Part I-Chapter 7: ONE STEP AHEAD

Chapter 7

One Step Ahead

(Ó 2007)

It was now just past 11:30 AM as David and Noel drove their car into the back parking lot of Cook County Hospital. They saw the news vans of all the local stations with their satellite dishes standing fully erect.

“I have a feeling,” David said, “that we are going to be walking into ‘the Leon Robbins Show’ live.”

“Perfect,” Noel said, “just perfect.”

They parked the car in an area reserved for police vehicles and then made their way to the back entrance of the hospital. David made his way to the reception desk and asked the woman there for the office of Dr. Sean MacDonald, a neurosurgeon. 

“May I inform them that you’re on your way up officer?” The receptionist asked.

“Why you certainly may.” David answered cheerfully. As she began dialing Noel turned and looked down the hallway. There was a conference room, and by all of the moving light that was seen coming from the doorway, they both knew that that was where Leon Robbins was having his news conference.

“Leave it to Leon to know when the news has there afternoon broadcasts.” Noel said.

“Are you kidding?” David replied, “He probably has one of the note cards like all the quarterbacks have, right there on his wrist, with all the broadcast times, news reporters names, even the ratings, all right there.” He was mockingly pointing to his own wrist.

The receptionist then spoke, “I spoke with his receptionist, he’s expecting you, and he just came out of surgery, and is on his way to his office.” She then pointed in the direction of the hallway, “Take the elevator there to the fifth floor, 523-A.”

“Thank you very much.” Noel told her.

Both men proceeded then to the elevators. Noel pressed the up button when they arrived. However, while waiting, one of the news cameramen spotted them and called out, “Hey! It’s Todd and Jaworski!”

The new reporters then came out and shouted to them, “Hey David, Noel can you speak?”, “You both have a second?”, and “Would you like to respond to Mr. Robbins allegations?”

David looked to Noel, then to the reporters, and said, “Sure. Why not?” Then started to make his way to the news conference.

“Oh shit.” Noel said under his breath, knowing of David’s way dealing with the media in the past. He quickly followed behind him. They both came in to see all of the local Chicago television reporters, along with radio, and from the Sun-Times and Tribune. Leon Robbins was up on the staging area. He was a man in his mid thirties, with shoulder length blond hair and a goatee beard. He wore round “Trotsky” eyeglasses, with a burgundy denim button down shirt, gray corduroy blazer, blue jeans and running shoes.

One of the television reporters yelled from the front row, “Would you like to respond to Mr. Robbins allegations?”

“Well, that depends.” David answered.

“On what?”

“Is this all live?” David asked.

“Yes it is.” The reporter answered.

“Well, that depends on if your producers back at all your studios have their fingers on that six second delay button.”

All the media people gave out a laugh. Then the same reporter then said, “I think that they just may have Detective.”

“Well remember then, YOU told me so.” David said, his answer was followed by another round of laughter. “But, hey. I’m taking away from Leon’s spotlight here; he might be getting agitated with that.” Then he looked at Leon Robbins, “Sorry Leon. I guess I just have more charisma than you.”

Another round of laughter, then the reporter again asked, “Really, Detective, would you like to respond to Mr. Robbins allegations?”

David cleared his throat and said, “First of all I did not hear Leon’s allegations, and second if I did? I’d have to be careful walking out of here so as not to slip on all the B.S.”

Again, another round of laughter. Another reporter from on of the radio station asked, “What are both of you doing here then?”

Noel answered, “We are here to see the surgeon who performed surgery on the two suspects last night and get a progress report on there condition.”

“Detectives! Are they the serial rapist that you both been seeking for the last three years?”

David said, “Can’t comment on that people, I can only say that they are suspects.”

Then another barrage of questions, “What is their condition?” Can you confirm that they were severely beaten?”, “What about Mr. Robbins allegations that it may have been an off duty police officer that may be responsible?”

“Wait a minute!” David shouted holding up his hands, he then looked to Leon, “Was that your allegation Leon? The old ‘off-duty cop did it’ routine? You know what? These guys deserve you.”

“It’s just a suspicion of mine.” Leon said from his staging area, “And I demand that I be with you when you interview the doctor! I must make sure that you do not harass my clients.”

“Well, make sure you go through de-lousing before you come up.” David said. That was followed by laughter combined with a gasp. David and Noel then made a quick getaway to the elevator; there was a nurse who was just entering. She saw David and Noel stepping briskly in her direction, so she held the elevator for them. Both men jumped inside, and the doors began to close when Leon Robbins stopped in the front.

The doors were halfway closed and Noel then waved his fingers at Leon, “Sorry! All full dude.”

“Smooth Noel, real smooth,” David praised, “not bad for a Cub fan.”

“Been hanging with you too long I guess.” He answered, then turned to the giggling nurse behind them and asked, “Hey? How you doin’?”

Moments later the doors opened and both men stepped out on the fifth floor. They saw the sign right in front of them that pointed to the direction of sets of room numbers. David saw that they had to go left down the hall, “Too bad we can’t switch this around before old Leon gets here.”

“Knowing him? He would get nauseas because he had to go to the right for something.”

“You have been hanging with me too long; you’re learning the fine art of being a smart ass.” David said, “Guys like Leon are never happy, that’s why they try to change the world, so that everyone else will be as miserable as them. It’s how they want to fight their loneliness.”

They walked halfway down the hallway to the office numbered 523-A, the office of Dr. Sean MacDonald, a neurosurgeon specializing in spinal injuries. They entered the office to find it empty, except for the nurse in the reception area, behind a sliding corrugated glass window. They saw her image come to the window, reach down and slide it open, she was a attractive black woman with graying hair, “Yes, gentlemen, may I help you?”

David showed her his badge and credentials, “Detective Todd, this is Detective Jaworski, were both here to speak with Dr. MacDonald about the condition of the two men I brought here last night.”

“Oh, yes. Those two.” The nurse answered. David started having some of his suspicions confirmed with the tone of the voice from this woman, that the word was spreading around on who these two patients of Dr. MacDonald are, and there is going to be very little sympathy for them. “The Doctor just finished his surgery with them less than an hour ago, he should be here shortly. Would you like to wait for him in his office?”

“Why yes, may we?” David answered. She pressed a button that would unlock the entry door so that David and Noel could come in. She then escorted them to the doctors’ office. His office was masculine in décor, in dark woods and leather furniture. From the some of the pictures, the good doctor was a hockey fan, with pictures of him with the Blackhawks and autographed pictures from some of the players.

David turned to the nurse and said, “The attorney for the two suspects should be he shortly, in fact it wouldn’t surprise me if he is in your waiting room right now ready to make some demands.”

“Oh him?” She answered almost yawning, “I already had my run in with him, and I already put him in his place.”

“Really?” Noel asked, “If he starts up in here can we call you for help?”

“It would be my pleasure; do you need anything before the doctor arrives?”

“Yes,” David said, “may I use the phone real quick? It will just be a minute, and could you stall Mr. Robbins until I’m done?”

“Sure thing, just dial nine to get an outside line.” Then she left them alone in the office.

David picked up the phone, dialed nine, and then dialed the number. Noel sat in one of the chairs that were directly in front of Dr. MacDonald’s desk. Just then they both heard the voice of Leon Robbins demanding to know where the doctor and the two police officers were. David started to also hear the phone of the number he just dialed ring. Then they heard silence from the waiting area, then Leon’s voice, along with his demands again. David then heard someone pick up the phone on the other end.

“Hello Eloise, the Big Boss there?” He said into the phone. “Sure, I hold.”

Then the voice of the nurse could be heard down the hallway, it was calm, but stern, “Young man, didn’t your mother teach you any manners or etiquette? When you ask me nicely and speak to me with a civil tongue, then I’ll be more than happy to help you.”

Noel let out a laugh.

“Hey Boss, did ya get it?” David said, he was speaking to Captain Xiang, “Ya did! Cool. A uniform is on the way? OK then, thanks, we’ll let you know how it goes. Probably within the hour, OK, later.” He hung up the phone and looked to Noel, “All taken care of, a uniformed officer is on the way to deliver it.”

“This should add to Leon’s headache.” Noel said, “Unless the good nurse out there slaps him on one side of his head.”

“Speaking of which, here he comes now.” David said, and as Leon walked in, “Hey! Leon, why does it take another woman to do your mamas job?”

Leon gave them a cold look, David went to sit in the chair next to Noel. There was another chair on the other side of Noel, which he pushed an arms length away from him, then offered it to Leon. Leon then sat down in it rather curtly.

All three men waited in silence, it wasn’t long before the doctor came in to his office. He was still in his surgery room scrubs, khaki green in color, he was a young looking man considering his short hair was completely silver. It was his green eyes that stood out. He looked very tired, and he was. He had just finished the all night surgeries on Raul Ortega and Billy Freeman.

“Good afternoon gentlemen, Mr. Robbins.” Dr. MacDonald greeted them extending his hand to David and Noel, “Mr. Robbins and I already have met this morning.”

“Jesus Doc,” Noel exclaimed, “you just NOW finished with these two guys?”

“Yes I have, spinal surgery is a complicated ordeal,” the Doctor answered, “especially with the injuries these two men have sustained.”

David then said quickly, “Well, that’s what we’re all here for Doc; we need to know what their condition is so that we can make arrangements for an interrogation, and when the victims can start to identify them.”

“Leon then interjected, “Don’t give them any information on my clients doctor, I’m warning you.”

“SHUT UP LEON!” Both David and Noel said together.

“Don’t worry officers; I’m going to tell you everything.” Dr. MacDonald said, “Contrary to Mr. Robbins’s opinion of himself, he’s just a lawyer.”

“Hey!” Noel said to David pointing at the doctor, “I like this guy.”

On the wall behind then was a Gray’s Anatomy poster showing the human spine, both the back view and the side. Dr. MacDonald walked over to it and everyone turned in their chairs to follow.

“As you know,” the Doctor began, “the spinal cord is an extension of the brain. It is even covered and protected by the same three membranes that are found in the brain. These are called the meninges.” To the side of the images was a top view cut away image of single vertebrae, the doctor pointed to it and continued, “A wide subarachnoid space surrounds the cord, this contains the cerebrospinal fluid.”

David raised his hand, “Hold on one second Doc could you? I’m going to want to write some of this down.” He then reached in for his notepad and pen inside his jacket, “OK, ready.”

The Doctor then continued, “All information from the brain to the extremities goes through the spinal cord,” as he said this he pointed with his finger and had it travel up and dawn the side view image of the spine, “you could say that it is the first relay station for all our sensory information. Bladder functions, movement, sensory functions, are all dependent on information from up and down the spinal cord.” He then turned to his small audience so as to make sure to emphasize his next portion of what he was telling them, “Any interruption of spinal cord function, be it from a tumor, severe pressure, or as in these two cases, severing, long lasting or complete and permanent loss of function, below the level of the tumor or injury will occur.”

“Severing?” David asked, “Their spinal cords have been severed?”

“I am afraid so,” The Doctor answered, “and from appearances? Mr. Freeman may be the more fortunate one, however, only slightly more fortunate.”

“Meaning?” David asked.

The doctor then again pointed to the side view of the spine. “The human spine is divided into three separate regions. The cervical region for the head and neck, the thoracic region for the area of the chest, and the lumbar region for the lower back and legs.” He then pointed to and area of the cervical region, “Both men have their injury in the cervical region. However, Mr. Freeman’s injury is here,” he continued pointed to certain vertebrae in the neck area, “between the C-4 and C-5, his diaphragm muscles? There is a good chance that after initial therapy he will be able to breath on his own. However, Mr. Ortega’s injury is just one half a vertebrae higher, and it is more than likely that he will be on a ventilator for the rest of his life. The paramedics who ventilated him knew what they were doing. They may have saved his life.”

Noel then asked, “Basically what you’re telling us is that both these guys are, like, dead from the neck down?”

“Both men will suffer from Quadra paresis, yes.” The Doctor answered, “Loss of all motor and sensory functions in both their arms and legs, basically no feeling whatsoever from the shoulders down.”

Noel sat back in the chair and exclaimed, “Jesus! If you can call that saving their lives.”  

David looked up from his notepad and then over to Leon. To David it seemed that he was not only stunned, but it was as if any strategy he may have had for the use of Raul Ortega and Billy Freeman was beginning to look jeopardized. “What’s the matter Leon? We haven’t heard the sound of your voice for a whole five minutes.” He then looked to the Doctor and asked, “Well, where do we go from here doc? What’s going to happen to them now?”

“I have fused the vertebrae where their injuries are,” the Doctor began his answer, “I did this by using some of their own bone and grafted it in their cervical area. I took the bone material from their lower legs,” he said and then looked at Leon, “they won’t be using them again anyway.”

“How long will it be before we can interview then?” David asked.

“Right now they have been fitted and placed into Halo Braces.” He answered.

“Halo Braces?” Noel asked.

“Here, I’ll show you.” The doctor said, he then went to his desk. He brought out a diagram of the Halo Brace, and as he pointed to the specific parts, he explained it to Noel. “The Halo Brace has been used as the initial treatment for these types of neck fractures. The metal ring here, or ‘halo’, is secured to the patients’ skull, and these metal rods here are attached to a fitted plastic jacket that the patient wears on his upper body. This apparatus will assist to obtain complete fixation of the patients’ neck and spine. It will keep both areas completely immobile. Fortunately, they both did not have skull fractures after all, or it may have been more complicated.”

“Shit.” Noel exclaimed. 

“So how long we looking at doctor?” David asked.

“Well, with the Halo Brace alone we are looking at a minimum of three months,” Dr. MacDonald answered, “I need a solid union between the vertebrae that I performed the fusion on. Both men are also going to need kinetic therapy and will be placed in a Roto-rest bed.”

“And that is?” David asked, still taking notes.

“It’s a special bed developed for patients like this,” the doctor explained, and then produced a diagram of the device he was explaining, “both men’s bodies must remain immobilized. Even though they can’t move, we must also help prevent any type of movement to their bodies from outside forces, such as transporting them from area to area. However, the main problem with immobility is the patient developing not only bed sores, but pneumonia as well. This bed automatically moves from side to side to help in the prevention of all that.”

“Then what you are saying is that we are looking at a substantial amount of time then right?” David asked.

“With the Halo Brace and the kinetic therapy,” the doctor then looked to the ceiling as he started to calculate, “Let’s see, I must see evidence of healing, and that varies with each patient, that maybe will be a minimum of six weeks, I will give you a conservative estimate of anywhere from between three to six months, possibly even up to a year.”

Noel whistled and then exclaimed, “Whoa ho.”

There was a moment of silence, then David turned to Leon, “Well counselor, have you nothing to add?”

“No, no I don’t. Not at this moment.”

“Well, I have a feeling what I’m about to say may change that.” David said then turn back to the doctor, “I’m going to need samples from them doctor, you know, hair, from their heads, bodies, and more important, their pubic area.”

Then Leon became excited, “Wait just one minute there!”

“Also,” David continued, holding up his hand as a sign to silence Leon, “I need urine and blood, and if there is a way, skin and fingernails.”

Leon turned to the Dr. MacDonald, pointing his finger to his face, “You had better not doctor! They will need a court order for that! If you touch either one of my clients, I will have your license, I will OWN this hospital! DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME!?” 

Just then the intercom on the doctor’s desk gave a beep, and the nurse from the front office spoke. “Dr. MacDonald?”

“Yes?” The Doctor answered.

“Could you please inform the detectives that there is a uniformed police officer here with a delivery for them?”

David raised his hand to the doctor, “Could he bring it right in here please? I was expecting that.”

The doctor nodded and then spoke into the speaker, “Yes, could you send the officer in here with that please?”

“Yes Doctor.” Then the intercom clicked off. David then got up from his chair to go into the hallway to meet the police officer. He exited through the door and met the officer half way down the hall.

“Sergeant Todd?” He asked, he was a young officer of African decent.

“Yes, that’s me.”

“Here’s the documents you need.” He said handing David a large manila envelope, and then lowered his voice so that only David could hear, “You got Robbins in there?”

“Yes, we do.” David answered just as quietly, “Why? Do you know what‘s in here?”

“Sure do.” The officer said.

Then David spoke even in a lower tone, “You want to see his face when I produce these don’t ya?” David, knowing of the unpopularity of Leon Robbins among those of the Chicago Police Department.

“Could I?”

“Sure. It’s the least I could do for turning you into a messenger service today.” David looked at his name tag, “This way Officer Timmons.”

Seconds later David re-entered the office with Officer Timmons. David went back to the desk while Officer Timmons stood by the door.

“As I said Doctor, I will need those samples as soon as possible.” He said to the Doctor.

“And I said, not without a court order, and I will fight any order you try to get Todd!”

David then opened the envelope and produced two documents, “Man, just like in the movies! Just in the nick of time! The cavalry arrives! In this case, that would be Officer Timmons here.” He said while pointing to the Officer.

“What are those?” Leon asked angrily.

“Just what you wanted Leon, court orders for the good doctor here to get me the evidence that I’m requesting.”

Leon grabbed the papers from David’s hands and began scanning over them.

Noel then said, “Man Leon, the lady out front is right! Didn’t your mom teach you any manners?” Leon ignored him and kept scanning the papers. When he saw that they were indeed all in order he handed the papers back to David. Then David handed the papers to the Doctor.

“What did you expect Leon?” David asked him, “the judge to wonder what cause we have for this? They both were found less than ten feet away from a fifteen year old girl that they both just raped.”

“Allegedly raped.” Leon said in an angry tone, staring daggers into David.

“You always warned us to be one step ahead of you Leon.” David said staring back.

The doctor looked at the documents and said, “I will have everything that you need as soon as I can Detectives, and with their estimated stay with us, there will be plenty to give.”

Leon then stormed out of the office, past Officer Timmons, who had a large smile on his face, and then down the hallway. The four men stood and smiled at each other, and then suddenly they heard the voice of the nurse yelling. All four men then went down to the nurses’ station to see what the matter was. There was Leon Robbins standing almost toe to toe with the nurse.

“What’s going on here?” Dr. MacDonald asked.

“The nurse answered without ever taking her eyes off of Leon, “This gentleman demanded to use the phone.”

“Yes?” The doctor asked.

“I informed him that the pay phones are downstairs in the lobby. Apparently, my answer is not the one he wants to hear.” She said, never once backing away from Leon.

Noel laughed and said, “Hey! I like that lady too.”

“Leon!” David said, “Back away from her before she hurts you.” He then turned to Officer Timmons, “Officer Timmons! Could you please escort the counselor down to the main lobby where the pay phones are located?”

“Yes Sergeant, I’d be happy too.” He said to David, he then looked at Leon, “This way sir.” Officer Timmons then escorted Leon to the door that led to the waiting area, then to the main door that led out of the office. He opened the door for Leon, turned to everyone and said. “Good day all.” He then escorted Leon down the hallway to the elevator.

“What a pain in the ass,” the Doctor said, breaking from his gentlemanly manner, “he’s been throwing his weight around this hospital since early this morning.”

“Don’t worry about him,” David said, “he’s of the mind set where he believes lawyers are to be feared, once you stand up to him like the lady here, they show that they’re really nothing. That’s what’s pisses them off the most, being put in there place.”

 

“But getting back to where we were before doc,” Noel said, “when will we be able to talk to these guys? Not when they will be up and about. I mean when will they be well enough to speak with?”

“I would say two to three weeks.” He answered, and then he asked, “Do you gentleman believe that these two are who you have been looking for?”

David answered, “Can’t say for sure, still to early. That’s why I need all those samples. We have a lot of evidence we have to match up with that.”

The nurse then asked, “But, what is your gut feeling?”

David paused and thought for a second. Looked to Noel who shook his head in agreement, “My gut feeling is, yeah, I think it’s them. Like I said in there, they were found less than ten feet from the girl that they both had, in Mr. Robbins words, allegedly raped.”

“Besides, from what the latest victim told us, they did the same as all the others.” Noel added.

“Any idea on how this happened to them?” The Doctor asked.

“That,” David said, “is now even a bigger mystery. But, I’d like to get this one off the table for now.”

“My wife might not be pleased with what I’ve just done,” Dr. MacDonald sighed, “I mean we have two daughters ourselves, one the age of the girl you just spoke of.”

“But, that’s you job doc,” Noel said, “She must understand that.”

“Besides,” David said, “When you think about it, and you can tell her this, what you did was actually the worst thing for them.”

“Meaning?” The Doctor asked.

“Meaning that when you put it all in perspective, they would have been better off dead.” David explained. “Look at what they now are, they’re worse than dead, and you Doctor, have prolonged that. I believe that all their victims? When they begin to hear the details of the condition of those two, and how it happened? Why hell, it’s almost the perfect revenge.”

“What woman wouldn’t be happy with that?” Noel chimed in.

“I suppose Mrs. MacDonald will understand that.” The Doctor said.