Page 52 of So Lethal

Faith's excitement dimmed. That was a widespread of dates, and none of them had been here at the same time. "What about staff?" she asked. "Does anyone here fit the description I just gave you?"

“Not in my suite,” she replied. “I wouldn’t know about the rest of the building.”

Faith looked at Michael, who nodded and stepped outside to follow up on that. Faith turned back to Dr. Hayes. “Did any of the four seem different to you when you saw them? Any change in behavior or attitude?”

“Well, Sarah and Marcus never had a good attitude to begin with,” Dr. Hayes replied. “They were both very bitter about their conditions. They suffered hearing loss as a result of disease and accident. The other two were born deaf.”

“Right, I understand that. But there was no change? They didn’t seem fearful or mention anyone new in their lives?”

“Not to me.” She smiled sadly. “I get the sense I’m not helping much.”

“Let’s not jump to that conclusion yet,” Faith said. “Have you ever had a patient express disdain for the deaf or hatred for them?”

Dr. Hayes laughed. “No. Nothing like that. I’m aware that the hearing impaired have been discriminated against in the past, but we’re fortunate enough not to have that issue here in the Bay Area.”

“What about sympathy? Did anyone seem especially sympathetic to their plight?”

“What is especially sympathetic?”

“In this case, it would be a belief that they’re better off dead.”

Dr. Hayes stared at Faith for a moment. “Is that why he’s doing this? He thinks they’re better off dead?”

“We believe so,” Faith replied.

“My God,” she whispered. She shook her head and said, “Well, no. No one’s said anything of that nature to me. The sympathy is all… well, sort of vague if I’m being honest. Like how you might sympathize with a homeless person, but you’re not going to spend all day broken up about it.”

Boy, wealth must be fun, Faith thought privately.

She wasn’t here to judge Dr. Hayes for her level of empathy, though. “And not one of them mentioned anyone who gave them the creeps?”

“They didn’t really talk about their relationships with me. I got the sense that Monica was happy by herself, and Sarah and Marcus were too bitter to think about a relationship. James was married, of course, but his wife is the sweetest thing. I really don’t think she’d… Oh, but you said the killer was male anyway.” She sighed. “No, I’m sorry. Nothing I can think of that might help you.”

Faith resisted the urge to swear. Damn it, this seemed like such a good lead too! She couldn’t believe that they were coming up empty. “What about your deaf patients? Did any of them act like they would be better off dead? Like anyone would be better off dead if they had this condition?”

"Oh, sure. Plenty. I'd say that eighty percent of my patients who suffer hearing loss in adulthood go through all of the stages of grief pretty intensely. None of them indicated violence toward anyone else, but they all hate it. Not that I can blame them. It's a major aspect of a person's physiological and psychological makeup. Imagine for a moment that you suddenly couldn't hear. Wouldn't you be upset?"

Faith recalled her meltdown the day before and nodded. “Yes. I would be very upset.”

"So would everyone," Dr. Hayes replied. "But the typical reaction was collapse, not violence. Even the angry ones were calm, angry, if you know what I mean."

“I do,” Faith said.

The door opened, and Michael said, “No luck. Tallest guy’s six-two. He’s also sixty-seven and has a bad back. Anything informative here?”

Faith sighed. “Not as it pertains to the case.” She stood. “Thank you for your time, Dr. Hayes.”

“Of course. I’m very sorry I wasn’t able to be more help.”

Faith managed a half-smile. “We appreciate your time anyway.”

The three agents left the hospital, enduring a glare from the angry nurse as they walked out of the fourth floor. Faith’s earlier excitement was gone, leaving bleakness in its wake.

Once more, they had found a great lead, only for it to pop the moment they poked at it. Meanwhile, their killer was lurking out there waiting for his next opportunity to deliver "mercy."

CHAPTER TWENTY FOUR

Faith and Michael sat in a city park with cups of coffee and watched Turk run through the fenced off dog friendly area. He was chasing a beautiful Cocker Spaniel, slowing so the smaller dog could feel like it was outrunning him. The Spaniel’s owner—a kindly elderly woman with perfectly coiffed white curls—smiled at Faith. “He’s a beautiful dog. And in great shape for his age.”

---