The following evening Eddie met Dr. Matthew Albrect in the lobby of St. John’s Memorial. Eddie had waited for nearly an hour when the doctor finally appeared through one of two elevators. He was scanning the lobby when Eddie stood and gestured at him.
They made a brief introduction. Eddie suggested they go have a seat at the far end of the lobby, away from everyone. Matthew followed his lead.
Upon taking their seats, Eddie said, “What I say stays between us.”
“Tell me, what is it?”
“I know about the pills.”
“What pills?”
“The ones Mae’s mom gave her. For her hallucinations.”
Matthew arched his brow, straightened his posture. “How do you know? How are you acquainted with Mae again? You said you were friends with Trent?”
“You never wanted Mae to take them, did you? Rebecca talked you into prescribing them.”
Matthew gaped at him. “How do you know this?”
“It doesn’t matter. What I have to say—”
“It matters to me,” Matthew interrupted.
“What I have to say is for Mae’s well being. Her boyfriend is giving her those pills, and we both know she doesn’t need them.”
“Again, how do you know this?”
“It doesn’t matter how, it only matters that I do. What’s more, Trent plans on asking you to allow Mae to live with him. Tonight, when you get home from work he’ll be waiting for you.”
“He’s already barked up that tree. She won’t move in with him, that’s final.”
Eddie nodded, satisfied with that. “He’ll try persuading you, so hold tight to your position. I know you haven’t been getting on Mae to ditch that loser boyfriend because you feel bad for her, her parents being dead and all, but maybe it’s time to build a case for disallowing her to go out with him.”
Matthew stared dumbfounded at Eddie. How does this stranger know so much about his niece, about their personal affairs? “It’s none of your business,” Matthew said sternly. “I’ll run my household how I see fit. I appreciate you telling me what you have, but I’ll handle things my way. Now, unless there’s something else…”
“He hurts her, you know,” Eddie said hintingly.
“Beg pardon?”
“He hurts her. Abuses her. Forces her to do things she doesn’t want to do.”
“You’d better have damned good evidence of this accusation before I—”
“Whatever,” Eddie said and stood up. “Do what you want. Just know that she’s taking the pills when she shouldn’t be. Later.”
“Are you sure she’s taking them?”
“Positive.”
“How is Trent getting them? You can’t get those without a prescription, and it doesn’t seem likely that there’s a black market for them.”
“I only know what I told you. I’m counting on you to get Mae off those pills. You’re smart, fix it.”