by Natalie Ann
“Did you test for salt?” Jackie’s heart tightened. She flipped through all the papers on her desk. “In my visit today, Kari had a bowl of chips and was adding extra salt, or so that’s what I thought.”
“Nope. She left AMA,” Rod said.
“She’s done that a few times,” James said. “I’ve treated her twice, and when she came in a third time, she freaked out, called me incompetent, and demanded another emergency doctor.”
“That’s where I came into the picture, and I doubt she’d want me to treat her daughter again,” Eileen said.
“Okay, but James, what did she come to see you for? Same thing?”
James shook his head. “Only once, but I treated her as if she had rotavirus. The first time was when she brought her in with a broken arm. The child was ten weeks old. I found that suspicious.”
“Yeah. I would too,” Jackie said, letting out a long breath.
“But mom’s story made sense with the injury. There was no reason to think anything else,” James said. “But I’m guessing you’re thinking there is more to this story.”
Jackie turned her attention to her laptop and pulled up the chart she’d created just a half hour ago with all of Coralie’s illnesses as well as hospital and doctor visits that she could find. She turned the screen around. “This starts when Coralie was ten days old and her first visit to her pediatrician. She was seen by this doctor five times in one month before Kari changed doctors.”
“That little girl has had three pediatricians?” Eileen asked.
“Well, the third one hasn’t seen her yet, but yes. I called the second doctor who stated he was quite concerned for Coralie’s health. Her growth has been off for the last three months.”
Eileen cocked her head. “Are you thinking this mother has Munchausen by proxy?”
Jackie nodded. “I wanted to know what you all thought, since you had contact with both mother and child.”
“If I had all that information laid out in front of me, I would have done things differently, but because she went to some facilities out of our network, it didn’t come up,” Eileen said.
“The sad part for me is that I wouldn’t have even picked this up so quickly had it not been for Coralie’s father hiring a private investigator,” Jackie admitted. “Alston, the father, has a supervised visit tomorrow here in my office. If I can get the judge to sign off, I’d like to have some blood drawn and do a tox screen on Coralie.”
“I’m happy to run the test and do an exam,” Eileen said.
“I’ll do whatever I can,” Ron added.
“Count me in,” James said.
“I appreciate that. Now I just need to get the judge to let me do this without the mother’s knowledge.”
“What about dad?” Eileen asked.
“Besides the fact he doesn’t have any parental rights at this point, I don’t want him to know.” Jackie gathered up all the paperwork and glanced at her watch. She needed to get this to the judge soon. “I think it’s best, as long as the judge agrees, that this is done quietly.”
“And if nothing comes back from the tox? What next?” James asked.
“I will become Kari’s worst nightmare,” Jackie said. “I appreciate all of you coming in.”
“Not a problem. We’ll see you tomorrow.” Eileen stood and led the team of doctors out of the office.
Jackie pulled her laptop closer and quickly finished filling out all the necessary paperwork. This particular judge was known for being tough, but fair. That said, she was confident that he’d give her the green light.
A child’s well-being hung in the balance.
She glanced over the screen after she hit send just as Anna, the head of the department, stormed into her office.
“We’ve got a problem,” Anna said.
“What’s that?”
“Care to tell me why you’re having drinks with a father of a child you’re assessing? Or why he was kissing you in front of your front door?”
Oh fuck. That’s not good. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.”
She sure did. “Who told you that?”
“Are you going to deny it?”
“No.” Jackie stiffened her spine. “I’d like to know who told you and what exactly they told you.”
“Actually, they showed me.” Anna pulled out her cell and tapped the screen before sliding it across the desk.
Jackie stared at an image of her and Alston in front of her house in a major lip-lock.
Edwin.
But why is he sending something like that to Anna, and how does he know Alston was a father of a client?
“Where did you get that?” Jackie handed the phone back to Anna.
“Does it matter? That’s highly unprofessional, and now I’m going to have to take you off this case.”
“Please, don’t do that yet.” She turned her computer around. “I just emailed you a copy of this request to the judge.”
Anna leaned forward. Her gaze darted left and right as she scanned the detailed request. “Holy shit.” She fell back in the chair. “How did you gather all that information in such a short time? Why did you?”
“Alston’s private investigator has been gathering it. He sent it to me. I’ve spoken to many of the doctors who have treated Coralie, and I did a spot check this morning. I didn’t like what I saw, and when I tied it in with all of this, I felt I needed to take the next step.”
“I agree, but that doesn’t help me with what you’re doing with the father.” Anna arched a brow.
Jackie had known Anna since medical school. When she’d done her first observations in pediatric psychiatry, she’d done it under Anna, and they’d developed not only a professional teacher-student relationship, but a friendship as well. Jackie often went to her for advice on things both at the workplace and in her personal life.
Especially when it came to Edwin.
“Okay, so that wasn’t a good decision. But seriously, who sent that to you?”
“Who do you think? He wants to know who the new man in your life is.” Anna had been one of the few people in Jackie’s life who had met Edwin, and about three months before she found out the truth, he’d made a surprise visit to a conference she attended with Anna in New Mexico.
“Did you talk to Edwin?” Jackie asked.
“No. He called me a few times, but I didn’t return the calls. However, you can imagine my surprise when I saw who you were kissing. That’s so unlike you to be reckless with your career.”
“I know. I know.” She pinched the bridge of her nose. “I’ll step back if you want me to, but not until tomorrow. Please. I need to see that through.”
“Can you keep your lips to yourself from now on?”
God, that was going to be damn near impossible, but considering that shit was about to hit the fan, it was for the best. “Yes. I can do that.”
“Can he?” Anna asked. “He looks pretty into you.”
“I’m sure he can,” Jackie said.
“Let’s keep it that way.”
Her office door flew open. “Sorry to barge in,” Eileen said. “But Coralie was just admitted to the ER with a seizure, vomiting, diarrhea, and she’s very lethargic.”
“Looks like you get your tox report and more today,” Anna said.
***
Jackie raced through the hospital with her phone to her ear.
“Hey, what’s up?” Alston asked.
“Come to the emergency room. Kari just brought Coralie in,” she said in a voice that she hoped sounded calm, though on the inside she was anything but.
“What? What’s wrong?”
“I’m not exactly sure. I just found out, and I’m heading there right now. Just come in. Text me when you get here, and I’ll meet you in the lobby. Promise me you’ll let me know before you come down to the room.”
“Okay,” he said. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
She tucked the phone in her lab coat and rounded the corner to the ER
department where she was greeted by Ron. “She’s in room four. Mom is not a happy camper.”
“Thanks.” Jackie sucked in a deep breath and let it out slowly, counting to ten before she pushed back the curtain. Another nurse nodded before leaving the room.
“Hi, Kari. What happened?” Jackie asked.
Kari stood at the edge of the crib holding a sleeping Coralie’s hand. “I don’t want you in here,” she whispered. “This has nothing to do with Alston, the case, or any of that. I’m fighting to figure out what is wrong with my daughter, and the stress of this is making her worse.”
Jackie stood on the other side and stared down at the little girl. She appeared very sickly compared to what she looked like only a few hours earlier. She needed to find a way to keep the peace and stay in the room. Kari was right, other than her suspicions, this was not her place. The doctors treating Coralie knew all about what she thought was going on and were taking precautions and doing the necessary testing. Coralie was in good hands, and soon this horrible ordeal for her would be over.
If it wasn’t, it would kill Alston, especially when he learned the truth.
“I do understand your concern. We have some of the best diagnostic doctors here at Newport. If you like, I can ask the head of the ER to come down and take a look at Coralie as a personal courtesy.”
“I’d appreciate that,” Kari said. “For the most part, the care here is very good. I’m just very frustrated that we keep coming back for the same thing, and they treat the symptoms, and then a few weeks later, I’m right back here dealing with the same thing. I can’t even go back to work. I’ve had to resort to a Go Fund Me page to pay for my bills.”
Once again, Jackie wanted to remind her of the money that Alston had offered, but that was a moot point now.
“I know this is difficult. We’ll do everything we can.” Jackie made her way to the other side of the bed as her phone buzzed in her pocket. That had to be a text from Alston. “Let me get the nurse in charge of Coralie and get a move on the tests.”
“They already took blood. Too much. I don’t want them pricking her again,” Kari said.
“They have the IV in her, so unless for some reason they need more blood, I’m sure they won’t have to.” Doing her best to remain as professional as possible and not to alarm Kari as to what was really happening, Jackie gently squeezed her arm. “We’ll take good care of her.”
“She’s all I have,” Kari said. “She’s everything to me.”
“I understand. I’ll be back in a bit.” She peeked her head out the curtain and waved to the nurse who scurried over. “I’ll be back shortly.”
“I won’t leave the room,” she said.
Jackie made a beeline for the waiting room. Knowing Alston, if she wasn’t waiting for him, he’d bust into the exam room and let his temper flare.
***
Alston raced through the sliding glass doors in the pediatric emergency room of Newport Beach Hospital. His heart pounded so hard it was about all he could hear. His gut twisted, churning up acid that hit the back of his throat.
“Alston,” Jackie’s voice calmed him a little, but not much.
“Where is she? Where’s my baby girl?” He grabbed Jackie by the forearms and held her tightly. He blinked, trying to gain focus. His chest tightened so much he thought he was having a heart attack.
“Come with me.”
“Is she okay?” he asked, still holding on to her arm as they made their way down the hallway and toward the exam rooms.
“She’s doing okay.” She glanced up at him. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I think it’s best if you didn’t touch me while we’re here.”
“Oh. Sorry.” He stuffed his hands in his pockets. Right now, she was all he had to keep him from going crazy. “What happened?”
“Kari said she’d been battling stomach issues for a while now. When I stopped by her house this morning, Coralie wasn’t herself. After I left, she said she was about to take her to the doctor when she had a seizure, and she took her straight here where she’s been vomiting and lethargic.”
“What do the doctors think is making her so sick?” It scared and angered him that he knew so little about his daughter and her health issues. He opened and closed his hand, doing his best to keep the adrenaline igniting in his bloodstream from demanding to be heard. The last thing he needed was for his temper and frustration to get the better of him.
“They don’t know, but they are running tests. Depending on what comes back, they might do a CT scan,” she said.
“I really value and appreciate your professionalism, but right now, you’re the only friend I have in this town.”
“Not here,” she whispered.
He nodded, letting out a long breath.
“She’s right in here.” Jackie stopped in front of a curtain. “Before you go in, I need to know you’re going to behave yourself around Kari.”
“I promise.”
She pulled back the ugly green-and-blue fabric.
Kari sat in a chair next to a crib with her hands through the rails, holding on to Coralie’s arm. “What’s he doing here?”
“How is she?” Alston asked, ignoring Kari’s harsh tone. “How are you?”
“Not well on either account.”
He inched closer to the crib. His daughter lay sprawled out on her back. Both her arms stretched wide. Her face so white, he had to reach in and rest his hand on her chest just to make sure she was breathing.
“The doctors sedated her so she could rest. She was in a lot of pain when she first arrived,” Jackie said.
“Pain from what?” Alston asked.
“That’s a good question,” a woman dressed in scrubs said as she stepped into the room. “You must be dad. I’m Doctor Ambrose, but you can call me Eileen.”
“Okay,” he said.
“Kari, can you tell me about Coralie’s diet?” Eileen asked.
“Her diet? She’s thirteen months old. She drinks milk and eats baby food that I make fresh, and all organic. Pretty much stick to pears, peas, carrots, bananas, oatmeal, and some crackers and things like that.”
“Do you have any with you?” Eileen asked. “The stuff you make special for her.”
“I didn’t think to pack any, why?” Kari asked.
“Do you use salt in your recipes?” Eileen asked.
“No.” Kari jumped to her feet. “What are you getting at?”
“Shhhhh,” Alston whispered as he rubbed Coralie’s tummy while she started to fuss. He didn’t understand the conversation, and while he wanted to follow it, if his little girl was going to wake up and be upset, he was going to focus his attention on her. Besides, he had to trust Jackie and the doctors.
Coralie blinked open her eyes and let out a short cry.
He glanced toward Jackie and pointed to his daughter and then himself.
Jackie nodded, so he reached into the crib and lifted Coralie to his chest. She immediately snuggled in, popping her thumb into her mouth.
“Daddy’s got you,” he said.
“Put her down,” Kari said. “He shouldn’t be in here, much less holding her. He’s a monster.” She took a step toward him, but Eileen got between them. “Your daughter is suffering from salt poisoning. I suspect that every time you’ve brought her in with the same symptoms, it’s been salt poisoning.”
“Wait,” Alston said, rubbing Coralie’s back and rocking right to left as if he’d been doing this his whole life. “You can have too much salt?”
“Absolutely,” Eileen said. “And it can be very dangerous, especially in children. But we need to find the source.”
“Well, I’m not giving my baby too much salt,” Kari said. “This is all him.” She pointed to Alston.
“Me?” Alston asked. “This, right here, is only the fourth time I’ve seen our child. How on earth could I have given her salt?”
“Well, I didn’t, and I can’t believe you all are standing here accusing me of purposely poisoning her
while my baby is suffering,” Kari said.
“I never said you did it purposely. A lot of people don’t know that you can overdose on salt like this,” Eileen said. “But without testing the baby food and going through your home, we can’t be sure of the source. Unfortunately, we have a protocol we have to follow here, and I had to call in social services and the police. They will escort you to the home where we will do a thorough search of your place to see if we can find whatever is hurting Coralie.”
“You did what?” Kari’s voice rose to an abnormally high octave.
Alston took a step back, holding his daughter tight. He glanced around the room at all the players. He’d been involved in sting operations before in the military, and he couldn’t help but think he’d just walked into a trap and he and his daughter had been pawns.
That flared his rage.
“There is an officer standing outside the exam room. He will take you, Jackie, and one of our lab techs. They will take samples of food, medicines, and anything else—”
“You can’t do that. I have rights. I’m calling my lawyer,” Kari said.
“You do that,” Eileen said. “A search warrant has been issued.”
“Jackie? Can they do this?” Kari pleaded.
“I’m afraid so,” Jackie said. “They really need to find the source of the salt intake so this doesn’t happen again. I’m sure you understand because you love your daughter and you want what’s best for her.”
“Of course I do, but while I’m gone, I don’t want that man in here with her.” Kari pointed to Alston.
“I’m her father, and I’ll take good care of her,” Alston said, puffing out his chest.
