Dr. Steven Patterson. David's mind went back, remembering the past...
He was twenty-one years old and just starting law school. He came home from class one day to find his mother on the bedroom floor, unconscious. He called 911, and an ambulance took his mother to San Francisco Memorial Hospital. David waited outside the emergency room until a doctor came to talk to him. "Is she - Is she going to be all right?" The doctor hesitated. "We had one of our cardiologists examine her. She has a ruptured cord in her mitral valve."
"What does that mean?" David demanded. "I'm afraid there's nothing we can do for her. She's too weak to have a transplant, and mini heart surgery is new and too risky."
David felt suddenly faint "How - how long can she - ?"
"I'd say a few more days, maybe a week. I'm sorry, son."
David stood there, panicky. "Isn't there anyone who can help her?"
"I'm afraid not. The only one who might have been able to help is Steven Patterson, bat he's a very - "
"Who's Steven Patterson?"
"Dr. Patterson pioneered minimally invasive heart surgery. But between his schedule and his research, there's no chance that - " David was gone.
He called Dr. Patterson's office from a pay phone in the hospital corridor. "I'd like to make an appointment with Dr. Patterson. It's for my mother. She - "
"I'm sorry. We're not accepting any new appointments. The first available time would be six months from now."
"She doesn't have six months," David shouted. "I'm sorry. I can refer you to - " David slammed down the phone. The following morning David went to Dr. Patterson's office. The waiting room was crowded. David walked up to the receptionist. "I'd like to make an appointment to see Dr. Patterson. My mother's very ill and - "
She looked up at him and said, "You called yesterday, didn't you?"
"Yes."
"I told you then. We don't have any appointments open, and we're not making any just now."
"I'll wait," David said stubbornly. "You can't wait. The doctor is - " David took a seat. He watched the people in the waiting room being called into the inner office one by one until finally he was the only one left.
At six o'clock, the receptionist said, "There's no point in waiting any longer. Dr. Patterson has gone home."
David went to visit his mother in intensive care that evening.
"You can only stay a minute," a nurse warned him. "She's very weak."
David stepped inside the room, and his eyes filled with tears. His mother was attached to a respirator with tubes running into her arms and through her nose. She looked whiter than the sheets she lay on. Her eyes were closed.
David moved close to her and said, "It's me, Mom. I'm not going to let anything happen to you. You're going to be fine." Tears were running down his cheeks. "Do you hear me? We're going to fight this thing. Nobody can lick the two of us, not as long as we're together. I'm going to get you the best doctor in the world. You just hang in there. I'll be back tomorrow." He bent down and gently kissed her cheek. Will she be alive tomorrow?
The following afternoon, David went to the garage in the basement of the building where Dr. Patterson had his offices. An attendant was parking cars. He came up to David. "May I help you?"
"I'm waiting for my wife," David said. "She's seeing Dr. Patterson." The attendant smiled. "He's a great guy."
"He was telling us about some fancy car that he owns." David paused, trying to remember. "Was it a Cadillac?" The attendant shook his head. "No." He pointed to a Rolls-Royce parked in the corner. "It's that Rolls over there."
David said, "Right. I think he said he has a Cadillac, too."
"Wouldn't surprise me," the attendant said. He hurried off to park an incoming car.
David walked casually toward the Rolls. When he was sure no one was watching, he opened the door, slipped into the backseat and got down on the floor. He lay there, cramped and uncomfortable, willing Dr. Patterson to come out
At 6:15, David felt a slight jar as the front door of the car opened and someone moved into the driver's seat. He heard the engine start, and then the car began to move. "Good night. Dr. Patterson."
"Good night, Marco."
The car left the garage, and David felt it turn a corner. He waited for two minutes, then took a deep breath and sat up.
Dr. Patterson saw him in the rearview mirror. He said calmly, "If this is a holdup, I have no cash with me."
"Turn onto a side street and pull over to the curb." Dr. Patterson nodded. David watched warily as the doctor turned the car onto a side street, pulled over to the curb and stopped.
"I'll give you what cash I have on me," Dr. Patterson said. "You can take the car. There's no need for violence. If - "
David had slid into the front seat. "This isn't a holdup. I don't want the car."
Dr. Patterson was looking at him with annoyance. "What the hell do you want?"
"My name is Singer. My mother's dying. I want you to save her."
There was a flicker of relief on Dr. Patterson's face, replaced by a look of anger. "Make an appointment with my - "
"There's no time to make a goddamn appointment" David was yelling. "She's going to die, and I'm not going to let that happen." He was fighting to control himself. "Please. The other doctors told me you're the only hope we have."
Dr. Patterson was watching him, still wary. "What's her problem?"
"She has a - a ruptured cord in her mitral valve. The doctors are afraid to operate. They say that you're the only one who can save her life." Dr. Patterson shook his head. "My schedule - "