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“Dr. Hart will start by speaking with Dr. Carmichael. Bring the documents.” The woman’s nasal tone was firm.
Tanner handed them over and spoke in Jake’s ear. Jake nodded.
I raised my eyebrows when Tanner stepped over to where I was waiting. “He’s going to record the conversation. He can’t patch us through due to patient privacy.” Again, he leaned in close and spoke softly. And again, my entire being recognized his closeness.
Jake was buzzed through and disappeared into the bowels of who-knew-what. My heart rate kicked up and my palms got sweaty. Leah would kill me if I let anything happen to him. Something about this place made me believe in every horror movie ever filmed surrounding creepy asylums. Nurse Ratched came to mind unbidden.
The place smelled of alcohol and pine cleaner. At least I didn’t detect urine here in the reception area. I hated to think of what was behind the buzzing doors. “Hey, are you okay?” Tanner asked me.
I nodded, but I realized my mind had been going down a dark path of worry. I looked over at Lisa. Her expression likely mirrored my own. Big-eyed and struck with worry about what was going on back there. I moved toward her and took her hand. “It’s going to be all right,” I tried to reassure us both.
We waited for a half an hour before Jake reappeared. “They’re going to let us see her while the director makes some phone calls to the state board.”
“I hope he realizes we’re on the right side of the law.” Tanner kept his voice low.
“He seems conflicted but not corrupt. He’s got two sets of paperwork. One says Marie’s committed legally by a board giving full authority to do so. Ours says he should go against that. I tried to explain the situation, but I couldn’t even give the name of her legal guardian.”
“He wouldn’t give you the name of her guardian?” I wondered at the continued absence of this mystery person’s identity.
Jake shook his head. “Says the guardian never comes here. Just a signature on a page, but he can’t give out the information. Says Marie is sedated most of the time or she raises Cain.”
“Okay, y’all can go back now,” the woman at the desk called out.
Lisa, Tanner, and the psychiatrist were allowed back.
I sat in one of the lovely brocade chairs in the initial entry, where there was classical music and finery. I’d remembered about the endowment for this building that housed dementia patients. This small allowance of beauty must have something to do with that. I did wonder what the rest of the place looked like behind the doors.
Losing one’s faculties must be terrible, especially if you knew it was happening. Not in Marie’s case, but I’d seen it with some of the families whom I’d worked with during law school. Those who’d been caregivers as they worked and cared for children and elderly as single women in poverty. How hopeless their circumstances. I hoped this facility, besides housing Marie Trichel against her will, was one that did good work for those who couldn’t advocate for themselves.
I made a mental note to do some digging once we had Marie settled. To find out who the patients were who lived here. I would make certain there hadn’t been any other cases of abuse against residents. The elderly were especially vulnerable, but the elderly without full control of their faculties were utterly helpless.
I thought of Nana and how lucky we were that she was healthy and independent. And how horrified I’d be if anyone were to ever treat her badly. I hoped for Lisa’s sake she found Marie in decent shape.
*
Tanner
The facility wasclearly quite old, maybe built in the fifties, but Tanner could see there had been some improvements implemented since then. The paint was relatively fresh on the walls and doors and, from what he could tell, the equipment appeared modern. But despite its exterior, this was an institution for patients with dementia. He could see attempts here and there to brighten things up, but still, patients were locked up tight at night due to necessity.
The slamming doors echoed, as did their footsteps on the worn gray tile. The floors were shiny, but old. “Ms. Trichel gets agitated very easily so we’ve had to keep her somewhat sedated during her stay.”
“The entire time she’s been here?” Lisa sounded appalled, and looked to our psychiatrist, Dr. Gill, for his reaction. He simply gave a barely discernable nod, which could mean anything. He’d looked over Marie’s chart as soon as the doctor here had allowed it. Dr. Gill hadn’t said much thus far. Tanner assumed he’d decided to wait until he met the patient before assessing things. Tanner assumed that anyone Jake sent would have been brought up to speed and be good at his job.
“It’s not unusual for our patients to function on some level of sedative, depending on their state of mind. Dementia often causes a constant state of anxiety that can’t easily be controlled without medications.”
“You do realize that Marie doesn’t have dementia, right?” Lisa narrowed her eyes at him.
“Dr. Carmichael has explained a rather outlandish scenario that I find very hard to believe. We are not in the business of stashing away perfectly functioning people for nefarious purposes here at Pine Hill.”
Dr. Gill finally spoke up. “How did you find the patient when you met with her initially?”
“She was quite vocal about not being incompetent, but I must admit that I’ve never had a patient say otherwise. She also swore there were people trying to silence her by putting her here.” The doctor blanched. “That has also been a common claim.”
“I need you to understand that we firmly believe, with the backing of a court order and four lawmen, outside that this is the case. There has been collusion between a judge, a physician, and an attorney to lock this woman up, and since she’s got no family, it was successful.”
“But why? Why would someone go to such lengths?” The director, Dr. Hart, asked, shaking his head as if this were all nonsense.
“We believe she has information at least one of them doesn’t want her to tell anyone. It’s an ongoing investigation so we can’t share. But you won’t have any legal liability in releasing her to us. Dr. Gill is here to determine if that is the best thing for her. We aren’t doing this lightly, Doctor, though I know it sounds farfetched.”
