Read Online 2 Multiple Exposures by Audrey Claire - Free Book Online
Authors: Audrey Claire
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funny or interesting.” The last of her sentence was spoken with an apologetic air.
Very professional, ladies.
“So a patient may have known and could have passed the information to her husband or boyfriend. Is that why you’re afraid he was murdered?”
“No.”
I tensed.
“It’s because I think he had a partner.”
My blood ran cold. “A partner? Are you sure?”
“No, I’m not sure, but I remember a couple months ago, I was working late trying to get some filing done. After I had finished everything, I wanted to tell Dr. Bloomberg good night. When I walked down to his office, he was on the phone with someone. I couldn’t hear their part, but he was saying something like, “No, I don’t want that. Give me something more powerful with more features.”
“That’s not so suspicious. He could have been referring to anything.”
“True, but when I came into view, he started like I had caught him doing something he shouldn’t. He rushed the person off the phone, and I assumed he was trying to order medicine and didn’t know our procedures. I offered to help, and he said ‘I’ll handle it myself. Good night, Lissa.’ A dismissal just like that.”
“I’m assuming you girls handle all the ordering, and he signs off on it.”
“Not us girls,” Lissa corrected, “me. I have run that office for four years, and it bothers me to think he would be… right under my nose.”
I tried to order in my mind all she had told me up until that point. Did the evidence of what Lissa heard lead to a partner, or just a guy who supplied him? What did Dr. Bloomberg mean by “I don’t want that?” Was the supplier trying to give him a cheaper pen, one that would be too obvious? What additional features did he need? Then I recalled my own knowledge of the equipment, and it might be just as I had said. The original pen might only have been able to take photographs. Dr. Bloomberg might have decided he wanted more. He needed video.
My stomach lurched, and I had to lean over the steering wheel with my eyes closed until it settled. Lissa was saying something in my ear, but I was busy sucking in deep breaths to keep from gagging.
“Makayla, are you there?”
I raised my head. “I’m here.”
“Listen, I still don’t trust the police.”
“Is there a reason for that?”
She hesitated. “Never mind. I just don’t want Hardy Joe involved. So, I’m going to work with you on this. Please, will you help me? I feel responsible for not looking out for all the women that Dr. Bloomberg might have hurt.”
“I’ll do what I can, sweetheart, but I’m not a trained officer.”
“But you are dating the sheriff.”
I groaned. “You might be overestimating my influence on the man. He’s good at what he does, and that has nothing to do with me.”
“I think you’re underestimating your influence. We women have a lot of power, and we have to use it. Sometimes, we have to guide our men on the path they should take.”
Why did that statement bring up an image of Lissa “guiding” Hardy Joe to kill Dr. Bloomberg for his sins? She was pretty insistent that he not be allowed to know about the issues with Dr. Bloomberg. I could see why Spencer decided not to cross her and her husband off of his suspect list should the doctor’s death be ruled a homicide. She certainly didn’t have an alibi, and I and several other people could put her at the scene. Still, I wanted to do all I could to help solve the mystery of what Dr. Bloomberg had been up to.
“I’ll do what I can,” I promised.
“Great. Thank you, Makayla. I knew I could count on you.”
I made a noncommittal noise of agreement.
“In a few hours, I’m going to send you a list.”
“A list of what?”
“Patients, every one of Dr. Bloomberg’s patients.”
“Can there be that many?”
“Over three thousand, unfortunately.”
“Over three thousand?” I emphasized. “Are you exaggerating, Lissa?”
“No. Doctor’s offices handle a lot of
Very professional, ladies.
“So a patient may have known and could have passed the information to her husband or boyfriend. Is that why you’re afraid he was murdered?”
“No.”
I tensed.
“It’s because I think he had a partner.”
My blood ran cold. “A partner? Are you sure?”
“No, I’m not sure, but I remember a couple months ago, I was working late trying to get some filing done. After I had finished everything, I wanted to tell Dr. Bloomberg good night. When I walked down to his office, he was on the phone with someone. I couldn’t hear their part, but he was saying something like, “No, I don’t want that. Give me something more powerful with more features.”
“That’s not so suspicious. He could have been referring to anything.”
“True, but when I came into view, he started like I had caught him doing something he shouldn’t. He rushed the person off the phone, and I assumed he was trying to order medicine and didn’t know our procedures. I offered to help, and he said ‘I’ll handle it myself. Good night, Lissa.’ A dismissal just like that.”
“I’m assuming you girls handle all the ordering, and he signs off on it.”
“Not us girls,” Lissa corrected, “me. I have run that office for four years, and it bothers me to think he would be… right under my nose.”
I tried to order in my mind all she had told me up until that point. Did the evidence of what Lissa heard lead to a partner, or just a guy who supplied him? What did Dr. Bloomberg mean by “I don’t want that?” Was the supplier trying to give him a cheaper pen, one that would be too obvious? What additional features did he need? Then I recalled my own knowledge of the equipment, and it might be just as I had said. The original pen might only have been able to take photographs. Dr. Bloomberg might have decided he wanted more. He needed video.
My stomach lurched, and I had to lean over the steering wheel with my eyes closed until it settled. Lissa was saying something in my ear, but I was busy sucking in deep breaths to keep from gagging.
“Makayla, are you there?”
I raised my head. “I’m here.”
“Listen, I still don’t trust the police.”
“Is there a reason for that?”
She hesitated. “Never mind. I just don’t want Hardy Joe involved. So, I’m going to work with you on this. Please, will you help me? I feel responsible for not looking out for all the women that Dr. Bloomberg might have hurt.”
“I’ll do what I can, sweetheart, but I’m not a trained officer.”
“But you are dating the sheriff.”
I groaned. “You might be overestimating my influence on the man. He’s good at what he does, and that has nothing to do with me.”
“I think you’re underestimating your influence. We women have a lot of power, and we have to use it. Sometimes, we have to guide our men on the path they should take.”
Why did that statement bring up an image of Lissa “guiding” Hardy Joe to kill Dr. Bloomberg for his sins? She was pretty insistent that he not be allowed to know about the issues with Dr. Bloomberg. I could see why Spencer decided not to cross her and her husband off of his suspect list should the doctor’s death be ruled a homicide. She certainly didn’t have an alibi, and I and several other people could put her at the scene. Still, I wanted to do all I could to help solve the mystery of what Dr. Bloomberg had been up to.
“I’ll do what I can,” I promised.
“Great. Thank you, Makayla. I knew I could count on you.”
I made a noncommittal noise of agreement.
“In a few hours, I’m going to send you a list.”
“A list of what?”
“Patients, every one of Dr. Bloomberg’s patients.”
“Can there be that many?”
“Over three thousand, unfortunately.”
“Over three thousand?” I emphasized. “Are you exaggerating, Lissa?”
“No. Doctor’s offices handle a lot of
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