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He didn’t wait for a response in case they weren’t able to type one in the moment. The building wasn’t huge, so this might be fast and messy.
“Oh, Mr. Carmichael, might I suggest something?” Dr. Hart said. He laid out a plan in thirty seconds that was worthy of a great suspense novel. The plan involved a switcheroo and a wheelchair.
After only another minute or two, they were ready.
Good thing too.
*
Carly
“Marie Trichel isn’tleaving this hospital, do you hear me? I’ll have you all arrested for endangerment.” Carson’s eyes were near to bulging out of his head. “Is Tanner back there? There are explicit instructions on her chart that she is not to be allowed visitors without my permission.”
“Why on earth can’t the poor woman have visitors?” Jake demanded.
“Because I’m her legal guardian and Iforbidit!” Carson was sounding more and more insane himself as he ranted. So far, he didn’t know that anyone besides maybe Tanner had gone back to speak with her.
Just then, a woman with a headscarf on, being wheeled in a wheelchair by an attendant, with Tanner at her side came through the buzzing door. I thought Carson would pounce on the poor woman. The woman was slumped and appeared to be sleeping, but we couldn’t see her face as the scarf was pulled forward.
Carson stepped forward toward Tanner. “Howdareyou try and slip this woman out without my permission.”
“I’ve got a court order that she’s to be remanded to my custody and that of her granddaughter temporarily. A psychiatrist has determined that we arenotendangering her health.”
“Granddaughter? She’s got no family. The woman is demented, or didn’t you take a moment to read her medical information?”
“She’s not demented. She’s been overmedicated to keep her from tearing the place down to get out of here, but she’s not suffering from dementia. And she does have a biological granddaughter.”
“That’s bullshit. I’ve got a doctor who would say otherwise. And a judge who signed off on it. That makes a mental health panel. Legal in the state of Louisiana.” Carson was smug.
“We’ve spoken to your doctor in Cypress Bayou. Miller, is it? Says you forced his hand in signing off on committing Marie, and that she doesn’t belong here. I’ve got it on record. The DA has listened to it. It’s what convinced him to give us the court order.”
Carson’s face turned dark red then, as if he couldn’t control his temper. He reached over to Marie and pulled on her headscarf. “Well, Marie here won’t tell you anything because everybody knows she’s crazy as a soup sandwich.”
The woman who looked up at him didn’t resemble a soup sandwich. In fact, when she raised her head, Carson pulled back as if he’d been shot. “Who the hell are you and where is Marie?” Lisa stared back at Carson with a satisfied expression.
“I’m Lisa Henry. You might have heard of me by now. I’m Marie’s granddaughter, and the daughter of Justine Chaffin. Surely somebody’s told you about me.”
I’d never seen Carson at a loss for words, but he was now. He nearly staggered back. “It can’t be. They said—”
“Something tells me there’s something more here to learn, but if you’ll excuse us, we’ve got to see to our ward.” Tanner extended a hand to Lisa, who stood and shed the robe and slippers she’d donned for the excellent distraction they’d pulled off while Marie had made her getaway in the ambulance with the psychiatrist.
“Wh-what? She’s gone? What have you done with her? You won’t get away with this. I’ll have you all arrested.” Carson shook his fist.
“We’ve got all the proper paperwork. Oh, and tell Judge Keller he’s in a world of trouble for participating in this farce and robbing Marie of her freedom. If I were you, I’d tread lightly. We’ve got enough evidence to send you both to prison.”
“Nobody has the guts to testify. It’s all circumstantial.” Carson scoffed.
“I wouldn’t be too sure about that. Oh, and if you’re looking for Dr. Miller, he’s gone. Even we don’t know where.” I couldn’t help throwing that big dig in there to make him doubt himself.
“Nobody’s going to believe a word Marie Trichel says. She’s certifiable.”
We turned our backs on him and walked out of Pine Hill while Carson continued to hurl threats and insults.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Tanner
“Y’all get away,okay?” Tanner called Dr. Gill as soon as they were on the road, safely away from Carson. Tanner put the call on speaker so Lisa and Carly could hear the conversation.
