Private Sydney (Private 12)
‘If this is the same pregnancy,’ Johnny asked, ‘could the dates have been wrongly typed in?’
Dr Kwong’s brow furrowed. ‘Different ultrasonographers, different days should produce unique scans no matter the condition. Each ultrasound is like an original piece of art, dependent on pressure, position of the baby and mother, depth of abdominal tissue among a host of other variable factors.’
He searched computer records for another few minutes. Johnny checked his watch. All he wanted to know was who had access to the billings and who fraudulently presented Louise’s details.
Dr Kwong used the phone and spoke in what sounded like Cantonese. ‘My colleague will join us shortly,’ he said and viewed the third scan. It looked exactly the same as the others.
An older gentleman wearing a green surgical gown and protective glasses entered the room. Dr Kwong introduced Dr Tan, describing him as their most experienced interventional radiologist.
Dr Tan took a seat at the screen as the videos were replayed.
He moved closer and craned his neck.
‘I remember this patient. From a couple of years back. She had already suffered a number of miscarriages. The baby died from a rare congenital condition not long after that scan.’
‘Do you know the name of the syndrome? I mean, is there a database of cases like it, carriers, for example?’
He shook his head. ‘I can tell you their name wasn’t Simpson though. They were first cousins from a small village in Lebanon. I remember because the mother spoke English but the father needed an interpreter. She was too distraught to tell him.’
‘Are you certain the scans are all identical?’ Johnny needed to be sure.
‘There is no doubt,’ Dr Kwong answered.
So the doctors had just confirmed what they’d suspected – that the woman claiming to be a surrogate was using the same scan, with altered dates, to con couples.
The question was, how had she managed to pull it off?
Chapter 69
JOHNNY POINTED OUT that the unknown surrogate using Louise Simpson’s identity was their only link to finding the missing baby. Dr Tan was keen to cooperate.
He explained that the only way to date the scans and patient details was within house. The machines themselves embedded the names and dates into the scan. Either someone re-entered details on to a copy of the scan, or had somehow managed to copy the videos and alter them on the main computer system.
Johnny wanted to know every other possible means. ‘What about obscuring details for teaching purposes? If you send them to someone else, can they alter the information and print out images?’
‘In theory, that’s possible. However, most doctors obscure the patient details with a sticker or leave them blank.’
It still meant other doctors or ultrasound technicians theoretical
ly could alter patient information.
As expected, the reports were even easier to change. The practice logo and wording could be done by anyone with a computer and printer.
The realisation seemed to hit both of the radiologists hard.
Because the original scan with the Lebanese couple had been performed in their practice, they had to consider that one of their employees was involved in a murder and baby kidnapping. They both wanted the source found and punished. Johnny doubted either of them was personally involved in the scam.
Dr Kwong provided a list of employees with accompanying photos that had been taken for ID badges. A total of forty-four full- and part-time staff. Nearly half were male, which left twenty-three potential female suspects. Johnny knew that the Wallaces could identify the surrogate they had met. If the woman had a male accomplice, he’d have to consider investigating the men and their partners. At least the photos were tangible.
What kept him positive was the fact that the other scans had been billed to the same practice. In case anyone checked, there would be a paper trail to suggest the scans had all been performed in Manly.
Johnny needed to be sure the location was significant. Given the Wallaces had met the supposed surrogate at the nearby Queenscliff Beach, he reasoned this was the most likely source of the fraudulent scanner. He knew that if he was wrong, the time wasted investigating the staff could cost baby Zoe her life.
Chapter 70
GEOFF ANDREN TAXIED to a hangar at the north end of Contigo’s base. A security guard met us but didn’t check our IDs or ask us to sign in, something I found surprising. We weren’t provided with visitor badges either. That meant we were free to wander unmonitored.
The guard, Arnie Pymble, offered to show us around while our pilot disappeared to meet with the maintenance crew. From the air the place had resembled a university campus, with summer camp touches. Buildings were separate, connected by concrete paths. The corporate office was dwarfed by a research and development section. A basketball court, indoor swimming pool and gymnasium were featured on our brief tour.