Chaos at Crescent City Medical Center (35 page)

"You know how Mitch Landry was involved?"  Alex uttered this question in a small voice.  Her grandfather reached
to
put his arm around her.

Francoise looked sadly at Alex.  "Not really.  Mitch was a good person from a fine family.  Unfortunately, he had some problems with gambling.  Our snitches tell us he was in debt to the mob for over a hundred grand.   We suspect his part was somehow related to his debt, and whatever
Frederico
's motive was.  I'm sorry he died." 

"Thanks, he was a good man and was very talented."  Alex brushed away her tears.

There was a knock at the door of the VIP suite and lunch was de
livered.  The group ate quietly and talked
more about rebuilding CCMC's reputation than recent events.  Shortly after lunch, the crowd broke up.  Elizabeth went to handle the reporters
,
and Don gleefully returned to his office where he wrote a press release.  Doctor Ashley went to make rounds and Alex made an excuse to go to her office to look over her mail. 

Adam Lee stayed with Francoise and the
y continued to discuss the case and receive new information. Several hours later the Congres
sman and the police Captain sent
out for a fifth of Jack Daniels after realizing how enormous
,
well-connected and well-monied Health Trust was. The criminal underpinnings had become clear.  Both knew it would prove to be an international conspiracy and would take months to unravel.  They only hoped there would be minimal retribution
lodged against the events of the day.

It was strange to be in the office over the weekend
, Alex thought
.  It was so quiet and there were no phones, no chattering Bridgett, and no interruptions.  Alex
reviewed correspondence as she
sat at h
er desk
.  After a few minutes, she sat back in her chair
and
thought
about the past week.  Things were better, but she knew it would be a long time before she'd get over Mitch, if ever.  She felt betrayed, cheated again.  She wasn't sure if she'd ever trust a man again.  She'd trusted Robert, and he'd divorced her.  She'd trusted Mitch, and he'd used her.  There were so many unknowns about Mitch and his motives.  Had he deliberately used her?  Looking through her open office door she noticed an overnight mail package on Bridgett's desk.

Alex sigh
ed as she rose from her desk to retrieve the package.  She picked up the parcel and when she read the return address, her heart started beating furiously.  It was from Mitch but had been ma
iled from Biloxi on Friday. 
Alex removed the letter with shaking hands,
and
a tape recorder fell out of the envelop
e
.  Mitch's big, bold handwriting stared up at her as she read aloud.  "Dear Alex
, by
the time you receive this, you'll either know everything because I've told you, or you'll know nothing because I'm dead.  This letter explains everything.

First of all, I was dishonest with you at the beginning of our relationship
. I sought you out because I ow
ed a large sum of money to a mobster named
Frederico
Petrelli. 
It was a gambling debt.
He approached me four months ago demanding that I get the dirt on CCMC because his friends wanted to buy it.  I arranged to meet you, with the intent of learning ways in which
Frederico
could ruin the hospital.  As time went by, I began to care for you and detest myself.  Later, when I didn't deliver,
Frederico
told me he wanted the land owned by Bonnet's family so his associates could expand their casinos on the Riverfront.  Of course, there was no way I could do that.  I think it was just another threat to make me deliver on the CCMC information.  Anyway,
Frederico
and a large man with a ponytail came to my house after we had dinner at Cafe Volage and told me I had until five o'clock the next day to deliver.  To prove his point,
Frederico
burned my forearm.  I left immediately and went to Biloxi to gamble.  I lost heavily at the casino, and after that,
I
have no recollection of what happened.   I returned for the Endymion Extravaganza so I could again see you and explain what had happened.

The recorder holds a tape I recorded the night
Frederico
and the man with the ponytail came to my apartment.  They admit their part in the CCMC crimes, at least the shoot-out and the attack on the heart patient.  It's enough information to implicate them both. You almost caught me one night when my recorder fell out of my pocket.  Forgive me for being so deceitful. I love you, Alex.  Mitch.

Alex finished reading Mitch's letter and sobbed uncontrollably.  A little later she called
Robert and told him to meet her in Francois' suite. 
As
Alex took the elevator to Jack's room,
she was comforted
with the knowledge that Mitch had loved her, and had tried to do the right thing.  In reality, Mitch's letter would close the case.

Robert,
his arm casted and in a sling,
Adam and Jack were waiting for her when she entered the suite. 

Alex said, "Sit down.  There was a package from Mitch in my office.  Mailed Friday from Biloxi.  He also sent me a tape recording, which I think
will
answer all your questions.  Jack, will you read the letter.  I'm too emotional."  Alex handed the letter to Francois.

Jack read the letter slowly.  The letter was the missive of a doomed man.

"Turn on that damn reco
rder," Adam Patrick Lee growled
.  "Let's see what we've got
!
"

The recording implicated
Frederico
and Salvadal easily. In less than a minute Francois called for a warrant for
Frederico
's arrest.  Within an hour
Frederico
was picked up and charged with the murder of Jonathan Mercier, the crime team reporting that the ballistics
w
ere
a perfect match. 

"Why'd
Frederico
kill Mercier?" Robert said.

"
Frederico
knew Mercier was the weak link.  Knew he'd im
plicate him later on.  The
mob
leaves no witnesses." 

Robert nodded in understanding.

Francois turned to Alex.  "We got them.  All t
ied up in a nice little package, at least for now.
"

"Yep, we did.  But, you owe me one and payback's going to be tough."  Alex
, her eyes hard and unsmiling,
eyed the capt
ain
.

"What the hell, what payback?"  Captain Francois was actually stammering.  "What are you talking about, Alex."  A light of realization paled the captain's already white face as he reviewed the possibilities.  His thoughts returned to his recent elevator ride.  He said, "Oh no, no way.  No elevators, no damn elevators.  I'm a sick man."  Francois looked around frantically.

Alex smiled.  Now she knew his weakness, his Achilles heel. She thought about it and said, "Hmm.  Elevators, that's a new twist.  I'll have to work
o
n the elevator."  She paused to allow
the fear
to
sink in.  Then she looked at Jack and Robert and smiled.  "You're
both sick me
n and you're both leaving for Virginia on Tuesday to recuperate at Wyndley."  Alex winked
at her grandfather.

"Absolutely, we've got reservations to leave New Orleans on Tuesday morning.  No excuses allowed."  The Congressman looked pleased with the plan.

Francois was so relieved that no elevators were involved, he said quickly, "Count me in, I'm coming."

Alex turned to Robert, "And you?"

The surgeon gave Alex a tender smile.  "You bet.  I want to see Grand."