"Max? Hello Max, this is Beverly."
"Beverly? Beverly who?"
"Beverly Anderson, Max. Beverly from the clinic."
"It's Saturday, Beverly, I didn't expect to be hearing from you today. What in the world's going on?" Max asked, obviously taken back hearing her voice at such a strange time.
"Yes, I know its Saturday, Max, but I... actually we, have a crisis. It's about that situation yesterday with the mother and daughter I saw late in the afternoon. The one I had to take the extra time for."
"Yeah, tell me about it! You must've really pissed that woman off, Beverly. She ran off three elderly clients in the reception area when she charged through. Good Lord! She practically knocked them down and scared them half to death in the process!"
"I know she scared some clients away, Max, she's scaring me too. I found out that she's sort of 'married to the mob,' Max, and I'm afraid for my life."
"What do you know that they would care anything about?"
"I know a lot of things that could give them serious problems, Max, much of which I've already reported to CPS. What CPS doesn't know yet, and I have to call and tell them as soon as we're through, is that Barbie is running away and taking my patient with her."
"I can't wait to ask, Beverly... how in the world would you know that?"
"Because they took their bags to a mega yacht at the Galveston yacht basin, and it could leave at any minute. Her husband runs the Bouncing Buns Gentleman's Club and everyone I've talked to seems to know it's a mob joint. Anyway, I'm afraid they'll be looking for me and I don't think it's safe for me to show up for work until this is resolved."
"Damn! I know I don't have to tell you that at a patient every fifteen minutes, we're going to have to reschedule a shit-pot load of people because everyone else is booked up solid and there isn't anyone to cover for you. Are you absolutely sure about all this, Beverly?" Max asked.
"Yes, Max, I know how many patients will have to be rescheduled. What else can we do? Anyway, I have that call to CPS to make so I have to go now. I'll stay in touch. Goodbye, Max. Wish me luck."
"Yeah, good luck. You should be wishing ME luck. There will be hell to pay at the clinic. I don't have a clue what we're going to do with all those patients!"
With that, Max abruptly hung up without saying anything else.
"He was certainly less than thrilled," she said as she hung up, "and his concern for me was less than touching. It seemed like he could care less about my safety and was just worried about what he would do with the patients I won't be able to see."
"Quite frankly," Dan said, "I think he's way down on the list of what we, and especially you, have to worry about right now. I'd forget him, if I were you."
"You're right. I have to stay focused and get that call made to CPS before they take off with Dana."
Beverly leaned her head back and shut her eyes. It seemed like a week since she'd been in bed. In spite of her exhaustion, she forced herself to make the call.
"Hello, this is Child Protective Services. How can I help you?"
"Hello...yes. This is Doctor Beverly Anderson from the mental health clinic. I called to report the abuse and neglect of a patient of mine late Friday. A girl named Dana Martin."
"I have the file. Mother's name is...Barbie? Is that correct?" She asked.
"Yes, that's the one," Beverly said. "Has there been any movement on that investigation?"
"Well, no. Our office has a large caseload, as you can imagine, and it usually takes a little longer for our investigators to respond."
"I know you're busy and I know my report was only called in Friday, but you need to know that the mother is likely running with the girl. I saw her and Dana board a large yacht at the Galveston yacht basin just last night. They had their suitcases with them!"
"How did you know, Doctor Anderson? Were you there yourself?"
"I was. That's how I saw them! I have friends down there and just happened to be with them."
"How can you be sure it was them?"
"I'm sure it was them. There's absolutely no question about that. The only real question is are you going to move on this information before they move her out of the country?"
"Why would you think they may be moving her out of the country, doctor? Maybe they're just on their boat for the weekend."
"Look... mom's a stripper, she's on a huge yacht worth millions, and she's mob associated. This is one day after I reported that she neglected her daughter and allowed her to be sexually abused. She has to know that Dana will be removed if she hangs around. You can put it together."
"Please hold a moment, doctor. Something has just come in on this."
"SURE... I'll hold!" Trying to control her anger and frustration, Beverly turned to Dan.
"I know these people are terribly overloaded at times, but they need to be able to move on some of these cases with a little more urgency. Yes... I'm still here."
"I was just given a note that an Agent Tom Baker with the organized crime unit, wants to meet with you as soon as possible. Within thirty minutes, if you can make it."
"Tom Baker? Organized Crime Unit? Where?"
"He's operating out of the League City Jail. You can ask for him there."
"OK. I'll be there. Thank you."
"That really sounded interesting, Beverly. What's going on?"
"Some Agent Baker wants to see me in thirty minutes at the police department. The CPS clerk apparently was notified of it while I was on the phone. It looks like the police are more interested in this case than CPS is. No, that probably wasn't fair, but their slowness really frustrates me."
Something she said had peaked Dan's interest and his eyebrows rose.
"Hmm... Beverly I hate to be the one to break this to you, but you aren't dealing with the local police here. They don't address themselves as 'agent.' They might call themselves detectives, or sergeants, or something else, but not agents."
It hit her like a punch between the eyes. He's right, she thought. It must be the FBI because of the mob connection. They'll have an even better reason to get rid of me now.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking, Dan?"
"Yep. The FBI... It has to be."
"Good God, Dan! This just keeps getting worse. What in the world have I gotten myself into? First the mob, and now the FBI?"
"Unfortunately, I'm afraid you're right on both counts. Regardless of what they want of you, remember, your safety has to be the primary consideration."
"Can you drop me by the police department? You can take my car on to the marina and do whatever you need while I see that guy. I'll get him to drop me by when we're through."
"Not a problem. By the way, I've been thinking of something for later that really sounds good. I've heard that Heather makes an almost famous margarita and after a day like this, I think we could both use one. Kevin always has a supply of wine on hand too, if you would rather have that. Both your favorites would be covered!"
Beverly was feeling sleep deprived and dreaded her meeting at the jail. She would much rather spend the rest of the morning and afternoon with Dan, although she hadn't done or said anything to let him know she was thinking along those lines. Maybe it was time.
"They seem to be great people and I'm looking forward to getting to know them better. Sometimes you can tell a lot about someone by the people they have as friends. The impressive thing about them is that they have you, Dan. I want you to know how much I've appreciated and enjoyed being around you these two days. I want to get to know you better as well."
"You know, if it wasn't for the serious situation you're in, I'd say this has been fun. At the very least, I'm glad something happened to throw us together. I really want to see where this goes. You and me, that is."
"I do too, Dan. I do too," Beverly said as she put her hand on his.
Dan pulled the car up to the curb in front of the League City Police Department, put the car in park and shut off the engine.
"Well, here we are at the home of League City's finest," he said. "Good luck with the feds. I'll see you over at Heather and Kevin's later today."
Dan leaned in her direction as he spoke. She did the same. When the distance between them dissolved to less than a foot, he reached for the back of her neck and gently pulled her toward him.
There was no resistance.