After visiting someone in the Roswell hospital I was told Connie Morales, Jerome Vargas off and on girlfriend for years, was also in hospital and been there almost a month. There had been an APB Jerome for almost a year for many horrendous crimes in New Mexico and surrounding areas.
After finding what her room number was I went and knocked on the door.
Before being told to come in I heard movement within the room and the turning down of a television novella. When I went in I saw the bathroom door was closed as I continued in and saw Connie was hooked up with IVs, monitors, and drains so I knew it wasn't her moving around the room.
So I moved to the foot of her bed and stood with my back against the wall.
I started introducing myself when she stopped me and said "Harry, you and I have known each other all of our lives. I know you're here to talk to me about Jerome, but I haven't seen him in several months. You know with me being sick, having surgery, and recovering, and him being the germaphobe that he is, he wouldn't be within a mile of here or me."
Hearing a noise inside the bathroom I looked over that way again, while casually putting my hand into the pocket of my jacket. Connie spoke up and said "Wait. Take your hand out your pocket. Mike come out here before this visit goes south."
The door opened and another old friend walked out, Mike Sherman. We both knew him from school, had rode the bus to and from school for years together. He knew that I was a New Mexico State Trooper Detective Simi-retired.
We shook hands before he went and stood bedside with his hand on Connie's shoulder in almost a protective motion. I suddenly remembered that there had always been something between these two. As we talked Connie kept glancing up to the novella playing on TV.
Connie and Mike both picked up on my understanding of the situation. Connie said "So you can see I want him caught as much or more than you do. With him around it's almost impossible to go on with our lives together."
We talked about how to find Jerome and who that he might go to for help. As I was writing down the list of people that I forgotten to check with. Mike mentioned Toby James, a disbarred doctor, who was drunk most of the time, but people still went to him for medical care. In Mexico he could still get anything medically that he asked and paid for.
Suddenly a great plan came together of how once and for all to capture Jerome. The idea was brought to life by novellas, a drunken doctor, and Jerome's medical fears. I asked "Connie. Please tell me exactly why you're been in the hospital for the last month.
Connie said "I've been sick for several months and it was getting worse. Finally they discovered I had pancreatitis and a "Hot" gallbladder. They put me in a hospital to get the pancreatitis under control and then removed my gallbladder, but I had some problems afterwards. Now I'm on the road to recovery and I should be out of the hospital by the end of the week. Why?"
"How would you like to be the star of a true life novella? When the novella closes Jerome will be behind bars and you two are free to do whatever you want to the rest of your lives. But as part of this novella you will have to be thought very badly of and shunned by everyone for a few days or until Jerome was captured. After that you'll be a heroine"
Leaning forward Connie said "What do I have to do and why will I be shunned?" After me explaining my plan Connie said "I want the rights to this novella!"
I know just the women to tell my story of woe that have it spread it all over Roswell and the surrounding area within minutes after I tell them. Before the story breaks you have to have people in place to watch the doctor's house.
For the first time in this discussion Mike spoke up and said "Connie should be moved into one of those isolation suites. Where it should be more comfortable when I stay with her 24/ 7 till this is over. Tomorrow morning the doctors have slated for her to be disconnected from everything. They just wanted to be extra sure that her system was clear of the pancreatitis, so it wouldn't return.
I went out to the nurses' station and asked to talk to Connie's Doctor Hughes and luckily he was there. He and I went in to a conference room and I discussed my plan for capturing Jerome. After minutes of thought he said "I will do it for two reasons.
First - Jerome actions has infected a lot of people in the past with him pimping those sick women.
Second - I want Toby James off the streets. I know of several cases that he botched badly. I think there are cases of people dying because of him.
Luckily for you I'm one of the Board of Directors, and one of the original doctors who opened this hospital, so we can do what you want." Within an hour Connie will be moved, the old room sanitized, and her lab results changed and sealed. One thing though if we have a real case and I need that room for true patient. She's out of there. Agreed? "Stated Doctor Hughes. We shook hands to seal our bargain.
I got on the phone and arranged for 24/7 surveillance of the doctors house and area, which wasn't hard because of the Robles family lived across the street and could see all sides of the house from their porch or living room window and they all hated Jerome.
After being moved Connie called three of her friends and asked them to visit her. They said they would come that night. About 7 o'clock over the intercom into the room they announced they were outside.
Connie reminded them to make sure they put on the gowns, the gloves, the hair nets, and masks. Mike and I retired to the supply room and heard them come in the first door, the activity of them dressing, and finally the inner door opening.
"Que pasa Chica? What's happening Girl? What the hell is all this dress up for? ""Not a bad type of Covid?" they excitedly asked.
Connie said "Slow down and I'll explain to you. Why don't you sit down? But make sure your gowns are closed in the back so you don't contact anything. We heard the rustling of them setting down. Connie continued "You remember that slut Teresa that hung around here for a few weeks? Well, apparently she, The Sick Bitch, gave Jerome the case of testicularosis, which is an STD. That STD left untreated in men causes' cancer, impotence, and the necessity of removing the external genitalia." Peeking out the door I saw she was reading from the paper that we had made to make it more believable.
She continued "Luckily! They have cures for both men and women, but until you've been on the medication for about three weeks you can still pass it sexually. In my case they found it had traveled into my lungs, so simply being around me it could be transported. So since I got it from Jerome, who is a carrier, The Bastard, and he needs immediate treatment. Anyone who comes in contact with him possibly could be exposed to this STD also, because it might have settled in his lungs too."
So that's why the protective gear. I'll be here for about 2 1/2 weeks more till I show free of the STD in my blood work.
Mike and I in the storeroom looked at one another and covered our mouths to stifle our laughter. This novella was going to go viral about five minutes after these women left the hospital room. Their conversations lasted another 20 minutes, but they were constantly looking at the clock. Connie finally said "I loved having you, but I'm getting really, really tired. This STD is really draining me." They quickly said goodbye, with air kisses behind masks, and left the room. We heard them removing isolation gear, and washing their hands for a very long time, before they exited the isolation suite.
Opening the curtains, the three of us looked down at the parking lot in front of the hospital. The three women emerged talking rapidly. After separating they headed towards their cars, with their cell phones planted firmly in their ears and talking animatedly.
The three of us dissolved into laughter, which finally started to calm down, until Mike said" Well babe for now I have you all to myself. Which is been my plan all along!" then we laughed for another five minutes.
After checking in with Connie after setting up a few things with the local trusted New Mexico Trooper I drove to the Robles Auto shop that backed their home, and parked my blazer out back in the middle of the other cars waiting to go into the shop or for parts. I parked it so I get out of there quickly in case of a chase.
When I knocked on the backdoor I was shown into the family kitchen, where the entire family were setting around talking and joking with each other with a salsa playing softly in the background. They all wanted to know what my plans were for catching the "Bastardo" were.
