???
Odean sighed as they placed him in a small room with a worn wooden table and two chairs.
“I’ll admit that I specialize in female problems,” he told the two men. “But female hysteria is a recognized ailment.”
Val nodded. “I’m not interested in female hysteria or female problems. At the moment I want to hear about Irene Derry.”
Odean swallowed nervously. “She was a patient. She did have a heavy menstruation as I mentioned. I did give her the pelvic massages.”
Felix smirked. “I’ll bet you did.”
“It helped!” Odean defended himself. “She said her monthly cramps lessened.”
Val nodded. “What else transpired between you and Miss Derry? Did you use the mechanical instrument?”
“No.” He flushed red.
“What else?” Val persisted.
“She was a very outgoing young lady. She talked a great deal when she was with me. I think she was looking for some sort of approval or just needed to talk. As I was a stranger but a doctor, she opened up to me. She mentioned a man she had met. She was quite taken with him. She asked me about—“ he looked awkwardly at both men.
“Yes?” Val asked. “Go on.”
“She asked about ways to avoid pregnancy. I told her about rubber condoms,” he explained. “I explained their use and where she could buy them.”
“Do you know if she used them?” Val asked. “Did she get them?”
Odean nodded. “I procured them for her. She was hesitant naturally to buy them herself. Only prostitutes are ever found to buy condoms. A decent woman wouldn’t.”
“What happened then?” Val asked.
“Nothing. I heard nothing from her. Then she showed up at my practice. She didn’t have an appointment and she was very distressed.” Odean looked anxiously at the two men.
“Why?” Val asked. “Why was she distressed?”
“She was with child. She said the
man she was with scoffed at the idea of wearing a condom. She didn’t know what to do. She was frightened. I told her to talk to the man who had done this. She said she was scared. She didn’t know if the man would be happy about it. He did not seem the type to want or like children she said. She mentioned abortion but I refused her. I urged her to talk to the man. That was the last time I saw her,” Odean explained.
Val looked at Felix and then back at Odean.
“I swear to you both. That is all my dealings with Irene Derry.” He said earnestly.
???
Val placed Odean Barton in a small room and locked the door before returning to his office to deposit his hat.
“Now I’ve heard everything,” Felix said joining him.
“What? The absurd female hysteria bit or the cure part,” Val asked.
“Everything. All I know is I should have listened to my mother and gone to medical school.” Val threw him a look and Felix threw up his hands. “You’ve got to admit Boss, that’s quite a racket. I mean you’re getting paid to have intercourse with your patients?”
“There’s no mention of actual intercourse,” Val told him. “The cable I received does state that he saw a very prominent patient in New York and she accused the doctor in there of inappropriate touching. There was an investigation and his medical license was suspended. He’s appealing it.”
“He would, wouldn’t he? And Irene Derry?” He asked.
Val nodded. “Irene went to see the doctor. We know that already from his files and his own words even though he knew her as Caroline. She had female issues which a warm bath could cure. But now the question remains, did he kill her? His story sounds plausible. Irene is young. She has no one to turn to. She’s pregnant. She sees the doctor. He tells her to talk to the man who has gotten her in the family way,” Val rubbed his chin.