Critical Cover-Up

Chapter 2

Chapter 2

Two officers from the Orlando Police Department and two staff members from the crime lab examined the scene in the hospital parking garage for several hours. Once their investigation was completed, they cleared the area and approved the body for transfer to the District Nine Medical Examiner’s Office, where an autopsy would be performed. Detective Derning had already left the scene and was headed to the Orlando Police Department on Pershing Avenue to interview Allison Jamison. While at the crime scene he had noticed five recent text messages from her on the cell phone belonging to Dr. Connolly. There were two additional texts from the same number after the police had arrived on scene.

Derning, a seasoned, middle-aged detective with thinning grey hair, had investigated violent crimes for the Homicide Unit for the past five years. Prior to that, he had worked as a homicide detective in Brooklyn. After introducing himself, he unbuttoned his ill-fitting charcoal jacket and sat down at a table across from Allison. “I am sorry to be the one to tell you this, Miss Jamison, but Dr. Connolly was found dead in the hospital parking garage. He was shot in the back of the head.”

Visibly shaken and unable to speak, Allison sobbed, shaking her head. She was a petite, attractive young woman with jet-black hair that framed her face in a way that accentuated her captivating blue eyes. The detective estimated her to be in her early thirties, although she could easily have passed for someone younger. She pulled her knees up to her chest, tucked herself into a tight ball, and rocked in the chair. She kept shaking her head, as if to toss the painful news from her mind.

“I apologize, but I have to ask you some questions, and then I’ll escort you home if you’d like. We’ll make this brief.”

Allison nodded, still not saying anything. She tried to gain some sense of composure, despite being in a state of shock. “I don’t know how much help I will be,” she said between sobs, “but I’ll try to answer your questions.”

“Okay. Thank you, Miss Jamison.”

“Please, call me Allison.”

She confirmed that she was an RN at Orlando Memorial and that she and Dr. Connolly had only been dating for the past month. “I had expected him for dinner tonight, and when I didn’t hear anything, I started sending text messages but got no reply.”

“Do you know if Dr. Connolly had any family, either here or elsewhere?”

“He was divorced. He didn’t have any children, as far as I know.”

“What about next of kin? Parents? Siblings?”

“I think his father lives up north somewhere, and his mother lives in Tampa. His parents divorced and the mother remarried. I don't know their names or any specifics of where they live though. I’m sorry.”

“No problem. We can get that information. You’ve been very helpful. You two were pretty close I assume? You had a romantic relationship?”

“Yes, we did.”

“Miss Jamison, Allison, did you know of any problems he was having? Financial issues, lawsuits, drugs? Any problems with his patients or at the hospital?”

“No, none. Everyone loved him. He was a great surgeon and was respected by all the nurses. I can’t believe anyone would have wanted him dead.”

“All right, Allison. I think we’re done now. Can I escort you back to your home?”

“No. But thank you, Detective. I’m okay. I drive at night a lot, especially when I’m on call.”

“Are you sure? It’s no problem.”

“Yes, I’m sure. Thank you. Good night.” Allison drove herself home but saw nothing on the way, as if she was on autopilot. Once inside her condo, she lay down on her new couch and wept.