CHAPTER 8: HANGING BY A THREAD
"Good afternoon, Mrs. House. My name is Michael Tritter", the detective said and sat on his chair, gesturing for Dominika to take the seat on the other side of the desk. "You most likely haven't heard of me, but I'm an old acquaintance of your husband, provided he's really your husband", he said, his last remark making Dominika even more nervous. "Oho, I've hit bullseye. In any case, back to our topic, some years ago I had the misfortune of going to Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital, when Dr. House was on clinic duty. I won't bother you with medical stuff, but your husband, for lack of a better term, forgot a thermometer up my... rectum. I'd earlier reprimanded him for his issue with the pills. I threatened to sue the hospital, unless he apologized, which he refused to do. It then occurred to me, the man needed to be stopped. I investigated him myself and tried to get him convicted for drug trafficking, but, here comes the most infuriating part. All those people lied, lied and lied again to protect him. As if the law didn't matter, as if he was somehow special, somehow an exception to all the rules. I tried every single possible way to convince them to tell the truth. Even for his own sake, Dr. House's, I mean. Nothing came of it, no matter how hard I tried, and, God, I tried really hard. At the end, he got them into perjury and saved his skin. I tried to forget the case and focus only on my career, but it has been my only failure so far. I sincerely wished I was wrong about him, but I believe that people don't change. It's impossible for him to be anything else but a dangerous egotist, with a total disregard for the law and manipulating others to get what he needs or wants. Until now, I had nothing in my hands to help me reopen the case. But, today, it's as if Providence intervened on my behalf", Tritter uttered his soliloquy, obviously relishing every moment. He opened a packet of gums and took one, chewing on it furiously. "Have you finished your tirade against my husband? Because I have important things to do", Dominika shot back, hoping to put up a convincing performance. "Tut-tut, those cheap tricks can't fool me. Mrs. House, or, maybe you prefer to be addressed as Miss Petrova, I told you my story, in brief form, yes, in order to show you what kind of person Dr. House is. Now, I am offering you a chance to help the law and get him landed in prison, where he belongs. You will give testimony that he is still abusing drugs and the rest is my job. All I require of you is the simple task I've just outlined. Will you help the law nab the bad guys?", Tritter responded. "No! You'll never turn me against my husband!", she declared in all honesty. "Such a pity, such a pity. Pity for you. Such a young and pretty woman. It would be a shame if something resulted in your deportation from this country. All it takes for you to be deported is someone aware of the precise circumstances of your marriage to Dr. House and a police officer dedicated and determined enough to report everything to immigration. It happens that a friend of mine has heard some incriminating things about the sham you and Dr. House are involved in. It also happens that I personally know Mr. Weinmann, from INS. I wager whatever amount of money you'd like that his investigation would prove... interesting things. It's up to you, however, whether I'm making that call. You see, immigration cases are so boring and yours is not an exception. In fact, your case is the most boring of all. Here's your chance to completely erase your case from my memory: you sign a statement that you're leaving your beloved husband because you suspect he's an addict. I will search his home, find all the incriminating evidence and arrest him. This time, with such a witness as his wife, no amount of perjury will save him. Otherwise, my memory receives a jog and I make that call. Since I'm feeling generous today, I'm giving you five minutes to contemplate my offer", Tritter finished another long monologue and stepped out of the office, with a final remark of "Five minutes. Make the right decision", an expression of vengeful elation on his face.
Five minutes, he said he was giving her, but in her mind it was as if five centuries had passed. That man was well-informed and, what he didn't know, he could soon find out, having access to all kinds of information. The rational thing to do would be to ditch House and save herself, but the thought didn't even come to her. She was trying to find some source of optimism to hold on, to cling to it, like a desperate person, but she couldn't. Finally, after those five minutes had passed, Tritter walked into the office again. "So? What's your decision?", he asked. "I'm not gonna lie about my husband just to save my skin", she responded, trying not to appear weak. "Lie? Is it a lie that he's an addict?", Tritter bellowed. "He takes pills for his pain, he's not addict", Dominika countered. "If that's part of your performance, you're a great actress. What a pity for you that I wasn't idle those last few minutes. Judging by the available evidence, you were working in a luxury hotel where Dr. House spent some time recently, with nothing linking the two of you before that. Immediately after he checked out, you quit your job there and simultaneously Dr. House obtained the marriage license. This shows me two possibilities: love at first sight and careful planning. The first is highly unlikely, so, excuse me if I believe the second. Now, are you going to seize the last chance I'm giving you to save yourself or should I call my friend Nate Weinmann and put an end to this charade?", Tritter got back with another long monologue. Dominika remained silent. The detective stood where he was, intensely studying her expression, until he heard his phone ringing. He saw who was calling and answered, "Hello, Emma, Mike here. Is there anything I can do for you?". Emma? Dominika froze when she heard the name. Could this Emma be... Mrs. Galway? And Tritter was the Mike she was speaking of with such fondness? What kind of cruel game of irony was this? "Look, Emma, I'm sorry, but I can't do anything. Your friend has most likely entered into a sham marriage, intending to fool immigration service", Tritter was saying on the phone. "I'm a man of the law, Emma. I never said otherwise. Now excuse me, but I have big fish to fry", he added, hanging up. Turning to Dominika, he said, in a gloating tone, "It appears your husband of convenience has been alerted by Emma about your arrest. Not part of my plan, but an interesting development. And now, our meeting ends". He opened the office door and ordered another policeman, "Take our guest down to a cell. And tell Patterson to go to Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital and bring Dr. House here". He had an almost thrilled expression on his face while giving those orders. The tall and strong policeman escorted Dominika down as Tritter closed the office door.
Meanwhile, Gregory House was unable to move from his position. What he'd just heard on the phone had left him utterly stunned, at a total loss. A small throng was gathering around him. Wilson, Masters and Chase were looking at him in a perplexed and confused way. "What's wrong, House?", Wilson was asking. "You okay there?", Chase's voice could be heard. "I guess the neighbor didn't want to complain about the volume of the stereo", Masters piped in. "They arrested her", House said to no one in particular. "Who got arrested?", Wilson and Chase asked simultaneously. "Dominika", he replied, exhaling audibly. "House, calm down", Wilson advised, as even more people were now gathering around them. "Why? And what are you going to do now?", Chase enquired. "Good question. The woman on the phone was acting like a neurotic, but she was evidently worried. There is only one thing I can do. Go straight to the police station and clear the situation", the diagnostician replied and started walking towards the hospital's main gate. "House, no! You're gonna get in much trouble with this", the oncologist protested. "My wife has already got in much trouble", he shot back. "Wilson is right. If immigration has suspected the truth about your marriage, it's possible you will be fined or even sent to jail. Don't act emotionally", Chase counseled. "If I don't go and try to change their mind, she ends up permanently deported", House said with a deep sigh. "Look, I know you apparently like her for real, I know that you wanted to move on and make it a real marriage, but you got caught. Save yourself, don't be a fool", Wilson tried to impress his advice upon his friend. House offered no reply, addressing Chase and Masters instead, "Gotta go", resuming his limping. "House, what are you...?", the oncologist was starting to say, but Chase cut him off, "Leave him. He's doing what he thinks is the best. Masters, gather all the members of the team in the conference room. We have to help him". No sooner had he finished the sentence when Lisa Cuddy appeared, in order to determine why such a huge crowd had gathered in the reception room. "What's going on here? Where is House going?", the Dean of Medicine asked. "He's going to...", Wilson started to blurt out, but Chase again intervened, "A family affair. He'll be back the soonest he can".
It took House much longer than he'd appreciate to reach his motorcycle. He drove like mad all the way to the police station. He parked and limped his way to the entrance, coming face to face with a young police officer as he stepped in. Almost grabbing the younger man, he said, "I am Dr. Gregory House. I was informed that my wife is being held in this station. I want to speak with a senior officer". "Dr. House? Officer Patterson. I was just going to fetch you", the policeman replied. "The Detective is in his office. I am going to take you there", he added. "Do you have an elevator, at least?", the diagnostician asked.
Patterson knocked on the door of Tritter's office. "Enter", the detective replied. "Ah, it's you, Patterson. Well, well, my old acquaintance, Dr. House. Long time, no see. You may go now, Patterson. Dr. House, would you like to sit down?", Tritter kept talking, satisfaction evident in his features. "It's you!", House muttered, completely surprised. "Yes, it's me. Our paths cross again, House. Last time, you managed to persuade your friends to lie under oath to get you free. Now, however, you've finally made your fatal mistake. I know you never respected the law, but, a fake marriage? I didn't expect that. You can boast you surprised me, but I can boast I've finally nabbed you", the detective droned on. House was still too stunned to respond. "What's going on, House? Cat got your tongue?", Tritter kept gloating. "What do you want, Tritter?", the diagnostician practically spat out the words. "Nothing. Nothing but land you in the jail you belong. Nothing but see you getting your due for the felony you committed. And I'd advise you not to proceed in this vein, because I can add bribery attempt in the list of charges", the detective retorted. "You won't achieve anything", House tried to hold on to his edge. "We'll see that. Just before you entered, I was about to call Nate Weinmann, of the INS. He doesn't like it when people try to fool the authorities, trust me", Tritter answered. "Can I see her?", the doctor asked, his voice faltering somehow. "Oho, what do we have here? Two lovebirds or just some good acting and lying from your side? Judging from what I know about you, it's got to be the second. I'm not so sure about the girl, though. Pity, eh? She actually had a chance to save her skin, but showed some irrational devotion to you. Maybe deep down she has feelings for you, which makes it all the more enjoyable", the detective responded in the same tone, adding, "But, I won't waste neither yours nor mine own time anymore. I am gonna call Nate and an officer will take you to see your... wife", sitting on his chair and taking hold of his phone. House exhaled audibly and allowed himself to be escorted down, to the place they were holding Dominika. Tritter, jubilant, dialled Weinmann's number, savoring the moment.