The Amber Eyes by Frances Crane

Author:Frances Crane
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hodder and Stoughton
Published: 2014-12-15T00:00:00+00:00

Sixteen

After his talk with Dr. Alby, Inspector Sam Bradish went to the telephone extension in the den and called the heart specialist, Dr. Evans, and was told off roundly.

First, Dr. Evans, angered at a call he considered unnecessary at that hour, said that Bradish had been told that Dr. Alby was a very sick man. Did he have to repeat that any little shock could be the end? Nobody, not even a policeman, especially a policeman, had the right to do or say anything that might bring on a further shock.

Sam informed Dr. Evans that the doctor’s pulse was at the moment steady. A little fast, but very steady.

Dr. Evans retorted: Was he to assume that a policeman knew more about heart disease than a doctor who had specialized for years on the heart?

Sam made no rejoinder to this except to ask Dr. Evans just how much he trusted the judgment of an intern like young Martin Kent.

Dr. Evans replied that if he hadn’t trusted Martin he wouldn’t have left him on the job, that Kent was at least experienced enough to call him, Evans, if the need arose, and that Kent most certainly would not have exposed Dr. Alby to further danger.

Sam said, “Dr. Alby himself asked to speak to me. As I said, his pulse was a little fast, but steady.”

“I suppose you took it, Inspector?”

“Yes,” Sam said. “Afterwards Martin Kent checked it. The doctor seemed in good shape.”

“Put Kent on, dammit,” Dr. Evans said. Martin came down and took over the telephone. He admitted that he had let both the Inspector and Patrick Abbott talk with Dr. Alby. “God almighty!” Evans said. “From now on, keep everybody out of the patient’s room, Kent. Specially keep out members of his family. In particular that Rona woman. That’s an order. I’ll stop by first thing in the morning. Meanwhile if there’s any change, call me. And see here, even if the chief of the San Francisco police himself wants to enter that room, keep him out. As I said, that’s an order.”

“Yes, Doctor,” Martin said.

With a final snort Dr. Evans banged up.

“I asked for it,” Martin said. He was depressed. “I thought Dr. Alby knew his own condition.” Patrick gave him a cigarette.

Sam said, “Evans seems to be very sure of himself, Martin.”

“He’s a very fine doctor, Inspector. I was wrong not to stop you. I’ll run back up. Caroline ought to get some rest, too. She’s had it hard.”

“Keep an eye on Caroline,” Sam said. “That crazy woman upstairs, that Rona, might do anything.”

“She’s asleep,” Martin said. “I’ve been watching her.”

“I’ll run up now and have another look at her myself,” Sam said.

Alone with Patrick I said, after closing the door to the living room, “You took an awful chance when you asked Dr. Alby about mercy killing. He might have dropped dead right then.”

“Did I?” Pat said, giving me a cigarette and lighting it.

“Didn’t the question upset him?” I asked.

“It didn’t seem to bother him, Jeanie.”

“How did he seem, really? I thought he sounded … well, kind of exalted.

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