“Why didn’t you tell Dr. Hoffbein...?”
“Because ... because ... he had said if ... I ever went back ... to my ... habit ... on duty....”
Higgins nodded grimly and hunched forward.
“Who around this hospital looks like Cub Sterling?”
“Nobody! I swear nobody! Oh, God, I’ve been over every single face since then ... in my mind ... and on sight.... Nobody!”
“One of those Cub Sterlings was a man who knew you were taking dope, Miss Kerr ... who knew that when you saw him ... you’d keep your mouth shut. Who knew...?”
“Nobody but ... my ... niece! That’s why I took the doll. To keep the Staff from ... grilling her ... I was afraid....”
“You are missing out somewhere. Who checks the dope?”
“The floor nurse, once a month. She gives the sheet to me and I turn the clinic sheets over to the pharmacy....”
“Ah, the pharmacy! They knew, Miss Kerr!”