Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64851 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
She got me. I definitely wasn’t expecting her to admit any kind of fault, but still I posed my next question cautiously. “What did you mess up exactly? And I want you to be very clear. No cryptic words.”
She made a show of dabbing the corners of her eyes and sniffed. “You have to believe me that I only wanted to do what was best for your brother. Kenny was very ill, and I’d taken him to numerous specialists. They kept telling me they couldn’t find anything wrong with him, but I could see what kind of pain he was in, and he was having seizures. You’d even witness them.”
I nodded slowly. The first time I witnessed that had been one of the scariest things I’d ever experiences. “I recall.”
“So, as I was saying I wouldn’t give up trying to get him help. And that’s why I was recommended to Dr. Laski who specialized in pain management and neurological disorders. After I started taking your brother to see him, I saw a marked improvement. Kenny seemed happier and more independent. He was even able to finish his education and do his freelance work. You saw how he thrived. Do you honestly think I would have kept taking him to see Dr. Laski had I known the illegal dealings he’d been involved in?”
When put like that, what reason did she have indeed. Though my mother’s words seemed to make perfect sense, I couldn’t shake the sensation that something was still off. “So, answer me this? Why were you getting prescriptions from this doctor? If he was treating Kenny’s issues, how were you a patient of his as well if he specializes in something you wouldn’t need to see him for?”
“Nicholas, you’ve seen the news reports. He was running a prescription drug mill, so he took advantage of me. I might have mentioned that I was having trouble sleeping. He said that he could give me something to help. Of course, I didn’t think anything of it at the time because he’s a medical doctor.”
Again her answer was plausible, but I still wasn’t 100 percent convinced, and at this point I was certain I wouldn’t get the truth from her. So I played along.
“You mentioned being in trouble. What kind of trouble?”
“The DA wants to interview me given that I have a long-standing history with him. I don’t think it’s in my best interest to talk to him without a lawyer, and I wanted you to retain one for me.”
I cocked my head to the side and narrowed my eyes slightly. “Wouldn’t taking a lawyer with you to answer the DA’s questions give you an appearance of guilt? If you haven’t done anything wrong then, you shouldn’t have anything to worry about.”
“You know how lawyers are. They twist your words around and make you look bad. Besides, he’ll probably want to subpoena Kenny’s medical records.”
“So?”
“Because of that bitch, I don’t have any say about them being released. She was his wife. What if she’s somehow used her connections to have his records doctored as some sick revenge?”
“Revenge for what?”
The tears that she’d been dabbing so delicately only seconds ago were completely gone. “Are you going to help me or not? At the very least you could ask your friend Chris to come with me.”
“Chris is a corporate lawyer. Besides, he’s out of the country handing business at the moment.”
“So what you’re saying is that you won’t help me?”
“I didn’t say that. I’m simply asking questions. When do you have to meet with the DA?”
“Two weeks from tomorrow.”
“Okay, I’ll see what I can arrange for you. Anything else?”
She turned her palms up in a questioning gesture. “Is that it?”
“What exactly do you want me to say?”
“You see me going through this crisis, yet you don’t offer me any comfort. You’ve always been a cool one, but I never thought you’d treat your own mother this way.” The tears returned full force.
I realized I wouldn’t get her out of my office unless I gave her what she wanted.” I pushed down the ire roiling within my being before sliding out of my chair and walking over to hers.
The moment I was by her side, she stood up and threw herself against me and started full out sobs.
She must have been loud because Cheri poked her head in the office. “Is everything okay?”
I nodded and waved her off.
I wasn’t sure how long my mom held on to me, but by the time she released me, my shirt was stained with tears and snot. Finally I convinced her to go home.
Only when she was gone did I know what I had to do. It had been something I’d been putting off for the past couple months since I’d learned of her whereabouts.
It was time to talk to Frankie.