I recognized Court the moment I received the Ragdoll Artist photo. She looked just as I’d expect after twenty-five years. I immediately called Joan to confirm the ID.
‘It’s Court, no question,’ I told her.
She told me there’d been some talk about sending me to see Court in Switzerland. Would I be up for that?
‘You bet I would,’ I said.
That evening she called back, then put Jason and Hannah on the line. They introduced themselves, then explained why they thought I was the best person to talk to Court, find out how she was doing, and then, if I thought it appropriate, subtly feel her out about leaving the clinic and returning to the US. They didn’t want to upset her and so, for reasons of security, she wouldn’t know in advance she’d be meeting me. She’d be accompanied by Thérèse, a trusted nurse from the clinic, and another patient, a nineteen-year-old gay kid named Johnny who was the only friend she’d made there in years. They said they knew this meeting would be emotional for us both, but because they weren’t clear about Court’s mental state, they thought it best to keep it low-key.
I told them I understood, and that I hoped that Courtney remembered me as warmly as I remembered her.
The next day Hannah emailed air tickets: Miami–Paris–Zurich with a departure in ten days. It was only then that I understood this was real. I was incredibly excited and eager to do my part.