Where'd You Go, Bernadette(55)
From Dr. Janelle Kurtz
To the Board of Directors,
I would like to inform you that I hereby resign from my position as director of psychiatry at Madrona Hill. I love my job. My colleagues are like family. However, as Bernadette Fox’s admitting psychiatrist, and in light of the tragic and mysterious events surrounding her intervention, it is a decision I must make. Thank you for the many wonderful years and for the opportunity to serve.
Sincerely, Dr. Janelle Kurtz
*
Dr. Kurtz’s report on Mom’s intervention
PATIENT: Bernadette Fox
We were planning to confront Ms. Fox at her dentist’s office, where she had a 10 AM appointment. Dr. Neergaard was informed of our plan and had set aside an empty office for our use. Elgin Branch’s brother, Van, was to pick up the daughter, Bee, at school and go to the zoo until further notification.
We did not want Ms. Fox to see her husband’s car at the dentist’s office when she arrived. Therefore, it was decided that Mr. Branch and I would meet at his home and take my car to Dr. Neergaard’s office.
THE FOX/BRANCH RESIDENCE: It is the former home of the Straight Gate School for Girls, a grand but decrepit brick building sitting on an immense sloping lawn overlooking Elliott Bay. The inside is in shocking disrepair. Rooms are boarded up. It is dark and damp, with a musty smell so overpowering I could taste it. That a family with significant income would live in such deteriorating conditions suggests a lack of self-respect, ambivalence about their financial/social superiority, and poor reality testing.
I arrived at the Branch residence at 9 AM and found several cars, including a police car, parked haphazardly in the driveway. I rang the doorbell. Ms. Lee-Segal, Mr. Branch’s administrator, opened the door. She explained that she and Mr. Branch had just arrived. FBI Agent Marcus Strang was in the middle of informing them that “Manjula,” the Internet assistant, had stolen all his miles on American Airlines last week.
Mr. Branch was shocked that Agent Strang was only telling him this now. Agent Strang explained that they did not take the threat seriously, as Internet thieves usually don’t leave their basement, let alone hop on planes. But last night the miles had been used to purchase a one-way ticket from Moscow to Seattle, with the plane arriving tomorrow. Further, “Manjula” had been sending emails to Ms. Fox, asking her to confirm that she’d be alone in the house while Mr. Branch and his daughter were in Antarctica.
Mr. Branch practically buckled in shock and had to find a wall for support. Ms. Lee-Segal rubbed his back and assured him his wife would be safe at Madrona Hill on Orcas Island. I reiterated that there was no such guarantee, that I would have to evaluate Ms. Fox before I could place her on an involuntary hold.
Mr. Branch began to misdirect his rage and powerlessness onto me, accusing me of bureaucratese and stonewalling. Ms. Lee-Segal interrupted, pointing out we were late for Dr. Neergaard’s. I asked Agent Strang if the intervention would place us in any physical danger, considering “Manjula” was on the loose. He assured us we were safe and that ample police protection was in place. Quite shaken, we all headed out the front door when, suddenly, from behind, we heard a woman’s voice.
“Elgie, who are all these people?”
It was Bernadette Fox. She had just entered through the kitchen.
A quick visual assessment indicated an attractive woman in her early fifties, of medium height and medium build, with no makeup and a pale but healthy complexion. She wore a blue raincoat and, underneath it, jeans, a white nubby cashmere sweater, and loafers with no socks. Her long hair appeared brushed and tied back with a scarf. There was nothing about her appearance that indicated she did not care for herself. Indeed, she came off as well groomed and chic.
I turned on my tape recorder. What follows is a transcript:
FOX: Is it Bee? Nothing happened to Bee. I just saw her at school—
BRANCH: No, Bee is fine.
FOX: Then who are these people?
DR. KURTZ: My name is Dr. Janelle Kurtz.
BRANCH: You’re supposed to be at the dentist, Bernadette.
FOX: How did you know that?
DR. KURTZ: Let’s have a seat.
FOX: Why? Who are you? Elgie—
BRANCH: Shall we do it here, doctor?
DR. KURTZ: I suppose—
FOX: Do what here? I don’t like this. I’m leaving.
DR. KURTZ: Bernadette, we’re here because we care about you and we want you to get the help you need.
FOX: Exactly what kind of help? Why are the police outside? And why the gnat?
DR. KURTZ: We’d like you to sit down so we can present you with the reality of your situation.
FOX: Elgie, please ask them to leave. Whatever this is, let’s talk about it privately. I mean it. These people don’t belong here.
BRANCH: I know everything, Bernadette. So do they.
FOX: If this is about Dr. Neergaard… if he told you… if somehow you found out… I canceled the appointment ten minutes ago. I’m going on the trip. I’m going to Antarctica.
BRANCH: Bernadette, please. Stop lying.