“Willow’s been diagnosed with recurring Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There should be hospital records.”
“I won’t be able to get those for you.”
“I don’t need the actual records. Just names of doctors who might have consulted with or treated her. Also, her best friend died from complications of a gunshot wound. She was a recent patient of Saint Stephen’s hospital in Dayton.”
“Friend’s name?”
“Cameron Mason.”
I notice Dani’s gone quiet.
“Hello? Are you there?”
She says, “Stop me if I get any part of this wrong. You breeze into Nashville, visit a club, meet an eighteen-year-old stripper who happens to be a cancer patient, and pay her for sex. What was she doing, trying to earn money for cancer treatment?”
I sigh. “Maybe you’re not the right person for the job.”
“Maybe not, but I’ve already uncovered information that’ll knock your socks off.”
“What, already? How’s that possible?”
“I’m very good at what I do.”
I grab my notebook and pen from my jacket pocket and prepare to write. “Okay,” I say.
“Okay what?”
“I’m ready. What have you got?”
“Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“Don’t tell me you expect me to apologize for sleeping with her.”
“That apology belongs to Willow, not me.”
“Then I don’t understand. You’ve uncovered some information. I’ve got my pen and notebook ready. What’s the holdup?”
“Five thousand dollars.”
“What?”
“You want me to take the case, you have to pay.”
“Five thousand dollars? For five minutes work?”
“How much do you get for five minutes of work, Dr. Box?”
“Four thousand, max. And you can’t tell me you get this much from other clients. You pulled that number out of your ass, because you think I’m wealthy, and you don’t approve of my lifestyle.”
“The five thousand isn’t for the bombshell. It’s for the work you’re going to want after I tell you what I’ve learned. And that could take days to uncover.”
“How much for just the bombshell?”
“Well, if we’re going ala carte, let’s say five hundred.”
“That’s more like it. You want my billing address?”
“Your credit card will suffice.”
“I’m in a cab.”
“You don’t want the cab driver to hear. Makes sense. Have him pull over, then climb out and give it to me.”
“I’m in Manhattan, Dani.”
“So?”
“You can’t just pull over in Manhattan. It’ll take forever to get back in traffic.”
“Why do you want to live like that?”
“Again, why do you care how I want to live?”
“We have some wonderful hospitals here in Nashville that could use a skilled surgeon, Dr. Box. Provided you can keep your hands off the candy stripers.”
“They’re called volunteers these days.”
“Whatever. Give me your billing address. But don’t even think about stiffing me.”
I give her my billing address and assure her I won’t stiff her.
“What’s the bombshell?” I say.
“I’ll tell you in an hour.”
“Why not now?”
“I need to be certain. You’re paying me to be accurate.”
“Give me the short version.”
“I want to check her hospital records first.”
“I thought you said you couldn’t access her medical records.”
“I said I wouldn’t get them for you.”
39.
BRUCE LUCE IS all smiles when I walk in his office.
“What?” I say.
“You received rave reviews from the new nurses.”
“I did?”
“No one was more surprised to hear it than me.”
“I think Rose has a calming effect on me,” I say.
“She’d have just the opposite effect on me,” he says.
“Can I keep her?”
“Under lock and key if necessary.”
“Why so enthusiastic?”
“She strong-armed Mr. Devereaux to write a check for twenty million, even though Lilly’s still in a coma.”
“Medically induced,” I say.
“Right.”
“Were you aware Rose plans to leave in nine months?”
Bruce frowns. “No way!”
“She told me her stay here is temporary.”
“She can’t leave,” he says. “If I have to, I’ll offer more money.”
“Excellent.”
“Speaking of money,” Bruce says, “I agreed to make changes to accommodate the hiring of Rose and Melba, and help soften the sting from the sweetheart schedule they negotiated.”
“How does that affect me?”
“We’re expanding your role.”
“In what way?”
He picks up a manila folder on his desk and hands it to me. As I open it he says, “You’re going to add one serious case a month, in addition to the more difficult ones you’ve received in the past.”
“You think?”
“If you intend for the board to continue paying Rose and Melba.”
I glance at the patient file.
“Who’s this?”
“The first of your cases.”
“Why this one?”
“I’m told it’s difficult enough to warrant your attention, though it should be a snap for someone with your skills.”
“Nothing’s a snap when it comes to children.”
“Don’t start with me,” he says. “I’ve been told four members of our staff have the expertise to perform this brain stem thing.”
“Brain stem thing?”
“This is a surgical resection of a brain stem cavernoma.”
He waves his hand. “Whatever it is, I’m told you can handle it.”
“Not that you’d know the difference,” I say, “But the brain is located above the neck.”
“What’s your point?”
“I’ve worked heart, lungs, and internal organs for seven years.”
“You did these brain resections for three years before switching to heart.”
“It’s not like riding a bicycle, Bruce.”
“Well, you’ll have a few days to bone up on the procedure.”
“Will Rose and Melba work these cases with me?”
“They’ve been assigned to you. Doesn’t matter what the case is.”
“Can Rose help me deal with the parents?”
“This is a single mom. And anyway, I’m told you did a fine job with Austin and Dublin.”
“Who?”
“Lilly’s parents. Mr. and Mrs. Devereaux.”
“Rose won them over, not me.”
“You’re sure about that? Because she gave you all the credit.”
I laugh. “Does that sound right to you?”
He frowns. “No.”
“Ask Nurse Sally who deserves the credit.”
“No need,” he says. “I believe you.”
I point to the file in my lap. “This one, Addie Gray.”
“What about her?”
“Former burn patient, years of reconstructive facial surgery. She’s spent most of her life in hospitals.”
“So?”
“Her mother’s done the rounds. She’ll expect detailed consultations.”
“We’ve been doing this for your patients for years. But we’re done covering for you. From now on you’re going to consult, review, recommend, explain, and be actively involved with the parents both pre- and post-op.”
“For these types of patients,” I say.
“For all types. Get used to it.”
“I only did well with Lilly’s parents because of Rose.”
“You’ve got it bad for her,” he says.
&n
bsp; “Doesn’t matter. She’s not interested in a relationship.”
“You’ve already learned that?” He pauses. “I’m thinking it’s a bad idea. I’ll get Melba to hold your hand when meeting the parents.”
“That’s fine,” I say. “Except that…”
“Except what?”
“I’m already starting to forget how to perform those brain stem things you were talking about. It would be a shame if I lost my first patient because I was afraid of upsetting Addie’s mom.”
He frowns. “I’ll assign Rose this time and we’ll take it case by case after that.”
“Thanks Bruce. You won’t be sorry.”
“I better not be.”
40.
FIVE MINUTES LATER I’m standing in my office, looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a view few would pay to see, unless they enjoy hospital rooftops and parking garages. Everything is as gray and dingy as my life.
Rose enters the room with a shapely young woman of twenty, who’s wearing an ink-colored dress and matching jacket. She’s that beautiful shade of half-Latin, half-Anglo, with long brown hair and perfectly-manicured fingernails. She has the look of a college graduate, dressed up for a job interview, and seems familiar, like a young Jennifer Lopez, without the big caboose. Though not quite in Rose’s league, this is a gorgeous woman. If Rose were seeking a girlfriend to counterpoint her creamy white skin and raven black hair, this young lady would fill the bill.
“Dr. Gideon Box, this is Miranda Rodriguez.”
“This is awkward,” Miranda says.
“Why?”
“You don’t recognize me.”
I stare at her. I don’t come into contact with that many beautiful women, and when I do, I see them at their stylistic worst, for good reason. Their children are near death. Their features wracked by loss of sleep, worry, and fear. Understandably, hair and makeup is the last thing on their minds. Rose has the most appealing face and body I’ve ever seen. But Miranda is definitely top five.
“I’d remember you,” I say.
“Perhaps I’m mistaken,” Miranda says.
And there it was.
She looks differently now, but her voice and manner of speaking is the same.
I not only know this young lady, I fucked her two years ago.
“Please, sit down,” I say, studying her body, trying to remember what she looked like naked.
Miranda closes her eyes tightly, as if by not seeing me, I won’t see her.
Rose’s jade-green eyes are dancing. She seems amused.
I try to remember that night, two years ago. I’d been stood up by my date, and was so upset I opened a bottle of scotch and called an escort service. I said, “Charge whatever you must, but send the most beautiful woman you’ve got.” An hour later, Miranda showed up at my place.
Only she was going by the name Bailey at the time.
I’d been drinking, so the details were fuzzy the next morning, but I recalled her being wonderful in the sack and was convinced she’d be delighted to see me again. I wanted to enjoy the experience completely sober the next night, but when I called the agency they said Bailey had gone independent. I asked for her contact information, but was told, “We don’t do referrals. It’s a sure way to put ourselves out of business.”
I tried a couple of their other girls, but Bailey—Miranda—ruined me.
“Is this a bad time?” Rose says. “Because you seem distracted.”
“Not at all,” I say, unable to pull my eyes away from Miranda.
Rose says, “You can’t tell by looking at her, but Miranda’s pregnant.”
I frown. “Oh.”
“Something wrong?”
“No, of course not. It’s just—”
“Yes?” Miranda says.
“Should I congratulate you, or—”
“You can congratulate me,” Rose says.
Noting my puzzled look, she adds, “Miranda will be the birth mother of my child. As such, she’s staying with me and will continue to do so until after the child is born and becomes healthy.”
“And you’re telling me this because?”
“Miranda’s baby will be born with serious congenital heart defects.”
“That’s ridiculous. There’s no way to know that at this stage.”
“Nevertheless, it’s why I agreed to work with you. You’re going to help me save my child’s life.”
“You mean Miranda’s child.”
I look at Miranda. “You sold your baby?”
She lowers her eyes.
Rose says, “Don’t go down that road, Gideon.”
Suddenly I’ve become Gideon. But not in a good way.
“There’s no reason to believe Miranda’s baby will have heart issues,” I say.
“Did you hear me? I’ve known this half my life. It’s why I studied all these years.”
“That’s crazy. You can’t predict an unborn child’s medical condition years before it’s born. How would you even know who the father might be?”
“I knew who the father needed to be,” Rose says. “But don’t try to understand. It’s completely beyond your capacity. And anyway, you won’t remember this visit any more than you remembered me serving you birch bark tea all night in your home.”
“What? You don’t even know where I live!”
She shakes her head. “What’s important is the seed has been planted. You will accept Miranda’s surgery, and it will be the most important surgery ever performed.”
“That’s particularly dramatic,” I say.
“Just remember Miranda Rodriguez,” she says. “Miranda Rodriguez. And Dr. Box?”
“Yeah?”
“When you operate on my child, there will be no cursing.”
“Because?”
“You don’t want to piss off this baby.”
“What the fuck is that supposed to mean?”
“We have to go now,” Rose says.
“Wait. Miranda?”
She looks up.
“Is there any way you’d consider seeing me again?”
“No. I’m sorry.”
“Was I really that awful?”
She looks at Rose, then back at me and says, “You’re not a happy person.”
“Are you serious?”
She says nothing. Both women turn to leave.
As they walk out the door I say, “What’s so important about being happy?”
41.
I PRESS THE intercom button. When Lola answers I ask, “Who’s our best oncologist?”
“Probably Dr. Suni or Dr. Mamba.”
“Find out which one knows more about Hodgkin’s lymphoma.”
She hesitates, then says, “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, of course. Just let me know, okay?”
“Will do.”
Thirty seconds later Lola comes back on the intercom.
“Line one,” she says.
“Who is it?”
“Dani Ripper.”
I pick up and Dani says, “Are you ready for your bombshell?”
“Yes.”
“Willow Breeland,” she says.
“What about her?”
“She died five years ago.”
“What?”
“Willow Breeland—the real Willow Breeland—died five years ago. In a car crash.
“I don’t understand.”
“It’s simple, Dr. Box. Your house guest is an identity thief.”
42.
“THE YOUNG LADY slept with has been posing as Willow for at least three years,” Dani says.
“What’s her real name?”
“I’m not sure. But I’ve narrowed it down to four teenagers who were reported missing three years ago. Wait!”
“Huh?”
“Hang on a second.”
Dani puts me on hold for about a minute.
“Sorry about that,” she says. “I sent her strip club photo to a friend in the police department. By matching it to photos of the m
issing girls, we’re down to two. If you send me a better picture I can get you an answer within minutes.”
“I’ll take a picture of her on my cell phone when I get home.”
“If she’s still there,” Dani says.
“How much of her story’s true?” I say.
“She’s definitely dying of cancer. And her friend Cameron died in the hospital, though they haven’t determined cause of death yet.”
“That’s more a function of damage control. They’re trying to decide what story will cost them the least in a possible lawsuit.”
“You’d know better than me,” Dani says. “Still, I’m waiting to hear back from one of Cameron’s nurses.”
“Why would she speak out?”
“You know that five grand you’re paying me?”
“I know you’re asking for five.”
“Well, I have to purchase some of my information.”
“What could the nurse possibly tell you that would make a difference in Willow’s background check?”
“Think of it as a giant puzzle, where Cameron is not just a piece, but an entire section.”
“Cameron? Please! At most, she’s a puzzle piece. And a small one at that.”
“Being a guy, you’ll just have to trust my intuition.”
“You can’t explain it rationally?”
“I can. But you won’t understand.”
“Try me.”
“A woman’s best friend is as big a part of her life as her husband. Even bigger, if she’s single. And remember, both these girls were single.”
“Fine. Whatever. Pursue the nurse. But I guarantee you’re wasting your time.”
“I’ll take my chances.”
“You said you’ve narrowed her name to two missing kids. What are their names?”
“Amy Huddleston and Andrea Foster. And my money’s on Amy.”
“Should I come right out and ask her about it?”
“I would. She might have a legitimate reason for using a fake name.”
“You think?”
“It’s possible. But if you’re only asking one thing?”
“Yeah?”
“Get her date of birth.”
“Is that the easiest thing to trace?”
“No, but it’ll tell you if she’s eighteen. Because if she’s underage, it could come back to bite you in a major way.
“Great.”