City of the Dead (Alex Delaware, #37)(29)

“Your wife also told us she tried to involve you.”

“She wondered if I could refer patients to her,” said Blanding. “No big deal, I was never at any sort of risk.”

“Because you checked out Cordi’s story.”

“I’d do that with anyone approaching me to network. But yes, I was doubtful of Cordi’s story. She was a high school dropout. Going from that to a doctorate made no sense.”

I said, “You turned her down.”

Blanding looked at the floor. “This is going to sound terrible but I simply didn’t call her back. My default approach. I’d like to tell you it’s rooted in the Hippocratic oath. Above all, do no harm. But I’ve always avoided confrontation.”

Milo said, “Sounds pretty smart to me, Doctor.”

“You’re kind to say so, but now I wonder if I could’ve handled it better. Like having a sit-down and telling her she was capable of doing it properly. Buckling down and getting a real degree. Maybe not something as time consuming and daunting as a doctorate. But training to become a psychiatric aide or some sort of rehab counselor? Why not?”

I said, “How’d she react to your not reacting?”

Blanding smiled. “She didn’t. Like father, like stepdaughter, I guess. Maybe that’s why we got along. May I ask you guys a question?”

“Sure.”

“After Cordi got caught, I know she rebranded herself as a relationship expert, which apparently doesn’t require certification. I also know she was into the whole internet thing. Do you suspect any of that that led to…this?”

Milo said, “How so, Doctor?”

“Exposing herself to the world, as it were. I mean, what are the safeguards?”

“Are you aware of any specific problems she had because of her postings?”

“No, but I wouldn’t be,” said Blanding. “She’d really moved away from us. Psychologically as well as physically. I can’t even tell you who her friends were. But there is something I thought you should know. It’s probably nothing, but…”

“What’s that, Doctor?”

“A couple of years back, Cordi was dating a man who was going through a custody battle. She decided to help him by testifying for him in court. Using her degree to suggest expertise. What’s incredible to me is this was after she was caught practicing without a license. Why would she even consider that?”

“Pretty risky,” said Milo.

“Risky and downright foolish,” said Blanding. “And, again, she got caught. Don’t know the details, just what she told me. ‘I got nailed again, Greg.’?”

“She talked to you about it.”

“She talked to me because she had a problem. Apparently this guy got really upset with her. Felt she’d weakened his chances more than if she hadn’t tried to help. She called my office and asked to meet. We sat right here.” He smiled. “The coffee wasn’t any better.”

I said, “What did she want from you?”

“The usual,” said Blanding, rubbing his thumb and forefinger together.

“Money.”

“She asked for five thousand dollars to ‘smooth things over’ with this guy. It sounded bizarre so I asked if he was threatening her and she laughed it off and said, ‘No, Greg, he’s cool. I just feel I should do it.’?”

Milo said, “Taking responsibility with your money.”

Blanding smiled sadly. “I guess that sums up parenthood. She told me she considered it a peace offering and I shouldn’t worry, she’d pay me back as soon as royalties came in from her videos—do you know about them?”

“We do, Doctor.”

“Don’t want to be cruel,” said Blanding. “Least of all now, but to me they came across as the exposition of the obvious. But what do I know, apparently sponsors felt they’re valuable. Because a couple of months later, she paid me back in full. I was pleasantly surprised, had already kissed off the money. I told her to keep it but she insisted.”

Milo said, “Do you have a name for this person?”

“No, sir. I didn’t want to know. But now I wish I did.”

“You think he could be involved?”

“No, I don’t think anything,” said Blanding. “I don’t know enough to hypothesize. I just thought I’d put it out there and you could do what you wanted with it.”

“Thanks, Doctor.”

I said, “Asking you for money was a regular thing.”

Greg Blanding’s thick body shifted. Loosely packed heft shimmered a bit. He faced us and the dark circles under his eyes became evident. Maybe all those surgeries. Maybe another type of fatigue.

He said, “It wasn’t frequent, maybe once or twice a year. And with the exception of that one time, always before she created her internet presence. So I guess that was working out for her.”

“Does your wife know you gave Cordi money?”

Head shake. “I handle the finances. The way it worked, she’d ask to have lunch, we’d go somewhere around here, I’d say how much, kid, and she’d smile and apologize and tell me and I’d arrange for some cash a few days later.”

“How much are we talking about in total?”