“Especially antagonistic to any doctor?”
“Yes.”
“Whom?”
“The head of the clinic, Dr. Ethridge Sterling, Junior, affectionately known as ‘Cub’ Sterling. He is on probation, very confidentially, as head. The physician-in-chief died of a heart attack last spring, and Dr. Sterling, who has done very brilliant work, has temporarily his chief’s place. His father is Dr. Ethridge Sterling, possibly you have heard...?”
“The surgeon. Bear Sterling! I should say so!” Higgins responded. “Why is the head nurse antagonistic?”
“I do not know. Perhaps because she is getting old and is afraid of retirement if Sterling remains in charge.”
“I see. Pretty ugly situation you have been in, sir.”
“It isn’t I, it’s the hospital. Dr. Ethridge Sterling, Senior, is dying of a heart attack complicated by pneumonia brought on by this situation. One of our graduate nurses has been murdered.... Frankly, your coming shifts a great weight from my shoulders. And I should like to say if I have failed to make anything clear, question me. We are all a bit shell-shocked, I dare say.”
“Yes, there is, Doctor. Did Dr. Sterling, Senior, see all of the murdered patients, too?”
“He did. He performed the autopsies on all except the last one. The nurse.”