[Lady Justice 16] - Lady Justice and the Organ Traders

by Robert Thornhill

  “One of the biggest moral battles has been over same-sex marriages. Traditionalists have fought tooth and nail against it and yet, it is now legal in seventeen states.

  “In spite of the war on drugs, twenty states plus the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for medical use and two have legalized it for recreational use.”

  “That’s exactly my point!” I said, exasperated. “The organ trade is going to happen one way or another. Why not legalize it?”

  “The bigger question, Walt, is whether all these changes are signs of moral decay or a more enlightened society.”

  “What do you think?”

  “I don’t think it really matters one way or the other. Individuals are going to be presented with choices in their lives and are going to have to exercise their free will. If marijuana is legalized in Missouri will you and Maggie start puffing away?”

  “Of course not!”

  “Personal choice. If Maggie was dying of renal failure and someone offered you a kidney for a price to save her life, would you do it, knowing it was illegal?”

  “In a minute!”

  “Complicated issue, isn’t it, Walt?”

  “Yes, but now that we’ve hashed out all the world’s woes, how does that help me with my current problem?”

  “Free will, Walt. Maggie has a choice to make. It’s her body and it’s her brother. Once she makes that choice, you have a choice to make. Are you going to love her and support her decision or are you going to be a butt-head and sleep on the couch?”

  I knew he was right. I just didn’t want to hear it.

  Maggie was waiting up when I returned home.

  “Walt, I’m so sorry that I snapped at you. Seeing Kevin after all these years and ---.”

  I put my finger on her lips. “Shhh, I’m the one that’s sorry. I realize now that it’s your decision to make. I was just being selfish. Whatever you decide, I’m with you all the way.”

  She fell into my arms and wept.

  As I laid in bed with Maggie nestled close beside me, I hoped that whatever power had been watching over me would watch over her too. I hadn’t really thought about it before, but I suppose it was a prayer.

  CHAPTER 9

  Josh Summers had been hoping for the call and it finally came.

  “Mr. Summers, this is Dr. Vargas. I believe we’ve found a donor for you. Our preliminary results look very good. Just one more test and if it’s positive, we’ll be ready to proceed. How’s Beth doing?”

  “She’s very weak but hanging in there.”

  “Splendid! Then we mustn’t waste any time. We don’t want to take the chance of losing her on the table. Do you have the money?”

  “I can get it. I’ve cashed in everything we have and we’ve been approved for a second mortgage on our home. I’ve been waiting on your call to close. My boss is making us a loan for the rest.”

  Vargas knew that Josh had nearly bankrupted his family getting the cash and he felt for him, but black market kidneys weren’t cheap. In addition to the sizable sum paid to the donor, there were the costs for the nephrologist, the surgical assistants, drivers and equipment, not to mention the cost for the old warehouse. This wasn’t the first time he had seen a family give up everything to save the life of a loved one. As much as he wanted to sympathize, Vargas knew he had to be all business.

  “Perfect! Remember cash only. As soon as the last test result is in, I’ll call you with the final details.”

  Josh hung up and breathed a sigh of relief. After five years of discouragement and despair, he was going to get his wife back. It had taken every penny that he could scrape together but it was worth it. He couldn’t imagine his life without Beth.

  As I suspected she would, Maggie had decided to proceed.

  “How could I live with myself knowing I had the power to save Kevin and then do nothing? How could I go to his funeral and watch him being lowered into the ground knowing that if I had made the right decision, he would be alive and I would have the chance to know the brother I had lost years ago?”

  As much as I hated it, Maggie was simply being the person that made me love her in the first place. How could I be anything but supportive?

  She had called Kevin and given him her decision. I watched the expression on her face as she listened to his reaction. It was easy to see that she had made the right choice.

  The next step was a trip to the hospital to have Maggie tested. As siblings, it was almost a foregone conclusion that she and her brother would be compatible, but it was a necessary procedure.

  As I left for work, I gave her a big hug and reaffirmed my support.

  “You have no idea how much that means to me,” she said, wiping a tear from her eye.

  Actually, I did know how much it meant to her and that’s why I was willing to do it.

  The next day, just after our lunch break, Maggie called.

  “Walt, is there any chance you could take the afternoon off? I received a call from the hospital. They want to see Kevin and me there together. I’d really like you to be there if there’s any way you can swing it.”

  The captain owed me some time for cutting my four day weekend in half.

  “I’ll work it out. Just tell me where and when.”

  Maggie and Kevin were waiting for me in the hospital lobby.

  Kevin grabbed my hand. “Thank you so much for coming. I’m not sure either one of us could go through with this if you weren’t on board.”

  Actually, I was still pissed at the guy, but not wanting to be a poop, I smiled and shook his hand. “You bet. Where do we go?”

  We took the elevator to the third floor and followed the signs to the lab testing wing. A nurse escorted us to a small private office. A few minutes later, a technician entered wearing one of those long lab coats and carrying a clipboard.

  “I’m Dr. Powell,” he said, shaking hands all around. “I’ll get right to the point. I’m afraid that Maggie is not a compatible donor for you, Kevin.”

  “But --- but, I don’t understand. We’re brother and sister. How can that be?”

  “We were wondering the same thing, so we did some additional tests. The two of you are certainly related, but --- and this may come to you as a shock --- it looks like you have the same mother but different fathers.”

  Maggie and Kevin were both speechless.

  “You’re absolutely certain about this?” I asked.

  “I’m afraid so. We ran the tests twice. I’m really sorry. Kevin, if you find another donor, please get in touch. We’d love to help. Well, I would imagine that you have some things to discuss so I’ll get out of your way. Use the room as long as you want.”

  No one spoke for the longest time.

  Finally, Maggie said, “Oh Kevin, I’m so sorry. I really wanted to help.”

  “I know, Sis. It’s a bummer. Oh well, I can’t really complain. I’ve had a long, pretty satisfying life.”

  Now that the guy was really going to die, I felt like a complete ass.

  “So what about Mom?” Maggie said. “It would seem that there was another man in her life besides Hugh McBride. Did you have any idea?”

  “Not a clue, but I’m not surprised. Dad was gone more than he was home. He sold hospital equipment all over the country. He’d leave on Sunday night and be back late the next Friday night. That left a lot of time in between. It’s not much of a stretch to imagine that Mom found someone to keep her company on those lonely nights.”

  “But Mom with a secret lover! I thought I knew her.”

  “I guess we all have our secrets,” he said. “Just look at me. Well, I know the two of you need to get back to your lives. Let’s stay in touch. I’d love to get to know my little sister during the few months I have left.”

  They both promised and hugged.

  On the way home, I couldn’t help thinking how much Maggie and I had in common. I thought all my life that I was an only child. A couple of years ago, a man showed up at our door just like Kevin, announci
ng that he was my half-brother. My dad was an over-the-road trucker and had developed a relationship with a woman way out in western Kansas. His route changed just about the time the woman became pregnant. She raised the boy on her own and Dad never knew. The only reason that Mark Davenport showed up was that I was involved in an investigation of a Dr. Death practicing euthanasia. He wanted the name for his mother who was dying a very painful death. Mark was an FBI agent at the time, but has since transferred to Homeland Security. We have worked several cases together and become good friends. **

  “I can’t stop thinking about this,” Maggie said. “My mom with another man. Was Hugh McBride my father or the other guy?”

  “I don’t suppose you’ll ever know,” I said, trying to be comforting. “Does it really matter?”

  “Of course it matters,” she snapped belligerently. “You believe one thing all your life and suddenly you discover it’s all been a lie. It’s part of who I am. I want to know!”

  I have to work on my comforting skills.

  Suddenly, she smacked her knee. “The basement! That stuff in the basement. I’ve been avoiding it for years. Now I have a reason to dig through it.”

  ***********************************

  ** Lady Justice and the Watchers

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  Before we were married, Maggie lived in a small efficiency apartment on the Plaza. There was very little storage room, so when her mother passed away, she rented an 8 x 10 at one of those public storage places to put her stuff.

  After we were married, we saw no reason to keep paying the monthly storage fee, so we moved everything into what used to be the coal room in the basement. It hadn’t been touched in four years.

  We returned home. I put on old clothes and started carrying boxes from the basement to our third floor apartment. When I was finished, our living room was full and I was pooped.

  Maggie hadn’t waited. She had ripped into the first box as soon as I set it on the floor. She was a woman with a mission.

  I plopped into a chair. “Find anything yet?”

  “Lots of stuff, family photos, old recipes, my grade school report cards, a drawing I made that Mom kept on the refrigerator for years, but not what I’m looking for.”

  “Sorry, Babe. I know how important this is to you. But think about it. She kept this guy a secret from you, your brother and your dad for all those years. I doubt you’re going to find a photo album of shots from their nightly trysts.”

  “Walt! That’s disgusting.”

  “Just saying.”

  Maggie opened a jewelry box from the last carton I had delivered. “Oh, I remember these ear rings and this brooch.” Then, she picked up a locket and opened it. “Oh my God!”

  “What is it?”

  “There are no pictures, just initials inscribed on each side, M.M. and S.K.! M.M. would be my mother, Martha McBride, but who is S.K.?”

  I hurried to her side and looked over her shoulder. I’ll bet there were other family pictures in there at some time covering those initials. Pretty clever.”

  I looked into the box and pulled out an 8 x 10 frame containing a family photo.

  “That’s the four of us at one of Dad’s office picnics,” she said. “Let’s see if there’s a date on the back.”

  I started to hand her the frame, but it slipped out of my hand and hit the floor, shattering the glass into a hundred pieces.

  “Damn! I’m so sorry!”

  “It’s just an old frame. Don’t cut yourself.”

  I was sweeping up the pieces when I noticed that the brown paper covering the back of the frame was torn. It looked like something was inside. I ripped open the back and two things fell out, a letter and a newspaper clipping with the photo of a soldier in uniform.

  “Maggie, I think I’ve found what you’re looking for.”

  Maggie carefully opened the letter and read:

  My dearest Martha,

  I know you’re sad that the war is pulling us apart, but in the end, it’s probably for the best. I love you with all my heart, but you have a family, a husband that loves you and a son.

  I couldn’t bear the shame that you would endure if we were found out.

  I will always treasure the moments we had together and those memories will be my comfort in the heat of battle.

  Take care, my love.

  Sean

  The clipping was the announcement that Army Airman, Sean Kilpatrick, was shot down over Nazi Germany and had been awarded the Distinguished Service Cross posthumously.

  Maggie hugged the letter and the photo to her breast and sobbed.

  “My father! Sean Kilpatrick is my father!”

  CHAPTER 10

  Sleep didn’t come easily for Maggie that night. She tossed and turned and flopped keeping us both awake, and who could blame her. It’s not every day that you discover that the person you had believed was your father for sixty-nine years really wasn’t, and that your real father was someone you had never met.

  Finally, she gave up and moved to the couch so that I could get a few winks before going to work.

  When I stumbled out of the bedroom, Maggie was already dressed and putting on her coat.

  “Where to?” I asked, rubbing my eyes.

  “The Midwest Genealogy Center. If I’m really Maggie Kilpatrick and not Maggie McBride, I want to know what that means.”

  “I get that,” I replied. “If it was me, I’d want to know too. Good luck. I’ll be anxious to hear what you find out.”

  She blew me a kiss and was out the door.

  At squad meeting that morning, the captain brought us up to date on the organ trader case.

  “I’m afraid we’ve hit a brick wall. We know this stuff is going on but we just can’t get a handle on it. Sick people aren’t going to come forward because they want the new organ to live. Donors aren’t coming forward because they’ve just pocketed a big wad of cash, and if it’s a botched job like Leroy Grubbs, we’ll probably never find the body. We were just lucky in his case.

  “Apparently, the word is getting around that black market organs are available. Our tech guys are picking up chatter on the internet, but so far, we haven’t been able to figure out a way to take advantage of it.

  “Bottom line, keep your eyes and ears open. Eventually, we’ll get a break.”

  Frankly, I was surprised by the lack of progress. In other cases where the FBI was involved, they had wasted no time in putting together a plan, usually involving an undercover operation. On several of those occasions, the undercover guy had been me, and honestly, I had been expecting a summons to the captain’s office asking me to volunteer to pose as a dying man seeking a new kidney. My curiosity got the best of me. I dragged Ox to the captain’s office and knocked.

  “Come on in. What’s on your mind?”

  After sharing my thoughts, the captain smiled. “Actually, Walt, using you to lure out these creeps was our first thought, but after giving it careful consideration, we knew it probably wouldn’t work.”

  “Why not? I’m old.”

  “You’re old, but you’re not sick. These guys are pros. As careful as they have been, insulating themselves from the ambulance driver and the guy at the morgue and using burner cell phones, they’re not going to make stupid mistakes. If someone comes forward looking for a kidney, the first thing they will do is check the national transplant list. If that person is not on there, they’ll know something doesn’t smell right.”

  That certainly made sense. Suddenly, I had a thought. “So what you need is someone really sick that’s on the transplant list to work with us undercover.”

  “We considered that possibility, but nixed it right away. There’s no way we could put a private citizen in harm’s way in an undercover operation. First of all, they’re sick and second, they have no experience in this sort of thing. There’s a hundred things that could go wrong.”

  “I might have just the person you’re looking for!”

  I spent the ne
xt fifteen minutes telling Ox and the captain about our surprise visit from Kevin McBride.

  “He would be perfect. He’s old, he’s sick, he’s on the transplant list, and even more important, he’s been a P.I. for fifty years. He’s probably done more sneaky undercover stuff than any officer under your command.”

  The captain sat silently, processing everything I had said. Finally, he spoke. “Let me get this straight. His real name is Kevin McBride. He was arrested as part of Civella’s gang, put in witness protection in exchange for testifying, operated as a P.I. under the name of Fred Fenton and he’s Maggie’s brother.”

  “Half-brother.”

  “Good Lord, Walt. How do you get mixed up in all this stuff?”

  “Just lucky, I guess. So what do you think? Can we use him?”

  “Do you think he would be willing?”

  “All I can do is ask. He said that he always wanted to be a cop.”

  “It definitely has some possibilities. I’ll have to run it by Agent Blackburn. I’m sure he’ll want to do a complete background check on the guy. You see if he’s willing to work with us. If he is and his story checks out, we’ll see where it takes us. Maybe this is the break we’ve been waiting for.”

  When we were in our cruiser, Ox remarked, “You certainly lead an interesting life.”

  “I’m afraid that it’s going to get a lot more interesting when I get home. Maggie has just found her long-lost brother and I’m going to try to talk him into an undercover operation to expose a gang that steals corpses, cuts people open and burns their bodies. I’ll probably be the one sleeping on the couch tonight.”

  “I wouldn’t want to be you!”

  To say that Maggie was less than enthusiastic about my idea would be an understatement.

  As I unfolded my plan, I could see her expression change from mild interest to disbelief and finally to outright anger.