A Great Leap (First Draft) - Outer Realms Book 1

Chapter 15

The Long Bridge care facility was a sprawling, one story building built around garden courtyard. The oppressive clouds of the last few days were breaking up, the weak winter sun giving the thriving flowbeds an ethereal quality. A small group sat around a picnic table on the lawns, bouts of laughter rising from them. There was a uniformed member of staff and a woman in street clothes pulling at a lock of hair strolling around the outside of the building.

The inside was more clinical. Plain dark green carpets matched a strip of green running around the otherwise white walls. The receptionist tapped at a keyboard and answered a constantly ringing phone but there was an otherwise hushed quality to the place. Mikayla and Joel sat in plastic chairs, reviewing the notes of their investigation on their phones while they waited.

"Cameron said it would take more than an average amount of strength to take Colora's arm off..." Mikayla mused quietly, "I'm stuck on that. There's been no evidence that something was used. No sign that there was a rope or something on the arm that would suggest a pulley, not marks on the bone to suggest a saw."

"You see the picture of Gary Worth?" Joel said, his voice barely more than a whisper, "Doesn't really look like a weightlifter. Dominic's fit. A bit lean to be capable of that kind of strength. Maybe his housemate but we can't place him with either victim or anyone else for that matter. We should wait for this doctor's thoughts but Gary might not have had the presence of mind to plan bringing the kinds of tools need to take and arm off like that."

Mikayla put her phone away and looked around. "This place is nicer than I expected. Nicer than hospital. Should have come here for my recovery."

"I'd check you in now but I don't think I can afford more than a long weekend for you." Joel raised his voice slightly. "Excuse me, sorry but we were wondering what the price of treatment is here. Just a rough estimate."

The receptionist scrunched up his brow in confusion. "Outpatient appointments are mostly covered by Medicare," the receptionist replied, "Short term care usually has a small gap to be paid. Long term care is more expensive but it's all inclusive for lack of a better term. We have a few spaces for crisis response and overflow though and we have payment plans and funding streams for patients in extreme situations such as homelessness or doctor recommendation.."

Joel smiled. "Thanks a lot. Sorry to bother you."

"Gary hasn't been able to hold a steady job, has no family and his rent is paid for by PID," Mikayla whispered.

"Just a guess but he probably doesn't have private health insurance as well," Joel said, lowering his voice as well, "And since we can connect all his involuntary treatments to public hospitals, he must have been here by choice and someone must have paid for it."

"Probably not Gary himself. Maybe PID?"

A short, middle aged woman appeared then. She had short hair dyed blue and purple and wire framed glasses sat on her thin nose. "You two from the police," She asked. Mikayla and Joel introduced themselves. "Doctor Abigail Maitland," the woman said as they shook hands. "Come into my office."

The office was more a living room. One wall was taken up by a large window looking out on the lawns, a few small birds flitting around the grass. Mikayla, Joel and the doctor sat on the comfortable, grey upholstered lounges decorated by blue and purple cushions. There was a small cluttered desk in one corner and a single bookshelf full of academic texts. A plastic jug of water and several cups sat on the solid wood coffee table.

"We're sorry for taking up your time like this," Joel said, "We appreciate you talking to us."

"Mr Worth missed his last appointment," Doctor Maitland answered, "He's tried to hurt himself in the past so I'm concerned and want to help you find him safely." She flexed and folded her hands in her lap as she spoke.