| |
Michaela was annoyed, bored, and started to fidget for the second time that day. She crossed and uncrossed her legs for the fifth time in three minutes and felt the slow creep of her temper working its way out into the open. She looked around at the cubicles in the Virginia State Board of Dentistry offices. She decided she would hate to work there.
She took a deep breath and tried again, her voice patient and her smile professional. She stared across the refinished oak desk at the attorney for the Virginia Board of Dentistry.
Her dark eyes bored into those of the smug man across from her. “Now, Mr. Burton, I have in my hand five complaints against Dr. Nicholas Smirkowitz, and as you know, complaints are a matter of public record. Tell me, once again, why none of these complaints have ever been investigated.” Mic knew her voice was biting, but she didn’t care.
Tony Burton, the attorney for the Board, was a youngish-looking thirty-something with a hawk-like nose, black glasses, and a receding hairline. He looked just like any young lawyer who worked for the Virginia Attorney General’s office. He pasted on his bland smile, furrowed his brow, and said, “Ms. McPherson, I’ve told you several times already. What is it that you don’t understand?” He glared at her as though she was a moron.
“What I don’t understand, Mr. Burton, is why Dr. Smirkowitz hasn’t been investigated,” Mic snapped, her voice peevish. “He’s had multiple complaints lodged against him.”
“They were not investigated because the intake officer, the person who takes the complaint initially, didn’t feel they had merit.”
Mic could feel the blood rush to her head. She worked to control her temper and her body language. “What are the credentials of these intake officers?” Michaela demanded in an angry voice. “Are they qualified to make these decisions, such as who’s a questionable practitioner and who isn’t?” She hoped her smirk wasn’t too obvious.
Michaela saw a flicker of anger jump across Burton’s face. He clearly didn’t like his authority challenged. He glared at her over his black, horn-rimmed frames. When he spoke, his voice was condescending.
“Yes, of course they are. They’ve met the requirements for the job position and been hired by the state personnel system.”
“Well, that convinced me,” Mic retorted, in an equally sarcastic voice. “What I mean is how have they acquired the skill set or the assessment skills, to determine whether a case has merit and whether it should be handed over to a Board of Dentistry investigator? Are they dental school flunkies or something?”
Burton scowled at her. “They have continuing education and on-the-job training. I assure you, they are more than qualified.”
“I’m not assured,” Mic stated flatly and stared him down, her dark eyes locked with his.
Burton shook his head and continued to drone, like he was talking to an idiot. “There are specific criteria, based on Virginia law that a complaint must reach in order to be sent forward. Frankly, none of those complaints rose to that level.”
Mic was livid. It was hard to keep her temper. “Okay, so you’re telling me that five women, a combination of patients and staff members, who’ve filed similar, and in some cases, the same complaints against Smirkowitz, don’t suggest a problem.”
“Apparently not,” Burton said as he moved papers around his immaculate desk.
Michaela shook her head. “That’s impossible. I don’t accept your conclusion.”
Burton smiled tightly. “No one has asked you to accept it.” The sarcasm level rose in his voice.
“It’s not plausible to me that no one has seen fit to send a Board of Dentistry investigator to his office or had an investigator interview any of the complaints? Is that correct?”
Burton cleared his throat and reformed his bland smile. He stared at her over his half glasses, “Yes, that’s absolutely correct.”
Michaela’s laugh was sarcastic. “Really, Mr. Burton, that sounds ...well ...at best, ludicrous and derelict to me. Generally, where there’s that much smoke, there is a fire, and you and I both know it.”
Burton doodled on his legal pad for a few seconds, shuffled a few more papers, looked up, furrowed his brow again and asked, “Will there be anything else, Ms. McPherson?”
Mic wasn’t finished yet. “Yes, what about the complaints of staff turnover and lack of experienced staff in the practice.”
Burton consulted his files again and took several moments to think. “The charges were not substantiated, and the complaints were made from several staff members who’d been dismissed due to insubordination.”
Michaela shook her head. “This is just too much to overlook, Mr. Burton. Why won’t you help us? Another young woman is missing ...this is the second we know about in less than eighteen months.”
Burton stood and extended his hand. His voice was curt. “I believe we’re done here, Ms. McPherson.”
Mic stood, all five feet three inches of her, plus another two inches, thanks to her boot heels. “I am a citizen of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and your job is to protect me against unsafe practitioners, and you’re not doing that. I’ll be going down to see the Attorney General. Be advised.”
Burton remained standing. “That’s your right. Have a good evening.”
Michaela nodded, held her head high and quickly left the Board of Dentistry offices, angry to the core. What kind of control does Smirkowitz have over these people? Whoever is steering this boat has some pull. A woman followed her out of the suite.
Mic pushed the button for the elevator and got on with another woman. Lost in her thoughts and anger, she was stunned when the woman called her by name.
“Ms. McPherson, I work for the Board of Dentistry as an investigator, and you are correct, Dr. Smirkowitz should be investigated.”
“Then why hasn’t he been? What’s he got over these people or who does he have in his corner?” She paused for a second before adding, “Where’s his power?”
Mic surveyed the woman, who was attractive and professionally dressed, maybe in her late forties. She appeared anxious but intent on doing the right thing.
The woman gave her a sad smile. “I wish I knew, but I don’t. I can tell you this, though. Smirkowitz has connections at the highest levels of state government because absolutely nothing, and no one, can touch Nicholas Smirkowitz.”
Michaela’s brow furrowed. The elevator doors opened into the main lobby and Mic turned to the woman.
“How do you know this? What’s your name?” Mic couldn’t let her go without more information.
“My husband is a state trooper, and my name is Claire Daniels. I was so concerned about Dr. Smirkowitz’s behavior and the complaints against him, I asked my husband to use his resources to check him out.”
Mic stayed put, keeping her finger on the button to keep the elevator door open. “What did your husband find out?”
“Nothing. Nada. Zip. He was told to leave it alone,” she said as her face reddened in anger.
Mic frowned but said nothing.
Claire continued, “I can tell you this. I’ll lose my job if anyone knows I’ve spoken with you.” She looked nervously over her shoulder.
Mic placed her hand on the frightened woman’s shoulder. “I will do everything I can to keep your confidence. Here’s my card, call me if you hear of anything.”
Claire accepted the card but remained silent. She looked uncertain.
“You did the right thing, Claire,” Michaela assured her. “We are afraid Allison Massie, the young woman taken yesterday after leaving Smirkowitz’s office, will die if we don’t find her soon.”
Claire said nothing and stared at Mic’s card.
Claire raised her head to look at Mic, her eyes huge with fear. She gave Mic an uncertain smile and pressed the elevator button for her floor. “Good luck. I hope you get him,” she whispered.
Mic gave her a bright smile. “We will. Never fear. We’ll get him.” She waved goodbye as the elevator door closed. “Keep in touch, Claire,” she pleaded again as the elevator closed. She thought she saw Claire nod briefly as the door closed.