THIRTY-THREE

LORI turned her laptop screen to face the group.

“This is elevator footage shot at the hospital earlier today. That shorter woman in the crowd is Clare Cosi. As you can see, she’s disguised as a member of the hospital staff.”

The herky-jerky footage of a crowded elevator abruptly switched to lobby-camera footage. The woman in scrubs proceeded out the front door, followed closely by someone in a rain poncho, hood up, face down. A graphic circle had to be drawn around Clare and the other person, because the lobby was so crowded that individuals coming and going were not easy to identify.

The next jump was to a traffic-cam view of an intersection, the closest one to the hospital entrance. Quinn watched what he surmised was Clare (aka “woman in scrubs”) standing with two other figures (one also in doctor’s scrubs, the other drowning in a large rain poncho with the hood up). They were joined by a fourth person (also well camouflaged by a rain poncho).

Because the footage was focused on traffic, the lens so far away, and the figures facing away from the camera, no one’s identity was revealed, even when magnified at the end of the video presentation.

The recording ended after the four figures boarded a black SUV, which proceeded north on the avenue. A different ground-level-camera shot from a few blocks uptown revealed the make, model, and license plate of the fugitive vehicle.

Lori closed the laptop, and Quinn felt the detectives’ eyes on him.

“Lieutenant Quinn,” Lori began. “What do you know about this?”

“Nothing. I’m just learning about it now.”

Lori and Sue Ellen exchanged glances. Lori spoke next.

“We made a note of the time stamp on the camera and checked with the desk sergeant at the Sixth. You weren’t in the precinct when this went down.”

“I had business at the DA’s office.”

“Coincidental timing, Lieutenant.”

“They’ll confirm it.” Quinn gave her two names to check with, and she jotted them down.

It was Sue Ellen’s turn to look skeptical. “And you know nothing about this?”

Quinn’s instinct was to fold his arms, but he fought it, forcing his body language to remain relaxed and open.

“Look, I don’t deny I have issues with Clare’s treatment. I don’t believe she’s getting the best medical care, and I’m going to use legal means to change that. There’s also the issue of her involvement in an open case.”

“You mean the alleged abduction of Annette Brewster?” Lori said.

“Yes. The department sees no value in Clare’s testimony, given her state of mind, but she is a witness, and I believe she should be in protective custody. That said, I had absolutely nothing to do with her leaving the hospital today.”

Quinn could feel some of the tension melt away. He could tell the detectives believed him.

“We’ll follow up with the DA’s people,” Lori muttered. Then she and Sue Ellen both shifted their stares to Madame.

“We also found out something interesting when we interviewed the nurses on Clare’s floor,” Sue Ellen said. “It seems the staff was distracted from their usual duties by a coffee-and-pastry feast provided by the Village Blend.”