Chaos at Crescent City Medical Center by Judith Townsend Rocchiccioli

reporter to me.  Mrs. Raccine doing okay ? ” Mitch gazed at her intently.
    Alex shrugged her shoulders. "She's stable, but hasn't moved or spoken since the attack.  She had some heart trouble initially, but that seemed to have cleared late this afternoon.  When I saw her, she seemed to be in a catatonic trance, almost .  She was apparently very frightened and traumatized .  She looked literally scared to death.”
    “ I'd imagine so.  I would think that being voodooed is pretty horrible , at least that’s what I heard ."  He looked saddened, as he'd always liked Grace Raccine.
    "You're a native.  Do you believe in it?" Alex asked , once again almost fearing his answer.
    "It's hogwash. Junk.  It's just a way of scaring people.  Of course I don't believe in it.  Did you think I would?" said Mitch, noting the expression of relief cross Alex's face.
    "I don't know.  I learned today that some prominent New Orleans families do."
    "Really, who ?"  Mitch replied and waited for more information.
    "Well…. " Alex hesitated.
    "Don't tell me anything you're not comfortable with.  Besides, I don't even know if I understand this stuff enough to be helpful .   All I can really do is listen. "  Mitch picked up on her hesitation. 
    "It's not a matter of comfort; it's about confidentiality and ethics.  In a nutshell, I found out that some board member s do believe.  They're all educated, prominent people.  Guess I'm just not used to the culture here," Alex ended on a plaintive note.
    "New Orleans does have its own culture, that's for sure.  Any leads on who's responsible?"  Mitch's face was intense as he waited for her answer.
     
    Alex appreciated the objectivity she heard in Mitch's voice.  "Not a one.  The police captain is certainly not sharing anything.  He grilled all the staff and presented himself at the board meeting as macho man, claiming voodoo and black magic as the reason for the attack on Mrs. Raccine.  He's a real act.  He had a toxic reaction to me, hate at first sight.  Of course, I shared his feelings," Alex admitted.
    "Who's the captain?" Mitch said.
    "Captain Francois, a real jerk."
    "Oh, I know Jack .  We w ent to school together.  Your evaluation of him is correct.  He seems like that initially."
    Alex was stunned.  "That's impossible.  He looks like he's at least ten or fifteen years older than you."
    "Hard living, I guess."  Mitch's discussion of the captain was interrupted by the ringing of Alex's cell phone.
    "Excuse me, Mitch, I better get that.  Who knows, maybe it's the hospital with another voodoo attack."  Alex smiled, feeling brash and a bit reckless from the wine .
    Mitch continued sipping his wine and thinkin g over Alex's comments, and wished she had revealed more. He hadn't learned much. 
    He could hear Alex talking softly on the phone; her voice was the sound of rustling silk.  Once again Mitch wished he could do things over again. He would never make the same mistakes. He'd never thought things would go this far.
    "Of course, I'll see you.  You probably need to talk.  Come over in about thirty minutes, ” Mitch heard Alex say before she hung up the phone.
    When she returned to the living ro om, Alex appeared a bit harried, piqued in fact.  
    "Trouble?"
    "No, not really, at least I don't think so.  That's Robert Bonnet.  He asked if I'd see him for a few minutes later tonight.  Do you mind?"  Alex had a chagrinned look , and her face was streaked red. Was she blushing?  Her face felt hot.
    Mitch picked up on her embarrassment and reassured her.  "No, no, of course not. Should I mind that you are dismissing me to spend some time with your ex-husband? ”   He smiled and winked at her. “Let me h elp you clean up.  Is Bonnet involved in this stuff at CCMC?" 
    "Only insofar as Robert is Mrs. Raccine's surgeon," Alex replied cautiously. "Only normal that he should be upset, I suppose."
    "I suppose," Mitch replied in a noncommittal tone.
    As Mitch and Alex