Page 22 of No Quarter

“You think it’s a male?” Charlie asked, studying the photographs and looking at the bed where the woman’s body had been left.

“I’m not as informed about serial killers as all of you,” Doctor Whitmore offered. “But I do know that the vast majority of them are men.”

“Vast, but not all.” Valerie said without looking up from the pictures in her hand.

“Looking at the report,” Will began. “I saw that the sheet used to kill Gillian wasn’t from her room?”

“That’s right,” answered Doctor Whitmore. “We try to make sure that our patients don’t have anything they could harm themselves with. Our bed sheets clip in and lock on the mattresses—”

“To stop anyone from hanging themselves,” Charlie observed.

“Yes, Agent Carlson.” Doctor Whitmore looked around the room once more. “The extra sheet must have come from one of the storage closets.”

“And who has access to those?” Valerie said, looking up from the photographs.

“Most of the staff have keys,” Doctor Whitmore replied, before his expression changed to one of shock. “You don’t think someone who works here…”

“We’re not ruling anything out for the moment,” Valerie said. “But it might be a possibility we have to entertain if the patient leads don’t work out.”

“Can you give us access to employee files and patient records?” Valerie asked.

“Well,” the doctor seemed hesitant. “Isn’t that an infringement on their data protection rights? I’m not sure the Board would be so keen to easily hand that information over, I’m afraid. For ethical reasons.”

“From one doctor to another,” Will said, smiling. “Let me tell you, they’ll just get a Federal warrant.”

“I’m still not sure…”

Valerie knew getting access to those records was imperative. Doctor Whitmore or the Board at Elmwood could slow down that process if any of them dug their heels in about patient and employee confidentiality.

The longer it took to get those files, the longer it would take to catch the killer. Valerie knew she had to change tact.

“Can I level with you, Doctor Whitmore?” she asked, looking directly at him.

“Of course.”

“Three days ago, there was another murder.”

“At another hospital?” the doctor asked, sounding grim.

“No,” Valerie said. “But not far from here. The woman in question was strangled in a similar manner to Gillian here. And she was an ex-patient from Elmwood.”

“Oh no…” the doctor’s face had grown ashen. “I should have known there was more to it. You wouldn’t have Will Cooper with you otherwise. And how quickly the FBI have gotten involved…”

“What I am telling you is confidential,” Valerie added.

“Yes, I understand,” said the doctor. “Who was the patient, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Agatha Mitchell,” Valerie revealed.

“Did you know her?” Charlie asked.

“Yes,” he replied, shaking his head. “She left here a couple of years ago. But she had been here more than once. I’d need to check her file to tell you more. A nice person as far as I remember.”

“What was her condition?” inquired Will.

“Again, I’d have to check. I suppose ethics don’t matter as much when the person is dead. But I think she might have had an eating disorder if memory serves.”

“So, Doctor,” Valerie continued. “I hope you can see why we need access to those files. There could be more murders, and it’s possible that the next one will be either a current or ex patient from here. If you want to save them…”

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