An hour later, he had thoroughly searched the Lexus and every place that he could think of inside the house. He did not find the cell phone. It looked like she had kept the cell, just as he had asked her to do in his e-mail. It was little enough reason to hope, but he smiled to himself anyway.
Michael had opened an account specifically designated for the purpose that he intended it to be used, the Association of Friends— Chloe Somerset. He had reasoned that printed checks, with the name of a formal-sounding association, would be readily accepted.
At the hospital, Michael represented himself as the spokesman for a group of friends of Catherine Somerset, which wanted to bless her with the easing of her financial burden. “We know how crushing her daughter’s medical bills are to her, and we want to help as much as we can. However, we don’t want to embarrass Ms. Somerset. So we’d like to make an anonymous donation against any outstanding balances on her account. Can you give me a ballpark figure that we might work up or down?”
The hospital billing department expressed guarded interest, as long as client confidentiality was maintained, and provided the sliding scale. When Michael wrote a check for the upper-end figure, the atmosphere warmed considerably. “I am aware that there were other health care providers involved in Chloe Somerset’s treatment. I’d like to contact them as well.” He understood the need for confidentiality, but could the hospital recommend medical service providers that were usually involved with the care and treatment of leukemia patients? He was given the names of other medical entities that might possibly have provided services to Chloe Somerset. When he asked, he was given to understand which providers might be expected to hold the highest outstanding balances.
Michael easily discovered which medical service providers had been involved in the little girl’s treatment. All were willing to embrace his story and to accept payment from the Association of Friends—Chloe Somerset.
He couldn’t settle everything, of course. The very healthy deposit in that special account evaporated like water. However, he had the satisfaction of knowing that some of the medical bills had been either eliminated or substantially reduced.
Michael knew that he had to accomplish what he could in one billing cycle. When Catherine received paid-in-full notices, rather than billing statements, it would not take her long to find out that the bills had been paid anonymously. She was an intelligent woman. She would realize very quickly who was behind the Association of Friends—Chloe Somerset. Then, if she did still have the cell phone in her possession, he expected that she would use it.
When he heard from her, it almost took him by surprise. Michael double-checked the number so that there was no mistake. She did still have the cell. His hands were shaking slightly when he opened the text. Stop helping me! A second text followed. Thank you. She had not left him an opening to build on, but neither had she left him without a generous word.
Michael leaned back in his office chair, rereading the texts, before he carefully saved them. For a long time, he looked out his office window at the sunlit day. The corners of his mouth curled up in a barely-there smile. At last, he blew a soft regretful sigh and put away his cell phone. With renewed determination, he turned his attention back to his work. It was enough.
It had to be enough.
Within days of his final expenditures on Chloe Somerset’s behalf, Darryl barreled into his office. Michael looked up from the papers in front of him. He noticed the grim set of his business partner’s expression. Michael eased back in his chair. He thought he could probably guess what had put that look on Darryl’s face.