He pointed to the space where the hospital bed had stood, “I believe your brother called the rental agency. They were here within an hour after we arrived to remove the bed. They had to wait for the OMI to finish his exam before they could take it. The medical examiner or OMI didn’t find anything wedged in the bed frame.” The deputy walked around the empty space, “We searched the room for any devices used in your father’s medical care. There were no triangular metal shapes found.”
Sophia started to back out of the room. He put up his hand, “Ma’am, would you show me what you were talking about, please?”
Shoving her hands into her jean pockets, Sophia shook her head, “I don’t see it. I don’t see it here. It must have been removed by someone else, because it isn’t here.” She swallowed hurriedly.
“Do you think we should ask your mother?” He moved to open the closet door.
“I’m sure my mother wouldn’t know. She wouldn’t be strong enough to remove it. The metal triangle was wedged in there pretty well.” Sophia shook her head, “There wouldn’t be anything in the closet. I think you should ask my brother or the paramedics. I don’t really want to be in here anymore.” Sophia turned away to hide her tears.
“Can I help you find something?” Margaret stood in the doorway to the hall.
Sheriff Cruz turned to her, “Yes, Ma’am, can you tell us about the metal triangle put in the hospital bed by Carol Grover? It doesn’t appear to be here.”
Margaret clasped her hands in front of her chest, “No, Sir, the paramedics took everything related to the bed and to my husband’s care. I am sure they would know where it is, why don’t you ask them?”
“Ma’am, I have a list here that you signed off on regarding the items removed with your husband and there is not a reference to a metal triangle of any size.” He lifted the clipboard to examine it further. “No, no listing for a metal triangle.”
“Sophia,” Margaret focused all her attention on her daughter’s face, “Did you mention this triangle to the Sheriff?”
Sheriff Cruz countered Margaret, “Ma’am, Carol Grover was the nurse who attended your husband and brought this device to be used to keep the bed from being made flat. Is this correct?”
Sophia stood firmly, staring straight at her mother without flinching. Tears fell down her cheeks, but she did not move or speak.
Margaret turned her attention to the sheriff deputy, “Yes, Carol did bring the wedge device to prevent anyone from lowering the bed by accident. She must have removed it at some point for if it isn’t here, then it isn’t here. I have no knowledge as to its whereabouts.” Margaret slowly moved into the room. She began rearranging the framed photographs on the bureau.
Sheriff Cruz flipped the papers on his clipboard, “Mrs. Pino, do you know how your husband’s bed became flat? You were aware, were you not that his bed had to remain upright? Can you explain to me how the bed was lowered?”
Margaret’s hand hit a photo frame, it fell on its side, “No, I can’t tell you how his bed became flat. I have no idea! I resent the fact that you are insinuating I was the one who put my husband’s bed down. I will not answer any more of your questions.” She glared at him, “I need some time with my daughter, if you please!”
“Mrs. Pino, I’m so sorry for your loss, but you will need to give us a statement either here or at the Sheriff’s station. I can take you now in my vehicle or you could come with your daughter. You do have a choice of speaking with me here or at the station.”
Margaret put her hand on Sophia’s arm, “Do you mean to tell me that while I am grieving you plan to take me to jail? Please, all I need is a death certificate, the freedom to bury my husband in his favorite cemetery in Negara and the right to continue on with my life.” Margaret gave a quick dramatic sigh.
Sophia studied Sheriff’s Ignacio Cruz’s reaction. He didn’t miss a beat, “Ma’am, at the moment, we have confirmation that the death of your husband was caused by respiratory failure. We need your details of his death in order for the death certificate to be completed. The death certificate will be released by the funeral home once they receive our final information. Also, we will need to get copies of the Medical Examiner’s full report before we can release the body to the funeral home. It is important for us to find your husband’s cause of death.”
Margaret dabbed at her dry eyes with a cotton handkerchief, “Yes, I understand. My son Granger can take me tomorrow morning around ten o’clock, is that satisfactory with you?”
The Sheriff Detective smiled, “No, this information needs to be completed now, if possible.”
Margaret gave him a childlike smirk, “Oh, well, if my daughter is here, I suppose we could try to finish this now.”
Sophia took her mother’s hand, “Let’s go back into Papa’s office and sit down. Mom, you can take your time. Sheriff Cruz is a patient man and he will be gentle.” Margaret glared at him.
The three of them sat in Dr. Walter Pino’s office. Margaret was noticeably nervous. She perched behind her husband’s desk on his executive chair. Her hands were busy with the pens and pencils. She flipped them around with an irritating and erratic movement. Sheriff Cruz sat comfortably on the wooden chair to her right and Sophia sat on the couch opposite both of them.
Margaret stuttered, “I was asleep. Sound asleep and this odor awakened me. Upon turning on the bedside lamp, I saw my husband’s bed was flat. He was laying flat on his left side, facing the door to the room. His back was to me. I could see his shoulder was not moving up and down, which was a sign of his lack of breathing. He was still.”
Sheriff Cruz sat studying her. “How would the bed go flat if there was no one in the room to push the button beside the bed?”
“You asked me a question and I am answering you. Don’t interrupt, young man, it is very rude.” Margaret sighed, pushing a black pen in a circular motion on the desk. “Once I was up and in my robe, I went over to him. He was not breathing. He was cold. His eyes were open and he was drooling onto the sheet.” Margaret’s tears rolled down her cheeks. “He was dead. He had been still and non responsive when he was alive for so long and then he was dead.”
Sophia frowned, turning to look out the office window, she muttered, “Oh, Mom.” The wind was slacking off and the trees weren’t moving. “Mom, the bed could not have gone down by itself. That is logically and scientifically impossible. Think, Mom, did you hit it by accident? Was the cat in the room? Mom, there is no physical way the bed would move without help.”
Margaret jutted her chin at Sophia, “Oh, you’re going to accuse me as well? Fine, my own daughter is going to accuse me of killing her father. Well, I didn’t do it!” She pushed her hands into a clasp on the desk, “There is nothing more I can say! God’s truth, I didn’t lower the bed. I did NOT lower the bed. Now leave me alone!” She jumped out of the chair, hurried out of the room, slamming the door behind her. It bounced back open after hitting the warped door frame.
Sheriff Cruz placed his clipboard on the desk. “Well, evidently your mother didn’t do the deed, but someone did. Who do you think put the bed down?” He frowned at Sophia.
“I have no idea, except it wasn’t me. I was at home with my family.” Sophia rubbed her hands together, “Sheriff Cruz, you’re the detective so perhaps you are the one who should detect this? Maybe it was the cat?” Sophia gave him a half smile.
“Oh, yes, it was the cat!” He lifted the clipboard off the desk with his right hand. “Better get back to the office and write my report mentioning the cat.” He put out his hand, “Good to meet you, Ma’am.” He left her alone standing in her father’s office. Sophia shuddered as the cold wind rattled the side window.
5