Among the Shadows Read Free Page B

return. Against his better judgment, he let her comment pass. “What about after hours? What happened if O’Halloran needed something after you left?”
    â€œThere was a panic button, which automatically dialed up the agency answering ser­vice. They’d either call me or another on call if I didn’t answer.”
    â€œWas that the cord I saw wrapped around the headboard?”
    â€œYes, red button on the end.”
    â€œDo you know if he activated the system during the time you cared for him?”
    â€œI don’t believe he did.”
    â€œWhat time did you arrive and depart each day? Was it always the same?”
    â€œIt wasn’t an all-­day visit. I have other patients. Normally, I’d get there around eight o’clock and leave by nine-­thirty or ten, depending on his needs. I also made a late-­afternoon stop to make sure he had enough pain meds to make it through the night.”
    Byron made a note in his book and watched as St. John toyed with the tissue. “What medications were you administering to him?”
    â€œI gave him morphine for pain along with several other drugs to control congestion in his lungs.”
    â€œHow long was he expected to live?”
    â€œHis doctor told him he most likely still had two or three months.”
    â€œA long time to suffer.”
    Her eyes narrowed. “Sergeant, I’m not sure where this is headed, but I can assure you I did not kill my patient. My job was to keep him comfortable and clean and that’s what I did. The next step would have been palliative sedation.”
    â€œPalliative sedation?”
    â€œYes. It’s the term we use for keeping a patient sedated once the pain and symptoms become unbearable. At some point, he would have been kept sedated through the administration of a benzodiazepine until he simply passed away in his sleep.”
    Byron couldn’t remember ever hearing a term that sounded more politically correct than palliative sedation. He supposed it beat medically induced coma. “And you would’ve been the one to make that determination?”
    â€œNo, Sergeant Byron. I’m only a nurse. If I did what you’re suggesting, I’d be wearing an orange jumpsuit and residing at the state prison. Mr. O’Halloran would’ve been the one to make the decision, along with his doctor. If he’d made it that far.”
    He switched gears. “Did you have your own key to the house?”
    â€œThe door was never locked.”
    â€œWhy would you leave the home unsecured?”
    â€œIt was at his request.”
    â€œDid he have visitors?”
    â€œThere may have been a ­couple.”
    â€œYou ever see them?”
    â€œNo, but he’d talk about them occasionally.”
    â€œDid he mention any names?”
    â€œHe probably did, but I don’t pay attention to those things. I try not to get too attached. You know?
    He remained silent, waiting to see if she would say more.
    â€œYou asked me before if it was tough taking care of the dying. Well, only if you let yourself get attached to them. I don’t.”
    Byron saw no sign of tears now, crocodile or otherwise.
    â€œ S O, WHAT DO you think?” Byron asked Diane as he rinsed out the mugs in the sink.
    â€œI didn’t get to see all of it, got a call from the D.A. A bit of a bitch, isn’t she?”
    â€œDefinitely not the most affable I’ve ever met.”
    â€œThink she did it?” she asked as she followed him to his office.
    â€œToo early to say.” He grabbed a necktie from one of his desk drawers and quickly began to knot it around his neck. “What time is it?”
    â€œIt’s late. Pelligrosso’s already waiting by your car.”
    â€œDamn.”
    â€œYou lose your razor?”
    Byron ran a hand over his stubble. “I forgot.”
    â€œGuinness?”
    â€œBushmills.”
    â€œMaybe you could get the Emerald Society to