| Subject: WTTS2 - 61 |
Author:
KT
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Date Posted: 20:53:00 01/11/02 Fri
In reply to:
KT
's message, "Window to the Soul 2" on 20:43:26 01/11/02 Fri
Window to the Soul 2 - Part 61
By KT
Copyright June 3, 2000
Walter and Sabine sat in the hospital cafeteria, each sipping their coffee in silence, gathering their thoughts and feelings about recent events. They didn't make small talk. He informed her that statements would be required from her and Gwen, and that the police would be contacting them.
Sabine spoke of the shooting, her words revealing the depth to which she cared about Nikita and Roberta, and their valued friend Gwen.
"You talk about them as if they were related to you."
"They have become my family." Sabine was momentarily overcome. She had fought to keep her emotions at bay, knowing that if she broke, others would suffer. "Caregivers are instructed to be vigilant against becoming too emotionally involved with their patients, but this extraordinary circumstance has brought us together in a way that no other could." It felt good to acknowledge her own pain over this dreadful incident. Walter pretended not to notice too much.
"Well, what about your family in France?" he queried, "if I'm not being too nosy, that is."
"No, not at all. I have only a daughter. She's about Nikita's age, actually... a bit older. She lives in Toulouse. Martine is a teacher... primary school. She could never have children, so I guess she chose to have other people's children."
Walter smiled to himself. So that was why Sabine had taken so to Nikita.
"And her father...?"
Sabine looked up at Walter with wistful eyes. "We lost him in a mining accident. Martine was thirteen."
"And you've been alone ever since?"
Sabine nodded. Walter certainly had a way of drawing her out. "I've never had the strength to love anyone as much since his death," she found herself confessing. A revelation came to her. "Well, I have, but not in the same way. I have given my life to the terminally ill. I suppose it has been my way of caring deeply without..."
Walter cut her off. "...without becoming involved," he finished for her. "But what about your own daughter? You chose to live so far away from her?"
Sabine shook her head. "No. She chose that for us. She never got over Max's death. I don't know why, but I couldn't reach her. Truly, it has been the sorrow of my life." Sabine paused thoughtfully. "But now... seeing Roberta and Nikita together... it has given me hope that some time in the future, my child and I will be together again. This is my prayer that I pray every day."
Walter reached out and patted Sabine's hand gently. "Perhaps your prayer will be answered." His usual bravado was quelled by Sabine's tender story.
Sabine gave Walter's hand a tiny squeeze. "And you. I can tell that you also care about Nikita."
"Yes. I knew there was something special about her that first day when she came into my Café. Some people are just like that."
Sabine cocked her head as she studied Walter, withdrawing her hand. "And you. What about your family?"
Walter's eyes dropped to the table, his expression becoming a bit unfocused. Sabine waited patiently, but he didn't speak. After a moment, he stood abruptly.
"Let's save that for another time, OK? I'd like to see if Nikita's awake. There are some things I need to tell her." Sabine rose and they walked together. She could wait for his story.
When they entered Room 112, they were confronted by Roberta and Nikita riveted to each other, their hands joined across the space between their beds, their faces intent. Nikita looked up, letting go of Roberta's hand as Walter approached, giving her a warming smile.
"Hey, sugar," his gravelly voice fell easily on her ears, "it's sure good to see you. I heard you've had quite a time of it." He glanced politely over at the other bed. "Hello, Roberta. Nice to see you again, too. Hope I wasn't interrupting anything important." Walter observed their eyes as they looked at each other. Something serious was definitely going on.
"Oh, Walter. Thanks for coming. We were just talking." Walter's heart contracted a little when he realized how much effort it took for Nikita to speak.
Sabine excused herself. "I'll be back in a few minutes." She slipped out before Nikita or Walter could protest.
"I was here earlier, but you were asleep. Birkoff says hello. He had a pretty hard time with all your tubes and things. But I told him you were tough. So, you'll be getting outa here soon, right?"
When she didn't reply, Walter looked directly at Nikita. There was something about her. He couldn't quite put his finger on it. Notwithstanding the fact that she had almost died and had just come out of major surgery. Still... He decided to ignore his gut feeling for now.
"Listen, there's something you need to know. Do you think you're up for some news?" She nodded and he continued. "There's been a development in the missing persons case. A body was found in the basement of the Hall. They're in the process of identifying it now. They're pretty sure it's Zalman." He gave her a minute to assimilate these facts. He decided she didn't need to know about the severed hands.
Nikita was shocked into reaction. "My God. Walter. How horrible."
Roberta gave a little gasp when she heard the story.
"Michael has gone downtown at the request of the police. They needed his account of what happened at your mother's, and they also asked that he view the body. From what I gathered about it, though, it sounds like they're going to need dental records to ID it. It was too far gone to tell from simple observation." Walter stopped as he saw Nikita's expression change into one of revulsion. "Er, sorry, sugar. Guess that was more than you wanted to know."
Walter gave Nikita a moment. "Well, anyway, Michael wanted me to let you know where he went." Walter was hoping to speak to Sabine before he left. "Listen, I've gotta get going, but I'll be checking in often." He gave Nikita's hand an affectionate squeeze.
"Thanks, Walter. You're a good friend."
As he exited the room, Walter ran into Gwen, returning from her walk. They chatted for a moment. "Gwen, would you please tell Sabine goodbye for me? She took off before I had a chance to speak to her." Gwen nodded. "Thanks."
Gwen stuck her head in the door, calling to the bedridden ladies. "All clear?"
* * * * * * * *
At the morgue, Michael, Paul Wolfe, and Madeleine waited while Detective O'Brien paged the coroner. Their conversation was minimal as each of them battled with personal reservations regarding what they were about to see. No one knew quite what to expect.
The coroner, Ed Durand, a large, laid-back man in his forties, arrived and explained what was needed. O'Brien introduced him all around. Durand knew from experience that these people were nervous, and tried to make things as easy as possible.
"I want to thank you all for your cooperation. If you can't recognize this person, please be honest and say so. We've called for dental records, just in case you're unable to make a positive visual ID. I know this will be very difficult, but please bear with us here. It won't take long."
They followed him into the refrigerated room.
* * * * * * * *
Karen Kent was treated for her shoulder wound and released into the custody of the police. O'Brien wasn't taking any chances. She was being held in the Cook County Lock-Up, not the ideal place for a woman, but he figured with her background, she'd make out OK.
O'Brien pondered as he followed the hallway to her cell. After the episode at the morgue, it was clear that dental records would have to be used to positively ID the body. He decided that he would steer clear of imparting any current information to her, now that he had Michael Samuelle's statement. The other two women, Mme. de Lac and Mrs. Stewart, had been contacted by his office and were scheduled to come in to give their statements first thing in the morning. Things were finally falling into place.
Now everything hinged on the forensics report. Blows to the body were discovered, but the coroner speculated that since they were administered by a woman, they had to be after the victim was incapacitated. She would have been strong enough to deal them, given the excellent physical shape she was in, but opportunity would have been a problem. Zalman had to have been already restrained in order for her to get close enough to lay hands on him. O'Brien had ordered a toxicology report. He had a hunch on how Karen subdued Zalman.
His cell phone rang. Cossins. "Marcus, we have a positive ID on your John Doe."
"Jaime Zalman?"
"That's affirmative."
"Thanks Patrick. I'll be in touch very soon."
O'Brien stopped in front of Karen's cell. She was reclining on her cot, staring at the ceiling, hands folded on her stomach, feet crossed, looking incredibly relaxed for a woman who had just attempted to murder two people, and probably murdered one. She glanced at him as the guard unlocked the door.
"So, when do I get my phone call?" Her hostile tone set him off, but he covered his reaction. This woman was slime, but he couldn't let his personal feelings get the better of him.
"I've read you your rights. You'll get your call. Have you thought about a lawyer?"
"Just let me make my call."
The guard cuffed her and led her and O'Brien to an interrogation room where she was allowed to use the phone.
"Hello, Uncle.... Yeah... I need you to come down to the County Lock-Up... Yes, it's urgent... And I need a lawyer... See you soon." She handed the phone back to O'Brien. He looked into her eyes and a shiver went down his spine. It was like looking through a window with a brick wall behind it. There was only darkness.
* * * * * * * *
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