Silent Treatment

Chapter23

Impatient for The Roundtable to convene,Kevin Loomis lay facedown on the king-size bed in his room at the GarfieldSuites. It had been a week since he learned that Evelyn DellaRosa had beenmurdered. Any number of times over those days, he had considered trying totrack down Sir Gawaine to see if the man agreed she was Desiree. But if he wasdiscovered by anyone in the group probing into the identity of a fellow knight,it would probably be over for him. For the moment, his plan was to keep hismouth shut on the matter and hope that Gawaine brought it up.

The young beauty who called herself Kellyknelt astride Kevin's buttocks, kneading the tension from the muscles in hislower back. Her silk Oriental dress — red this night and adorned with gold lame- lay over the chair, alongside her black lace panties. Kevin watched herreflection in the mirror across the room, her high, firm breasts, her small,dark nipples, the perfect curves of her hips and ass. Kelly. Anothermeaningless name, he thought. Like Lancelot and Merlin and Desiree and therest — shadow names of no substance, created only to cloak secrets. Names thatvanished in the light of day.

'Is Kelly your real name?' he asked.

Her saw her smile in the mirror and feltfoolish knowing he was hardly the first to ask that question.

'If you wish it to be, it is,' she repliedsoftly, patiently.

Kevin closed his eyes and found himselffeeling vaguely queasy. Massaging him was this most gorgeous woman, ready, ifhe should wish it, to take him inside her in the most intimate ways imaginable,yet forbidden to share even her first name with him. Was she a reporter?Or perhaps a student in nuclear physics at Columbia? Or was she just anup-and-coming whore? Kelly, Tristram, Desiree, Galahad, Gawaine. Shadownames.

What would Nancy say if sheknew? hewondered. Would she believe he was part of it all? Did he even believe it,himself?

'I'm going to take a shower,' he said,rolling over.

Kelly bent down and kissed his cock, whichimmediately started to harden.

'You want me to come with you?'

'No,' he said, too sharply. I want youto tell me what in the hell I'm doing here. 'Just get dressed and ordersomething for dinner … I don't care what it is as long as it's the mostexpensive thing on the menu.'

'Filet medium rare,' she said. 'Iremember.'

As soon as Kevin entered the StuyvesantSuite, he made eye contact with Gawaine. From the man's dress and manner,Loomis had always believed he had a prep school and possibly even Ivy Leaguebackground. Tonight, his smooth manner seemed frayed, his smile a little tense.

The seven high-backed chairs circling thetable were set about four feet apart. Tristram's gold nameplate had been placedin its customary spot between Kay and Lancelot. Gawaine moved his seat, whichwas almost opposite Kevin's.

Kevin caught his eye, nodded a greeting,then approached.

'How're you doing?' he asked.

Can't complain,' Gawaine said.

'Lancelot's sent me a Chinese girl thistime. Eleven on a scale of ten, he calls her. He might be right. I think he'strying to make up for that Desiree fiasco.'

'Yeah, probably.'

Gawaine smiled uncomfortably and pulledout his chair.

Before Kevin could test him again, themeeting was convened by Merlin.

Maybe he doesn't know anythingat all about Evelyn DellaRosa, Kevin thought. Maybe he hasn't even seen any of thepictures of her.

Galahad's financial report showed that thegroup's contributions had put their operating capital back over the agreed-upon$600,000. Kevin had no idea how that baseline figure was arrived at, or, forthat matter, how any of their rules had been adopted. No minutes were everkept, no record of votes, no paperwork of any kind. But everyone seemed to knowexactly where projects stood and what was expected of each of them.

Kay spoke first, reporting on one of threemajor new programs that would be discussed tonight. He sounded quite eager toreport that the votes were now in place to pass legislation permittingcompanies to run genetic panels on all prospective employees. First formalpsychological exams and profiles, then AIDS screening, and now, finally,genetic testing. They all knew that the total package might not do one trulypositive thing for the companies involved. But it would save those companies'health-insurance carriers tens if not hundreds of millions.

'There'll be the usual court challenges,'Kay explained. 'But I think we have control of this one. I would guess it'll bea year before it's enacted, challenged, and upheld — maybe a bit longer if thelabor unions latch onto any half-decent lawyers. But we are going towin.'

'The quicker the better,' Lancelot said.'As far as I'm concerned, we ought to make genetic screening a requirement forentering kindergarten. Goddamn mutants are everywhere.'

There was laughter from around the table.Loomis faked his and noted that Gawaine's smile looked perfunctory.

Kay received a round of appreciative pentaps for his work. Percivale clapped out loud. Tens of millions in increasedprofits for the industry — possibly more. Tristram thought about the figureBurt Dreiser had quoted him the morning when they met on his boat. Nineteenmillion dollars. That was what the former knight's company had lost in oneyear by not being allowed to replace him on the Roundtable. Nineteen million dollars. Assuming Crown Health benefited similarly from his work,Tristram's bonus would be one percent of that — $190,000 on top of his base salary.

If nobody else mentioned Desiree, hedecided, he was not going to be the one to break the ice.

Gawaine was called upon next to give thegroup an update on their newest endeavor — legislation that would enable thehealth insurers to decide what treatment was appropriate and not appropriatefor patients with terminal illnesses. Kevin continued to watch him closely,noting how he shuffled papers and fidgeted with a pencil as he spoke. SirButtondown was uncharacteristically nervous. No doubt about it.

'Please note,' Gawaine said, 'that I referto patients with terminal illnesses rather than terminally ill patients. Oncewe are allowed to define what illnesses can be considered terminal, we plan toturn our attention to determining when the treatment for those conditions is nolonger cost effective. We need the right to cut off coverage for those patientswho are taking up costly hospital beds and specialist care when there isultimately no hope for them. Of course, the sooner in that process we can stepin, the better. The legislative climate is excellent right now. Tristram hasbrought the commissioner back into the fold, so he won't be a problem. We'vebeen nibbling at this thing for years, convincing the legislators and thepublic that since we're footing the bills, we should make the treatmentdecisions. Now it appears that we are ready to take a much bigger bite.Lancelot, do you want to go on to your part?'

Lancelot set his half-smoked cigar asideand cleared his throat. He never actually lit up a cigar during a Roundtablesession, but he was rarely without his prop. He gave Gawaine a puckish grin andan A-okay sign. Tristram noted that Gawaine barely responded.

'The neat part of this program,' Lancelotexplained, 'is a network of facilities we are calling palliative centers — PCs.These are the places where patients we determine to be terminally ill can besent for inexpensive, barebones care. The ultimate hospice — something on thecontinuum after a hospital and a nursing home, but much less expensive to runthan either. No treatments, no IVs, no therapy of any kind. Pain medicationonly, administered around the clock in a totally humane way. And the best partis that we are moving ahead with designing these PCs and even setting up thecorporations that will eventually run them. In some cases, we're actuallypurchasing the facilities that will one day house them.'

There was half an hour of discussion onthe palliative centers, and then Merlin took over.

'This has been a hell of a meeting,' hecheered. 'A hell of a meeting. Well, I'm pleased to say that the news from myfront is good, too. We've implemented the employment modification program on alimited basis, and tonight I'm prepared to present the results and projectednumbers on the first ten cases. The policyholder in each of these cases hasbeen terminated from employment. Some have found new employment with companiesdoing business with insurers other than Roundtable members. Others continue asallowed by law to pay their premiums themselves for eighteen months. Still othersnow qualify for Medicaid. But in most of these cases, we're already out of theloop as their insurers. Off the hook, so to speak.'

Loomis could not remember anything calledthe employment modification program. Apparently, Merlin was using The Roundtable'smoney and influence to arrange the firing of costly policyholders. If so, itwas the first time that specific individuals had been targeted by the group. Hescanned his copy of the printout Merlin had passed around. At the top was theheading 'Qualifications' — the factors used by the computer to select cases.Below that were ten names, and beside each of them was an insurance carrier, adiagnosis, and a dollar amount. The smallest amount was $200,000, the largest$1.7 million. The fourth of the ten names was a Crown Health and Casualtysubscriber.

Subscriber

Patient

Carrier

Diagnosis

Amount

4. DeSenza, Elizabeth Ryan Crown

Head Injury

$1,300,000

Kevin stared at the name, struggling tokeep his expression bland. Beth DeSenza was a production line worker at a largegarment factory just outside the city. Her son, Ryan, had suffered a freakcardiac arrest and subsequent brain damage after being hit in the chest with abaseball. Thanks to her company's comprehensive insurance coverage, Ryan was a patientin the most highly regarded — and most expensive — brain injury rehabilitationhospital in the area. Kevin had engineered the coverage agreement with herunion. Beth was the only policyholder in all his years with Crown who had takenthe trouble to find out his name and to write and thank him for his role inproviding care for her child. She included a picture of Ryan before theaccident, bat poised, smiling self-consciously from beneath a baseball cap thatseemed two sizes too big.

Thank you, Mr. Loomis, she wrote. Thank you andCrown for making Ryan's treatment possible.

Nancy had taken the note and had it mattedand framed. Now, Beth's coverage for her son, at least at the level provided byCrown, was over. The individual-policy premium was extremely expensive — almostcertainly too expensive for her to continue the coverage even for the periodallowed by state law. Tristram felt ill.

'. . From early indications,' Merlin wassaying, 'provided the program is not overutilized, once we get up to speed ourcompanies can realize a comfortable ongoing saving of three to six milliondollars a month. Not exactly a bonanza, but hardly chicken feed.'

There were appreciative pen taps fromaround the table.

'I was just wondering why the companiesholding the policies weren't consulted about these individuals before they wereterminated.'

There was a deathly silence in the room.

'Tristram, I don't believe I understandwhat you mean,' Merlin said finally.

His tone and expression werenonjudgmental, yet Kevin felt his pulse pounding in his ears. Everything seemedto be happening in freeze-frame. The six faces fixed on him were like those ina wax museum — imbued with expression, but not with life.

Then suddenly, his gaze was drawn tomovement. Gawaine, sitting across from him, was shaking his head ever soslightly. His eyes, locked on Kevin's, blazed. Loomis watched his lips move andheard the unspoken word as if it had been shouted into his ear.

No!

With the others focused on him, Loomisfelt certain he was the only one who had picked up on the warning.

'I … um. . I'm sorry,' he said. 'WhatI meant to ask was why you hadn't checked with each of us for more names.'

'Ah, I see,' Merlin responded. 'Thank youfor clarifying that. I did misunderstand.'

'Perhaps I can answer your question,Tristram,' Kay said, 'since I designed the program to select the clients. Thedecisions, purely business, are made by computer to keep them as rational anddispassionate as possible. As you can see from the list of factors considered,a great deal of data is evaluated before a selection is made. Each time,thousands upon thousands of policyholders are screened. This process would bevirtually impossible for any of us to do on a regular basis, and certainly notwith the accuracy of a computer.'

The knights' attention had shifted to Kay,except for Gawaine, whose gaze remained fixed on Kevin. His face was tight andwaxen. The unspoken warning continued flashing from his eyes.

'I understand,' Tristram said, forcing asmile. 'I understand completely.'

The Roundtable meeting concluded withoutfurther incident. The knights left the Stuyvesant Suite in the inverse order oftheir arrival. Kevin considered trying to waylay Gawaine and demand anexplanation. But he did not know the man's room number, and the danger ofdiscovery in hanging too close to the meeting room was too great. Instead, hereturned to his own room, his feelings roiling.

Kelly, wearing only her panties, lay onthe bed watching a movie, eating grapes left over from dinner. She seemedcompletely at ease.

Kevin tossed her dress across her lap.

Go,' he said.

'But you have me until morning.'

He took a fifty from his wallet and set itin her hand.

'I won't tell anyone and I don't want youto. Just be careful leaving. I'll see you next time.'

Kelly tossed the dress aside, stood on hertiptoes and kissed him hungrily. He cupped her breast in his hand. Her nippleinstantly swelled to his touch. Her smooth, lean body melted into his.

'I want you,' she whispered.

For a frozen minute his thoughts were onlyof her. He had not yet given in and made love with her. But he knew he wasdrawing closer with every moment they were together. Perhaps that was what hereally needed, he began thinking. Not to face the demons that were suddenlytormenting him, but to escape them.

'I want you,' she moaned again. Still onher tiptoes, she took his swollen cock and worked it between her thighs. 'Iwant you inside me so much.'

He took her by the shoulders and forcedher to arm's length. She was part of them — an extension of The Roundtable. Oneof the shadow names. The piece she was about to take from him would bind himeven more tightly to the society. Perhaps she was even to be rewarded forgetting him to fuck her.

See, Tristram, you can do it. The Roundtable would be sayingto him. You can do anything!

'Get out,' he snapped. 'Right now.'

The hurt on her face seemed genuine. Kevinalmost laughed out loud at her skill. She dropped her dress on over her headand turned to allow him to zip it up.

'Next time?' she asked.

'We'll see. Now please, go.'

Kevin waited several seconds after thedoor had locked behind her and then splashed an inch of bourbon into a tumblerand gulped it down. Until he had read Beth DeSenza's name on Merlin's printout,none of The Roundtable's programs had ever presented even the slightest moraldilemma for him. But they were programs that largely involved laws and thepeople who made them. The insurance commissioner was a pompous, politicallymotivated bastard — fair game in Kevin's view. The corporate sabotage madeperfect sense given the dog-eat-dog climate of the insurance business. But thiswas different. This was a flesh and blood person. He could handle standing backbehind the lines, lobbing shells down on the enemy. But this was hand-to-handcombat. And suddenly, the enemy had eyes.

Kevin was in over his head. He knew itnow. And there wasn't a damn thing he could do about it — except to adjust. Theprice of a ticket on this ride was a twelve-room house and a secure future forhimself and his family. He had paid the fare. Now he had no choice but to hangon and make the best of it. The next time Kelly asked, he would be ready for.. whatever.

He had poured another two fingers when thephone began ringing.

'Tristram,' he said.

'It's Gawaine,' the knight whispered. 'Canyou talk?'

'Yes, I'm alone.'

'You sent your girl home?'

'Yes.'

'Jesus. You are asking for trouble. Mine'sin the other room.'

'What's going on? Why did you stop me atthe meeting?'

'I know your name. Do you know mine?'

'No.'

'It's Stallings. Jim Stallings. I'm a vicepresident with the Manhattan offices of Interstate Health Care.'

Kevin knew the gargantuan managed carecompany well. He had once interviewed for a sales job with them.

'Go on,' he said.

'Loomis, we've got to talk. Tomorrow, noonsharp. Can you make it?'

'I can, but — '

'Battery Park. The benches on the Hudsonside. Just be damn sure you're not followed.'

'But — '

'Please, Loomis. Wait until tomorrow atnoon, and be careful.'

'One thing,' Kevin said quickly. 'Did yousee the picture of that woman DellaRosa?'

'Of course I did.'

'And do you think it's Desiree?'

'I never had any doubt about it. It was youI had doubts about. I wasn't sure if you were one of them or not. But aftertonight I'm willing to take the chance that you're still an outsider like me.In fact, I'm betting my life on it.'

Kevin listened to the dial tone forseveral seconds. Then he set the receiver down and walked to the window.Fourteen stories below, scant early-morning traffic flowed in slow motion alonglargely deserted streets. A cab pulled up and stopped directly beneath hiswindow. A woman wearing a tight iridescent red dress hurried out and climbedinside. The lady without a name.

The cab rolled to the corner and thenturned uptown. Kevin sensed that he had seen the girl, stroked her magnificent,taut body, for the last time. He glanced at his watch. Eleven hours. Elevenhours until Battery Park.