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“Neither does being the stepmother to the man who kidnapped and assaulted you.” Hayes’s expression was grim. “And I’m going with the assumption that Usher will quickly clear your name.”
“Are you adding precognition to your list of talents?” Even if the detective could find no direct evidence linking her to Greenley’s murder, the cloud of suspicion around her could remain until she was eliminated as a suspect. But afterMcNulty’s assault on Reese yesterday, Eckworth’s reputation wouldn’t be entirely unblemished either. While she was thinking of it, Reese took out her cell and texted Camry a summary of yesterday’s events. He’d know how to best use the details to their advantage.
“What have you learned about Lisa Sedgewick?” Hayes passed a plodding black sedan and resettled into the lane in front of it.
“I’ve never met or spoken to her.” She’d deliberately put it off. The doctor was her brother’s mental conduit. No doubt she’d been picking through Ben’s personal history for years, drilling down into the origin of his delusions and identified Reese as the source. Tension spiked her muscles. There was a reason she’d left the medical reports for last. “But I’ve looked into her.”
She consulted the summary she’d written. “Harvard Medical School. Residency at Yale. Fellowship at Columbia University. She spent five years employed at John Hopkins before heading west. First to LA, where she worked at three different hospitals in eight years. With each job she acquired more and more responsibility. She’s been at Tranquility Lakes for a dozen years. While she came on as chief psychiatrist, Kervin told me that due to budget cuts, she’s taken on some of the facility’s administrative roles, as well.”
“Impressive educational background,” Hayes observed. “But it’s hard to understand someone with her experience accepting a job at a private mental health facility. While public institutions are more chronically underfunded than private, one the size of Tranquility Lakes doesn’t seem a large enough pond to interest her.”
“There may be a reason for that, but I was unable to get to the bottom of the matter.” And yeah, with Reese’s background, the admission burned. “I found the old press releases when she was initially hired at Crossroads, California’s largest mentalhealth facility south of LA. It touted her outstanding experience and from what I could discover, her initial contract was for five years. Yet, she left after a little over twenty-two months, with glowing references, from what I heard. Most of the employees I called from there clammed up when I asked about her, but a couple referred to ‘irregular’ practices deemed not in patients’ best interests. None went on record.” Which hadn’t mattered at the time because Reese wasn’t planning on writing an article on the woman. “But I’ve been unsuccessful in ferreting out exactly what that means.”
“Sounds like a vague corporate phrase that covers everyone’s asses.” Hayes looked intrigued. “If it were a mutual parting of ways, there’d be no need to come up with any hint of blame. Unfortunately, even if those two employees were correct, and she was terminated for cause, it’d wouldn’t be unusual to offer a good recommendation just to be rid of someone. It happens far less frequently these days, but does still occur.”
She made a mental note to reach out to the two employees who had opened up with her to press for more details. But right now, Hayes was turning off toward the facility, and her palms slicked with perspiration. Reese was both anticipating and dreading the upcoming appointment. Anything Sedgewick told her about Ben would be the only firsthand account she’d heard since the mental health care system swallowed him up.
Dr. Lisa Sedgewick’soffices were homey and comfortable, with a young woman with long layered brown hair working a desk in the small outer space. “The doctor is on a call right now, but she’ll be ready for you shortly,” she told Reese with a smile.When her gaze went to Hayes, her tone became apologetic. “I’m afraid you’ll have to stay out here.”
“Understood.” Reese knew he would have expected that. He’d locked his weapon in the back of her vehicle before accompanying her to one of the small buildings Kervin had pointed out to them on Tuesday. Other than getting a read on the doctor, she didn’t expect a lot from the visit. As co-conservator, Julia would have been able to access more in-depth progress notes on his care, but that information wasn’t in the apartment.
After only a few minutes, there was a soft ding, and the assistant looked up from her laptop and sent Reese a smile. “Dr. Sedgewick is ready for you.”
Murmuring her thanks, she rose. The assistant preceded her to the doctor’s door, gave it a perfunctory knock, and opened it to announce her. Squelching an overpowering urge to wipe her damp palms on her linen slacks, Reese took a breath and stepped into the inner office.
“Ms. Decody.” The doctor stood and rounded her desk, enveloping Reese’s hand in a firm shake. “I’m delighted to meet you.”
“Thank you for seeing me.” Lisa Sedgewick was fifty-six, according to Reese’s research, and the recipient of excellent genes or discreet cosmetic surgery. She looked a decade younger, with her shoulder-length blond hair styled in a bob. She wore a light blue suit coat, matching pants, and a silky lilac top with subtle jewelry. If not for her three-inch heels, they’d probably be the same height.
The space reflected the same muted style. The walls were a slightly paler shade than the woman’s suit, with gleaming oak floors covered by a tasteful rug. A bubbling fountain was notched into one corner, and a large bamboo plant slantedtoward the lone window behind the woman. Framed diplomas were arranged on either side of it.
“Please sit. I must admit, it’s a treat to finally meet Ben’s sister.” Her smile quickly faded when she added, “I was so shocked and sorry to hear about your aunt. Have the police found the driver who caused the accident?”
“The investigation is ongoing.” Neatly sidestepping the emotionally fraught question, Reese delivered one of her own. “Had you met Julia?”
With a small headshake, the doctor reseated herself behind the desk. A closed laptop graced one corner of it. “I would have loved to. I was a great admirer of her work. But I imagine it kept her very busy, in and out of the country.”
“Yes. How did Ben react to the news of her death?”
Sedgewick seemed to choose her words carefully. “We’re exercising a great deal of caution to provide him with a stable environment with few disturbances or outside distractions.”
After months of therapy, she was fluent in therapist-speak. “You haven’t told him.”
“I’m not even sure he was aware she had acting conservatorship. He’s rarely spoken about her over the years, and only in passing.”
“I’m sure consistency is important for him.”
“It’s crucial for most of our patients, but Ben particularly, yes. I’m glad to say he is receiving excellent care and has had the same team for several years now. He has many interests, and we try to utilize those in his treatment options. You may know, I provide assessments quarterly for his conservatorship review, as required by the state. Your aunt would have received copies.”
“Were they digital or paper?”
Sedgewick gave her a wry look. “We do find ourselves in the digital age, don’t we? I supply paper copies to the court and Mr.Rivers, who oversees your brother’s trust, but your aunt assured me via email that she preferred digital.”
Which explained why Reese hadn’t found the documents. She wondered now if Julia had kept them on her computer out of fear that Reese might happen upon them in her absence. She’d gone to great pains to shield her from any information about Ben, much as her parents had. And in her defense, Reese had rarely asked for details. A lifetime of self-preservation had prevented her from broaching the subject that could still throb like a fresh wound.
“You look like you had an accident yourself recently.” The woman indicated her bandage. Reese thought she’d done a decent job of concealing the bruises with makeup, but the injury had still been oozing when she’d changed the dressing that morning.
“I had a fall. Nothing serious.”