook and handed the purse to Jane, “I see that she has the top three credit cards, Was she a big spender or thrifty?” asked Wallace/

I would say that she was thrifty, since all of her bills came to me for approval and payment”, Jane replied.

“Thank you Miss Chambers. Can you tell me the name of her physician”.

“The family uses Doctor Samuel Harvey”.

“And how has her over all health been?”

“I would say that she was fine”.

“I see. And, what about her friends. Did she date much, travel with a certain group. Did she drink or smoke?”, asked Wallace.

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“She dated like any normal girl her age. I'm sure that when with friends she might have had a drink or two. I never knew her to smoke. You ask about a certain group, her group of friends were all her age and getting ready to go to college. Elizabeth would have been going to Princeton next semester”.

“This is October why didn't she enroll this semester?”

“She had a problem with math. As a result she had to take a course at the Community College in order to get the necessary credit'

“I see, well Miss Chambers thank you very much for your help in this matter. If there is anything else that I might need I hope I can call upon you again”.

“And, you are quite welcome Captain. Once again Mrs. Kerr sends her regrets that she could not meet with you at this time and hopes to be available in the future should you need to talk with her”.

“Please give her my condolences”, said Wallace.

“I will. Allow me to show you out”.

Wallace drove back to headquarters. When he walked into his office he used the intercom to summon O'Neil. While he waited he took a seat at his desk and read the notes he had taken while interviewing Jane Chambers. Then he wrote, “Check Kerr's medical record with Dr. Parven and Dr. Harvey”

When O'Neil entered the office Wallace motion for him to take a seat. He then sat and watched the Captain writing what he assumed to be notes of some kind. Finished. Wallace looked up and said, “Bill, I want you to go to Doctor Samuel Harvey's office. I want to know the general health of Elizabeth Kerr. In particular two things, the condition of her heart and any skin problems. While you're doing that I'll be interviewing Doctor Parven”.

“Was the kid murdered?”, asked O'Neil.

“I doubt it, but right now there's too many people wanting answers and I've got to have them, so we'll start with her doctors”.

“No problem. I'll talk to him. I'm on my way”, said O'Neil.

Later that afternoon Wallace smiled as the women sitting

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in the Gynecologist office looked at him in surprise. He took a seat, leaned forward picked up a magazine and began to read. Shortly after doing that a nurse/receptionist came out of one of the examining rooms and saw him. “Sir?...Can I help you?”, she asked.

Wallace got up and walked to the counter and showing his badge and credentials in a low voice said, “I'm Captain Wallace. I'd like to talk to Doctor Parven when he is free”.

“As you can see, the doctor is very busy. It may be some time before he can see you”, the nurse replied.

“I'll wait”, Wallace answered.

“May I ask what you want to see him for?”,asked the nurse.

“Oh, you can ask, but I'm not going to tell you. Let's just say it's police business”. Wallace responded.

“At four forty five P.M. The last patient left the doctors office and the nurse appeared and said, “Captain the doctor will be right with you”.

“Thank you Miss”, said Wallace. A few minutes later Doctor Parven entered the waiting room. “You want to see me officer?”, asked Parven.

“Yes sir. I need some information about one of your patients, a Miss Elizabeth Kerr. What were you treating her for?”

“Captain, as you know, that's privileged information between a doctor and a patient”.

“Yes of course. However, I would think that you could tell me in five minutes what I want to know rather than give the same information to a prosecutor at an inquest or grand jury. Now, would you really like to spend one or two days away from your practice?”

“No, of course not.

“Then, what I want to know first is why were you treating Miss Kerr?”

“A simple yeast infection”.

“I see. Was she cured?”

“Yes”.

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“As her physician, did she have any skin conditions, such as a rash?”

“Not that I recall”.

“Thank you doctor. See how easy that was...Have a great day”, said Wallace as he walked out of the office.

Later that evening Wallace sat at his kitchen table eating a frozen dinner that he had heated in the microwave oven. As he ate he thought again of the Kerr book collection and how he would like to read some of the volumes on those shelves. His thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of the telephone on the kitchen wall. He got up from the table walked to the telephone and answered the ring. “Hello'

“What are you doing?”

“I'm trying to eat my supper”.

“Did Mrs. Swanson cook again?”

“Yeah. Now what do you want Doc?”

“I just want to tell you that I'm certain that I found that the Kerr girl was using heroin”.

“Was it enough to kill her?”

“No, she didn't die from an over dose, but in examining her liver tissue there is evidence that she has been using it for some time. The toxicology report will tell us exactly how much was in her system at the time of death.

“How long will that take?”

“Six to eight weeks, why?”

“Maxwell's on my ass. He wants information about the Kerr girl that he can use against her father. It's a political thing”.

“What do you want to do?”, asked Doctor Edwards.

“I want to stall as long as possible”, Wallace answered.

“No problem. Her tissue and fluids have been sent to the State Toxicology Laboratory in Trenton. As I said, it usually takes six to eight weeks before I get the results. If necessary I'll sit on them as long as you want”.

“Good. Let me ask you something. Did you find any needle marks on her body?”,asked Wallace

13. “No and she didn't snort, I checked her nostrils. She either ingested it, which is unlikely or she used it as a suppository in her rectum or vagina”

“What do you think Doc?”

“If I were you I'd look for an oral syringe, and a lubricant”, Edwards answered.

14. Chapter Three

Wallace stood shaking hands with Captain Vincent Perone. He admired Perone and considered him a good cop, one that had your back at all times. He was dedicated, honest, a good husband and father and now ready to retire.

“So, you're pulling the pin”, said Wallace.

“Yep, I've had enough. I'll leave it up to you or someone else”.

“Well, before you go, what's the conditions on the street”, asked Wallace.

“Hey, you commanded this squad. You know it never changes, only the faces change. The hookers are still out there and will always be out there as long as the court slaps them on the wrist and fines them forty dollars every time they're arrested. Bookmaking continues, only now it's not as apparent and the users are still looking for dime bags of grass to smoke”, Perone explained.

“What about heroin?”, asked Wallace.

“It's there, and it's good stuff. The word is