Page 81 of Stalkers Anonymous

“This is Hailey Brigham,” I answer, already bracing for impact.

“Hello, Hailey. This is Sharon from hospital administration.” The voice is professionally cheerful in that specific HR way that makes my skin crawl. It’s the voice people use right before they tell you something you’re going to hate. “I wanted to follow up about the incident last night with Mr. Winters.”

“Okay,” I say cautiously, pulling the blanket tighter around my shoulders.

“I’ve reviewed the security reports and spoken with Dr. Chen about the situation. While we certainly take concerns about patient behavior seriously, I want to assure you that we’ve implemented additional protocols for Mr. Winters’s future visits.”

I blink.

“Future visits?” I repeat, certain I’ve misheard. “I thought he was banned from the facility.”

“Well, that’s what I wanted to discuss with you.” Sharon’s friendly facade cracks, revealing the corporate bulldozer beneath. “A permanent ban is very serious and requires extensive documentation. Mr. Winters has been a patient here for several years, and we want to ensure we’re not making hasty decisions based on what might have been a misunderstanding.”

A misunderstanding.

A fucking misunderstanding.

“He threatened me,” I say slowly, like maybe Sharon’s having trouble putting two brain cells together. “He keyed my car. He admitted to stalking me. He described my bedroom window. Which part of that is the misunderstanding?”

“According to his account, he was merely expressing frustration about his pain management and may have made some confusing comments while distressed.” The words are so smooth they practically slide out of the phone. “We’ve spoken with him about appropriate communication with staff, and I’m confident it won’t happen again.”

“You spoke with him?” I’m genuinely dumbfounded. “When? How?”

“He called this morning to apologize for any confusion and to request that his care continue here at Memorial.”

It’s like she’s dumped a bucket of ice-cold water over my head.

He called. This morning. To specifically mention me by name. And Sharon thinks this is a positive development.

“Sharon,” I say, fighting to keep my voice steady, “do you hear yourself right now? A man who has been stalking me called the hospital to talk about me by name, and your takeaway is that he’s a satisfied customer?”

There’s a brief pause. “I understand this is upsetting—”

“It’s not upsetting. It’s a continuation of his harassment.” I’m sitting up straighter now, the blanket falling away as anger replaces fear. “He’s demonstrating that he has access. That he can reach me through official channels. That even when I’m not at work, he can insert himself into conversations about me. And instead of recognizing that as a massive red flag, you’re treating it like a five-star review.”

“Hailey, I think you might be reading too much into—”

“You can call me Dr. Brigham, Sharon. Maybe that will help you remember that I’ve worked with thousands of patients over the years, including plenty of difficult ones. I know the difference between someone who’s frustrated about pain management and someone who’s genuinely dangerous.” My voice is shaking, but I push through. “Lars Winters is dangerous. He’s displaying a pattern of predatory behavior.”

“I understand your concerns,” she says in a tone that suggests she absolutely does not, “and we want you to feel safe at work. That’s why we’re implementing additional safety protocols. Mr. Winters will only be seen by male staff going forward, and security will be notified whenever he’s on the premises.”

“And what about my concerns outside of work? What about the fact that he knows where I live?”

“That falls outside our jurisdiction as your employer. We can only address workplace safety.”

“But you won’t ban him from my workplace.”

“Not at this time, no. However, if there are further incidents, we’ll certainly reassess.”

If there are further incidents. Like I need to be actively murdered before someone takes this seriously.

“I want to make sure I understand correctly,” I say, already mentally drafting the HR complaint. “A patient threatened a staff member, admitted to stalking her, and demonstrated detailed knowledge of her personal life. Your response is to allow him to continue accessing the facility, but with a note in his file. Is that accurate?”

“That’s a rather reductive summary—”

“Is it accurate, Sharon?” My words have a venomous bite—one I hope Sharon feels.

A pause. “The protocols we’ve implemented are in line with hospital policy.”