Fatal Reckoning (Fatal #14)(61)

Ten long minutes later, he came through the swinging double doors, seeming surprised to see her. Youthful and blond, he had warm brown eyes that lit up with amusement at the sight of the people in the waiting room gawking at her. “To what do I owe the pleasure of a nonbloody visit?”

He was funny. She’d give him that, even if his humor was often at her expense. “I need a favor.”

“Come on back.”

Sam followed him to a small office tucked between patient cubicles. “Is this where the magic happens?”

“Nah, this is where I hide when I need to take ten.”

“I know that feeling.”

“Did you catch the Connolly case yesterday?”

“Yeah,” she said with a sigh. “I had the special joy of notifying his wife of three months.”

Anderson winced. “So fucking tragic.”

“Incredibly.”

“What’s this favor you need?”

“I’m looking for something that’s been missing for four years, and I only recently realized it.”

“Okay…”

“I know it’s a long shot, but my dad was brought here after he was shot. He had a messenger bag that he carried back and forth to work. A colleague recalls seeing him wearing it across his chest before the shooting. It’s possible it was still there when he was shot and would’ve been on him when he was brought here.”

“Anything he came in with would’ve stayed with him when he was admitted.”

“Is it possible that in the effort to save his life, he could’ve been separated from it?”

“I suppose it’s possible it was still with him if the EMTs didn’t cut it off to gain access.”

“If it was still with him, where would it have ended up?”

Before he could reply, Freddie appeared at the door. “Morning.”

“Morning. Dr. Anderson and I were discussing where missing items land in this place.”

“We have a central lost and found in the main office off the lobby,” Anderson said. “It’s run by volunteers.”

Sam cringed at the word volunteers.

Anderson chuckled. “Don’t make that face. They’re remarkably organized and are the backbone of this place.”

“If you say so.”

“I say so.” He consulted a directory, picked up the phone and made a call. “This is Dr. Anderson in Emergency. I have Lieutenant Holland from the Metro PD here.” He paused, glanced at Sam and said, “Yes, the vice president’s wife.”

Sam groaned.

Anderson smiled. “She’s looking for something from four years ago that possibly came in with a patient and might’ve ended up with you guys. Is it okay to send her over to take a look?” After listening for a second that seemed like much longer, he said, “Okay, will do.” He hung up the phone. “She said you’re more than welcome to look, but they don’t tend to keep things that long, unless they seem valuable.”

Sam’s heart sank. Her dad’s beat-up leather messenger bag certainly wouldn’t pass the valuable test. But they would look anyway. “Thanks for your help, Doc.”

“My pleasure.” Using a printed map of the hospital, he showed her where to find the lost and found office. “Would you like me to punch your frequent-flyer card?”

In light of her many visits to the ER, he’d recently given her a card as a joke. “That’s okay.”

“Hey,” Anderson said when they were halfway out the door. “I’m very sorry about your dad.”

“Thank you.”

“Are you holding up okay?”

“Working the cold case helps.”

“I’ll hope and pray you get the answers you’re looking for.”

“I appreciate that.” She followed the directions he’d given her to the main lobby, realizing that at some point the good doctor had become a friend despite the needles. One could never have too many friends, or so her dad had always said. He’d had so many friends, people from all walks of life who’d come to pay their respects during the public viewing. She wasn’t nearly as likable as he’d been, but she had her share of friends and appreciated every one of them, especially at times like these.

As she and Freddie navigated the maze of corridors and hallways, Sam kept her head down to avoid eye contact with curious people they encountered. She heard the whispers and the buzzing, felt the eyes on her and the fingers pointed in her direction, but ignored it all to stay focused on why she was here.

The woman whom Anderson had spoken to was waiting for them when they arrived in the lobby. She waved them over to a doorway, located behind the information desk. “Hi there, I’m Ann, and it’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Sam shook her hand. “You too. This is my partner, Detective Cruz.”

“I’m sorry for your recent loss.”

“Thank you. Do you mind if we take a look?”

“Feel free.” Ann stepped aside to let them enter the small room. Shelves lined the walls with items contained in plastic bins.

“Is there any particular place that older items would be kept?” Sam asked.

“Not really. We’ve tried to institute organization, but with volunteers in and out, things get mixed-up.”