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She shook her head vigorously and said, “No, I don’t know anything Why would anyone want sux? Why are you asking me?”

Hoover said, “Apparently, so around the furnace in the basement”

The woht into tears

“I’ for insulin The door was locked I punched in my code, and when it didn’t work I left I didn’t take anything”

“Please don’t do that again, Doreen Stealing drugs will get you fired Expired insulin could get you killed Do you understand?”

Hoover took his eyes off Ms Collins, flicked the past the doorway

He said, “Sergeant, Doreen is, in fact, diabetic She has a perfect performance record at Hyde Street Psych Is she a suspect?”

Doreen said, “I only did this once,” she said “I swear to God, I didn’t take anything I swear to God”

CHAPTER 78

CONKLIN AND I questioned Ms Collins in an exam room down the corridor from Dr Hoover’s office She accounted for her whereabouts at the time Mr Beardsley was killed She said she had been here at Hyde Street Psychiatric, had reported to the nurses’ station at four in the afternoon, and had worked with patients and other staff ht, when she punched out She took us to her locker, opened her handbag, and showed us her tio-ahead to search her bag and and her locker

In short, she had a solid alibi for the time of Beardsley’s death I took her contact info, as well as that of her ave her my card, and asked her to call us if she had any ideas that ht help the SFPD

Conklin and I returned to Dr Hoover’s office He was distracted, and after we gave him our cards, he was done

“I don’t see how I can help you further,” he said with finality

We left Hoover in his office and edged through a swar patients in the common room, one of whom came up to us His hair was silver-shot blond I made him to be five four, 130, and possibly in his fifties He had an aard stance, proportionately short arnomelike appearance

“I’rinned at ood?”