Page 87 of To Save Him

Clicking back to the home page, I found a phone number.  In less than a minute, I’d dialed it, taking the plunge without giving myself time to think much about it.

As I heard the line ringing on the other end, I felt a jolt of panic.  What had the papers said his name was again?

Michael.

I let out a small breath of relief as a woman’s voice came on the line.  I could tell she had her introduction script down by rote, because she rattled out the name of the hospital, followed by some motto about caring for people, and then she asked how she could direct my call—all in one breath, all delivered in the same staccato monotone that could have easily rattled me or put me to sleep, depending on my mood.

Right now, though, I was on a mission.

“Yes, uh, I need to speak with someone about a former patient.”

“Are you a doctor?”

“No.  I’m a…family member.”  That lie had almost been easy.  Fortunately, writing fiction for all those years had helped me think on my feet—and make up things as I went.

“One moment, please.”  There were two tiny clicks on the line before some weird new-age-type music started playing, and I wondered if the woman on the phone could have sounded more bored.

Before I had a chance to grow nervous, the line picked up again.  “Records.”  I repeated my inquiry from earlier.  “Do you have a signed release from the patient?”

Oh, shit.  I hadn’t thought that far ahead.  Again, though, I could come up with a quick reason, that he was seeing a psychologist in Colorado.  “Um, no, but he’s seeking help here—”

“Due to HIPAA laws, ma’am, we would need a signed release from him.”  Before I could go any further, she began telling me the section on the website where I could download a release form but she also advised to have “the patient himself” call.  He had access to his records, she explained.

By the time I hung up the phone, I’d already saved the form on my computer and was trying to figure out how I could get Brandon’s signature—and if there would be any way in hell I could forge his name, especially since there’d be no chance of getting him to sign the nameMichaelwithout giving everything away…

 

---