“I’ll make certain that her husband knows that,” I say, enjoying the way her lips part open in surprise.
Take that, bitch. I will be back dating and entering a marriage license for Jared and Rachel today. She can yell at us about it later. As long as she’s out and alive, I’ll take all of her words.
“I need to see her so I am able to ensure that she’s safe,” I tell her.
The nurse argues with me until my actual lawyer rings the infernal bell and the nurse rolls her eyes as she goes to answer it. As I understand it, what she’s doing is illegal because a patient under a civil commitment is allowed legal representation.
Martin Zachary strides into the small receiving room and ignores my presence since I’m not an actual attorney. I told him that this girl was important to me and I wasn’t going to wait while she rotted here.
“Are you really denying Rachel her right to an attorney?” he asks, annoyed. If I’m still standing here, then he’s within the bounds of logic about what’s happening.
“She’s drooling on herself,” the nurse says callously as she disappears back into her office. “Why does she need legal representation? The safest place for her is right here. The police brought her in because she was screaming at the orderlies sent to collect her.”
“I read the report,” Martin grunts. “It seems as if she only began to get loud when she was corralled and they broke into her apartment. I would have done the same thing. She was also injected against her will. As her lawyers, I want to know what it was.”
“If she was speaking perfectly well before, it would have been pretty strong for her to be drooling now,” I add.
My lawyer inclines his head in acknowledgment to me, and I proceed to shut my mouth. I pay him to get shit done, after all.
“I can’t provide medical information without her consent,” she says, shrugging. “Her husband is the only one I can speak to, and he’s not here.”
Martin doesn’t even blink an eye at that information. “I’ll make sure he’s here as soon as possible,” he says instead. “This is a mistake, ma’am. If you continue to lean into this erroneous decision, I will be suing for damages.”
“You can sue over whatever makes your handsome little heart happy,” she coos as if he’s a child. “Now, you’re taking up space. Good day.”
Martin glares at her before turning to leave. My feet are already following him out as the nurse buzzes the door open, and he begins speaking to me as soon as we’re walking.
“Husband?” he asks.
“Jared,” I grunt back. “You don’t want to know and I’ll sort it out.”
“You three are some of the most interesting clients we’ve ever had and the most frustrating,” he sighs. “What did you find out?”
Running down everything I know, I also explain my concerns about her medication and why I think the therapist may have sent the police out to her home.
Martin almost trips on a step before glancing over me.
“Fuck,” he mutters. “This is malicious malpractice. He has to have a friend here to have been able to make this happen so quickly.”
“I agree,” I sigh. “Liliana is her girlfriend and was there. She’s currently in jail for fighting with the police officers. I’m sure she has some information for you as well. Her boss, Mr. Emil Reyes said he was sending his lawyer in. I’ll tell him to go to Lili instead.”
“No, tell Mr. Reyes I’ll take care of it if he’s alright with it,” Martin says, eyes widening slightly at the name. Mr. Reyes is well known, despite his ability to stay ahead of the law. “I want the full picture. Whatever I find out will stay under attorney-client protection.”
“It’s very complicated,” I sigh. “I’ll tell him, but Rachel has had a really rough life. I haven’t helped much, but I want to now.”
“Is Jared in the car?” he asks, his chin jerking in its direction.
“Yeah,” I admit.
“I’m sure you are about to do a shit ton of things I shouldn’t know about,” he says. “However, if it’s something that will affect my ability to help here, I want to know. The last thing either of us want is for me to say something I shouldn’t.”
Hesitating, I wince. “What if I’m not sure how much you need to know?” I ask.
If he’s helping Rachelle, does he need to know who she really is and why she’s hiding?
“Come by the office once you’re done doing whatever you need to and we can work through it,” he suggests, his steps moving toward his car. “Is Lili Rachel’s friend or her actual girlfriend?”
“Ah, her girlfriend,” I say, watching as he takes it in stride.