Chapter 6 #2
“If that happens, then I’ll add that to the amount they need to pay out to the patients for the lawsuit,” Raymond said.
“Again, I’m going to have to read everything, do some research, and then I can start compiling the actual lawsuit.
I should have better answers by then. However, we don’t even have a case if those two don’t call in any of your previously healed patients.
” He again looked at Betty with a stern expression.
“No heroics, eyes and ears open, and before the two of you leave, you’ll be fitted and told how to operate the recording equipment. ”
“Don’t worry,” Kevin said. “Things are so small today that it’s the size of a button, and the recording device can slip inside your bra.
We had female undercover cops wear them all the time.
Since Colorado is a one-party consent state, as long as you are involved in the conversation, it’s admissible in a court of law. ”
“What’s that mean?” Both Betty and Amelia asked.
“It means that when you are in the room with the doctor and patient, then you can record, it’s legal. However, you cannot leave the recorder in the exam room, or one of their offices, and leave. You have to be present for it to be admissible, and not entrapment.”
“Ah, I understand. Would this be video, audio, or both?”
“Audio would work, I wouldn’t want video unless you happen to be in the OR and can observe the actual operation. You said you’re an OR nurse?”
“Yes, I’m the head scrub nurse for Amelia, Ervin, and now Perkins. I’m only in the OR when they are in there. When not there, I’m at the clinic helping with the patients there.”
“We’ll have to hook you up with the right equipment so you can wear it in the OR,” Kevin said. “We can stop and talk to Duane on the way back through.”
“Why don’t the two of you do that, and I’ll go back to New Double with Raymond and I can show him how to read the files.
Not that I think he can’t, but I take funny notes.
” She looked at the men with a shrug, and laughed along with Betty.
They left Caleb’s office and when Amelia tried to hand the keys to the other building back to him, he held up his hands and shook his head.
“Keep them, I’d just have to give them back to you next week.”
“I know that, but I don’t want to lose them in case something happens this next week. I’m not saying it will, but you never know.”
“Okay,” he said, and went back down the hall and was back in seconds.
They went to their vehicles, and Raymond had Amelia ride with him, while Betty rode with Kevin.
They turned off at Erin’s Way, while Raymond kept going.
He waved to Yvonne as he drove past the security building, and went directly to his cabin.
After waiting for her to exit the vehicle, he invited her into his house.
The first thing he did was offer her coffee or water, and when she opted for water, he pulled out two bottles.
“Would you like some lunch?”
“Don’t go to any trouble.”
“No trouble, I have stuff to make sandwiches.”
“Only if you’re sure.”
“I’m sure, and I’m not going out on a limb here when I tell you that since coming to work for Erin, I’ve found that everyone here is like family, and treat each other as such.
You saw the community pantry, cooler, and freezer, it’s the same as me offering you a sandwich for lunch.
Oh, and I’m going to give you the same word of advice that Erin gave me when I had my final date of arrival narrowed down. ”
“What’s that?”
“Stop and pick up at least a week’s worth of groceries before you come.
As I’m sure you know, it’s a little over an hour to Colorado Springs, and Fool’s Gold is in the other direction, which is forty-five minutes to an hour for that trip.
I don’t know if you eat meat or not, but as you saw, the freezer is stocked with beef, chicken, and pork.
I believe, but don’t quote me, but I believe the only meat you might have to purchase would be seafood. ”
“Got it, not that I would, I only like it when I go out to a restaurant and someone else prepares it.” She laughed along with him. “Thank you for that advice.”
“You’re welcome.” The entire time he’d talked, he’d gotten out the bread, sandwich meat, condiments, and any veggies she would want on the sandwich.
They settled at the table, and he jumped to his feet to grab a bag of potato chips.
“I shouldn’t be eating these, but I only have a handful every couple of days. ”
“Why shouldn’t you be eating them?”
“Back home, my doctor told me I was heading toward a heart attack. He said if and when it happened, it would be classified as stress induced.”
“Damn, how do you feel now?”
“Great. I’m going to have to find a doctor here, because I don’t know what my numbers are, but before I moved here, I was borderline diabetic, my A1C was six point eight. No medication, he said I could control it with diet.”
“He was correct. How’s your cholesterol, and blood pressure?”
“Borderline. No medications yet, but he said if I continued to work seventy to eighty hours a week, I would have to start taking them, then he said I was a heart attack waiting to happen.”
“No offense, Raymond, but looking at you sitting there, I never would have guessed you had underlying health issues.”
“That’s the thing, I don’t think I do.”
“Explain.”
“I’ve been here for five weeks. I’ve lost almost twenty pounds, I’m exercising by mucking out the stalls, walking the horses, saddling them, rubbing them down, and I’m not calling to have my meals delivered.
I’ve cut out all junk food except for the chips.
” He held up the bag with a grin, and she saw that it was actually only a single snack size, but he had only taken half of the contents.
“This is my only indulgence. That’s why I want to find another doctor here in Colorado to run my numbers again.
Like it was mentioned earlier, my doctor told me I could control it all with diet and exercise.
Back home, I didn’t have the time, here, I have all the time in the world. ”
“Do you think taking my potential case will jeopardize your health?”
“No, because we’re really not doing anything except for reading files.
I can do that at night after putting in a full day’s work.
If something happens, and what you suspect Perkins will do happens, then I can cut back on the barn work and concentrate on the case.
It won’t come to fruition overnight, but by reading what you’ve brought me, I’ll have a better handle on things.
” He looked at her with a grin. “Don’t worry, just the threat of having to go on all those medications gave me a wake-up call. ”
“Do you have your medical files with you?”
“No, they’re back in North Carolina, they told me to have my new doctor contact them and they can fax them over, or send them electronically.” He shook his head. “Believe it or not, I had to pay in advance to have them sent. I just don’t know who I’ll see.”
“We can talk when I return.”
“Okay, but I’m not putting any pressure on you.”
“That’s fine.” They finished their meal, and then Raymond asked her to follow him down the hall.
At her look, he grinned. “Yes, it’s a bedroom, but I converted it to an office.
I tossed a lot of stuff from my old home when I moved here, however, I couldn’t part with the desk.
It was my great-grandfather’s.” He opened the room to his home office and watched her face as she saw the desk.
“Beautiful.”
His only thought at her comment was that she was more beautiful than the desk.