“Only for the past couple of years,” Ralph said, somewhat defensively. “But she stayed on top of it. She got regular checkups, took her medication religiously. You couldn’t keep Mom down if you tried. She loved her work. She was an excellent nurse.”
“That’s what I’ve heard. Dr. Allan raved about her. So did the President.”
“He sent flowers to the funeral.”
“Really? He sent me flowers once.” In another lifetime. Before she knew that he was a killer. “Had your mother suffered a previous heart attack?”
“It was mild,” he replied, resuming his defensive posture. “She recovered quickly. It never affected her work.”
“No one has questioned her skills or her performance, Mr. Gaston.”
He rubbed his hands over the tops of his thighs. Barrie recognized it as a nervous gesture. The middle-class suburbanite with the soft middle was no longer quite so mild-mannered. He said, “If Mom was good enough to attend the First Lady, she was good enough to attend anybody.”
“Precisely.”
“She was eminently qualified.”
“I’m sure she was. How did she like working for Dr. Allan?”
“What do you mean?”
Barrie flashed him an insider’s smile. “Just curious. You know how egotistical doctors can be. Some of them think they walk on water. I just wondered if that had been your mother’s experience with Dr. Allan.”
“She never said.”
Barrie knew immediately that he was lying. “I take it your mother was satisfied that the First Lady was getting the proper treatment for her illness?”
“Mrs. Merritt didn’t have an illness. She just needed a long rest.”
“Of course. That’s what I meant.”
“No,” he said, shaking his head, “you meant to imply that my mother would deliberately overlook it if a patient was receiving improper treatment.”
“I implied no such thing, Mr. Gaston. The President has gone on record praising your mother and Dr. Allan for the excellent care they provided Mrs. Merritt.”
“So what’s your point?”
What was her point? “It’s just a shame that for all his healing talent, Dr. Allan couldn’t save your mother’s life.”
“He said he did everything he could.”
“And you believe him?”
“Why wouldn’t I? He’s a great doctor and a decent man. He gave Mom a chance when no one else would.”
“A chance?”
“To work.” Suddenly he shot to his feet. “I don’t want to talk about this anymore. My mother died only a few days ago. I’m still very upset.”
“Of course. I’m sorry.”
Barrie did not pressure him. She was coming away with much more than she had hoped to gain. Actually, she was leaving with more questions than answers and was eager to do some further investigating.
“It was awfully kind of you to see me.” At the front door, she clasped his hand warmly. She believed that, like the rest of the nation, he had been conned by the men in power. So, although he had been borderline rude to her, she felt only pity for him. “Please convey my sympathy to the rest of your family, and, again, I apologize for any heartache I contributed.”
* * *
Ralph Gaston, Jr., watched as Barrie Travis made her way down the sidewalk and got into a car parked at the curb. He waited until she had driven away before moving hastily to the telephone.