she was strong. âHow much does that flower pot weigh?â
âI donât know, but the janitor canât move it by himself. Thatâs why they got that dolly.â Jimmy pointed to the small block of wood with wheels propped up against the wall. âI saw her lift up that tree like it was a feather and toss it through the window.â
As Doug rounded another corner, he saw her. She was a slim, brown-haired woman who would have been pretty under any other circumstances. Even though she had on an old-fashioned straitjacket, it still took two security guards to hold her down.
Jimmy ran toward the security guards, and Doug followed him. He tapped the older security guard on the shoulder, then pointed to Doug. âChuck? This is Sergeant Lake.â
âHi.â Doug flashed his badge. âWhat have you got here?â
âA wildcat.â Chuck was an older black man with salt and pepper hair. He looked worried as he turned to Doug. âIf we let her go, she tries to kick us. And she wonât stop screaming.â
The woman looked up at Doug. Her eyes were wide and frightened, and they didnât seem to be focusing properly. She stared at him for a moment, then started screaming again.
Doug motioned for Jimmy to take Chuckâs place, and they walked down the hall. Chuck unlocked a door to a vacant office. Then they stepped in and closed the door.
âTell me what happened.â Doug sat on the edge of the desk and pulled out his notebook.
âI donât know, but itâs a good thing the kid called us when he did. We got here just in time to keep her from going through that window. I hate to think what might have happened if sheâd gotten into the morgue.â
Doug nodded. âWhat time was that?â
âA little after midnight. Tommy and I were just taking our break.â
Doug glanced at his watch. It was almost one. âAnd sheâs been screaming all this time?â
âThatâs right. She stops for a couple seconds to catch her breath and then she starts in again.â
âHas anyone given her a tranquilizer?â
âNot yet.â Chick shook his head. âThe doctor said he had to wait until you got here. He doesnât know what sheâs on, and he canât do a blood test unless you arrest her and sign off on the form.â
Doug nodded. It was standard operating procedure. If the womanâs condition wasnât life threatening, the hospital couldnât treat her without a signed release form. âOkay, Chuck. Call him and tell him to bring me the form. Iâll arrest her for destruction of property and sign it. And letâs have an orderly bring down a gurney with straps.â
âOkay. You got it.â Chuck used his radio, and a few minutes later an orderly brought a gurney. It took all five of them to strap the woman down, but finally she was rendered immobile. Doug signed the release form. Then the orderly wheeled the woman away, accompanied by Jimmy and the younger security guard.
âWhat a relief!â Chuck sat down in a chair and stretched his arms. âYou wouldnât think a tiny little thing like her could be so strong. Iâm going to wake up with a stiff back tomorrow, I can tell you that!â
âDo you think she was trying to hurt you?â
Chuck thought about it for a moment, then shook his head. âShe was just trying to get in that morgue. She thought her boyfriend was in there, and she had to see him.â
âDo you think she was on some kind of drug?â
âI donât know.â Chuck frowned. âShe was grieving for her boyfriend, I can tell you that. And she thought we were keeping her from seeing his body. She was crazy, but I donât know if it was drugs.â
While he was waiting for the results of the blood test, Doug interviewed everyone whoâd come in contact with the woman. He learned that sheâd carried no identification and no
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