Chaos at Crescent City Medical Center by Judith Townsend Rocchiccioli Page B

spared seeing his wife covered in blood and didn't see the dead rooster, snake, and black candle in her room."
     
    "Black candle.  I don't understand.  What's this mean?"  Alex looked confused.
    Robert paused as his cell phone went off.  Checking it he said, " Got to go. You'll know soon enough .  Jack Francois is interviewing staff and security.  He s aid he'd speak to all of us soon."  He hurried toward the doctors ' lounge to answer his phone .
    "Where is Captain Francois?  I'd like to meet him," Alex hollered after him.
    "He and several other members of his troop are in the lounge." 
    Alex bravely opened the door of the staff lounge .  As she observed Captain Francois, she wasn't impressed.  He was a big man in his mid-fifties and a bit overweight and was balding .  He had a steely look about him, an effect increased by his short salt and pe pper hair.   To top it all off, he was eating a jelly doughnut and drinking coffee.  His tone was condescending as he continued to interview Susan.  He was really pressing her, seeming intent on getting her to admit to things she didn't know.   He was a little too Gestapo -like for Alex. 
    "Excuse me, Captain Francois --"  Alex began.
    " What the hell, e xcuse me, M issy," the captain barked at her.  "I'm bu sy.  I'm conducting a confidential police investigation.  Get the hell out of here."
    Alex remained in the doorway, more from shock than defiance.  She didn't move.
    Franco is stood up and said in a mocking voice, "You deaf.  Get out of here no w or I'll have you escorted out ...on your ass ," the captain said as he eyed her menacingly.
    Alex , red-faced, composed herself and began, "Let me introduce myself.  I'm Al exandra Destephano, the CCMC in-house legal counsel.  I've got a right to be here --"
    Captain Francois interrupted her, obviously unimpressed with Alex or her position.  He lost his temper , and his face turned red.  "I don't give a damn who you are!   No one needs to be here.  This young lady isn't under arrest.  I told Ms. Farve I wanted to interview all staff, and she gave me her blanket permission. I was just being nice.  I don't need anyone's consent.   This is a crime scene, or don't you know that? " the policeman sneered, glaring at Alex.  " You can leave," he gestured toward Susan.  "I'll talk with this 'important lawyer l ady' for a while , and I'll find you again later."  Francois came across so angry and sarcastic that Alex braced herself for the worst.
    Susan left quickly.  Alex sat down next to the captain.  "Have any preliminary information you'd like to share with me?"
    Captain Francois looked amused.  "Oh, I've got lots of information, but I ain't ready to share it with nobody.  I'm far fro m done.  I'll have a short report for your board of trustees when they meet this afternoon."  The captain stopped for a few minutes and surveyed Alex critically.  " Incidentally , Andre Renou, the Governor's chief aide, would like to be present when the board of trustees meets.  I trust you ain't worried about him being there?"  He smirked at her.
    Alex was astounded at the captain’s barrage of sarcasm. "We'll be happy to have Mr . Renou present for the meeting but of course, i f the board goes into executive session, he'll have to leave." 
    Francois gave Alex a deprecating look and said sarcastically, “You’ve got to be kidding. Who in the hell do you think you are?   You really think you can throw out the Governor’s right hand man? We'll see about that now, won't we?   Anything else, Ms. Destephano?" 
    Alex continued bravely, "Could you arrange for the uniformed officers to leave?  It's upsetting the patients and their families.  If you need to continue surveillance, you could do it with plainclothes police officers."
    "Surveillance with plainclothes of ficers.  What kind of bull shit it that?  Are you a policeman too, and a lawyer? I'll think about it. Now get out of here, now. "  The captain dismissed