by Barbara Ebel
“Absolutely not. Next time.”
They unwrapped beef brisket sandwiches and salad and sat across from each other at the kitchen counter.
“Dr. Gillespie was absent this morning, so I saw patients with Dr. Clark and Stuart. Boy, was that refreshing.”
“Sounds like it. Anything interesting?”
“I put it on our bucket list to review tonight. A nine-year-old with a working diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency. Her case made me realize how important growth curves are even after the first and second years of life.”
“Interesting. I didn’t know that either. I guess it goes with the territory of being a pediatrician.”
Annabel drizzled dressing on the salad. “Dr. Clark is referring the girl to a pediatric endocrinologist but ordered the necessary lab workup besides films.”
Bob shook his head. “There are so many subspecialties in medicine, it’s mind boggling. I’m relieved I made up my mind about orthopedics and don’t need to worry about which field of residency to apply to.”
“But you still must decide about which programs are the best and where to apply. Geography will be important. Say, Nashville has top medical residency programs in just about everything. Why don’t you apply in my hometown?”
Bob practically choked on his sandwich because she also wanted to go back home for residency and, this year, he was constantly troubled knowing he wouldn’t see her any more after medical school.
“Cat got your tongue?” she asked. “Maybe I’ve grown on your nerves and you want to be as far away as possible from me.” She gave him a big smile, hoping that was not the case.
“Are you kidding? Being at the same University for residency would be awesome. There are still so many training years in front of us, at least we could be nearby for some of them.”
“Bob, thanks. I don’t mean to sound immature but, presently, you qualify as my very best friend.” She glanced at her iPhone at the edge of the counter. “I have an idea. Don’t get angry at me, but I could mention something to my dad about you and your desire for orthopedics. Believe me, he can’t get you into a residency program in Nashville, but he can be an added recommendation, especially since he’s met you. As you know, he is well respected and his opinion counts.”
Bob’s pulse bounded at his wrist. The residency programs there would be stellar. He was surprised at her willingness to help out.
“Is that a yes?”
“Yes. When the time comes, I would be so grateful.”
“Nothing stops me from saying something right now.” Annabel picked up her phone and placed a call, taking a gamble her father would be home already from the hospital. Danny answered the call.
“Hey, Dad, I’m glad I caught you.”
“Your sister handed me the phone because she doesn’t want to talk to you. You two better settle your differences one of these days. How is your rotation coming along?”
“There is a lot going on, Dad, not related to my education. I don’t like the attending I’m working with, mostly because his behavior seems inappropriate.”
“In what way?”
“I don’t want to burden you at the moment. Besides, I’m with Bob, we’re eating dinner, and we’re going to hit the books tonight. I called for another reason.”
“Okay, then. Shoot.”
“Bob is further ahead than me; he came to a decision about residency. He wants orthopedics.”
“Wise choice.”
“I told him, for sure, to apply to the program in Nashville.”
“One of the best.”
“Since you know him, and you know I vouch for him, can you talk to someone in the department ahead of time? As a verbal recommendation regarding his character and work? They would see his fine grades and major test scores sooner or later with his application.”
“I would be happy to. He’s a wonderful young man.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
Bob patted Annabel’s hand and waved for the phone.
“Here, you talk to him,” she said.
“Dr. Tilson, thank you so much. I don’t mean to be a burden.”
“No trouble at all. Just like their neurosurgery program, the more information they receive about a candidate, the better they can make decisions. In the end, however, a lot comes down to the paper application and the residency interview. But my recommendation will be taken into account if you are high on their list.”
“Thank you, sir. Thank you so much.”
“Not to mention it. And prompt that daughter of mine to make up her mind soon as well.” Danny laughed. “So how is sharing Oliver working out for the two of you?”
“Better than we thought. We love him to death. He’s probably getting spoiled rotten going from one place to another.”
“One of these days, Sara and I must meet him.”
“I’ll tell Annabel. Thanks again.”
Annabel grasped the phone. “Dad, thanks for your help. I’ll call you and Mom by the weekend before I transition to the pediatric wards.”
“Bye, honey.”
“That was easy,” Annabel said.
“Every little bit counts. We better start studying so my grades are stellar on my residency application.”
“That goes for both of us.”
Bob opened a book to the side of his sandwich. “I’m looking up the particulars of a pediatric growth hormone deficiency.”
Annabel nodded as her phone buzzed with an incoming call. She glanced at the incoming number and bobbed her head back. Dustin was calling her back after all these days, she thought. Was he calling because of the big deal she made on the last voicemail message about a possible police matter? Or was he calling her because of their relationship? Or both?
She answered, put the phone to her ear, but realized it would be more difficult to talk privately with Bob sitting in front of her. “Hey, I was beginning to worry if something happened to you or if you weren’t receiving my messages.”
“Your voicemail was intriguing. I’m with a colleague at the moment and, as it turns out, the name of that doctor you mentioned, Gillespie, came up.”
Annabel’s heart sank. He sounded impersonal and spoke straight to the point. Perhaps there was nothing personal about his call at all. “A colleague,” she stuttered. “Then say hello to Sean.”
His silence was deafening as Bob turned a page. “Can you tell me what you were concerned about with him?” Dustin asked, ignoring her comment about Sean.
Annabel gulped. Finally, she could hand over the information and feel better about getting it off her chest.
“Don’t get me wrong. This doctor has not overtly done anything outright physically or sexually intimidating with his pediatric patients that I’m aware of, but in my opinion, he goes overboard with his private examinations and comments to them. You and Sean may not be the resource I need to talk to, but if I comment to the department chairman or the medical board of licensing as a student, I may be out of line. Dustin, I just don’t know who to tell.” Her head raised and she looked at Bob.
“Annabel, I had no idea this situation was so bad,” Bob interjected.
“I am trying to keep quiet and not spread possible false accusations in the department.”
She redirected the conversation back to Dustin. “Sorry, I was just filling Bob in. We’re studying together.”
Dustin and Kendrick still stood outside the funeral home. Dustin shook his head. Studying wasn’t the only thing they did together. His disapproval ramped up and he clenched his free hand.
“Do you have any concrete information on this Gillespie at all?”
“I hope so. He works with a female doctor named Heather Clark and he planted a video camera in one of her examination rooms. He’s taping everything that goes on … Dr. Clark, her patients, and physical exams. I learned that Heather has no knowledge of the camera or that she’s being taped. Isn’t that unlawful?”
Dustin opened his mouth in surprise. “What’d she say?” Kendrick asked.
>
“I’ll tell you, Kendrick. Hold on.”
“Anything else you can tell us?”
“Maybe it doesn’t seem like much, however, he absolutely gives me the creeps. My gut instinct tells me he’s as dangerous as a venomous snake waiting in the underbrush for the next prey to walk by.”
“A dangerous doctor. Tell me what you really think!”
“I’ll gladly tell you more. I think he’s a pedophile! The last people he should be dealing with in his profession are babies and children. Dustin, I tell you, he manipulates their feelings so they trust him. I shudder to think of how far he would go to use a child.”
Bob ignored the book and stared at her. No way did he want to work with Gillespie either.
“All right,” Dustin said. “Keep your cool and do what you must for your rotation. Your information is important and we’re going to act on it sooner than later. I must go, however.”
Annabel felt a pang of sorrow. He had nothing to say about their relationship or why he hadn’t been answering her calls.
“Oh, and by the way. You are correct. Dr. Gillespie’s video recording without letting people know in the office is going to land him in trouble. Dr. Clark, her patients, and anyone else in those exam rooms should unequivocally expect a high level of privacy.”
CHAPTER 27
Annabel closed the call and locked eyes with Bob.
“A pedophile?!” Bob exclaimed. “You think he’s that wretched?”
Annabel nodded. “I did my duty and told someone who is in a position to do something about it.”
“By ‘someone,’ you mean your boyfriend.” Bob cocked his head. “I don’t mean to pry, but has your dating with him slowed down?”
“Maybe. I don’t know what’s going on with him.”
“After Oliver won last Saturday, I noticed he took off from the fair kind of abruptly.”
“Hmm. You thought the same thing.” She grimaced at her phone. “Just now, he didn’t say hello to his partner Sean for me either, yet he didn’t correct me that he wasn’t there. Dustin was with some officer named Kendrick.” Her mouth turned down and her chest heaved from a big breath.
“A police officer’s job must be rough, Annabel. Lots of responsibility, like what we’re going to face in the future. Perhaps he’s going through a period when pulling back from his relationship is important.”
“Guys always say that women are hard to figure out because they don’t say what’s on their mind. As if men are supposed to know what they’re thinking. In my relationship now, the opposite is true.”
“I’m sorry.” From the side, Oliver planted his head on Bob’s leg and looked up with his soulful eyes. “Oliver, go nuzzle Annabel instead. She could use your luvin’.” Bob waved at the dog. “Go ahead.”
Oliver pranced backwards. He rounded the corner and pressed his muzzle on her lap. “You just want my food.” But Oliver licked her hand. “Oh, all right. You really are trying to lift my spirits.”
“Dogs are windows to our hearts and souls. Even though it’s my night with him, why don’t you take him home when we finish studying and you leave? I had Oliver all day anyway.”
“You’re so sweet.” A smile replaced her downtrodden expression. “I’ll take that favor, if you don’t pay me back for half of dinner.”
“We’ve struck a deal. Now let’s put the George Gillespie discussion to the side and dive into pediatric medical topics.”
-----
The police station was buzzing for a Thursday morning, as if on the brink of a Friday night with jammed downtown bars and backroom hustles. A cop walked in, clasping the arm of an armed robber of a fast food restaurant, and two other officers pushed two teenagers into chairs. They’d been feeding their van from the back door of a box store with wide screen TVs. “What were you thinking?” one of the officers asked. “Major retailers tape customers with video cameras.”
“Not only big box stores,” Dustin said to Kendrick, who leaned against his desk, “but certain doctors’ offices too.”
“We’ll see about that. Come on. The captain gave us both the green light. Let’s go down to the courthouse and get a search warrant on Gillespie.”
“For which? His home or his office?”
“Both.” Kendrick rose his arm and tossed a paper coffee cup across the aisle. He nailed the wastebasket.
Dustin followed Officer Kendrick outside. “Whose car?” Dustin asked.
“You ride around more than me. I vote for mine.” He pointed further down the parallel-parked cars. When they arrived, Kendrick pointed. “Get in.”
-----
Dustin was impressed. In the courthouse, Kendrick voiced his plea in front of the judge like he was part cop, part Harvard law graduate, and part used car salesman.
“Judge Howell,” Kendrick said, “wouldn’t you be incensed to find out that your wife is taking your kids to a pediatrician who might be a pedophile? And you didn’t know it all these years? And that he’s practicing right here in the Cincinnati area?
“I’ve traced massive loads of child pornography to his home device and he’s taping co-workers and patients in his office without their consent. I shudder at what we don’t know yet about him. We’re requesting search warrants for his home and office.”
“What’s his name?”
“George Gillespie. Can you imagine? Doctors are supposed to be the pillars of society.”
“That’s the way it goes with pedophiles who break the law, Officer Kendrick. They stand out in society like they are angels of God: sports coaches, school teachers, clergy, scout leaders, upstanding leaders in the community.
“I’ll sign an order for your search warrant, but that was sexist of you. I bring my kids to the pediatrician sometimes too. But from now on, I’m not leaving one of my kids alone to be examined.”
In several more minutes, after the judge reread what he was signing, Dustin and Kendrick trotted down the front steps of the courthouse. Kendrick’s small frame beat Dustin to the car.
-----
Marlene Gillespie stood at home in the downstairs bathroom. She applied lipstick in the mirror, outlining her lips like staying in the lines of some important paint-by-number canvas. She had a late lunch meeting at the hospital, so she was making sure she was dolled up ahead of time.
When she stepped outside the hallway powder room, she contemplated going inside George’s office next door. Since the other night, she had not been brazen enough to pop onto his computer when he was not home. She was too afraid to.
What she had found the other night continued to rattle her nerves. She may have denied many aspects of her husband’s behavior in the past, but this went way too far. Toddlers, children, and young teenagers were sacred beings and, all adults, not only their parents, carried a social responsibility for their welfare. To stalk or abuse them via photography, video content, or in real life was as good as committing a felony offense.
Marlene’s curiosity was killing her because if she hadn’t known about the content on his computer, what else didn’t she know about? What she was worried about was if George had crossed the line of being an apparent pedophile. Being a pedophile amounted to having a psychiatric disorder, one in which his sexual attraction favored pre-pubescent children. But the serious moral wrong was if he’d had adult sexual contact with an underage minor.
She contemplated going into his room as the daylight beamed through the glass windows beside the front door. But as she made up her mind to keep out of his affairs, a display of blue light replaced the serenity of the previous sunshine.
As she sauntered over to the front door, she realized the new lights were from a police car. One which had parked in her driveway!
The brass door knocker sounded on the wood of the front door and Marlene froze with fear. Was George serving her with divorce papers? Then it struck her all at once. What harm would come from that? She’d be rid of living with his peculiarities, she could hire a lawyer sympathetic to the plight of physician sp
ouses, and she would rake in hefty alimony. Everything would be split fifty-fifty or better than that in her favor. Their marriage was long overdue for a termination, she thought.
A louder thump sounded at the door and she turned the handle. A small officer and a second one with a mischievous dimple in his chin stood their ground on her porch.
“Ma’am, are you Mrs. Gillespie?” Dustin asked.
Here it comes, she thought. “Yes, is there a problem?”
“Is your husband at home?” Kendrick asked.
“No. He’s at his office. He’s a doctor.”
“We have a search warrant, Ma’am.” Dustin showed her the document.
Marlene automatically let the door swing open. They weren’t here to let her off the hook from her husband. On the contrary, now she had something else to worry about. Her hands began to tremble as she thought about his hidden pornography.
With barely a few steps, Dustin stared into the first room on the right. “Is this your husband’s study?”
Marlene bit her lip. “Yes, that’s his personal computer, but I think he keeps all the information about his practice at the pediatric office location.”
“Well, start in here. Thank you.” Dustin gave her a look and she slinked towards the kitchen.
“I didn’t say anything about his personal computer, did you?”
Kendrick smiled. “Not me. She knows something. What if she gets a kick out of his content as well? I’ve not had a spouse aware of their husband’s dirty child porn before, but there’s a first time for everything.”
“Kendrick, women deliver babies and nurture them into children. The day I come across a woman who is ‘into’ child pornography is the day I give up on humanity.”
The two men went through George’s desk drawers and the top from either side and met in the middle at the computer. “Well,” Kendrick said, “like I said, I haven’t come across a female pedophile acting out who I had to arrest. Apparently, there are no reliable estimates as to how rare they are.”