124: Clair hung up with Nash.
He was still at the house.
She and Kloz had Upchurch’s patient file spread out on a table, searching the text. They found references to everyone currently in the cafeteria, but it didn’t stop there. They found a dozen other names scattered throughout the various documents. She had patrol cars running all over the city picking up anyone mentioned and bringing them back here.
“Here’s one more,” Kloz said. “Angelique Waltimyer. She’s a nurse in the ER downstairs. Looks like Upchurch came in about a month ago and was held overnight.”
Clair nodded to Sue behind her. They had recruited the orderly in their roundup efforts. Sue was already on the phone, dialing downstairs.
“I don’t care if she’s plugging a gunshot wound with her index finger. I want her up here,” Clair said, returning to the folder.
“This guy has had three surgeries so far, all performed here,” Kloz said. “They might as well install a zipper on his head. They scrape away the tumor and it comes right back. The first one was the size of a golf ball . . . and get this—it grew that big in only a few weeks.”
“They’re prepping him for another surgery right now,” Clair muttered. “I hope the fucker dies on the table.”
“I’m not sure how he’s even still alive. They took out so much of his brain, he could be a politician.”
“Detective?”
Clair looked up. Dr. Hirsch stood in the open doorway. A balding man of about fifty, with small round glasses and a bright purple tie. “Yes?”
“Kati Quigley just woke up. Her parents are with her.”
Clair glanced at Klozowski.
“Go, I’ve got this,” he said.
Clair rushed out the door, the doctor behind her. In the elevator, she asked, “Any word on Larissa Biel?”
Dr. Hirsch scratched at his chin. “Still in surgery. I think she’ll pull through, but repairing this kind of damage can be time-consuming. She’s with Dr. Crandal. He’s a phenomenal surgeon. I know he called for a specialist to look at her throat, specifically her vocal cords. If there’s going to be any permanent damage, it will be speech related. Too early to tell, but we should know soon. I’d expect them to be in there at least another hour.”
The elevator doors opened. They turned left and followed the hall.
Kati Quigley was in a private room on the second floor, a uniformed officer stationed outside her door. Clair could see her through the door’s thin observation window. She was sitting up, her hands animated. Her mother and father stood on the left side of her bed. The doctor pulled open the door and ushered Clair inside. Kati and her parents all looked up.
Kati’s father stepped between Clair and the bed. “Oh no, she needs to rest. She can give a statement once she’s gotten her strength back.” He had been wearing a suit, but his jacket and tie were on one of the chairs in the corner. Kloz said he was a lawyer.
“It’s fine, Dad. I’m okay. I want to help.”
Kati’s mother reached down and squeezed her daughter’s hand. “Of course you do, but your father’s right.”
Clair felt the roadblock going up and wanted to knock these people over and push past them, but instead she counted to five in her head, drew a breath, and forced a smile. “I completely understand, Mr. and Mrs. Quigley, I do. I promise, I won’t take a lot of her time. It’s always best to do this when events are fresh. Dr. Hirsch here will monitor her. If at any time she’s under duress, we’ll stop.”
“Dammit, Dad. This is important!”
“Kati!” Her mother glared.
“I’m sorry, Mom,” Kati said. “Please let me talk to her.”
Her father didn’t move. “You have the monster who did this in custody, right?”
“We think there were two.”
“Please, Dad?”
He closed his eyes, shaking his head. “Okay, but only for a minute.”
“Thank you.” Clair stepped past him and sat on the right side of the bed, opposite Kati’s mother. She took out her cell phone and set it on top of the sheets. She reached out and took Kati’s free hand, the one with the IV in it. “I’m so glad you’re safe. Do you mind if I record this?”
“No. It’s okay.”
“Please tell me everything you remember. Start from the beginning and take your time. Sometimes the smallest of details can be the most important.”
Kati nodded. Her face crinkled and she sneezed.
“Bless you,” Mrs. Quigley said.
Clair handed Kati a tissue from the bedside table.
The girl dabbed at her watering eyes.