Chapter 2 #2
“Betty, this is Amelia Johnson. I overheard what both Dr. Ervin and Dr. Perkins said to you in the clinic. I also witnessed the assault, and threats against you. Can you come to my home? You are not in any trouble, I’m going to take these assholes down, but I need to see you.
” She waited for two full minutes of silence on the other end.
“What’s your address?”
Amelia gave it to her, and after she hung up, she looked in her refrigerator, and decided to make toast instead.
She’d have to go to the grocery store later, but not until after she had her meeting with Betty.
She had just finished eating her toast when the doorbell rang, and she wiped her hands on a towel, and went to open it.
“Come in, Betty,” Amelia said as she stepped back, and winced when she saw the bruise on her cheek.
In the kitchen, Amelia invited Betty to sit, and then laid her freshly charged phone on the table beside her.
The first thing she did was ask permission to look at the injury, asked if she could take pictures of it.
The skin had broken, but it didn’t require stitches.
Once the photos were taken, and notes were made, Amelia refilled their coffee cups and explained her reason for calling Betty to her home.
“I was in the copy room last night. The copier ran out of paper, and I had to go to the supply room for more. I was trying to clean up the mess of that room, before I could even reach the paper I needed, and I overheard the conversation in the hall.” She reached out and gently laid her hand on Betty’s, and noted the trembling.
“There’s more.” She picked up her phone, and accessed the video she had taken, before she showed it to Betty, she gripped the other woman’s hand again.
“I have proof that you did nothing wrong.”
“How?” Betty asked in shock, and watched the video Amelia showed her.
“Are you freaking kidding me, Perkins is admitting to malpractice, murder, fraud, and insurance scams?” Those admissions had been made after Betty had left the two men in the hall after being backhanded by Dr. Ervin.
“Yes. I know I don’t have a right to ask this, but I need something from you.”
“What’s that?”
“I need you to play along with Perkins and Ervin.”
“Excuse me?”
“No, hear me out. My last day of work there is Friday, and next week I start my new job. I know people that can help. I might get in trouble for what I did after I taped that conversation, but if it brings those assholes down, then I’m willing to do the time.”
“What did you do?”
“You have to promise not to let on that you know what I’m going to do.”
“Okay, but what did you already do?”
“I made copies of all my files at the clinic. Along with the others that didn’t need surgery from the other doctors at the clinic.”
“Proof that they didn’t need surgery,” Betty stated matter of factly, and with a decisive nod.
“Yes, as I said, I’m leaving here next Saturday for my new job.
I would like you to be my eyes and ears at the clinic after I leave.
We can come up with an encrypted e-mail, or something, where you can report to me, but not if you are in danger.
If something happens, and you are in danger, call me and I can get you to safety.
” At Betty’s skeptical look, Amelia smiled and patted her hand.
“I know people. I won’t tell you how, or why, but I can make one phone call right now, and we would both be whisked off to safety. ”
Betty looked at her, then rubbed her face, but winced when she encountered the bruise on her cheek. “What do you want from me?”
“I know it goes against your nature, your job, your ethics, and your morals, but I need you to be my eyes and ears in the clinic. I’m going to reach out to Shay Hall, I have his personal cell number, and I know where he lives.
I will reach out to him and tell him what Dr. Perkins and Dr. Ervin are planning.
I’m hoping he will stall coming into the office until I can talk to him personally. ”
“Why can’t you go out and talk to him tomorrow? Or even later today?”
Amelia sat back in her chair with a huff, cocked her head to the side, and gave another huff.
“I never thought of that. Let me ask you this, how solid is your life here in Colorado Springs? I mean, are you married, do you have children, what about your home? If push comes to shove, would you be able to pick up and leave at a drop of the hat?”
“Yes, I rent, I’m not dating anyone, and I work at the clinic three days a week, and the hospital the other two, sometimes three. No children, nothing keeping me here in Colorado Springs.”
Amelia looked at her watch, and made a quick decision as she picked up her phone, accessed her contacts, and dialed the appropriate number. She held up her finger to her lips as she looked at Betty. At her nod, the phone was answered.
“Erin Riceman.”
“Erin, it’s Dr. Amelia Johnson.”
“Oh, hey, when will you be here permanently?” Amelia liked that Erin didn’t beat around the bush when she knew who was on the other end of the line.
“Next Saturday, but I’ve encountered a situation, and I need to talk to you about it. Is there any way my friend and I can see you today? I need to talk to you about it, and I can’t remember their names, but I need the lawyers you have working for you.”
“Not that I doubt you, but what type of help are we talking about here? I’m only asking so I can get the appropriate lawyer here.”
“Medical malpractice, and I’m going to want to talk with Shay Hall, this involves him.”
“Since he’s one of mine, it also involves me. Do you remember where New Double is? Where Shay works?”
“Yes, it’s actually still programmed into my GPS.”
“How soon can you get here?”
“Two hours. I’m bringing my friend, Betty Laurel with me.”
“I’ll see you then, and the appropriate people will be at New Double. Tell the security guards that you’re expected, and that you need to talk to Shay. I’ll make sure he’s expecting you.”
“Thank you, Erin, we’ll see you in two hours.” Amelia hung up, and turned to look at Betty. “That was my new boss. Can you go with me?”
“Yes. I’ll be safe?”
“Yes, and I’m sure the people we’ll be talking to will make sure of it.” She looked at Betty with a grin. “Don’t quote me, but don’t be surprised if you suddenly have a shadow before all of this is over.”
“As long as I am safe, I’ll help anyway I can.”
“Good. I’d like to go to the place I stored the files I copied and take them with us. I’ll feel safer if those files are in the proper hands.” They quickly cleaned up the kitchen, and Amelia drove to the storage unit, they both loaded the boxes, and settled in for the drive.