Chapter Twenty-One
M av dragged his sorry butt out of bed early Sunday to check on the babies and feed them breakfast. None of them were the worse for wear, despite yesterday’s impromptu runs without correctly timing their nutrition.
He didn’t need an alarm clock this morning.
He hadn’t slept since he and the team had arrived back at the lodge yesterday evening.
He had waited up until one of the guests returned in the SUV with Nick and Randy.
Nick had clomped through the great room on crutches with a fiberglass cast on his leg, thanks to the pretty Dr. Tipton . He seemed slightly woozy but comfortable, which was a decent outcome, all things considered.
Now Mav stood in his wool socks, outdoor pants, and a dark blue flannel shirt as he cooked up Sunday morning breakfast. Hey, the guests had reserved the bed and breakfast plan, and no way would Mav shirk his duties, despite everything that had happened. Reputation mattered, even in a crappy situation. He knew that from EMS work. His parents had ingrained in him the integrity to carry out his commitments in a professional manner.
No matter how rude the customer.
Mav laid sizzling caribou sausages on a plate and grabbed a piece to chew while he cooked more links. He peered out the kitchen window at the faint dawn glow on orange clouds between the spruce pines. He memorized the view, like he might not see it again.
Yukon Valley was so far off the beaten path, there was no beaten path. Online direction apps basically took one look at any Yukon Valley address and went good luck . A few miles west of town, the highway simply stopped. Only endless bush and miles of river beyond that point.
Nothing was out here except for the lodge and cabins, a small town and a few villages, sled and snowmobile trails, and millions of acres of mountain and snowy tundra wilderness, which he loved exploring with his team.
He’d better enjoy it while he could.
The sausage sat like a hot coal in his gut. He took a swig of orange juice with minimal improvement. Between his gritty eyelids, tired muscles, and complete lack of sleep, Mav was as wrung out as that worn dishtowel hanging over the sink faucet.
At least Lee hadn’t returned last night. Dee had texted to let him know she was dropping Lee off at the lodge to get her car this morning. Hopefully, she’d miss the guests. Hey, he was man enough to own up to his failures and limitations, but that didn’t mean he wanted someone he cared about to witness his last pathetic stand.
At nine a.m. sharp, the cabin guests entered through the front door, joined shortly by Randy and then by Nick crutching along from the guest rooms. Mav gamely served up the full breakfast spread—caribou sausage, salmon cakes, seasoned fried potatoes, stewed tomatoes, sourdough French bread with birch syrup and salmonberry preserves, orange juice, and coffee. The guests continued talking about their travel back to Fairbanks today and then Randy going to Anchorage tomorrow.
Leaving a day early, thanks to the accident. Mav would refund them the extra night. Damn it. He had needed the income.
A few minutes later, his sister and Lee came through the front door, peeling off coats, gloves, and boots in the entryway. He appreciated the leggings that hugged Lee’s curves.
“Hey, our waitress service arrived.” Randy laughed, the other men joining him.
Dee strolled up to the table and glowered at him until he turned red. God, his sister was terrifying.
Randy raised his hands, a fork held in one. “It’s a joke, lady. Take it easy.”
She slid her gaze to Mav and raised her eyebrows. He had updated her as to what had happened last night, so she knew the basic story and the main actors.
He shook his head, and she clamped her lips together.
Just because she knew the situation didn’t make her any less likely to take a swipe at Randy.
“Oh, and your friend is back, too.” Randy clearly enjoyed being the gregarious center of attention. “Didn’t realize she was that pretty under all the clothes yesterday.”
Mav wanted to cram the spatula down the man’s throat.
Lee’s long gold hair was on glorious display this morning.
She grimaced. “Glad everyone is safe and sound.”
When Nick saw her, he did a double take. “You look like the doctor from last night. I think. It’s all a little fuzzy. I don’t think she had blond hair.”
“Naw, this gal’s an EMT. Works with him,” Randy butted in. “You’re confused from those knockout drugs they gave you.”
Lee’s eyes narrowed, but she pasted on a bland, polite smile and made a noncommittal sound as she followed Dee into the kitchen. Mav didn’t know which woman would eviscerate Randy, but the sooner the better.
Randy wiped his face on the napkin, wadded it up next to his plate, and leaned back in the chair. “I like this dining area and kitchen, but it needs some spiffing up. Maybe an addition or a redo of the layout. Knock out a wall or two. Modernize.”
Mav’s ears rang, but he refused to take the bait. He joined his sister and Lee near the sink. “Counting down the minutes until they leave,” he muttered.
“I can make that time go faster.” Dee’s savage smile did not bode well for anyone.
“Boys, what do you think about this place? I’m buying it. All of it,” Randy said loudly.
Murmurs, congratulations, and confused expressions circled the table.
Mav spun around. “What?” He glanced at the desk drawer stuffed with past-due notices and offers to purchase.
The clues began to fall into place.
Next to him, Lee didn’t move.
“Getting it for a song, once the bank finishes their work,” Randy continued.
Dee clanked a plate in the sink. Hard. “That’s it, I’m going in.”
Mav grabbed his sister but missed Lee, who sauntered to the table. “How do you figure that?” Her Southern accent thickened into a sweet, charming voice that snagged everyone’s attention.
“You don’t know? Your boyfriend here is broke. The business will be belly-up after I post more customer reviews of the unsafe equipment and trails out here. Also, my nephew here is going to sue.”
Nick kept his eyes on his plate.
“Why would he sue?” Lee said.
Randy gave her a broad, patronizing smile. “That wreck was the owner’s fault, sweetheart. Faulty machine. Poor maintenance. Trails are dangerous.”
“You did sign a waiver,” Mav growled, standing next to her.
He shrugged. “We’ll tie you up in court and publicize it. There won’t be anything left of this place once foreclosure hits. Nothing left.” He grinned. “Except for gold.”
“Huh?” Mav shook his head and looked at Dee, who shrugged.
“This property sits on a vein of gold. This location is at the tail end of the Ray Mountains. A survey fifty years ago listed this as proven and probable resource, not only for gold but also some rare earth elements that are currently in high demand.”
Dee removed some of the men’s empty dishes. “No seriously, what are you talking about?” She turned to Mav. “Mom and Dad never mentioned anything about mining.”
“She’s your sister? Oh, that’s rich. Get it? Rich.” Randy laughed at his joke and speared a piece of caribou, chewed, and swallowed. “About ten years ago, I was poking around in the public USGS records down in the Seattle office searching for speculation properties and came across the survey for this parcel. It had been misfiled, so no one knew it existed. I had been in the process of getting an updated survey—contingent before I made the purchase. That’s when your folks swooped in before I could complete the survey and stole the property out from under me.”
Mav opened his mouth but nothing came out.
Dee’s expression matched his.
A thrumming pulse in Mav’s forehead momentarily blocked out sound. He and his sister were about to lose far more than anyone had realized. He stared at the desk with the letters and the BLM and USGS mail. His fingers itched to open those envelopes right now.
With a warm smile, Lee walked around the table next to Randy. “So, wait. All you have to do is get the bank to foreclose, and you get the property?”
“Yep. Bank has my paperwork ready to go.”
“What’s to keep someone else from buying it first?”
He grinned. “I’m friends with the president of the bank that holds this property’s mortgage. First in line.” He rested his elbows on the table. “To make sure the foreclosure happens quickly, Nick’s going to sue for damages and negligence.”
She nodded. “Oh, so that will speed up the part where they can’t pay the mortgage. By chewing up their resources in legal fees and attorneys or tanking the business.”
“You got it.”
“To make them use up their money, Nick is going to sue.” She tapped a finger on her full lower lip.
Mav shifted from foot to foot, squirming at the way Lee laid out what was going to happen. Didn’t matter how, Mav would fight Randy to the end.
“As well he should,” Randy said. “I mean, look at him with the broken leg and all.”
He seemed fine to Mav, except for the injury, which, by the way, was covered by liability waivers and business insurance. His face grew hot.
Almost to herself, she said, “You’ll need the medical notes to support the claim.”
He bristled. “Obviously, sweetheart. Once the lawyers see the report, we can decide how many zeros to put on the settlement.”
Mav could swear that Lee clamped her lips together for a beat. Then she probed, “Or?” His satisfied grin split his face. “Or we go to court, which costs time and money he doesn’t have, on account of his failing business.”
“Failing business. You’ll ensure that everyone knows?” Lee’s logic knifed right through Mav.
“I mean, I can’t control who sees what in online reviews and social media posts.” Randy spoke slowly, like explaining something to a child.
Mav rolled his hands into fists, tense but resisting the real desire to cram his knuckles into the guy.
Randy continued. “Well, here’s the fun part. We don’t have to win the lawsuit. We just need to drag it out long enough for funds to run out so they can’t make payments and for the bank to foreclose.”
Mav gritted his teeth and again stepped up next to her, like he craved proximity.
Lee pursed her lips and scanned Dee and Mav, then Randy. “You need the doctor’s report to prove your case. Seal the deal.”
“Are you slow?” His brows drew together.
Mav stepped forward, ready to rearrange the guy’s features for insulting Lee.
She rested her fingertips on his arm and continued, “Wonder what that doctor’s report says. Don’t you?” She ignored whatever Randy mumbled and turned to Nick. “You signed up for the patient portal on the electronic medical records, right?”
“Think so. The checkout person gave me the info to download the app,” Nick said, picking up his phone and tapping. “Is the note there already?”
“Should be. There’s a new federal rule regarding notes being immediately available to patients.”
Randy gaped at her. “How do you know that?”
Lee didn’t answer him. “Hey, Nick, can you pull up that note?” She smiled at him and batted her eyes. “I want to see how bad things will be when the judge reads the note, don’t you?”
Mav’s heart pounded. His head spun. What was she doing? Pouring virtual gasoline on the place and then lighting a match?
“Um.” Nick was putty in her hands. “Yeah. Okay.” He beamed up at her.
Sauntering over, she lightly touched Nick’s shoulder. “Oh wow. Look at that, you’ve got the app running and everything.” She fawned over him. “You mind reading the first section of that note? I’d like to see if it’s as good as Randy’s hoping.” Her words came out slower, softer, the syllables drawn out.
Mav bristled, then recalled their conversation a few weeks ago. The worse the situation gets, the slower I talk.
“Uh, sure.” Nick scrolled.
Randy leaned back, arms over his chest.
No one in the room made a sound.
Nick read, “‘Patient states that he was on a trail near a vacation lodge when he hit a bump and flew off the snowmachine, injuring his leg. He states he does not believe he struck his head. Witnesses present do not report that he had loss of consciousness. He is not complaining of pain in any other areas besides the leg. Denies chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, dizziness, headache, difficulty moving his neck or noninjured extremities.’”
Randy nodded with a smile.
Dee and Mav hadn’t moved. Hearing this report was like the reading of a last will and testament. Only, no one got anything. Except for Randy.
Nick looked up at Lee, who indicated for him to continue. “‘Per witnesses and first responders to the scene, no mental status changes were noted before, during, and after the accident. Per first responders, no neck pain, spine pain, or spine deformity was noted in the field. Patient was transported to the ED with appropriate precautions. In the ED patient denies use of drugs or alcohol. Patient states that his uncle, Randy, who was present at the accident, had hoped to fabricate an injury so that he could sue the lodge owner. Patient states that Randy had not planned for the injury to be severe. Patient states that he is in pain relative to his leg injury. His pain has improved with morphine, which was given upon arrival to the ED.’”
“What.” Blotches of red crept up Randy’s face as he spluttered. “That’s enough,” he said.
“Read on.” Lee crossed her arms.
“We’re done here.” Randy made to stand up, but Mav stepped forward and glared him into place.
“Nope. Read,” Lee said.
Nick glanced at her warily but complied. “‘Patient could not tolerate entering the CT scanner without sedation. Versed two milligrams IV given prior to imaging.’” He swallowed. “‘Patient’s history was taken at bedside with nurse A.J. present.’”
Mav froze. Amberlyn Jenkins. Damn. Lee had a witness to the statements.
“Uncle Randy, I don’t remember this.”
Lee patted Nick on the shoulder, then strolled around the table. “Versed is one of my favorite antianxiety medications that I regularly use. In my job. As a doctor. At this hospital.”
One of the men mumbled, “Oh crap.” He elbowed the guy next to him.
Mav watched the scene, riveted.
“Versed is helpful for anxiety, but it has an interesting property of disinhibiting people. There are studies about using it as a truth serum. Not sure if it’s really good for that or not. I find that it makes people… comfortable and chatty.”
“You drugged him for information?” Randy spluttered. “That’s illegal. You could be sued.”
Lee pivoted, her voice ice-cold and clinical. “No. The attending physician—that’s me—treated his anxiety with standard use of an FDA-approved medication so that the appropriate tests could be performed. I documented his history of present illness in the medical record. It’s literally my job to do those things.”
Randy gaped like a salmon on dry land. “This is all hearsay. Coercion. You led him.”
“I can see how someone might think that.” She took another step then pivoted to face him a few feet away. She was like a spider spinning a web for Randy to wander into. “That’s why I added more medically pertinent information to the record. Nick, could you read the next paragraph?”
There was more? Mav didn’t dare move.
Nick cleared his throat. “‘This writer observed a person identified as patient’s uncle Randy speaking on the phone in the waiting room. He was heard stating that This accident was exactly what I need to run that business into the ground . He stated that He wasn’t supposed to break his leg, but it’s a bonus .’” Nick stared at his uncle but kept reading, eyes wide. “‘He stated that he had the bank contact ready to send him the papers to sign as soon as the lawsuit is settled and foreclosure begins.’” He swallowed. “I got a broken leg for nothing, Uncle Randy?”
Mav stepped up and slung an arm around Lee. Her chin was lifted, and her gaze remained steady and narrowed, but she trembled.
What an amazing woman. He squeezed her shoulder.
“That’s—that’s one of those HIPAA violations, lady,” Randy spat. “You shared his medical information without his permission. We will report you to the medical board.”
Lee took a solid five seconds before answering, all syrupy-sweet with a gracious, pitying smile. “Bless your heart, Randy. Today is your lucky day. As it turns out, I’m an expert on patient privacy law. It’s not a HIPAA violation if the patient is the one who freely shares their health information with others. Besides, this information would have come out eventually. What do you know? I just saved you a bunch of money in attorney fees. You are very welcome.”
Sweat beaded Randy’s forehead.
“Also…” She paused. “Are any of you lawyers by any chance? No? Because I could be wrong, but I believe your hosts have a case for personal fraud and libel. There might even be a case for insurance fraud.”
Mav rocked back on his heels. He stood up straighter and squared his shoulders.
Lee had put on a masterclass in weaponizing Southern charm and healthcare regulation.
The only sound was Kenai’s faint snore in the other room.
Mav kept his arm tightly around Lee. “Gentlemen”—the term was being used loosely and with dripping sarcasm—“you’ll understand if I ask you to pack up and leave. Right now.”
The mutters of befuddled and angry guests rose as they scraped chairs back.
“Y’all come back now, you hear?” Lee waggled her fingers.