by T A Ford
Jess approached him with the gun leveled with Cue’s face. “I saw it on the television. Your face. I knew there was something wrong about you. Renting the place the way you did. I knew it. And then there you were. I tried to report you. Sherriff Eric is out, he’s gonna call me back. Twenty minutes and the police will be here for my reward. You done kidnapped that black lady in there from a mental ward.” Jess spat a stream of tobacco. Cue saw it as his chance. He could knock the gun up and when Jess fired take him down.
“No, he didn’t,” Dina said and walked out on the porch. Both men were caught by surprise. She came down the steps.
“Dina, no, go back...”
“I’m Dina Erickson. The government is the one that did me wrong. Not my doctor. They wanted to take my rights from me. Lock me away. He saved me. That’s why we came here. That’s why they are reporting false stories. It’s fake news,” she proclaimed.
Jess frowned.
“I’m telling you the truth. Think about it. How does a doctor kidnap a patient? Do I look crazy to you? Chained up or something? You think this white man brought me here for some torture. He felt sorry for me, that’s all. And he knows the government would never let me go. He saved me.”
“Is that true?” Jess asked Cue.
He glanced to Dina, who nodded. He then nodded. “Yes, uhm, yeah.”
Jess lowered his gun. “I know the media can’t be trusted. Neither the government. The internet is the worst. They watch everything you do. That’s why I live off the grid. But that reporter said that you broke the law.”
“He did,” Dina spoke up. “Sometimes the ends justify the means. Your name sir?”
“Jess,” he replied.
“Hi Jess, I’m Dina,” she extended her hand. He shook it. “Me and my doctor were just here to help me get off the drugs they were feeding me. They were trying to brainwash me. I’m stronger now, and we’re going back. You’ll see that on the news. You’ll see us fight back, if you give us the chance.”
Jess looked from her to Cue, then back to her. He scratched his beard and nodded. “Hell, I wouldn’t have believed a word if it had come from him. But you don’t strike me as a liar, lady.”
She smiled. “I’m not. He can be though.”
She winked at Cue.
Cue shook his hear that it was overkill. But Jess bought the story.
“That’s right. She’s not a liar.”
“We’ll if you going, you best do it now. I will still report it. But I’ll give you an hour to clear out. It’s the best I can offer.”
“Good enough,” Cue said. “Thank you Jess.”
“Good luck to you both,” Jess mumbled.
They watched Jess drive off the land and then Cue looked down at Dina in surprise. “How did you do that?”
“He reminds me of a character in this book I read called The Woodsman by Claire Ringer. About a mountain man who trusts no one but spies on everyone. Conspiracy nut. Looks like one of those. Don’t you think?”
Cue smiled. “I guess.”
“C’mon Doc. We best get going before Jess brings the sheriff. He may be a conspiracy theorist, but if he thinks there is a reward, I wouldn’t trust him.”
He nodded. She rushed back up the steps to the cabin and he went after her. He learnt more from her every moment.
“WERE YOU PLANNING TO stay at the cabin?” she asked.
“Yes, before Jess discovered me, that was the plan,” he sighed. “You ready?”
“What about the penthouse?” she asked.
“It’s gone.”
“My penthouse too?” she asked.
Cue nodded. “I think so. Rodney’s assets are frozen. Everything was in his name. I’m not sure where your stuff is and books...”
“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it,” she said. She picked up her sweater and followed him out. She went to the car, but not before turning and giving one last look at the cabin. She didn’t remember the day she arrived. She barely remembered her confused depressed state that he brought her back from. She did remember the closeness she felt with him. The truth he shared with her, and the new friendship she hoped they found. She would keep that as her memory. So much had changed.
The drive out of Blue Ridge was long and silent. Cue didn’t speak to her. He didn’t look at her. Every time they passed a patrol car parked on the side of the road, she worried that Jess had betrayed his promise early and reported them. When they got closer to the exit for Maura’s house, the fear she carried finally went away. Cue turned down the volume on the music.
“If you need anything—anything—I’m there,” he told her.
“I need for you to take care of yourself, Doc. Can you do that?” she asked.
“I can try.”
“Doc?”
“Yes?”
“I won’t see you again after today. Will I?” she asked.
“I’m not sure if that will be good for either one of us. For a start.”
She nodded and stared out at the cars they passed.
“I’m going to tell them the truth,” she said.
“What truth?” he asked.
“The truth is we all matter, no matter our mistakes or actions. And in the end we are all just flawed people. ‘Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind; and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.’ That’s from Ernest Hemmingway, one of my favorite quotes. I know people think that it’s referencing war and death. But for me it always meant that it was talking about life and the importance of our survival because all of it ends. My father died young, my mother committed suicide. Her illness was supposed to be mine. But it’s not. The bell tolls for me, because it tolls for all of us. What are we going to do with the time we have now, Doc? I don’t care that you have an alcohol problem or gambling problem Doc. I only cared that you couldn’t see past my problems to fix your own. Hopefully that will change for you, because your life is as important as the many you have worked to save as a psychiatrist.”
He drove up to the drive. Maura came out the door immediately. Dina looked over at him. She took his hand. “I love you Doc. There is nothing wrong with that. When you are better—really better—the bell won’t toll for you. You’ll be free, and I’ll be there. I just know it. Okay?”
He nodded. Dina closed her eyes and pressed her lips together for him to kiss her. Cue leaned in and kissed her. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back. “Goodbye Doc. Take care of yourself.”
She got out of the car and rushed over to Maura, who hugged her tightly. Cue located her luggage and the things he had bought her, he delivered to the doorstep. Dina glanced to him one last time. Even though the sunglasses covered his eyes she saw the sadness she knew lived in him. She couldn’t let that be her problem. She had to do better, alone. And so would he.
Cue nodded to Maura, who accepted Dina’s things. When Dina was inside greeting Maura’s sisters, Maura came closer. “Rodney’s attorney got the conservatorship reversed and given to me, thanks to the information you gave me to give to the courts. They are looking for you. Dr. Singh doesn’t back you. He says that Robinson was justified and you caused this. He turned over his evidence to the police. It’s all over national news now. You need to get an attorney, and fast. One report said you kidnapped her. I haven’t given any statement.”
“I’ll be okay,” Cue said.
“Are you sure?”
He tried to see inside but couldn’t see Dina. “If she needs anything, let me know. She’s off the pills. She’s doing it Dina’s way,” he said.
“Okay,” Maura said. “Thank you.”
He had no choice but to turn and leave what they shared behind.
Chapter Twenty-Three
One Month Later
The guard buzzed him through. Dr. Clinton Walsh hadn’t worn his own clothes in over two weeks. He walked out of the lockdown jail toward the side exit, and just as he suspected, his brothers waited. Charlie looked up first. Tyler,
who paced, didn’t notice he was coming out. The press did. They swarmed the gates. Charlie and Tyler were inside by the guard stand and were able to get to him first. His brother Tyler was six foot five and three hundred pounds. Like a linebacker, he elbowed the cameramen and reporters, shoving them out the way as Dr. Walsh did his best to cover his face as he followed his brother Charlie to the car. The questions thrown at him were brutal. He even heard one reporter refer to him as a rapist. The press hit at all the windows and nearly jumped on the hood of the car to keep them from driving out.
“Why is it such a circus?” he mumbled.
“It’s been a circus since the story broke nationally,” Tyler said.
“Don’t worry, we’ve got a safe place for you,” Charlie said.
“Tell me. What’s the news?” he asked.
Charlie was a criminal attorney out of Boston. He was the first person Clinton called before he turned himself in to the authorities. He glanced to his brother, who didn’t look pleased. When Charlie was stressed, a vein in the middle of his forehead had the tendency to surface. He kept his eyes on the passenger window when he spoke.
“Yesterday Dr. Robinson and Director Singh were arrested and charged.”
“The both of them?” he asked.
“Yes. Robinson couldn’t have done what he did at that clinic without Singh’s help,” Charlie said.
“That’s good news, right?”
“Not necessarily. You were right. The medical board has shut us out of their investigation. It’s hard to know what they have and what we can use for your defense.”
“They are scrambling to contain the scandal and trying to center the investigation on my relationship with Dina,” Clinton sighed. “Robinson is putting people on experimental psychotic drugs with the help of Singh and countless other doctors, and no one gives a shit? I gave you the evidence.”
“The ADA is nibbling. I have a meeting with them tomorrow. I’m just trying to keep you from having to do jail time.” Charlie said.
“How is she?” Clinton asked.
“Don’t do it,” Tyler said. “Don’t ask about the woman that put you in there.”
“I put me in there,” Clinton said. “How is she?”
“What do they call you? Cue?” Charlie asked. “Because of your pool game? Cueball? They should call you Screw, for screwball. She’s off limits. Period.”
“I don’t and won’t go by the name Cue any longer. It’s just Clinton. And she’s part of my case. Now tell what you know about Dina.”
“The condition of your bail is that you have no contact with her—no physical contact, no email, text, nothing,” Charlie informed him. “If you do in any way, you go back to jail.”
“How is she?” he repeated.
“I don’t know. I’m not allowed to speak with her. She’s not been seen or heard from. I’m assuming she’s getting the help she needs. We have a question for you.” Charlie reached down into his satchel. He pulled out a book. Tyler glanced up to his rearview mirror at his brothers with the same interest.
“This is an authentic first edition signed Ernest Hemingway. I had it checked. How the fuck did you get your hands on it?” Charlie demanded.
“You’re going through my stuff?” Clinton asked and rubbed his fingers over the title of the book.
“Damn right. Because you’re a dumbass and now possibly a thief. That book was worth over three hundred thousand dollars. But your girlfriend wrote a love letter inside of it, destroying the value. Where did it come from? You’re fucking broke. Destitute. And in big trouble. But you got rare books to give her to scribble in?”
“Doesn’t matter where I got it from,” he said. He never opened it. Not after she signed it, and not since. He wasn’t ready. “What will this cost me? All of it? Even if we give them Robinson and Singh, what’s the best I could hope for?”
Charlie looked at him with pity. He sighed before he spoke. “You’ll lose your license to practice. That’s a promise. You’ll pay a hefty fine, and all of your other patients may come out and decide to sue your ass after your medical insurance expires. If the ADA agrees to my offer of cooperation, and I get the charges reduced, you could get probation. It’s going to be a lengthy process. We’ll need to identify other doctors who were complicit with Robinson and Singh to force the hand of the review board to cooperate with us.”
“And Dina?”
“Like I said. There is no Dina. Not for you. Not anymore.”
Cue set the book down on the floorboard of the car and slumped back. He closed his eyes and did what he had done in jail for the past two weeks. He waited.
DINA WAITED FOR THE lady in uniform to glance her way. When she did Dina, stood. “I will be alright,” she said to herself, but she said it aloud. Maura wanted to come, but Dina insisted on going alone. “I will be alright,” she repeated, and got in line with the others. They were marched through a door, and each met a person who they showed their visitor badge too. They were then given a number. Her number was 3.
“Doc. Doc. Doc. Doc. Doc,” she repeated under her breath as she rubbed her hands together. She walked over to the booth seat and sat in the cubicle with the number 3. There was a phone waiting for her. After a moment, a buzzer blared and inmates started to come inside. Dina waited. Rodney appeared, and joy she hadn’t felt in over a month exploded in her heart. He smiled at her and sat down. He looked good. He looked exactly the same. He even had a haircut and freshly shaved beard. She had so much anxiety and fears over what had happened to him in this place.
He pointed at the phone.
She plucked it off the cradle and put it to her ear.
“Rodney,” she wept.
He placed his hand to the glass. She put her hand to his.
“Rodney, I’m so sorry. Are you okay?” she asked.
“I am now. How you doing baby-girl?” Rodney asked her.
“Not good. I miss you so much. I can’t even call you. They have me meeting with doctors, and Doc has gone to jail but they let him out. I can’t see or speak to him because the judge said so.”
“Hey, slow down. Look at me,” Rodney said.
She wiped her tears and nodded.
“I’m so proud of you,” he began. “I heard about what happened. And how you are taking care of yourself. I’m really proud Dina.”
She had to get her emotions in check. They told her she wouldn’t have a long visit and she wasn’t sure when she’d get permission to see him again. “What is happening to you?” she asked.
“It’s a federal case. They’ve offered me a plea. That’s why I wanted to see you.”
“Plea? Is it a deal that means you can come home?”
Rodney touched the glass again between them once more and then his hand lowered. “No baby-girl... I’ll have to do some time. Whatever they give me, I have to do all of it.”
“For what? You handled some bad investments, that’s all.”
“I did more than that,” he said.
“How much time do they want to give you?”
“Forty-eight months.”
“Four years? Here?”
He smiled. “It’s okay. And I’ve made sure you will be okay. The attorney will explain everything. There is money I put away years ago for you after Mom died. Insurance money. It’s enough to keep you good until I get out. Plus, we can visit after I make the deal. I’ll see you as much as you want.”
She dropped her head and wept. She couldn’t hold it in. The worst nightmare in the world was losing her brother to a system like this. He was a hero, not a criminal. This made no sense to her. Whatever he did, she knew he had good reason. She knew he was sorry.
“Dina, hey, listen to me. Dina.”
“Yes?” She finally looked up.
“Are you still dancing?” he asked.
“Huh?”
“Dancing? Are you still dancing?”
She shook her head. “I’m staying with Maura in a new place so people don’t find me. I got the doctors and the
y make me take tests. I’m doing therapy without medication. They said it could take time. But I don’t go anywhere. Just to the library and the grocery store.”
“I want you to do whatever it is you want to. I trust you Dina. But promise me you will always stay close to Maura and trust her. In case there is something she can help you with.”
“I promise. When will I see you again?”
He sat back. “I dunno sweetheart. If they let me stay in Georgia, maybe soon. But if they move me... I dunno.”
Dina pressed her hand to the glass. “I’m sorry. I should have told you about Doc. This is all my fault not his. Whatever you did, you did it to protect me.”
“No. I did it for me. I was selfish. I didn’t think of anyone but myself. I’m the one that’s sorry sis. Really sorry. Forgive me.”
“I do. I already have,” she said. The buzzer sounded again. It was the first time he looked sad since he arrived. “I’ll send you some books to read. And I’ll write you letters. Every day. Promise.”
“I know,” he said and left. Dina hung up the phone. She walked out of the jail in a daze. She barely mumbled a word to herself. Once she made it to her Acura, she let go the last of her tears. Rodney and Cue were both gone from her life. She had no one. She didn’t know what to do that type of loneliness.
THE FIRST THING CLINTON did when he arrived to the hotel was shower. And he stayed in the shower for almost forty minutes. Afterwards he ordered everything he could think of on the room service menu. His brother Tyler was asleep in the double bed. His older brother sat at the desk on his computer ignoring him. He turned on the television and found nothing. He could not find anything to watch. He decided on a recast of Sports Center.
“You going to stay up at it all night?” he asked Charlie.
“I work best when it’s night. You get some sleep. We have a meeting with the APA in the morning. My email says it’s a deposition.”
Clinton glanced at the things his brothers had saved for him. The book sat on top of it. He reached over to the chair and picked it up, and then reclined back into the pillows. He opened the book and read her message.