‘I can handle all that.’
‘I’m still reluctant to discharge her,’ Ybarra said.
‘But last night Doctor Pantangello said—’
At the mention of Pantangello, Ybarra wrinkled his nose. His distaste was evident in his voice. ‘Doctor Pantangello only finished his residency last autumn and was accredited to this hospital last month. I am the head of pediatrics, and it is my opinion that your daughter should stay here.’
‘How long?’
‘Her behaviour is symptomatic of severe inhibited catatonia — not unusual in cases of prolonged confinement and mistreatment. She should remain here for a complete psychiatric evaluation. A week … ten days.’
‘No.’
‘It’s the best thing for the child.’ His voice was so cold and measured that it was hard to believe he ever gave a thought to what was best for anyone other than Rafael Ybarra.
She wondered how kids could possibly relate to a stuffy doctor like this.
‘I’m a psychiatrist,’ Laura said. ‘I can evaluate her condition and give her the proper care at home.’
‘Be your own daughter’s therapist?’ He raised his eyebrows. ‘I don’t think that’s wise.’
‘I disagree.’ She wasn’t going to explain herself to this man.
‘Here, once an evaluation is completed and a course of treatment recommended, we have the proper facilities to provide that treatment. You simply don’t have the right equipment at home.’
Laura frowned. ‘Equipment? What equipment? Exactly what kind of treatment are you talking about?’
‘That would be a decision for Doctor Gehagen in psychiatry. But if Melanie should continue in this severe catatonic state or if she should sink deeper into it, well… barbiturates and electroconvulsive therapy—’
‘Like hell,’ Laura said sharply, pushing her chair away from the table and getting to her feet.
Ybarra blinked, surprised by her hostility.
She said, ‘Drugs and electric shock — that’s part of what her goddamned father was doing to her the past six years.’
‘Well, of course, we wouldn’t be using the same drugs or the same kind of electric shock, and our intentions would be different from—’
‘Yeah, sure, but how the hell is Melanie supposed to know what your intentions are? I know there are cases where barbiturates and even electroconvulsive therapy achieve desirable results, but they’re not right for my daughter. She needs to regain her confidence, her feeling of self-worth. She needs freedom from fear and pain. She needs stability. She needs … to be loved.’
Ybarra shrugged. ‘Well, you won’t be endangering her health by taking her home today, so there’s no way I can prevent you from walking out of here with her.’
‘Exactly,’ Laura said.
* * *
After the morgue wagon had gone, while the SID technicians were sweeping the parking lot around the Volvo, Kerry Bums, a uniformed patrolman, approached Dan Haldane. ‘A call came through from East Valley, message from Captain Mondale.’
‘Ah, the esteemed and glorious captain.’
‘He wants to see you right away.’
‘Does he miss me?’ Dan asked.
‘Didn’t say why.’
‘I’ll bet he misses me.’
‘You and Mondale got a thing for each other?’
‘Definitely not. Maybe Ross is gay, but I’m straight.’
‘You know what I mean. You got a grudge or something?’
‘It’s that obvious, huh?’ Dan asked facetiously.
‘Is it obvious that dogs don’t like cats?’
‘Let’s just say, if I was burning to death and Ross Mondale had the only bucket of water in ten miles, I’d prefer to extinguish the fire with my own spit.’
‘That’s clear enough. You gonna go over to East Valley?’
‘He ordered me to, didn’t he?’
‘But are you gonna go? I gotta call back and confirm.’
‘Sure.’
‘He wants you right away.’
‘Sure.’
‘I’ll call back and confirm you’re on your way.’
‘Absolutely,’ Dan said.
Kerry headed back to his patrol car, and Dan got into his unmarked department sedan. He drove out of the hospital parking lot, turned into the busy street, and headed downtown, in the opposite direction from East Valley and Ross Mondale.
* * *
Before talking to Dr. Ybarra, Laura had called the security service that Dan Haldane had recommended. By the time she had spoken to Ybarra, had dressed Melanie in jeans and a blue-checkered blouse and sneakers, and had signed the necessary release forms, the agent from California Paladin had arrived.