Nutcase (15 page)

“But you were only five years old,” I reminded him gently. “Children should not have to defend themselves from their parents. Alice was lucky to have someone in there with her,” I said. “You’ve been with her ever since?”

“We growed up together, but I don’t come ’round much now that Carmen is outta the picture.” He looked me square in the eye. “That’s ’bout all I gots to say, but I thought you should know.”

And then he was gone.

 

 

 

Dr. James Hudson was waiting in the reception room as I led Alice out. He looked to be in his early sixties. He had thinning gray hair, slightly bulging eyes, and was impeccably dressed in a suit that was of the same caliber as the ones Thad wore. I led him inside my office, invited him to sit on my sofa, and took the chair beside him. He looked around. I could tell he was not impressed. “You’ll have to excuse all the boxes,” I said. “I’m in the process of moving.”

“I can’t say I blame you,” he replied.

I thought the remark rude, but I ignored it. “How may I help you?” I asked, using my Dr. Laura Schlessinger voice.

He handed me his business card. “I’m a practicing psychiatrist, licensed in the state of Vermont. I’m here on behalf of a patient. Your colleague, Dr. Thad Glazer, admitted her to the psychiatric unit a few days ago. She was using the name Marie Osmond.”

“Oh?” I said, trying to remain professional, which meant it was unethical for me to tell him Thad and I were treating a patient or even knew the person. At the same time, I felt contempt for the man. He had been responsible for drugging Elizabeth Larkin and stealing a large chunk of her life.

“I attempted to reach Dr. Glazer this morning,” he went on, “but I understand he is on the golf course and isn’t answering his cell phone. Frankly, I find that disconcerting.”

I gave him a benign smile. “He turns his phone off on the golf course because he’s afraid it will ring while he’s teeing off.”

Hudson said nothing. He seemed to look through me as if I had no real importance in the world.

“I’m sure Dr. Glazer will get back to you soon,” I said.

“I don’t have time to wait until he finishes eighteen holes of golf. I’m deeply concerned about my patient.”

“I’m sure I don’t have to remind you of confidentiality laws, Dr. Hudson,” I said stiffly.

His smile was condescending. “I came prepared,” he said, pulling an envelope from a pocket inside his jacket. “I retained legal counsel in this state shortly after my arrival yesterday. You’ll note we’ve already been before a judge. I have a court order releasing Mrs. Larkin into my custody.”

I looked through the paperwork. He had not overlooked anything. “I’m impressed,” I said. “Imagine being able to accomplish all this without first consulting with Dr. Glazer or myself.”

He gave an impatient wave of his hand. “I’m a busy man, and this is a highly sensitive matter, Dr. Holly.”

“What if Mrs. Larkin doesn’t wish to go back with you?”

“She has not been well for some time now,” he said, “which is why the judge agreed to hand her over to me.”

“That, and the fact that she’s married to somebody important,” I said. Again, no response, but I could tell he didn’t like it. We were not bonding. “How did you know where to find her?”

“We’ve had people looking for her since her disappearance more than a week ago.”

I wondered what her important husband would make of his wife’s new country western outfits. I handed Dr. Hudson his sheath of legal forms. “You obviously have all you need to take her back. Why are you here?”

“I don’t know her present state of mind,” he said. “I was hoping you could enlighten me. It’s in everyone’s best interest if we avoid a scene.” He paused. “I don’t know if you or Dr. Glazer picked up on it, but Mrs. Larkin is bipolar.”

He acted as though he expected me to be surprised. “Oh yes,” I said. “Dr. Glazer and I pretty much figured it out when we went coon hunting the other night.”

“Why the sarcasm, Dr. Holly? Surely you know I have my patient’s best interests at heart.”

I leaned back in my chair. “Frankly, I don’t appreciate your going behind my back so you can yank a seriously depressed woman out of the hospital,” I said. “Where is her husband, by the way? Why did he not personally come for his wife?”

“Again, it’s a sensitive matter. He does not want his wife’s picture plastered on the front page of every newspaper in the country. As for her emotional health, I think I would be the better judge. You’ve been treating her for what, three days?”

Again, that condescending smile. I decided to try and wipe it off his face. “Then you’re aware that her husband was physically abusing her.”

“That’s preposterous!”

“She carries the bruises, Dr. Hudson.”

“Did she
say
she’d been abused?”

“She was experiencing a manic break when I first saw her, so she wasn’t able to give us much information. A good beating could have caused a break.”

“You’re out of line, doctor,” he said, his face turning dark. “Elizabeth stopped taking her medication. That would easily have caused her to cycle into mania.”

I buzzed Mona, and she picked up. “Would you please call Dr. Glazer and ask him to get back to me as soon as possible. Try to reach him on his cell phone.”

“I’m on it,” Mona said.

I sat back in my chair. “Dr. Glazer ordered extensive blood work once Mrs. Larkin was admitted to the hospital,” I said. “She had enough drugs in her system to bring a hippopotamus to its knees.”

“I resent that remark,” he said. “Not only is it wrong, it’s unprofessional.” He scooted forward in his chair. “I don’t know how
you all
do things down here, but—”

“We’re simple people, Dr. Hudson,” I interrupted. I was so pissed that I wished I could throw something at him, but everything was packed. “If we have a difference of professional opinion, we usually get liquored up and arm wrestle. If we can’t settle it the civilized way, we have a spitting contest.”

His face turned red, and the anger in his eyes was scalding. I wondered if Elizabeth had seen that look and been afraid not to follow his instructions. Bad enough that her husband had been abusive; her doctor was equally so but in a different way.

“The law is clearly on my side,” he said. “I have the legal right to take her back with me, with or without your cooperation.”

Mona buzzed me. “Thad’s on the line,” she said when I answered.

I picked up. “I have a situation, Dr. Glazer,” I said formally and went on to explain what was happening.

Thad wasted no time. “Dr. Hudson has a legal right to take his patient back with him.”

“It’s a bad idea,” I said, remembering my promise to Elizabeth that I would protect her.

“As I see it you have two choices, Kate,” he said. “You can adhere to the judge’s orders or be held in contempt. Not only could you be fined, you might spend a few days in jail.”

“You and I need to discuss this further, Thad.”

“There is nothing to discuss,” he said. “The bottom line is, I don’t want to get caught up in a messy situation. You need to cooperate with Mrs. Larkin’s doctor.”

I hung up on him. I grabbed my purse from the bottom drawer of my desk and smiled at Dr. Hudson. “If you’re ready, I’ll drive you to the hospital.”

He returned my smile. “I’m glad Dr. Glazer was able to talk some sense into you.”

I felt like punching him. He followed me out. “By the way, do you like chili dogs?” I asked. “This hospital has the best chili dogs in the world.”

“Dr. Holly—”

“You probably don’t eat many chili dogs where you come from. Just syrup.”

 

 

 

Edith Wright greeted us. She took one look at my face, and I saw her body go stiff, meaning she knew something was up. Edith could be quick like that. “I received the faxes from the attorney’s office, Dr. Hudson,” she said, showing no emotion.

“How is her depression?” I asked and noted that my question drew a frown from Dr. Hudson.

“We didn’t have to put her on suicide watch after all,” she said.

“Suicide watch?” Hudson gave a grunt of disgust. “I assure you, my patient is not suicidal. This is precisely how nasty rumors get started. This is how hospitals find themselves in the midst of a lawsuit.”

Edith rewarded him with a dark look. “Go ahead and make my day,” she said.

I wanted to applaud her.

“I’d like to see my patient now, if you don’t mind,” he said stiffly.

Edith smiled at me. “How about I have Big Debra escort you to the dayroom in case the patient gets out of hand.”

I returned her smile. “How awfully nice of you, Nurse Wright,” I said, as she sauntered behind the nurses’ station and picked up the phone.

Debra appeared wearing her most menacing frown. Dr. Hudson did a double take. She towered over him and was twice his width. “This way,” she ordered.

I leaned close to Hudson. “Do what she says,” I told him. “You don’t want to make her angry.”

He dutifully followed her with me on his heels.

Elizabeth was sitting alone near the window in the dayroom. Debra stopped just inside the door and crossed her arms.

Elizabeth looked up. She was clearly not pleased to see her doctor. That in itself convinced me she was on the mend. “What are you doing here?”

“Did you not think we would look for you, dear?” Hudson said. “Your husband is distraught.” He winced. “What on earth have you done to your hair?”

Elizabeth patted both sides. “You don’t like it?” she asked, looking upset. “Oh my, you must think I’m crazy!” She covered her mouth, and her eyes rolled about like marbles gone haywire.

I had to look away. Even Debra seemed amused. I would now be able to tell people I was present the day Debra smiled.

“We’ll have you all fixed up before John returns from Washington,” Hudson said, showing frown lines. He was not having fun. “Your private jet is waiting to take you home.”

I touched Elizabeth’s shoulder. Our gazes met. “Are you feeling less confused than you were this morning?” I asked.

“Well, I—” She paused. “I still sometimes think I can fly.”

Hudson appeared shocked. “Fly?”

Debra gave a grunt. “She would have flown right out of these windows if they didn’t have bars on them.”

Elizabeth nodded. “And I get so scared in the hallway. I keep seeing lions and tigers and bears.”

I gasped. “Lions and tigers and bears? Oh my!”

Hudson looked bewildered.

“Do you need anything from your room before you go?” I asked.

“I don’t know which room is mine.”

“Would you like me to help you get your things together?” I asked. “I know you’re anxious to be on your way.”

“That’s very kind of you, Dr. Holly,” she said.

I looked at Hudson. He was about to burst out of his skin with impatience. “It won’t take long.”

“I’ll keep him company,” Debra said, in a voice that sounded as though she’d prefer cleaning toilets.

We left the room. “I’m going to try and get you out of here,” I said in a low voice, “but we don’t have much time. What do you need from your room?”

“Just my purse.”

I waited outside her door while she hurried in and grabbed it. “This way,” I said, nodding toward the hall. “Now, I need you to listen carefully.”

“I’m all ears.”

“As soon as I get back to my office, I’m going to call a friend of mine who is a psychiatrist. I’m sure I can get you in tomorrow morning, which is when you’re due to take the next dose of your medication. You
can’t
stop taking your medication, Elizabeth. You could start cycling again.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

“Do you have your friend’s address and phone number?”

“In my pocketbook,” she said. “I also have the key to her house in case she’s not home.”

“I want you to call me as soon as you get there so I can give you this doctor’s name and the time of your appointment.” I reached inside my purse for a business card. “Can you remember to do that?”

“Yes.”

“I need to know that you’re okay, Elizabeth,” I said sternly. “Do not forget to call me.”

“I promise.”

I smiled and nodded calmly at the hospital staff as I led Elizabeth toward the back of the unit. To most people it would appear as if we were simply taking a stroll.

We had reached our destination; the freight elevator was only a few feet away. The short hall was clear. I used my key to access the elevator and punched the “down” button. We waited.

“I hope you made your husband sign a prenup,” I said.

“Of course I did. I may be crazy, but I’m not stupid.”

“Will he try to come after you?”

“Once he realizes I’m in my right frame of mind, he and Dr. Hudson will most likely tuck their tails and run. As soon as I’m back to my old self I’ll call a lawyer.”

“Make certain that your friend gets pictures of your bruises.”

“Of course.”

The elevator door slid open. Noting that the hallway was still clear, I held the door in place with my foot and motioned Elizabeth inside.

She reached for my hand. “I’ll never forget you for helping me,” she said.

I squeezed her hand gently. “Okay, you’re going to take this elevator to the basement where the morgue is located.”

She swallowed. “The morgue?”

“It’s the only way I can get you out of here without being seen. Once you get off the elevator, ask for Skeeter.”

“Skeeter,” she repeated.

“Tell him I sent you and that he is to drive you to your friend’s house. You can trust him.”

She nibbled her bottom lip. “Will I see dead bodies down there?”

“Not if you don’t look. But Skeeter may have to smuggle you out in a hearse.” I let go of her hand and stepped back. The elevator door closed.