Friends and Lovers
Chapter 13
Disclaimers: You know the drill
A/N: The case continues
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Jack's car
"I just want to drop by the office for a few minutes," insisted Bobby as he settled into the car. "I promise--I won't stay long."
"The doctor recommended you take it easy," Sue patiently reminded him. "You still have that cough."
"I will," promised Bobby, "after I visit the office."
Sue and Jack looked at each other.
"You may as well give in," Jack shrugged. "He can be pretty stubborn, you know."
Sue reluctantly agreed. "All right. But only for half an hour. That should be enough time for you to check your messages and show everyone you're fine."
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Bullpen
"Hey! Look who's here!" D exclaimed as he looked up from his desk. "They release you or you escaped?
"You're looking at a free man," smirked Bobby as he walked towards his desk.
"I bet the hospital nurses were glad to see you go," Lucy deduced shrewdly.
Sue and Bobby exchanged a glance remembering the nurse's parting remark. He had the grace to look a little sheepish.
"That would be an understatement," agreed Sue. Jack didn't bother to hide his smile.
"I thought the doctor wanted you to stay home," asked Myles. "You miss us that much?"
"Nope," answered Bobby. "Just wanted to check these," holding up his messages," and find out what's happening with the bank robbery. Do we know why the bloke blew himself up?"
"He had an insurance policy with his friend as his beneficiary," answered Myles. "Unfortunately he didn't bother to read or remember the no suicide or committing felony clause. His friend gets nothing."
"Hey, tell me what you think of this," Tara exclaimed, getting the attention of the team.
"What is it?" asked Sue.
"You know how we found out Jason Mitchell wound up destitute because he had trouble paying off his medical bills?"
"And this is of interest because?" asked a curious Lucy.
"Well, for what it's worth, it seems this isn't the first time this surgeon has been investigated for doing unnecessary procedures. On at least two other occasions, investigations were opened but due to the nature of the injury, it was impossible to prove if the surgeries were unnecessary." She looked up at them.
"So what are you saying?" D asked with a frown.
"Maybe Jason Mitchell didn't really need the surgeries that basically crippled him. Maybe this surgeon isn't a surgeon you'd want operating on you."
"And how is this going to help Jason? He's dead," Myles pointed out.
"Well, if we can get a hold of Jason's records and if we can prove that the surgeries were unnecessary maybe the surgeon can be sued for malpractice and maybe, just maybe, Jason's beneficiary could get some of the settlement," she said thinking out loud. "That is if there is a settlement."
"And if we can find enough evidence to support that theory," added Sue.
Bobby made a face. "That's a lot of ifs."
Myles looked thoughtful. "Yes, but it may be the only way for Danny Johnson to get some of the money Jason meant for him to have. That is—here's another if—if he doesn't wind up in prison."
"Okay," began D. "We need to find as much as possible about this surgeon, Dr. ….?" he looked at Tara.
"Rickard, Dr. Daniel Rickard," she supplied the missing information.
"…Dr. Daniel Rickard," he finished. "Myles, the man needs to be interviewed but do it tactfully. We don't want to alert him that he's being investigated by the FBI. If he is performing unnecessary surgeries, he may have done so in other states as well perhaps under a different name. We'll start with the information Tara's gathered so far. You have any names, Tara?"
She waved a sheet of paper.
"Good. Jack...Sue start interviewing."
Bobby automatically started to leave with Myles when Sue's voice stopped him. "And where are you going?" she asked.
"With Myles," he replied. He added with a teasing grin, "You know he can't go anywhere by himself."
Myles threw him an exasperated look.
"I think she meant what about your promise to stay only a few minutes?" ventured Jack.
"Oh...I forgot," Bobby admitted with a frown. "But the doctor did say it would be okay if I went back to work today if I felt fine." He grinned confidently at Sue. "I feel fine."
Aware that the others were trying not to stare at them, Sue struggled between her concern for him and treating him like any other member of the team doing his job. She bit back her protests and finally managed a slightly anxious, "Don't overdo it."
He smiled, acknowledging her concern. "You know me. C'mon, Myles."
As the pair left, she looked at Jack in chagrin. "The next time I treat Bobby like a child, would you remind me he's an adult?" she said wryly.
"With Bobby, sometimes it's hard to tell the difference," Jack responded with a grin.
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