Working Dogsbodies (aka Bike) Part 592 by Angharad

Trish was reading to me and doing very well when Dr Edwards’ door opened. She waved to us and said, “Do come through,” I watched as Trish put the book carefully back on the shelf. She reached for my hand and together we walked into Dr Edwards’ room.

“Good afternoon, now is it Mrs Watts or Lady Cameron?”

“As Trish’s name is also Watts, I’ll stick with Watts here.”

“Very well. Tell me, was it necessary to threaten my receptionist.”

“It was either that or offer to send her to charm school.”

“Perhaps you could go with her?” she threw back at me.

“I believe with the three of us we could get party rates.” This woman was not going to push me around, no matter who she thought she was.

“Yes, very quick. However, I did a computer scan of patient’s records, you came here about a year or so ago to have some growth removed. I believe you called him Charlie. I also know Dr Thomas very well.”

“Do you mind if I examine your medical records? As I’m not the patient here, I believe you are guilty of some form of misconduct. I have a very good lawyer, specialises in medical jurisprudence–especially misconduct.”

“So do you honestly think you can threaten me, Catherine Watts?”

“I’m not threatening, you or anyone.”

“Aren’t you? Telling me about your lawyer, isn’t that veiled threats?”

“Isn’t looking into medical records of people who aren’t your patients, malpractice?”

“You prove it.”

“There’ll be a trace to your computer.”

“Will there? Not if I used a neutral one with someone else’s password.”

“Very clever. Okay, do we call a truce and see what we can do to help this young lady?”

“Why should I want a truce? I have enough evidence to prove you are unfit as a foster mother.”

“On what grounds?”

“Failing to tell the authorities about your own history.”

“They know, as does the judge who allocated both children to me.”

“What about the attempted suicide?”

“What about it? “

“Well, it could show you are mentally unstable.”

“Like you?” I threw back at her.

“Yes but unlike me, you don’t have a recognised qualification to diagnose and pronounce someone as unfit.”

“So let me understand this correctly, you are now threatening me to do whatever you want, on the grounds you’ll pronounce me as mentally unfit to look after two children, if I don’t?”

“In a word, yes.”

“That is definitely misconduct.”

“You prove it,” she said laughing. She looked at Trish, “You look ridiculous in those clothes you silly little boy.”

Trish looked at me and burst into tears. She threw herself against me and hugged me. I put my good arm around her. “Don’t worry, Trish, this old bag won’t ever hurt you again. Come on we’re leaving.”

“Sit down, Ms Watts.”

“Go and take a running jump, you old witch.”

“You talk very tough for someone with only one arm, and not a leg to stand on.”

“Yes, only one arm, a strong sense of morality, a deep love for my two kids and other members of my family, and a mobile phone.”

“A mobile phone? What’s that got to do with anything? Who ya gonna call, the Ghostbusters?” she mocked me.

“You obviously don’t use one often, then?”

“I make calls and the odd text, why?” she was puzzled now.

“Mine also makes voice recordings, up to half an hour. I have the whole conversation on tape. My lawyer will be very pleased to listen to it.”

“You don’t expect me to believe you, do you?”

“Quite honestly, I don’t give a toss if you do or not. I’m going to terminate your career. I suspect the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the General Medical Council, will also enjoy listening to it. You aren’t fit to practice. Good day.”

I steered Trish towards the door when I felt Dr Edwards standing just behind me. Trish was through the door as the incensed shrink swung at me. I ducked but she caught me on the back and I tumbled into the waiting room, “Give me that phone, you bitch.”

The few people who were present were horrified, and worse still when the doctor kicked my fallen body. “Mummy,” screamed Trish, and a man intervened and dragged her away from me. The police were called and Simon and Meems came to see where we were.

The doctor was interviewed by the police and she tried to lie her way out of things. I played my phone’s recording and Simon called our solicitor. He was there to ask that the phone be sealed as evidence, and that a transcript of the conversation be made available to us for further probable actions.

My shoulder ached abominably, I had grazes on my knees and face and Trish was traumatised. Dr Rose was summoned and he comforted her, prescribing a sedative for a few nights. He was suitably shocked by his colleague’s behaviour. I was checked over in Casualty, and thankfully, it was all surface damage.

“Dr Rose can you check who accessed my records last?”

He called the main IT office and it seemed it was he. “I’ve never looked at your records,” he protested.

“I know, but she did and used your passwords. I’d change them if I were you.”

“I will when I get back to my room. This whole business has completely shocked me. I’m sorry, I assumed she was safe to work with Trish and you.”

“She was very lucky.”

“How?”

“If Simon had come in two or three minutes earlier, she’d have been in ICU now, or the mortuary.”

“Oh, I see.”

“He may seem totally urbane and laid-back, but if anything threatens me or the kids, he goes berserk. He did it once with a group of youths who were tormenting me.”

“I see,” he nodded, “in which case she may well have been very fortunate.”