“I’m not sure how to say this?”
“Dear lady,” Agent Beaky said. He glanced over at Jerome Jenkins. “Best way, just say it.”
“I’m curious why I’m even here? Or better, why you two are in my office,” Jerome Jenkins asked. He sat behind his office desk staring over at Artemis and then over at Agent Beaky. “What am I to make of you two?”
Artemis sucked in a deep, reflective breath. She held the breath for several heart beats and blew it back out down toward the dark red and blue Persian pattern rug.
“She, called me,” Agent Beaky said. “I’m inclined to respond to the invitation.”
“I need your help,” Artemis said. “Both of you.”
“What?” Jerome asked. “Never had a medical malpractice talking head ask me for help.”
“Well then,” Agent Beaky said. He wiggled on the office chair. “I’ll not be to proud, sing away.”
“I have to be careful, I’m under an NDA,” Artemis said. “They have cameras every where, I’m always being watched.”
And Artemis heard Satan whispering in her mind. “Yes,” Satan said. “You are always being watched, go ahead, tell them your little secret. Things will get even funnier.”
“Spit it out,” Jerome said. He crossed his arms. “I have work to do, I don’t get paid a salary.”
Artemis acknowledged Jerome’s comment. She sat forward with her elbows on her knees.
“It’s always the addict,” Artemis said. “Fentanyl, you know, opioids.”
Agent Beaky and Jerome Jenkins stared at each other for several moments. And they nodded at each other as if a bright light had been switched on to reveal a hidden truth.
“I think I know where you’re headed,” Jerome said. He leaned forward on to his desk top. “Let’s play a little game, I’ll ask you questions, Artemis, and you can say yes, no or maybe, cool?”
“Yeah,” Artemis said. Her tongue glided across her front teeth. “Ask what you want, I’ll try this way.”
“Good,” Jerome said. He tapped his forefinger over his lips. “No one cares about a dead addict?”
“I would say, yes,” Artemis said. “That’s true for the most part.”
“It would be a good idea to add,” Jerome said. “I don’t know, several new ICU beds? For those in need, poor addict.”
“Yeah,” Artemis said. “It would be important to keep your options open.”
“Let me see now,” Agent Beaky said. He leaned over onto Jerome’s desk. “Not losing out on any government money, as it were, crying shame not to offer services.”
Artemis looked over at Agent Beaky. She simply nodded.
“Smart criminal,” Jerome said. He sighed. “Makes the evidence disappear, right?”
“Easy now,” Agent Beaky said. “I’ll not look the other way for what I’m getting the hint.”
“I know,” Artemis said.
“They don’t just ship off mushrooms?” Jerome asked.
“No,” Artemis said.
“Mushrooms need rich soil,” Jerome said. “They need good place to grow, moisture, fertilizer?”
“Careful,” Agent Beaky said.
“Yeah,” Artemis said.
Jerome pushed back from his desk. He pondered what Artemis said, and what she had not said. He stared up at his office ceiling.
“Medical records,” Jerome said. “They don’t always tell the story, just snippets, points and dates in time, right?”
“Yes,” Artemis said.
“But, they do provide proof let’s say,” Jerome said. “A human being existed, and was in fact within a hospital?”
“Yes,” Artemis said.
“I guess, it’s about Narcissus’ weak spot?” Jerome asked.
“Pardon?” Agent Beaky asked Jerome.
“Wait for it,” Jerome said, reassuringly.
“Yes,” Artemis said.
“You got inside this narcissist’s inner sanctum?” Jerome asked.
“Yes,” Artemis said.
“Sloppy,” Agent Beaky said. “If I follow, not a good move, or, perhaps another game’s a foot?”
“Not easy to get any useful proof?” Jerome asked. “Hard to get inside without a warning shot from a local.”
“Yes,” Artemis said. She pondered for several moments staring over at Jerome and back over at Agent Beaky. And Satan whispered in her mind. “Go ahead,” Satan said. “Offer the bait, it will make this so much more fun.”
“Artemis,” Jerome said. “I’m a man of my word, we are dancing with the devil, and more likely, murder.”
“I’ll keep me cool,” Agent Beaky said.
“The little girl,” Artemis said. “Her name, Laina Lynn, I have to turn her over to child protective services.”
“Wait,” Jerome said. “Mother was, Ruth Lynn?”
“Yes,” Artemis said. “I decided to help her out, let’s say, I had a physician check her out.”
“Little girl?” Agent Beaky said. He sighed.
“She’s still alive?” Jerome asked. “Right?”
“Yes,” Artemis said.
Jerome sat back, swiveled back and forth with his office chair staring up at the ceiling. He stopped and pushed forward.
“You have a confidential claim file?” Jerome asked.
“A connection to our show out in the forest?” Agent Beaky said.
“You know that,” Artemis said. She looked over at Agent Beaky. “I think so, better, I know so.”
“We have little lab rat?” Jerome asked.
“Yes,” Artemis said. “The real rat left behind some experiments with the little innocent rat.”
“I know what to do, this conversation ends,” Jerome said. “Where’s this girl?”
“With me, for now,” Artemis said. “But soon, I have a court hearing, I’ll need a lawyer?”
And Artemis heard Satan laughing, and chuckling. “Oh, Artemis.”
End. Chapter 22.
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