Page 27 of Sebastian

“Listen closely. You’re going to get us someone to speak with, or I’m going to make a call to the president of the United States. He’s then going to call your supervisor, you’re going to lose your job, and so will your boss. Then I’m going to go through those doors back there and rip this fucking shithole apart.

“I’ll ask one more time. Nicely. Get me someone to speak with or you are going to regret seeing these faces today.”

“I already do,” she frowned.

“Maybe if you started giving a shit about them, you wouldn’t regret it,” said Chief, pointing to the waiting hordes of people. The woman looked as though he’d slapped her in the face, and Chief immediately regretted his words.

“Now, you listen to me,” said the woman, slowly standing. She was what they would call ‘sturdy,’ and she was about to unleash on the group of men. Her hair was braided tight against her head, the salt and pepper of experience evident to all. “I care for every man and woman that walks in these doors. My daddy served, my granddaddy served, my son served. I care for them all. I even care for the ones addicted to drugs who just want more. I even care for the ones that are just lookin’ for a way out. I even care for the ones that are lyin’ about everything they went through.

“They’re all sick, but I care for them all. What I don’t care for are people comin’ here treatin’ me like shit when it’s clear I got more than enough bodies out there to worry about. You four don’t appear to be missin’ any meals, losin’ any limbs, or needin’ anything urgent. So do me a favor, sit down and be patient or I’ll make that call for you to the president.”

Torro smiled at the woman, nodding his head.

“I like you,” he grinned. “Doesn’t mean I don’t need to speak to someone right now. But I respect what you’re doing, and we do understand. We’re all former military. We’re trying to get to the bottom of why a group of seniors would rob a bank after one of their spouses needed treatment and couldn’t get it.” She let out a loud huff and laughed at them.

“Why? Baby, they robbin’ banks because that’s the only way to get what they need. Did you not listen to me? Look around you. These people all have appointments. The hundred people walking around outside are waiting, hoping to be seen today. If someone needed a treatment not on the list of approved treatments, they were just out of luck. I know it ain’t right. But it is what it is.”

“We’ll take a seat,” said Torro, nodding at the woman.

“Hold on. Come on back,” she said, waving them around the desk. “I don’t need y’all in the waitin’ room scaring everyone.”

The men smirked at her. She was warming up to them, or at least playing along like she was. Pointing to several chairs in a hallway, they took a seat and waited as she walked to an office and returned a few minutes later.

“Someone will be with you shortly. Dr. Esoffa, our director, will talk to you.”

“Thank you,” said Torro. She started to walk away, and he grabbed her hand giving it a squeeze. “Seriously. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” she nodded.

“This place has made improvements over the years, but it’s still a messed-up piece of bureaucracy,” said Chase.

“Yeah, but it’s all they have right now. Until someone truly cleans it all up and gets rid of all the red tape, this is what they have,” said Hex.

“Gentlemen, I understand you’d like to speak to me about the death of a patient,” said a small black man walking toward them. He wore a white coat, purple dress shirt with a bow tie, and Bermuda shorts with running shoes. They all smirked.

“Nice outfit,” smiled Chase.

“It’s why I wear it. You’re smiling. That’s a good start. Now, what can I help you with?”

“We think about two years ago, a former Army nurse, Estelle Steiner, was here for treatment of advanced breast cancer. We know that she had multiple rounds of chemo and radiation as well as a bilateral mastectomy. There was a new treatment offered in Germany, but you didn’t approve the treatment.”

“Ah, I see,” he said, nodding. “Mr…”

“I’m Hex. This is Chase, Torro, and Chief. We’re retired military but run a security and investigation firm now.”

“I see, and according to my very angry front desk person, you know the president.” They all nodded, and Hex pulled out an ID card that said everything the doctor needed to know.

“Alright, Hex. I don’t recall this patient, but it may have been before I took over the hospital. VA benefits or Medicare rarely covers experimental treatments. Especially if those treatments were in another country. We have no way of knowing what they’re testing, what the studies or clinical trials look like, and because it’s experimental, they aren’t required to give full disclosure.”

“So, the patient has no option other than to drain their savings or die?” asked Torro. Chase gripped his friend’s arm, trying to tell him to hold back.

“I know it feels wrong, and in many ways it is. We try to offer every option possible for our patients, but sometimes, it’s not within our grasp. This patient, Estelle Steiner, was she related to one of you?” he asked with a sly gaze.

“Uh, well,” said Chase.

“You said she was your aunt, isn’t that right?” asked the doctor again.

“Yes. My aunt,” said Chase. The doctor smiled at Chase and waved them toward his office. Seated behind his desk, he entered the information and read the screen for a few moments.

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