Read The Imposter for Free Online Page B

far from Scotchtown, the home of
Patrick Henry.
    Congressman
Lee, a diehard law and order politician, had been overwhelmed with respect for
the then Captain Françoise's integrity, character, and investigative skills. 
He had tried unsuccessfully to lure Jack into a high-level position with the
FBI in Washington, D.C., but Jack was resistant.  He had told the Congressman
quite bluntly, and on several occasions since then, that he "wasn't
working for no damn bureaucrats," that he was not for sale.  Congressman
Lee had loved the response and had tried even harder to recruit the burly,
fearless New Orleans policeman.   In fact, the Congressman was still trying to
get Françoise to come to Washington and work on some special law enforcement
projects, particularly anything related to terrorism, but Jack still
refused.    Alex knew Jack would never leave NOLA.   Alex felt an arm on her
shoulder that halted her daydreaming.  She turned and looked at Jack Françoise.
    Alex's
mind returned to the grim situation at hand.  She stared again at Angie's
battered body.  Alex noted how pale, almost waxen, Angie's face looked and
turned to Jack.  
    "Jack,
she is so pale.   She looks like a corpse.   Feel how cool she is." 
    "Yes,
I see."  Jack was thinking back to the pale young corpse he had seen at
Dr.  Jeanfreau's morgue last week.   She had looked just like Angie.
     Alex
continued to stare at Angie's face and said, "Most of these areas look
like bruises, but they aren't discolored like I would have thought they should
be.   Bruises generally are discolored from blood perfusion.   These slice
marks look superficial, and there is little blood.   Jack, it looks as if she
has been cleaned up and prepared for burial.  I guess her eyes are swollen from
her brain swelling.   We call those raccoon eyes," Alex exclaimed,
remembering her own ICU nursing days, feeling more angry and agitated than
before.   Just at that moment, Sandy re-entered Angie's room with the O.R.
transport.
    "Gotta
go, folks," Sandy said, as she helped the O.R. disconnect and reconnect
Angie's tubes to portable equipment and push the bed out of the bay.   Alex and
Jack watched respectfully as Angie was wheeled from the E.D.
    Alex
shook her head and looked at Sandy.   "She just looks awful--why, she
already looks dead.   She's so pale.   How much blood did she lose?"
    "I've
no idea but there must have been a lot at the scene.   Her head wound is a
closed fracture, so no blood loss.   Her blood values, specifically her  H
& H are 5 & 18, really low, almost incompatible with life.   We're
thinking there must have been a ton of blood at the scene because we frankly
cannot explain the blood values.   Several of the docs think the attacker
thought she was dead when he left.   Did you notice the rope burns on her
wrists?  They were bleeding a little.   One of her wrists was slit."
    Alex
felt her poise and composure completely leave her.  She knew she had to get out
of the E.D.   She looked at Jack, whose face was a mask of outrage and fury.
    "Sandy,
I've got to get out of here before I lose it.   Jack, let's go to the cafeteria
and grab a bite.  We'll talk, and you, you can fill me in." Alex smiled at
him and firmly, but gently, removed him from Angela's bedside.  Sandy hugged
Alex as she left the E.D.
    "Yeah,
I'd like that." Jack looked at his watch.  It was almost noon.   The
thought of something sweet improved Jack's mood significantly.  "Do you
think they have any jelly donuts left?  I didn't get one earlier.   Maybe if I
get my blood sugar up, I won’t be so damn angry."  Françoise looked at
Alex sheepishly.  She laughed and said, “Yeah, maybe, but I doubt it.   If they
do have donuts, I may fight you for them.   I am in need of some comfort
food." As they walked towards the cafeteria, the pair reminisced a
little.  It seemed like a good way to diffuse their incredible stress and
anger.

Chapter