Page 174 of Severed Rivalry
The two women look between each other. Both shake their heads to each other before the officer says aloud, “No.”
“Then if you need nothing further.” I let myself out of the room.
Where is the driver?
I try Liam again. Still nothing. I want to worry. But there’s no time.
“Mr. Murphy?”
I turn to find another woman. They’re coming out of the woodwork.
“I have some paperwork for you to sign.” She extends an iPad.
I miss the days of paper. There’s no way to read all this legal mumbo-jumbo. No way to not agree to every little thing that absolves some medical corporation from any and all fault, even if it’s theirs. This is the legal equivalent ofI’m rubber, you’re glue. Whatever you do, bounces off me and sticks on you.We’re about one bounce away from medical malpractice and being forced to be okay with it.
I take the device and don’t bother to read anything in front of me. It’s not like they’ll let us out of here if I don’t sign it all anyway. That is, except for one page and I’ll go down swinging.
“No pictures. No video. No images of any kind.” I thrust the device at the administrator.
“But this just means we can take X-rays.”
“No, that means you can prey on my daughter. You want it to mean X-rays, write that. That is not what that says.” I stab at the device. “And the answer is no.”
“But, sir.”
I drop my voice until it’s barely above a whisper. “Not no, but fuck no. No pictures, no video. If you want it mean X-rays, go edit the fucking form. Until you do, my answer will remain, and I will sign nothing.”
“We cannot discharge without you completingthe forms.”
“And you cannot hold me prisoner because I won’t give permission for voyeurism. You have no idea what her history is.” I stab myself in the chest with a thumb. “I do. And the answer is no.”
“We will bill you until you complete the forms.”
“Then you will see us in court, and you can explain to a jury of moms and dads, grandparents, teachers, and police officers, how it is you refuse to waive things that make children vulnerable while you unfairly bill the citizens of this state who fund this institution. This is a UC hospital, is it not?”
She says nothing.
I stride down the hall, sliding my phone from my pocket.
Me: Those connections you have with UC Health. I need you to call them in. I’m in Loveland with Renée, and I’m about to cause a shit storm of epic proportions.
Ayla: I love this side of you. It’s like the latent red-headed gene is coming to life.
Christian: Don’t encourage him, Princess. What’s going on, Ci?
Me: Renée is in the ER. Car accident. More soon, but the administrators are threatening me, and it won’t go well with the day I’ve had.
Christian: Give me a couple.
Christian: What can we do?
Ayla: And how is Renée?
Me: Whatever you can do to stop them from requiring pictures and video.
Me: And I don’t know. Working on it.
Me: I can’t find Sariah, and Liam is in the wind.
