Jonathan Kellerman - Private Eyes

“Right now,” I said, “it’s in my patient’s best interests to marshal her emotional defenses in order to deal with losing her mother.”

“Exactly,” said Anger. “That’s exactly the reason Jim and I would like to see everything squared away as soon as possible.”

“The problem,” said Douse, “is one of procedural transfer- establishing continuity. Every step of the process as it currently operates was contingent upon Mrs. Ramp’s approval. Even though she had little to do in terms of a hands-on, day-to-day management role, legally- procedurally- we were required to interface with her. Now that she’s… no longer available, we’re obligated to-”

“Deal with her heir?” I said. “Must be a hell of an inconvenience.”

Douse buttoned his jacket and leaned forward. His forehead puckered and wrinkled and he sniffed like a tackle out for a quarterback. “I sense a… combativeness here, Dr. Delaware, that’s wholly unwarranted by the facts at hand.”

“Maybe,” I said. “Or maybe I just don’t like the idea of being asked to lie professionally. Even if your intentions are good. Melissa’s not incompetent- nowhere near it. She hasn’t a trace of thought disorder or any other mental disturbance that would impair her judgment. As to whether or not she’s mature enough to handle forty million dollars, who knows? Howard Hughes and Leland Belding weren’t much older when they took over their parents’ estates, and neither of them did too badly. And banks and law firms have been known to screw up handily, haven’t they? What’re the latest figures on the S-and-L mess?”

“That,” said Anger, coloring, “has nothing to do with-”

“Whatever,” I said. “The bottom line is, any decision to delegate management of Melissa’s money will have to be Melissa’s. And it will have to be voluntary.”

Douse pressed his fingertips together, withdrew them, repeated the gesture several times. It might have been a parody of applause. His eyes were steady and small.

He said, “Well, there’s obviously no need for you to assume the burden of assessment, Doctor. Given your reluctance.”

“What does that mean? Bring in the hired-gun expert witnesses?”

His face remained blank as he showed his cuff monogram and consulted a gold-and-rivet Cartier that looked much too small for his wrist.

“Nice meeting you, Doctor.” To Anger: “This clearly isn’t a good time to be visiting, Glenn. We’ll come back when she’s feeling more up to it.”

Anger nodded but he looked off-balance. None of his trophies had been for Overt Conflict.

Douse touched his elbow, and the two of them walked past me, heading for the entry. And came face-to-face with Melissa, who stepped out from behind a tall bookcase. Her hair was tied in a ponytail. She had on a black blouse over a knee-length khaki skirt, no stockings, black sandals. Something pink was clenched in her right hand- a balled tissue.

“Melissa,” said Anger, switching on a loan-denial sad-face. “I’m so sorry about your mother, hon. You know Mr. Douse.”

Douse held out his hand.

Melissa opened her palm and showed the tissue. Douse dropped his arm.

“Mr. Douse,” she said. “I know who you are, but we’ve never met, have we?”

“Sorry it has to be under these circumstances,” said the attorney.

“Yes. How kind of you to come. And on a Sunday.”

“Days don’t matter when it comes to something like this,” said Anger. “We came by to see how you were doing, but Dr. Delaware told us you were resting and we were just on our way out.”

“Mr. Douse,” she said, ignoring him and stepping closer to the attorney. “Mr. Douse, Mr. Douse. Please douse any ideas of ripping me off, okay, Mr. Douse? No, don’t even say a word - just leave. Right now - both of you- out. My new attorneys and my new bankers will be contacting you shortly.”

After they were gone, she cried out in rage and collapsed against me, weeping.

Noel came running down the stairs, looking scared and confused and eager to comfort. He saw her pressed to my chest and stopped midway down the flight.

I motioned him forward with a small backward movement of my head.

He stepped very close to her and said, “Melissa?”

She kept crying, pushed her head into my sternum so hard it hurt. I patted her back. It seemed inadequate.

Finally she pulled away, red-eyed, face blazing.

“Oh!” she said. “Oh, the bastards ! How could they! How could they have the- She’s not even… oh!”

Choking on her words. She wheeled, ran to a wall, hit it hard with her fists.

Noel looked to me for counsel. I nodded and he went to her. She allowed him to guide her into the front room. The three of us sat down.

Madeleine came in, looking angry but smug, as if her worst assumptions about mankind had been confirmed. Once again. I wondered how much she’d heard.

More footsteps.

The other two maids appeared behind Madeleine. She said something, and they hurried off.

Madeleine walked over and touched Melissa’s head. Melissa looked up and pushed a smile through her tears.

Madeleine said, “I bring you to drink?”

Melissa didn’t answer.

I said, “Please. Tea, for all of us.”

Madeleine lumbered off. Melissa sat hunched under Noel’s protective forearm, jaw clenched, tearing the tissue to shreds and letting them fall to the floor.

Madeleine returned with tea, honey, and milk on a silver tray. She served, handing a cup to Noel, who guided it toward Melissa’s lips.

Melissa drank, choked, sputtered.

All three of us hurried to attend to her. The resulting flurry of arms was Keystonish; it might have been comical under different circumstances.

When the dust cleared, Noel again held the cup to Melissa’s lips. She took a sip, started to gag, put her hand to her chest, and managed to hold it down. When she’d finished a third of the cup, Madeleine nodded in approval and left.

Melissa touched Noel’s hand and said, “Enough. Thanks.”

He put the cup down.

She said, “The bastards. Unbelievable.”

“Who?” said Noel.

“My banker and my lawyer, ” she said. “Trying to rip me off.” To me: “Thanks- thanks so much for sticking up for me, Dr. Delaware. I know who my true friends are.”

Noel remained confused. I gave him a brief replay of the interchange with Anger and Douse. Each word seemed to inflate his own anger.

“Assholes,” he said. “Better get yourself some new ones fast.”

“Oh, yeah,” she said. “I made it sound as if I already had someone hired- you should have seen the looks on their faces.”

Brief smile. Noel remained serious.

Melissa said, “Do you know any good lawyers, Dr. Delaware?”

“Most of the ones I know practice family law. But I should be able to get you a referral for an estate lawyer.”

“Please. I’d really appreciate it. And a banker, too.”

“The estate lawyer should be able to refer you to a banker.”

“Good,” she said. “The sooner the better, before those two worms try anything. For all I know they’ve already been filing some kind of papers against me.” Insight widened her eyes. “I’ll have Milo check them out. He’ll be able to find out what they’re up to. They’ve probably ripped me off already, wouldn’t you say?”

“Who knows?”

“Well,” she said, “they haven’t exactly shown themselves to be honorable. For all I know they’ve been ripping off Mother all these years…” Closing her eyes.

Noel hugged her tighter. She allowed it but didn’t relax.

Her eyes opened suddenly. “Maybe Don was in it with them- all of them scheming-”