Chapter55 Rolling Meadows

Sheriff Faulkner's been patiently sitting in the Rolling Meadows Sanitarium reception area for three and a half hours, waiting to speak with Dr. Robert Steinman; the head psychiatrist and director of the facility. "Sheriff Faulkner." The sheriff stands, extending his arm out to shake hands with the doctor. "Dr. Steinman." The doctor doesn't reciprocate…or, even looks at him for that matter…but, merely stands there looking down at his clipboard; continuing to write. "I'm a very busy man, Sheriff; and, I certainly don't have time to waste for idle chit-chat. So; tell me what it is I can do for you…and, be quick about it; so, I could return to my duties." The sheriff lets out a huff and mutters, "Okay." He snatches the clipboard from the doctor's hands and throws it on the ground. Then, Sheriff Faulkner grabs the stethoscope hanging around the doctor's neck…forming a ‘noose' around his neck…and, pulls the doctor in close; with his face just inches away from the doctor's. "Look here, Doc!" The sheriff speaks in a low, yet authoritative….bordering on threatening; like a sort of Clint Eastwood-nesque Dirty Harry style…inflection, "I'm a busy man myself; and, I ain't got time to be wasted on this town foolery. I waited for nearly four hours to see you…so, you're gonna make the time to talk with me; regardless of how long it takes. Got it, Doc!" Dr. Steinman's shaking like a leaf in the wind, as he stutters, "G-G-Got it!" "Good boy;" the sheriff releases his hold on the doctor, "now, let's go somewhere and talk." Just then, a couple of large, hulking orderlies…who were called by the nurse at the desk…come running into the reception area. The larger of the two asks, "Is there a problem here?" Sheriff Faulkner answers, "No problem here, boys." The orderly struts over to the sheriff. "I was asking Dr. Steinman…Tex." "Well, I reckon next time you should be a little more specific…‘Arnold'." "Looks to me like you're a little out of you district here, ‘Andy'; why don't you head back to Mayberry where you belong?" The other orderly laughs, and the sheriff looks over and tips his hat to him; then, turns to the one in his face, and tells him… "Look, ‘Conan'; why don't you and your girlfriend over there go to the gym and see how much weight you could put on the bar before it comes crashing down on your over-developed pecs." "Watch it cow pie; don't make me have to hurt you." "And, just how do you suppose you'd do that?" The orderly laughs, "He wants to know how'd I do that…you believe this guy?" "If he wants to know," the other one eggs on, "then why don't you show him?" "You think?" "I think." He nods. The orderly turns to the sheriff shaking his head, "Oh well." He lunges in, reaching for the sheriff. The sheriff quickly ducks to the side avoiding being grabbed by the behemoth; while at the same time, making a fist with his hand, and sticking his thumb out. He thrusts the extended digit into the orderly's larynx region, causing the giant to grasp his neck and drop to his knees from the intense pain inflicted to it. Then, the sheriff grabs the incapacitated orderly's ears, and pulls the bohemian's head down into his now rising knee. When the orderly's chin meets the sheriff's kneecap, Sheriff Faulkner releases hold of the orderly's ears as the upward momentum of his knee snaps the orderly's head back sharply; causing him to be knocked out. The other orderly stands there motionless with his mouth agape, looking down at his listless partner. The sheriff walks over to him and asks… "You want a turn laughing boy?" The orderly looks at the sheriff and shakes his head vigorously side to side. "Alrighty then; why don't you be a good little Donkey Kong Jr. and pick your dad up from the floor before someone trips on him…Doc; I believe you were about to take me to your office so we could have that talk?" The doctor's preoccupied surveying the carnage; so, the sheriff tries getting his attention again. "Yo! Doc! Your office?" The doctor focuses. "Yes. This way please; Sheriff." When passing the reception desk, the sheriff tells the doctor to wait a minute as he bends over and tells the nurse sitting behind the desk, "Mam, the next time you decide to call for help; I suggest you recommend more than two to come out." He tips his hat to her, and then, has the doctor continue taking him back to his office. When they reach his office, Dr. Steinman's attitude has made a 180 degree turnaround; as he becomes extremely hospitable and attentive towards the sheriff. The sheriff isn't surprised by this. If it's one thing he's learned in his twenty plus years of law enforcement; once you drop a 300 plus pound juiced up muscle-head, the once unruly, buck-and-quarter weighing geeks will become quite docile. "So; what can I help you with, Sheriff Faulkner?" "I wanted to ask you about a patient of yours, Dr. Steinman." "Certainly. Who?" "Delores Wedgeworth." The doctor becomes silent, leaning back in his chair as he clasps his hands while interlacing the fingers…sticking up both index fingers…and, lightly taps them against his lips. He does this for a minute or two, before nervously asking the sheriff… "Of course; what would you like to know about Ms. Wedgeworth….Did you find her yet?" "Find her, Doc?" "Yes." Doctor Steinman's extremely nervous now; avoiding eye contact with the sheriff. "She escaped from the hospital about three weeks ago. I have a police report here I can show you if you don't believe me." Dr. Steinman pulls out the police report; which he conveniently happens to have accessible in his top right-hand desk drawer. The sheriff looks at the paper vibrating in the doctor's trembling hands and smiles. "Now, why wouldn't I believe you, Dr. Steinman?" The doctor laughs nervously, "I don't know." He starts to put the report back in the drawer; but the sheriff stops him. "Hold on there, Doc; I just asked you why I wouldn't believe you…I never said I didn't want to take a look at there report. If you don't mind, I'd like to make a copy to take with me." The doctor puts the report back down on the desk in front of him. "Of course, Sheriff. I'll have a copy made for you before you leave." "Thank you, Dr. Steinman." The sheriff asks, "You seem a bit shaky there, Doc; you alright?" Doctor Steinman folds his hands together tightly; trying to keep them from shaking. "I'm fine, Sheriff; it's just been a long day, that's all." "Well, then I reckon we should move along with our conversation; so, we could both get out of here. You were saying she escaped a few weeks ago?" "Yes." "And, just how long was she here before she managed to escape, Doctor?" "I'm sorry?" "How long was she here? According to my sources, she was just transferred from Portland, Oregon not too long ago. Isn't that right, Doctor?" The doctor starts loosening the inside his collar by tugging on the inside of his shirt collar. Sweat's starting to form on his forehead. He grabs a tissue out of the box on his desk and wipes the moisture away. Still trying to avoid eye contact, he looks down at the calendar on his desk and answers, "Yes, that's correct; she was recently transferred to our facility." "And, why was that; Doctor?" "Why was what, Sheriff?" "Well, Doc; according to my sources, she was institutionalized in that Portland facility for eleven years…so, why the sudden transfer?" "I believe it was her sister's request that she be transferred here." "Why?" "I don't know; I've never spoken with her." "Never spoke with her?" "No." "That's odd; she has her sister transferred to your hospital…under your care, mind you…and, she never spoke with you?" "We never got the chance to speak." "How's that, Doc?" "Her sister escaped before she even made her first visit out here." "Well let me ask you something, Doc; because, I'm a little confused here. Her sister…her only living relative from what I understand…has her transferred from the institute where she's been committed to for the past eleven years to yours; for whatever reason. Throughout these arrangements, neither of you spoke…so, you say…fine. Then, Delores escapes within the first few days; so, her sister never had the chance to come out here and meet you….Is that what you're telling me? By the way; is it common for patients of yours to escape Rolling Meadows?" The doctor becomes offended and goes on the defensive. "No, they most certainly do not!" "Calm down there now, Doc; I was just asking a question. Just wondering; being how quickly it was for Delores to manage to escape from here." "That was a fluke, Sheriff! We never had a successful escape from this facility before." "Alrighty then; moving right along, Doctor. I find it odd…don't you think that after she escaped; that would warrant a call from you to her sister? After all, she was her only living relative." "I'm sorry, Sheriff; did you say…was?" "Oh yeah, that's right; I reckon I forgot to mention that earlier to you, Doc. Ms. Delilah was killed." "Killed?" "That's right." "How?" "Supposedly in a car crash." "I'm sorry to hear about that; but, what does this have to do with Delores?" "Funny you should ask, Doc. You see, I don't think Ms. Delilah died in that car crash. I believe she was killed weeks ago; and, I also believe that her sister…your escaped patient…took her place…at least for a while." "A while?" "Yup. I believe Delores was pulled from that car wreck the other night." The doctor looks around his office trying to avoid facing the sheriff. "That's an interesting tale there, Sheriff. Do you have any evidence to support this theory of yours?" "Perhaps." "Perhaps?" "Perhaps." The doctor looks down at his watch. "Not to be rude, Sheriff Faulkner; but, it's getting kind of late, and I have a dinner appointment" "Alrighty then; I reckon we could start wrapping this thing up. I'd just like to ask you about your brothers and sister." "You mean brother and sister. I only have one brother…perhaps you heard of him, Sheriff…after all; he's one of your senators…Senator Jack Steinman. And, then there's my sister; Vivian. But, what about them?" "Actually, Doc;" the sheriff explains, "I wasn't talking about them." "You've lost me, Sheriff; I thought you said you wanted to ask me about my brother and sister?" "Your brothers and sister…Charles, Chelsea and Tommy." Dr. Steinman hands quiver, and sweat begins to form again on his forehead. The sheriff takes the initiative and reaches over, pulls out a tissue and hands it to the doctor. The doctor starts wiping the sweat from his head, and notices the sheriff smiling at him. His eyes once again begin to roam the room to avoid contact with the sheriff. "I'm sorry; who did you say?" "Charles…Chelsea…and Tommy. Your brothers and sister; who died before you, Jack and Vivian were born." "It's my understanding that our dad did have a set of fraternal twins that tragically died before us…Charles and Chelsea…But; who's Tommy?" "Tommy Steinman, Doc; another son of your dad's?" "That's ridiculous; I've never heard of a Tommy. You must have received some false information from somewhere." "Fine then, Doc; I reckon we could forget about Tommy…for now. But, what about Charles and Chelsea?" "What about them, Sheriff?" "Tell me all about them." "I'm afraid there isn't much to tell." "Look, Doc, I realize they were gone before you were born; but, surely your dad must have told you something about them? So; what do you know about Charles and Chelsea, Doc?" "Like I said, Sheriff; there's not much I can tell you about them. I'm sorry." "And why's that, Doc?" "Because, they died during their birth, Sheriff! Now, good day."