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I nodded. “Good idea. Maybe he’s innocent of anything besides being manipulated. It’s worth a try.” This was a good strategy to begin with.
“I could bring my adoption papers with Marie’s signature on them to prove I’m her granddaughter,” Lisa suggested.
“We’ll have to be ready for the doctor to tip off the others as soon as Lisa leaves the office. Unless the doctor agrees to work with us.” Tanner frowned. “Our main goal is to keep Marie out of harm’s way.”
“We’ve got to figure out a way to get to her before someone else does.” I tapped my iPad. “How soon do you think we could gain entrance to Pine Hill?”
“That depends on a lot of things. I suppose we’ll take it a step at a time.”
“I guess Imogene will be her shortly.” Imogene was oddly late, and since she wasn’t there, they locked up the office.
Carly scanned the small parking area once they were outside to make sure nobody was hanging around. It was getting to be a habit whenever she entered or exited now.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
Tanner
They used Lisa’sphone as an open mic for her impromptu meeting with Dr. Miller. Tanner and Carly listened on speaker in the car with a plan to record every word, in case the good doctor said something that could incriminate himself or anyone else.
“Good morning. I’m Lisa Henry to see Dr. Miller.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t see you on Dr. Miller’s schedule. Do you have an appointment?” They heard a woman’s voice, whom Tanner assumed was the receptionist.
“No, but please tell him it’s with regards to Marie Trichel, so he’ll want to speak with me immediately.” Lisa pulled out an intimidating voice Tanner had not yet heard her use. He and Carly exchanged an impressed look.
Tanner wasn’t sure what to make of his and Carly’s hand-holding last night. It was like something new and different was introduced to their friendship that was more than friendship but not anything that needed discussing—yet. As nice as it had been, Tanner wasn’t sure yet if it should go any further. But he’d felt something between them—a closeness that went well beyond their working relationship—even beyond a close friendship.
We heard some shuffling and muffled voices. “Ms. Henry. Dr. Miller will see you now. Right this way.”
“Thank you.”
More shuffling. Doors opening and closing. “Good morning, Ms. Henry. How can I help you?” An elderly male voice asked the question. Was there an edge to his gravelly voice? Maybe nerves?
“Yes. Thanks for seeing me on such short notice. I need to see my grandmother, Marie Trichel. I understand she’s committed at Pine Hill and is under your care?”
There was silence for a few seconds. The doctor cleared his throat. “Um. Well, that might be a problem. I understood Miz Trichel didn’t have any blood kin after her husband died. She’s been assigned a court-appointed guardian.”
“I have proof that I’m her granddaughter.” There were sounds of shuffling papers. “I’ll need to see her medical records and have you sign off on allowing visitation at Pine Hill.”
Silence again. More throat clearing. “I’ll…uh…have to check on that, Ms. Henry. Legally, everything goes through her guardian.”
“Who might that be?” Lisa’s question was more a demand.
“Well, I’m not at liberty to say, exactly.” Dr. Miller’s anxiety was coming through the phone’s speaker loud and clear.
“Exactly, whatareyou at liberty to say?” Lisa’s chair scraped as if she’d stood and was possibly towering over the doctor. Man, she was good.
“Well, you know, there’s a process for this type of thing.”
“This type of thing?I’ve been advised that my grandmother’s rights have been violated. Are you a party to that, Doctor? Are you going to let others let you take the fall for that, sir?”
“Oh now, hold on, ma’am. I don’t want any trouble here. Let’s figure a way to work this out.”
Tanner looked over at Carly. The phone on their end was muted. “He’s ready to save his own skin. Let’s go.”
They got out of the truck and headed inside, ignoring the protests of the receptionist on their way into the office from the reception area. It took about two seconds to find where Lisa was in conference with the doctor. “Hi, I’m Tanner Carmichael, counsel for Lisa Henry. This is my associate, Carly Bertrand. We’re also representing Marie Trichel. You’ve been recorded at the behest of Lisa Henry.”
Dr. Miller was old. Like in his seventies, old. Tanner experienced a twinge of conscience at bombarding him like this. He likely was a true patsy in all of this. “Like I told Ms. Henry, we can work this out.” He held his hands up as if we were pointing a gun at him. It probably felt that way.
