Chapter Twenty-eight
ON OUR WAY to the hospital, we stopped by my townhome so I could change clothes.
Shortly thereafter, we enter the office of the hospital administrator, prepared to share our suspicions.
Blake Langston is an older man with a full head of dark hair that’s graying at the temples. He’s wearing a tailored suit and speaks quietly, like we just entered a funeral home.
He shakes our hands, then asks us to take a seat in his plush office.
Mahogany wainscoting covers the walls, his desk is mahogany, the chairs are mahogany with dark green cushions, and the lights are low.
His office is meant to be comforting, almost a sanctuary from the sadness that prevails in this facility.
Susan stayed home to be with the children when they arrive home from school. It’s just Jack, Ren, and me.
“What can I do for you, Mr. Chambers? I’ve reviewed Allison’s records before your arrival. I’m familiar with her case.”
Ren explains our suspicions, who we suspect, and why. It takes him a good fifteen minutes to include all the details.
Mr. Langston is quiet as he listens to everything Ren has to say.
Then he says, “First of all, we take all concerns seriously here at Tranquility House. I can certainly understand why you’re worried about your wife.
Her safety and comfort are of the utmost importance.
If any part of what you just told me is true, I consider it a hospital emergency. I’d like to take action immediately.”
“I agree. I’m ready to do whatever it is we need to do.” Ren is serious in a way I’ve never seen him up until now.
“Let me check the visitor list, if you’ll just give me a moment.” Mr. Langston turns to his computer, types quickly, and studies his screen. “It would appear that Mr. Curtis Rothman comes to visit Allison about three times a week. And he always comes on Friday nights.”
“That means tonight.” Ren takes a deep breath.
“Yes. First of all, I will have a drug screen done ASAP. The results of that test are vital. However, for now we will proceed as though it’s positive.
We will not allow your wife to be drugged this evening, if that’s what is happening.
I will also have a camera installed in the foyer of Allison’s room since that appears to be the place where a visitor can get away with altering Allison’s food.
I assure you that hospital policy will change after this occurrence.
I will see to it that this doesn’t happen again.
Would you be able to join me this evening in our video monitoring room?
We’ll watch everything that happens in Allison’s room. ”
“Yes. Absolutely.” Ren nods, seemingly pleased with how things are being handled.
“I’m also going to call the police and ask for an officer to be present in the room with us. If your allegations prove to be true, the perpetrator will be arrested immediately. Do you approve of these actions, Mr. Chambers?”
“Yes, I do.”
“Are you pleased with the manner in which we are handling this situation?” Mr. Langston maintains direct eye contact with Ren.
“Yes, I am. Thank you very much.”
“Is there anything else you would like me to do?”
“I think you’ve covered it.”
NOW WE’RE SITTING in a small airless room watching the live video stream from Allison’s room and foyer. Ren and I just watched Jack feed Allison her “sweetened” dinner.
“I don’t know how he does it, knowing what he knows.” Ren shakes his head.
“He’s a good man fighting his hatred. I’m impressed.” I think for a moment. “You didn’t suspect anything wrong between you and Allison? No red flags?”
“I actually thought we were fine. But she was right. I was obsessed with making Exodus a success at the time. I was so blind.”
“Don’t say that. You were doing the best you could. If she was upset, she should’ve said something to you. I would’ve said something. But then, I’m me. I’m not known for holding back.”
“I like that. I’ll always know where I stand. Turns out, your blunt nature is a good thing.”
I shrug. “Maybe sometimes.”
Jack joins us in the room, and not long thereafter the police officer assigned to the case arrives, as well as Mr. Langston. Drugging a helpless patient is a serious accusation. They’re not taking this lightly.
Ren explains again exactly what we’re looking for. The police officer nods but doesn’t say much. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty.
Mr. Langston is wearing a pinched expression, unhappy with the entire situation. “I have news. Allison’s drug screen came back positive for methamphetamines. She’s definitely being drugged. Given her behavior, I would say it’s more than likely exactly as you suspected. An Adderall overdose.”
“What?” Ren breathes. “I wanted to be sure, but I don’t think I actually believed it until now.”
“Wow. I wasn’t completely convinced either. I’m going to let Susan know.” Jack shoots Susan a text.
When I think of how calm Allison was in the evenings when I visited her in comparison to her behavior on the days when she was agitated, I don’t feel surprised. But I wasn’t positive either. I don’t know how a patient with brain damage behaves.
“We will find out who is drugging Allison. I promise you that, Mr. Chambers. And they will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I’ve already sent the report to the district attorney’s office. They’re ready and waiting for more information.”
This just became very real. It’s no longer crazy suspicions being tossed about at the kitchen table.
Curtis finally shows up to visit Allison as usual. But we didn’t expect him to be accompanied by his mother.
“Curtis probably can’t drive. Of course his mother brings him.
He’s constantly nursing a beer. At least every time I see him outside.
He’s probably permanently drunk.” Jack pounds his fist on the table, frustrated.
“Rhoda’s gonna go all Mama Bear on us, raise a huge fuss if we so much as go near her son. ”
Jack does get angry sometimes, but I now understand his anger. He’s defending his son. He’s the Papa Bear.
Mr. Langston quickly types on his laptop. “You’re correct. Curtis is always escorted into the facility by a parent.”
We watch as Curtis sits with Allison, holding her hands and speaking to her nonstop. We can’t hear everything he’s saying, though. Just bits and pieces. Allison doesn’t respond to him. At all. She’s as blank as always. He leans forward and kisses her forehead several times.
And she lets him.
She lets him hold her hands, and she doesn’t pull away. She lets him reach out and gently massage one shoulder.
Allison does not shy away from Curtis. Not at all.
It has to be another dagger in Ren’s heart. I reach out and hold his hand. He doesn’t pull away either.
“I can’t watch this,” Ren says under his breath.
Rhoda sits in the foyer, reading a book. She’s just there to chaperone her son. Apparently, she has no interest in Allison.
But when the protein-packed pudding is delivered to the room, Mama Bear is the one who receives it.
Mama Bear is the one who flutters with a huge smile, “Oh, I’m just going to give it a good stir as usual. It’s so unappetizing when the ingredients start to separate.”
Carol’s sitting in the corner, her eagle eyes on Curtis and Allison. She doesn’t let her eyes stray from her charge.
Mama Bear takes the bowl of pudding to the same counter Jack used. She vigorously stirs the pudding.
What happens next surprises us all. She pulls out a small vial, unscrews the lid, and pours a white powder into the bowl. Then she continues with her manic stirring, hiding the evidence of any additive.
“Rhoda?” Ren mumbles. “Wait. What is happening?”
“There we go, Curtis, honey. It’s ready for Allison to enjoy.” Rhoda hands the bowl over to Curtis.
“That’s all I need,” the police officer says.
“I’m calling for backup. I need a recording of that video clip ASAP.
I’ll take it in for evidence. I’ll testify in court that the video was not tampered with in any way.
Also, stop the pudding from being fed to the patient immediately.
I would also like the pudding as evidence.
I’ll have it sent to toxicology right away. ”
Mr. Langston says, “Consider it done.” He spends a few minutes on the phone instructing Carol to cause delays without being obvious about it. Help will arrive shortly.
Then to Ren he says, “I’m so sorry, Mr. Chambers. This is unprecedented. We will take measures to ensure this can never happen again. Both Todd and Rhoda Rothman will be removed from the approved visitor list immediately. As well as their son.”
“Wait. Mr. Rothman comes too?” Ren’s eyes are just a tiny bit wild.
“Yes. As I said, Curtis is always escorted by a parent. If you’ll excuse me, I have several things to take care of before the police make the arrests.” Mr. Langston leaves the room, but his cool exterior has broken. Before he left, he was mopping the beads of sweat from his forehead with a hankie.
Ren holds his head in his hands. “I let my ridiculous neighbors visit my helpless wife. I knew they were nuts. What was I thinking?”
“Hey,” Jack says, “they had us all fooled. After Allie’s accident, they were suddenly the kindest people in the world.”
“I should’ve been suspicious. It should’ve been obvious,” Ren berates himself.
“Suspicious of what? Who would even imagine that they would do such a thing?” If I hadn’t caught Jack putting sweetener in Allison’s food, my mind never would’ve gone there.
“Hold. The. Boat,” Jack says. “If it’s been Mama Bear all along, then who was sneaking her the meds while Allie was living with us? Is Curtis in on it or not? From what we just watched; it looked as though Curtis had no clue what his mother was up to. Do you agree?”
“It did look that way. In fact, it looked like Curtis is still smitten with Allie.” Ren frowns, still processing everything. “Why would he drug her if he still loves her?”