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Chapter78
I ASSESSED DR.Sloan to judge how far I should take this. Talking to someone when they’re this agitated can either produce great rewards or cause a lot of problems. I decided to push the envelope and see what happened.
I said, “Dr. Sloan, can I ask you about your previous domestic violence issues?”
“What domestic violence issues? I get along with my ex-wife and now I’m happily remarried.” His voice had raised not only in pitch but also in volume. He didn’t appear to notice at all.
I said, “I can bring up the reports on my phone if you’d like. But I’m specifically talking about when your ex-wife called the police and then two years later when your girlfriend at the time called the police. Now do you know what I’m talking about?”
“I was never charged. That has nothing to do with my life today.”
“Tell me about your life today.”
“Like I said, I’m remarried and we have a six-month-old baby. It’d be tough to explain any of this to my new wife.” The bulldog started to whine again. I wasn’t sure if the veterinarian’s grip on his collar was too tight or if it was something else.
I stepped forward to comfort the dog. I started to pet his head to keep him calm as Sloan seemed to prep a spot on his hind leg for the syringe. I’d gotten enough used to the smell that it wasn’t pushing me out the door anymore. The move to the dog also put me closer to Sloan. Almost inside his personal space. Just to give him one more thing to think about instead of lying to me.
I said, “You never told your new wife about your encounters with the police?”
“Why would I do that? It was just a big misunderstanding.”
“Exactly like your son?”
The French bulldog was becoming more and more agitated. I leaned down as I petted him and started to talk softly, hoping it would have an effect on the dog.
Sloan closed his eyes and took a deep breath. I glanced toward the door, wondering when Terri Hernandez was going to come in so I could really turn up the heat on this guy.
I said, “Can you see why we need to talk to you? There’s a lot to clear up. If you had nothing to do with the homicides, we’re not interested at all in the dating service.”
“But can you guarantee me it wouldn’t make it into the media? A weird allegation like I called a dating service could kill my business.”
“I can’t make that guarantee. Any reports I write are eventually released to the public. But we have to talk or you’ll have this hanging over your head forever.”
I looked up from the bulldog, wondering when he was going to give the dog the shot. Just as I raised my head, I realized the veterinarian was right next to me. Then I felt the stinging pain in my neck. I shoved Sloan hard. He knocked over a small table. The clanging of the instruments as they hit the tile floor sounded like an untalented orchestra warming up. The noise was tremendous. He stumbled past the fallen table and caught himself on a counter.
I reached up and felt the syringe still in my neck. Then I noticed my vision starting to double. I could barely read Sloan’s expression of terror. I’m not sure he knew what he was doing.
Sloan said something, then bolted out the door of the examination room. I tried to keep a grip on the bulldog’s collar as he squirmed to leap off the examination table. I fought the feeling of panic rising in my stomach.
Chapter79
I STRUGGLED TOstay upright as I urged the dog into a sitting position on the table. Still gripping his collar, I yanked out the syringe and tried to focus enough to spot the tiny vial Sloan had left on the counter. I made my way around the table toward it. I needed to show it to whoever found me. Unless it was some kind of fatal concoction. Then they’d find the vial in my pocket.
It was much harder to pick up the vial as my head started to spin. Then the bulldog started to wail. It sounded like something out of a horror movie. It was wildly disconcerting in my altered state.
I needed to chase the veterinarian. I finally managed to corral the vial and stick it into my pocket. I even took a second to lift the dog off the examination table and set him gently on the floor. I couldn’t risk him trying to jump the four feet to the hard floor and injuring himself.
I bumped into the doorframe as I tried to scoot out of the examination room, closing the dog inside. I bounced off the walls in the hallway like a pinball as I headed toward the front door. Now I felt a little nausea, but I wasn’t sure if it was from the injection or my anxiety over what I had been injected with.
I finally made it to the front reception area. Now my vision seemed to be dimming. I fumbled with the doorknob on the front door. Even something as simple as that taxed my dexterity. Finally, I stepped outside and looked up and down the street. Nothing seemed to make sense. I thought I saw a figure running away.
Terri was at the corner of the building, still speaking on the phone. I tried to call her name but wasn’t able to form a word. She finally looked up and saw me.
Terri said, “Oh, my God.” She dropped the phone into her purse and rushed toward me. I pointed in the direction of the running figure.
I somehow managed to say, “Catch Sloan.” Terri eased me onto the step in front of the veterinary clinic. She pulled an NYPD radio from her purse.
I could feel my consciousness slipping away. I heard Terri almost shout into the radio, “Columbus Avenue and 100th, Columbus Avenue and 100th, 10-13. Ambulance required.”
