Chapter 3
Erin ended her call from Amelia and looked up another number before she dialed. She nodded when she got the groggy reply to her ring.
“Yo.”
“Raymond, this is Erin. I’m sorry for calling so early, but there might be a situation soon. I want to read you in on it if I can.”
“Sure.” Raymond poured himself a cup of coffee and took a sip.
He had only been up for about fifteen minutes before Erin had called.
He wanted to get at least two cups of coffee into him before he showered.
He had been at New Double for a month now, and had settled into a routine.
He did know that he had lost at least eighteen pounds, and he slept better, his headaches were gone, and he felt like he was standing taller.
The day he had gotten word that he’d passed the bar exam for Colorado, he had signed on the dotted line for the proposal for Richard to buy him out of his law firm.
Then he set about packing his home. It took three weeks after getting the results from the exam that he locked the front door of his home behind him, and climbed into the rental truck to drive halfway across the country.
“Raymond, are you awake?”
“Yeah, sorry, haven’t had my coffee yet this morning. What do you need me for?”
“I haven’t told you this, but I have a doctor that’s supposed to start working over at Broken Two next week. Or rather, a week from this coming Monday. She just called, said she has a situation that needs a lawyer. I told her to meet us at New Double in two hours.”
“What type of lawyer? Could Jason or Ilsa take it?”
“They could, but Amelia specifically stated that it was a medical malpractice case. That’s all she said, and she also said it involved one of my employees.”
“Who and how?”
“Shay Hall, but I don’t know how. Amelia and a friend of hers are on the way, two hours is the estimated time of arrival. I was wondering if you could tell Shay to expect Amelia?”
“I can. I’m working with him today.”
“Good, I’ll call over to Kevin and Yvonne to tell them to watch for her to arrive. I’ll also tell them to call me, because I want to know what’s going on. Please tell Amelia not to state her business until I can be there.”
“I will, I know how you like to know everyone’s story. I applaud you for that, and I’ll do what I can to tell Shay about the visit.”
“Thank you, Raymond. When you said you knew about malpractice, I immediately thought of you.”
“Thank you, I won’t know if I can help until I find out what’s wrong.”
“Right. Thanks again, and I’ll see you soon.
” They hung up, and Raymond finished his first cup of coffee, poured himself another one and headed to the shower.
After he dressed, made, and ate his breakfast, he filled his travel mug, and headed out the door.
Because it was a beautiful morning, he opted to walk to the barn near the racetrack.
It had been an hour since he’d talked to Erin, and the first thing he did was walk up to Shay as he was mucking out the stalls.
He set his mug down, picked up a pitchfork, and leaned on it.
“The work would get done faster if you used that thing,” Shay said with a grin.
“I know, but I need to talk with you.”
“What’s up?”
“Erin called me about an hour ago, someone by the name of Amelia is coming to see you. I forget her last name.”
“Johnson?” Shay asked in shock as he looked at Raymond. “What would Dr. Johnson want with me? I’m healed.”
“Can you tell me about it?” Raymond held up his hand and shook his head.
“I know nothing about what this woman wants to talk to you about, but something about malpractice was mentioned. When I was a lawyer back home, I took on a few malpractice cases in my day, and Erin wants me to talk to this woman and you. Can you tell me what happened?”
“My stupidity, which caused me a great deal of shame. It was a really stupid thing that I did,” Shay said as he leaned on his own fork with a chuckle. “Have you met Lorissa yet, the farrier and vet?”
“Not yet, but I’ve heard of her.”
“Well, I was helping her. I wasn’t paying attention after we finished working on a horse, and it kicked out.
I didn’t move out of the way fast enough.
” He bent down and rubbed his hand on the outside of his leg, just above the knee.
“The kick missed the joint completely, but barely. I didn’t need surgery, but I had to wear a big-ass knee brace for a few weeks, then I had to go over to Caleb for physical therapy.
I have a copy of my x-rays in the cabin.
” He shrugged at Raymond. “Being former military, I like to keep records.”
“Good, because based on the conversation I had with Erin, that might come in handy in the near future. Anyway, this Amelia Johnson will be here shortly, and she’s going to want to talk to you. However, Erin wants to be here for the conversation.”
“Of course she does,” Shay laughed, but there was no heat or malice behind it. The two men continued cleaning the stalls, and by the time they were done, Shay’s phone went off.
“Hello?”
“Hey, it’s Kevin. There’s someone here to see you.”
“Is it Dr. Amelia Johnson?”
“Yes. I’ve called Erin, she’s on her way.”
“Dr. Johnson knows where the track is, she’s seen me back here before. Send her back, and tell Erin that’s where we are.”
“Got it. I don’t know how to say this, but the woman with her looks like she’s been smacked around. She has a bruise on her cheek. Actually, both women do. They look rough around the edges. I didn’t ask any questions, I figured they’d tell me if they wanted me to know.”
“Do you think it’s a domestic situation?” Shay asked, and saw Raymond perk up at his words.
“No clue, do you want Yvonne or I to sit in on this meeting with you?”
“Let’s play it by ear, and see what Dr. Johnson says, but keep your phones handy.”
“Understood.” Kevin rang off, and Shay looked at Raymond.
“There are two women here, and they both have bruised faces.”
“Shit,” Raymond said, and looked up when Pedro and Scott Gould joined them.
“Problem?” Scott asked.
“Don’t know. We have an incoming situation,” Shay said as he studied the former Navy SEAL. “Stick close.”
“Got it,” Scott nodded to Shay. Though they had served in two different branches of the military, Scott still respected and listened to a senior officer.
Everyone looked up as a car slowly made their way forward, and it was Pedro that directed them where to park.
The hands that worked at the track seemed to prefer the golf carts to bring them there, rather than their personal vehicles.
Raymond himself preferred to walk. It was part of why he felt better, had lost weight, and had reduced his stress. At least that was what he told himself.
“Dr. Johnson,” Shay said as the car parked and the women stepped out. He paused when he saw the bruise on her cheek. “Are you okay?” It took everything he had not to demand the name, address, and phone number of the person who had hit her.
“It’s not what you think! I promise.” She looked over at the woman that exited the passenger side, and when they saw her cheek, she said, “That is. That’s part of why we’re here.”
“Erin wants to be here to listen to what you have to say.”
“I figured. Is there someplace we can talk?”
“Let’s wait for Erin to get here and we can head over to my cabin,” Raymond said with authority and held out his hand to the beautiful woman before him. “Raymond Morris.”
“Amelia Johnson, and this is Betty Laurel.” They looked up when a truck pulled in, and they all saw Erin emerge from the passenger side, and Reid Garett from the driver’s side.
“What the hell?” Erin said as soon as she saw the bruises on the women’s faces. “Please tell me the men have at least one bruise.”
“No,” Amelia said. She pointed to her face and chuckled. “This is because a patient, a little six-year-old boy panicked when I got out the saw to cut the cast off his arm.”
“You’re sure?” Raymond asked.
“Yes, and that was after another patient tossed his lunch all down the front of me. Now, Betty’s bruise is why I’m here.” She looked at the others. “I have proof, and I would like to go somewhere to discuss everything.”
“Come to my cabin,” Raymond said, and instead of walking, he climbed in beside Shay in the golf cart, where Scott joined them. Pedro stayed at the barn and track, and Amelia followed after them, with Reid and Erin following her.
Inside Raymond’s cabin, he immediately started a pot of coffee and handed out water. In ten minutes, they were all settled at the table, but Scott and Reid opted to stand against the kitchen counter.
“A little context,” Amelia said. “Yesterday, I had a day from hell. My car wouldn’t start, so I had to call the garage to come get it.
Turned out I needed a new battery.” She waved her hand at them.
“It’s fixed now, and the garage dropped it off at the clinic.
” She looked at Raymond to explain. “I’m duly certified as a general practitioner, and orthopedic surgeon.
A week from this coming Monday, I’ll be opening my own practice over at Broken Two as the general practitioner.
That means I can give flu shots, check people out like any doctor, if anyone needs x-rays, Caleb has the machine at his office.
We’ll be working together. I’ll be able to prescribe medication. ”
“Okay, so why are you here now?”