We'll Meet Again

“Honest mistakes do happen in hospitals, Ms. Simmons. We all know that. According to what A

“How awful!”

“It was A

“You mean they were deliberately experimenting on patients?” Fran asked, shocked at this revelation.

“I can only tell you what I’ve put together from the little bit A

“Was there something else?” Fran asked gently, anxious to get the woman to talk, but not wanting to prod her too hard.

“Yes. A

“Wasn’t A

“She had absolutely no proof of anything being wrong in the second incident, and when tests were done on the young woman, the results indicated no trace of a suspicious substance. A

Lucy paused and once more filled her coffee cup. “Try to understand. A

“Did A

“At the end. He was avoiding her, and she had started to fear him. When she told him she was pregnant, he told her to get an abortion. If it weren’t for DNA testing, she was sure he would have sworn it wasn’t his child.

“Jack Morrow’s death was a terrible blow to A

“Did A

“I don’t think she had any way of knowing. And besides, her energies were soon focused on taking care of the child she was carrying. Ms. Simmons, we begged A

“A

Lucy Bonaventure smiled. “That sounds like A

“I can’t tell you how grateful I am to you, Mrs. Bonaventure,” Fran said. “And I know how hard this is for you.”

“Yes, it is. But let me show you something before you go.” Lucy Bonaventure went into the bedroom and picked up the photographs she had placed on the dresser top. She showed them to Fran. “This is A

69

“ Cal, what is the matter with you? You’ve done nothing but bark at me, when the worst thing I seem to have done is suggest you get away from here for a few days and maybe get some golfing in.”

“Je

“I’m willing to concede that I’m very sorry I took the day off,” Je

“Why don’t you visit your friend, Molly?” he suggested. “I’m sure she will be delighted to be comforted by you.”

“It really is bad, isn’t it, Cal?” Je

Calvin Whitehall’s laugh was a short, mirthless bark. “Thank you, Je

“I am going to go over to see Molly. I was really concerned when I saw her Wednesday night. She was terribly down. Then when I spoke to her yesterday, after Mrs. Barry quit, she was positively reeling from the blow.”

“You told me about that.”

“I know. And I know you agree with Mrs. Barry. You wouldn’t want to be alone with Molly either, would you?”

“Precisely.”

“ Cal, Mrs. Barry brought Molly some twenty sleeping pills that were from a prescription for her son. I’m very worried about that. I’m afraid that as depressed as she is, she might be tempted to-”

“To commit suicide? What a perfectly wonderful idea. That would be just what the doctor ordered.” Cal looked past Je

As the maid entered, Je

“My opinion stands. She’d be doing herself a favor if she exercises that option. And she’d be doing a favor for a lot of other people too.”