“Okay, Megan. I understand you’re upset,” Kit said as they all sat in the Armada back at the medical office’s parking lot.
Gannon turned and looked at the dark-haired woman where she sat curled up in the back seat. She was pouting and staring at the handle of the back door.
The only things they knew about her after ten minutes of asking were from her license. It said her name was Megan Kraft and she lived in Casper three blocks away.
“I get that,” Kit said. “But we’re just trying to find out what’s going on.”
“And we’re running out of time and patience,” Gannon said, dabbing sweat off his face with a napkin as he drummed his fingers on the wheel.
“I don’t know,” Megan finally said. “I don’t know if I should even say anything. Maybe I need a lawyer.”
“Why would you need a lawyer, Megan?” Kit said calmly as they watched a maintenance pickup from the college park beside the soccer field. “I’ve already told you you’re not under arrest. I just want to know why you ran out of the office.”
Megan did some more pouting and staring, then she finally sat up.
“Okay,” she said. Her hair was in a ponytail and she grabbed it and draped it over her shoulder and began twisting the end of it nervously with her fingers.
“Okay,” she repeated. “There’s no other way to say it. I was having an affair with Dr. Fletcher, okay? That’s why I was in there.”
“An affair?”
Her fingers twirled at her hair.
“Yes,” she said. “I used to work in the office as a receptionist and I knew he was married but I don’t know. He made me laugh and we just hit it off.”
“You’re not the receptionist anymore?” Gannon said.
“No,” Megan said, giving him a funny look. “See, that’s it. This was last year, about fifteen months ago. His wife found out about six months in. Or maybe she just suspected. Whichever. She demanded Gary fire me.
“But I wasn’t really fired. I didn’t show up anymore for work, but he was still paying me, see? He knew I had a daughter. Plus, he wanted to still see me. Besides, he was loaded.
“Anyway, it was driving me crazy all week because, well, see, I’m married, too, and my husband has no idea. He’s deployed in the military and coming home next month and...”
“And what?” Kit said calmly.
“I didn’t know if Gary’s witch of a wife would make a stink about it because of the money. Sue me or something. She’s a real bitch on wheels. I knew it was wrong, but I was crazed about all of it, so I thought I’d go in with everyone off at the funeral and see if I could take a look at the books to cover it up or something.”
“Wait, wait. Go back,” Gannon said. “Funeral? What funeral?”
Megan’s fingers ceased in mid-twirl.
“Gary’s funeral. Who do you think I’m talking about?” she said.
Gannon and Kit looked at each other in shock.
“Dr. Fletcher’s funeral?” Gannon said. “Dr. Fletcher is dead?”
“Yes. Isn’t that why you’re here? Aren’t you investigating his death or something?”
“How did Dr. Fletcher die exactly?” Kit said.
“He committed suicide,” she said. “Last week. He did that thing with the hose in his garage. You know? Left the car running and pushed the hose into the tailpipe and the window? The carbon monoxide thing. It was a shock to everyone. Gary was an upbeat guy. Fun-loving. A runner and big-time skier. He had a house in Breckinridge. No one saw this coming.”
Gannon and Kit stared at each other again.
“What day was this?” Kit said.
“Last Friday.”
Kit tapped at her lip as she peered at the dashboard.
“Megan, how did you get into the office?” she finally said. “Do you have the keys?”
“Yes, Gary gave them to me. I used to meet him there sometimes when the staff was gone.”
“Okay,” Kit said after taking a breath. “I see the position you’re in here. I’m sympathetic, so why don’t we make a deal? I’m looking for the name of one of Dr. Fletcher’s patients. I have the serial number for some breast implants he, um, installed. Do you think if I gave you the number that you could get me the name of the patient associated with it?”
“Sure,” Megan said sitting up even straighter. “I could do that. In fact, I’m probably the only one who can.”
“Why’s that?” Gannon said.
“His files are gone. Or at least the official files. I checked when I went in. Somebody must have come in with a hand truck. All the paper is gone and the half the computers, too.”