Killing The Blood Cleaner (18 page)

TWENTY-FOUR

When Jack and Tacy arrived back in the Medical Unit it was a little after two and the waiting area had fifteen inmates in various stages of distress. Nurse Griggs had already situated one inmate in an examination room and was taking his vitals. She had pulled the files of all waiting inmates for Jack’s review. They formed a neat pile on his metal desk in his small office. Tacy took over from Nurse Griggs who followed him as he closed the door to the office.

“Things are pretty quiet now, mostly cuts and diarrhea. Of course, we do have our usual visit from inmate Thompkins. I would suggest you have a nurse present during his examination as he does like to file complaints,” Nurse Griggs said.

Jack correctly assumed that inmate Thompkins was the short, black, inmate with slicked back hair, gold hoop earrings, a red bandanna and sunglasses who he had observed quietly singing to himself as he rocked back and forth on the metal chair in the waiting room. Jack sat at the desk and quickly reviewed the fifteen medical files and their attached medical requests while the nurse waited. “Let’s start with inmate Thompkins. I assume he is the fellow with a red bandanna,” Jack said, picking up the file. Nurse Griggs nodded her agreement and they both proceeded to the waiting room.

“Mr. Thompkins, Dr. Randolph will see you now. I’m going to take your vital signs and see how you’re doing,” Nurse Griggs said with authority as she opened the door to an examination room and directed the inmate inside. Mr. Thompkins rose and padded into the room with his handcuffed hands held out before him.

“Doctor, I wish you would take these off so I can show you my problems,” the inmate said, gesturing with the handcuffs.

“I think the doctor can examine you just fine with the handcuffs on,” Nurse Griggs quickly responded, not wanting to give the new doctor a chance to make the mistake of removing the cuffs.

“I think Nurse Griggs is correct. Let’s start with your vital signs and then check on your problems,” Jack said as he closed the door to the examining room.

Nurse Griggs briskly placed the thermometer in the inmate’s mouth and proceeded with the blood pressure cuff. As she worked, the inmate somehow managed to pull down his pants revealing a striking pair of red thong underwear. Despite his claims of illness, the inmate was well enough to be quite aroused which caused his undergarments to bulge accordingly.

“I got the jock itch again, Doc. Nurse Griggs gave me some stuff but it never works,” the inmate said, proudly displaying the inner part of his thigh.

Jack put on a pair of examination gloves and examined the area with a small flashlight. “It does look like you have a fungus infection down there. I’m going to prescribe some antifungal ointment. I’m also going to suggest some non-binding, white cotton boxers might help with the situation,” Jack said as Nurse Griggs nodded her approval.

“So you not going to let me be pretty, back in the back,” the inmate complained.

“Mr. Thompkins, I’m trying to get you well, not help you be pretty. I might add, so far you are negative for HIV. I hope you understand the importance of staying that way. Maybe some cotton boxers could help both situations,” Jack continued.

“In Atlanta, the Habershams go right across Paces Ferry where the Governor lives. When I get out that is where I’m going,” the inmate replied, his eyes wild with irritation. “Maybe the Governor will talk to me this time.”

“Yes, and let’s put you down for another mental health evaluation. Are you doing okay on your medicine?” Jack responded, looking at the inmate carefully.

“Old Governor Maddox said that if he knew how many people thought inmates volunteered to retrieve ducks from the swamp for the officers he would tell you how many fools there were in Georgia,” Thompkins commented, somewhat more calmly.

“You know, Mr. Thompkins, I do remember when Governor Maddox said that. And he was right. You will probably remember he also said we needed a better class of inmates in the system. I want you to be that better class of inmate!” Jack said with a broad smile to Thompkins.

“That will be me! You can count on it, Doc. No more red underpants,” Thompkins replied with a smirk, delighted that someone in authority had finally agreed with one of his statements. He pulled up his pants as Jack finished writing the prescription and handed it to the nurse.

“This ointment will be on the next pill call, Mr. Thompkins,” Nurse Griggs said as she directed him out to the waiting area.

“Mr. Thomkins is quite a character. What is he in prison for?” Jack asked, certain that Mr. Thompkins’ criminal biography would be an interesting one.

Nurse Griggs smiled and laughed. “Mr. Thompkins does have a curious history. Previously he was at G-MAX on a fifteen year sentence for armed robbery of a gas station. Since he was just the getaway driver and no one was hurt, the Parole Board paroled him after five years. He was free as long as he reported to his Parole Officer and didn’t get into any trouble. When he was in prison he filed a lawsuit against the Warden claiming a constitutional right to practice witchcraft as his religion and a First Amendment claim for cable television, which he was handling without a lawyer, but probably with the help of the law library clerks. He had one hearing before Judge Valentino, and the Warden was represented at the hearing by an attractive, Assistant Attorney General from Atlanta, named Alex Hibbs. Apparently, Thompkins became infatuated with Mr. Hibbs, and Thompkins would file all kinds of strange pleadings in the case which were just short of love notes to Hibbs. Hibbs, as a seasoned AG, ignored these as mere general craziness and probably helpful to eventually get the case dismissed. However, when Thompkins was paroled and back on the street, Thompkins continued to file pleadings in the case. Finally, Hibbs got a pleading that was over the top. He noticed it was slightly stained as he read through the pages. On the last page was a large, shiny, oily spot on which Thompkins proclaimed his love for Hibbs and explained that since he would never be able to consummate his love whose name cannot be spoken, he had ejaculated his essence on the page to proclaim his eternal devotion. That did it for Hibbs, and the pleading was sent to the crime lab where the stains were identified as human semen which matched Thompkins’ DNA. Of course, after that, it didn’t take long for Mr. Thompkins to have his parole revoked. So now he is back at G-MAX serving the remaining ten years on his sentence,” Nurse Griggs said.

“Perhaps that is just as well. I am not sure Mr. Thompkins is quite ready to take his place in lawful society,” Jack replied with a laugh.

“Your next patient is in the exam room,” Nurse Griggs said, handing him the medical file as she walked to the storage room. Jack perused it as he opened the door to the neighboring exam room. A middle-aged black inmate with numerous tattoos was seated on the examination table with the thermometer in his mouth. Nurse Tacy was busily pumping the bulb on the blood pressure cuff. The inmate had a large cut over his left eye. It looked like it had been there several days. Jack closed the door and put on a pair of exam gloves.

“I believe you are Jonas Sims and you said on your Medical Request that you got this cut three days ago playing basketball,” Jack said carefully as he examined the cut and doubting it had any sports origin.

“It got to be red and hurting, so I did a sick call request,” the inmate said in a flat voice.

“You sure you didn’t get in a fight or something?” Jack said delicately, wanting to give the inmate opportunity for explanation.

“Nah, just basketball. You get in trouble round here for fighting,” the inmate replied as Jack continued to review the file.

“Mr. Sims, I see you have been in here every week for five weeks with a sports injury like this. I’m sure basketball is a contact sport at G-MAX, but maybe I could see about moving you to another dorm where you could make some new friends,” Jack said, flipping back though the documentation of the other numerous cuts and injuries.

The inmate’s eyes brightened immediately. “That would be real good Doc. I would like to move around a little. I have been in that dorm a whole year. Some of those other dorms got more of my Augusta homeboys,” the inmate said enthusiastically.

“Tacy, if I requested Mr. Sims be moved, what will happen?” Jack asked.

“Your request would go to the Classification Committee. It is their decision, but they always worked with Dr. Bridge in the past,” Tacy said.

“Well, Mr. Sims, you heard the lady. I will make the request to get you moved. We will get this cut cleaned up and hopefully you will be playing in a little gentler league,” Jack said as he watched Tacy bandage the wound.

“Thank you Doc. I don’t want to be ratting anybody out. I just live my own business,” the inmate said thankfully as he walked out to the waiting room.

“You seem to be a lot more street smart than I would have expected from a silk stocking, Buckhead doctor,” Tacy said, impressed with Jack’s insight into the personalities and problems of the inmates.

“Remember, I worked three years in Atlanta. I’ve had gang members try to get into my operating room to finish off the person I was operating on. So it was not all Mint Juleps on the veranda at the Club,” Jack replied.

Jack and Tacy worked through the remaining inmates in less than two hours. Jack was beginning to feel tired and after the last inmate he was glad to retire to his office to complete the paperwork of the day.

Nurse Tacy opened the door to Jack’s office carrying two large stacks of files. Several of the files were large accordion folders. “We have loaded your desk with a bunch more medical files. In general, these are the folks we see most often. We thought you would want to take a close look at some of these. It won’t be long until they are here in person. Also, if you would like to get some good barbecue for dinner, there is a really good place in Lester that is owned by a former inmate,” she continued.

“After I have looked at all these files I will be very ready for some good barbecue,” Jack replied.

“I will meet you there at six thirty. It is right across street from the Courthouse. Look for the Maximum Pig. You can’t miss it,” she said as she closed the door.

Jack picked up the first file on top of one of the stacks. Opening it, he saw what was to be a recurring pattern. An inmate with minor ailments, presenting again and again to medical, often without any compliance with the treatments given and accompanied by numerous official Medical Grievances and the occasional lawsuit. Putting down this file, he looked through the stack for another file with more medical than correctional challenges. His eye landed on a thick accordion folder with numerous notations on the outside of the file.

Jack picked it up and looked at the label which stated in bold typed letters, “Henry Judson Kirk.” It only took a few pages for Jack to realize this was the inmate who had murdered his predecessor. This was apparent from the HIV testing Notice and memo which were among the most recent medical attentions given to Mr. Kirk. The Notice, a copy of which had been delivered to Mr. Kirk, stated that because of his being charged with a sexual assault and murder of Dr. Bridge, he was required under Georgia law to be tested for the HIV virus. A memo with an attached Use of Force report described in precise detail the steps and amount of reasonable force which was required to get Mr. Kirk to submit to such a test. The memo also indicated that due to the difficulty in obtaining samples that three samples in three separate vials were taken instead of the usual one. Two samples had been sent to the testing laboratory and one remained under refrigeration in the Medical Unit should further tests be necessary. The most recent document in the file was the returned Lab Report which clearly announced that Mr. Kirk was negative for the HIV virus.

His attention focused, Jack began to carefully review the file in chronological order starting from the back of the file. The record showed Kirk arriving at Georgia Maximum Security Prison from the Fulton County jail in Atlanta, over four years ago. The paperwork from Fulton County showed that Mr. Kirk had remained in the Fulton County jail from the time of his arrest through his trial and conviction for a period of one year and sixty days. Attached to the paperwork were the lab results from Grady Hospital of another HIV test done under similar circumstances one month after his arrest. As Jack looked at the familiar form from Grady Hospital, he had to stop and read it again. The Grady lab work from over five years ago clearly showed Kirk as positive for the HIV virus a full year before he entered the Georgia prison system.

Jack moved ahead in the file to the documentation of Kirk’s transfer from the Fulton County jail to Georgia Maximum Security Prison after his conviction. After twenty four days in the Georgia prison system he was again given an HIV test along with a full physical. Again, the lab report in the State system showed the same positive HIV result as the Fulton County jail. Mr. Kirk’s physical exam noted only mild flulike symptoms which had gone away quickly.

Jack then read through Kirk’s records showing ordinary medical problems such as occasional diarrhea, cold symptoms and lacerations. He stopped at a series of records from ten months ago. Mr. Kirk had committed a vicious sexual attack on another inmate. His prey had been a slightly built, twenty-two year old white inmate whom he had raped and nearly beaten to death. The procedures by the State were the same as followed after his attack on Dr. Bridge. Again, Kirk had been served with a Notice that he was required to be tested for the HIV virus, which he had refused to sign. Then there was the Use of Force Report and Incident Report which described the manhandling necessary to obtain a blood sample from Mr. Kirk. Again, the report used the magic legal phrases, numerous times, that the “minimum amount of force was used to maintain positive control of the inmate.” In this particular situation, this minimum amount of force had involved the use of an electric shock device and night sticks by three officers in riot gear. Again, care had been taken to retrieve a sufficient amount of blood for three samples in order that the procedure would not have to be repeated.