Blessed are the Merciful Read Online Free PDF

direct us to the right person, please?”
    “Just a moment.” She rose from her chair and went down the hall.
    Sidney put an arm around Elizabeth’s shoulders as they watched the receptionist disappear into a nearby office. Seconds later she returned with a young man she introduced as Joel Hines, the hospital’s office manager.
    “Hello, Mr. Burke. Elsie says you need to talk to me and that it’s very important.”
    “Yes, sir. It’s regarding an army captain who was a patient here for almost a month.”
    “Please come into my office,” Hines said.
    As soon as they were all seated, Sidney repeated the story. When he had finished, Hines said, “Let me go look at the records.”
    When the office manager returned, he was carrying a file folder. “Mrs. Burke, all I can tell you from your husband’s record is that he took shrapnel in his head from a cannonball. It required some extensive surgery and three weeks of healing before he could be released from the hospital. The surgeon’s notes say that the wound left a slight disfigurement on his face.”
    Elizabeth closed her eyes and nodded.
    Sidney leaned forward, his eyes on the folder the young man was holding. “Is there any indication in the record, Mr. Hines, of where Captain Burke might have gone when he was released?”
    “No, sir. There is nothing of that nature.”
    “Isn’t there someone here who might know?”
    “Well, he may have told his nurses or someone like that, but it would take some doing to find out who might’ve been taking care of him the last day or so before he was released. I’m not sure I can help you there.”
    Elizabeth’s lips quivered as she said, “Mr. Hines, this is my husband we’re talking about. He has disappeared, and I have three children anxiously waiting for their father to come home. I can’t just go home and tell them nobody knows where he’s gone.”
    Hines shrugged. “Ma’am, I’m sorry, but—”
    “I want to talk to the head of this institution,” Sidney said. “Who might that be?”
    “Well, sir, that would be Mr. Glover, the hospital director.”
    “Fine. Where do I find him?”
    “Sir, I really don’t think Mr. Glover can do any more than I’ve already done.”
    Sidney rose to his feet. “I want him to tell me that. Take us to him.”
    Moments later, Sidney, Elizabeth, and Darlene were seated before the desk of the hospital director, Vernon Glover, a gray-headed man in his mid-fifties.
    “How may I help you?” Glover said with a smile.
    Sidney told the entire story again. When he had finished, Glover eased back in his chair and sighed. “Joel is a bit green around the gills yet, folks. I think I can help you. Let me begin by inquiring among my office staff to see who checked Captain Burke out the day he was discharged. I’ll be back shortly.”
    When Glover left the room, Elizabeth put a shaky hand to her cheek and looked at Sidney. “What am I going to do if they don’t come up with an explanation?”
    Darlene took hold of Elizabeth’s other hand and squeezed it tight. “Let’s cross that bridge if and when we come to it. I have a feeling Mr. Glover’s going to come up with the information we need.”
    Elizabeth tried to smile. Tears filmed her eyes as she said, “I’m sure glad you two came with me.”
    “We wouldn’t have let you come alone,” Sidney assured her.
    Soon Vernon Glover returned. “I talked to the office worker who completed the papers and had them signed by Captain Burke whenhe was released. She said he gave no indication where he might be going when he left us. I’m sorry. I was hoping she would be able to help us.”
    “What about the nurse assigned to him his last day or so?” Sidney asked. “Maybe he told her something.”
    “Good point. If she’s on duty right now I’ll bring her in here and let you ask her yourself.”
    Less than five minutes had passed when Glover returned, shaking his head. “Wouldn’t you know it? The nurse who was assigned to that