Loitering With Intent (Stone Barrington 16)

The Happy Hills Care Center was perched, true to its name, on a low hilltop. There were big oak trees on the front lawn and the building, with its colonial columns, was freshly painted. The reception area was newly decorated, with comfortable chairs. All of this was encouraging. He began to feel better. He approached the front desk, where a well-coifed middle-aged woman gave him a warm smile.

“Good morning,” she said. “May I help you?”

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S t u a r t W o o d s

“Good morning. My name is William Eggers, and I’d like to visit with Mr. Eli Keating.”

The woman turned to her computer and tapped a few keys. “I’m sorry, Mr. Eggers, but your name isn’t on the authorized visitors list. Are you a family member?”

“No,” Eggers said, producing his business card, “I am Mr. Keating’s attorney.”

“I’m sorry,” she said, still smiling sweetly, “I cannot allow anyone who is not on the authorized visitors list to see a patient without a written order from Mr. Keating’s guardian.”

“Guardian? And who might that be?”

She consulted her computer screen. “Mr. Warren Keating.”

“Who is the director of this institution?” Eggers inquired.

“The medical director or the administrative director?”

“Who’s in charge?”

“One moment, please.” She picked up the phone and tapped in an extension. “Mr. Parker? There’s a gentleman at the front desk who insists on speaking with someone in authority. Could you come out here right away, please? Thank you so much.” She hung up. “Mr. Parker will be right with you,” she said.

“And what is Mr. Parker’s position here?”

“Mr. Parker is the administrative director.”

“And who is the medical director?”

“That would be Dr. Parker.”

“Would Mr. Parker be the son of Dr. Parker?”

“That would be correct.”

“Ah, a family business.” Eggers was too agitated to sit down, so he paced. After a few minutes a skinny young man in an ill-fi tting blue suit appeared.

“I’m Mr. Parker,” he said. “How can I help you?”

“Mr. Parker, I am the attorney for Mr. Eli Keating, who is an inmate of your institution.”

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“A patient,” Parker said.

“We’ll see. I wish to see Mr. Keating at once.”

“He’s not on Mr. Keating’s visitors list,” the receptionist said.

“Then I’m afraid it will not be possible for you to see Mr. Keating,” young Parker said.

“Mr. Parker, you’d better get your daddy out here right now,”