| |
“ROBIN PERRY TO SEE Ben Martin.” Robin held the receptionist’s questioning gaze. “Right away, please.”
The receptionist studied her computer and frowned. “You’re not on the schedule. Did you have an appointment, Ms. Perry?”
“Tell him I have to talk with him.”
“I’m sorry, but Mr. Martin is with a client.” She gestured toward a chair. “If you’d like to wait, I’ll check with him after his meeting.”
“It’s an emergency,” Robin snapped. “Involving his son.”
“Oh dear.” The receptionist’s eyes widened. “I’d better interrupt him.” She rose and started toward his office.
Robin followed. The receptionist stopped, and Robin nearly barged into her.
“Please wait out there,” she said crisply.
Fuming, Robin headed back to the reception area. She paced, ignoring the man glancing surreptitiously at her. In moments, the receptionist reappeared with Ben, who looked rattled, following her.
“Bird? What happened?”
Robin eyed the receptionist hovering at his elbow. “Let’s talk in your office.”
“Is Jaden all right?”
“I’m here about your other son.”
The receptionist scurried away.
Ben’s lips compressed in a line. “Come with me.” Taking Robin’s arm, he led her to his office and closed the door. “Would you mind telling me what’s going on? A client is waiting for me.”
Robin’s face burned. “A little boy is waiting for you too.” She wanted to grab the paperweight on Ben’s desk and hurl it at his head. “Don’t leave him waiting too long because his mother’s killing him.”
Ben paled. “What are you talking about?”
“Don’t you know?”
“Bird, I don’t have time for guessing games.”
“Are you familiar with Munchausen by proxy?” Robin watched Ben’s reaction.
“Yeah, I’ve heard of it.” He cocked his head. “And...?”
Robin waited a beat. “Gloria has Munchausen’s. Alex is her proxy.”
Ben drew a sharp breath. “Oh no.”
Robin drew closer, getting in his face. “I want to know what your part in it is.”
He took a step back, scowling. “What are you accusing me of?” Ben’s surprise and outrage seemed genuine, but he’d fooled her before.
“I’ve done some digging. Gloria’s been using Alex for a long time. He never had cancer. The pediatric clinic ran every test in the book, but she wouldn’t let it go. She needs him to be sick, Ben. She’s making him sick.”
Ben ran a hand over his slack jaw. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure enough to report her to Child Protective Services.” She held his gaze. “And you, as well, if you’ve been enabling her.”
“You really believe I’m capable of that?” His face reddened. “I told you, I didn’t even know about Alex until a couple of weeks ago. Gloria showed up out of the blue and told me he was my kid and that he had cancer. I believed her. Why wouldn’t she be giving him pain pills?” He raised an eyebrow. “You thought he had cancer too.”
Robin wanted to spit. “Don’t you dare put this on me. You brought that monstrous woman into my life.”
Ben raised his hand in a quieting gesture at the volume of her voice, only stoking her fury.
“Do you have any idea what you cost me?”
He eyed her warily. “What do you mean?”
“I lost my job.” Robin’s voice broke. “Security just hauled me out of the hospital.”
Ben reached for her. “Oh, Bird, I’m so sorry. What can I do?”
Robin took a breath. Her lip trembled. “Convince me you’re not a child abuser.”
Ben cupped her chin, raising it so her eyes met his. “You know I’m not.”
Robin twisted out of his grasp. “Don’t, Ben.”
He sighed. “I’ll call Gloria and arrange to go over there as soon as I wrap up with my client.”
“You will?” Robin’s hope stirred. Maybe he didn’t have his head all the way in the sand.
“Let me talk to her, Bird. The boy needs help, and so does she. Maybe I can convince her to get therapy...” He swallowed. “And to let Alex stay with me for a while.”
Robin gaped. “You’d do that?”
Ben nodded. “If she doesn’t agree, we’ll call child protection, and I’ll sue for custody. But maybe the threat alone will be enough to make her cooperate.”
“Maybe.” Robin doubted it.
“Go home. Rest. I’ll come over later, and we’ll decide what to do next about Alex.” He hesitated. “And us.” He met her eyes. “Okay?”
Robin dropped her gaze. “It’s over between us, Ben.”
He sighed. “You have plenty of good reasons to walk away from me, but at least let me support you until you find a new job and get back on your feet.”
She raised her eyes back to his. “I’ve been offered another job, in Baltimore. I have a friend at Johns Hopkins who wants to hire me.”
His face fell. “I see. I guess I should be happy for you, Bird. It’s just...”
“Please go take care of Alex. It’s too late for us. Don’t let it be too late for him.”
“I’ll come over straight from Gloria’s. I’ll try to bring Alex with me. Will you check him out and decide what medical care he needs?”
“All right.” Finally, he’d stepped up and acted responsibly. “I’ll wait for you at my house. But Ben? Hurry.”