Courting Death - Carol Stephenson [71]
“Good morning. I’m Nicole Sterling.”
He shook hands. “Nick Taylor.”
“You represent Oceanview Medical Center in the matter of Jane Doe?”
“Yes.”
I reached into my bag and pulled out a sheaf of documents. “I represent the interests of Marvin and Ellen Cook. Here’s a copy of my notice of appearance and request for a temporary injunction.”
“What?” As he scanned the pleadings, the bailiff entered the room followed by Judge Kay Fanning. She sat and swung toward me. “Ms. Sterling. I was just apprised of your notice of appearance.”
“Yes, Your Honor.” I took a deep breath. Although my pulse was humming in anticipation of argument, there was no sign of hyperventilation. Nothing like flying bullets to cure panic attacks.
“I represent the Cooks, who contacted Oceanview this morning. As the affidavit I filed indicates, they believe the Jane Doe to be their daughter Rachel Cook. They requested a chance to identify their daughter but were told they were too late. On their behalf, I am requesting a temporary injunction on the hospital’s petition to use the Jane Doe as an organ donor until the Cooks have had a chance to verify they are her parents.”
I pulled out the color copies of the photographs. “As Your Honor will note from the attached photographs, the resemblance between the women is striking. The estimated age of the Jane Doe also approximates that of Rachel.”
Judge Fanning studied the photographs. “Yes. I see the resemblance.” She looked at the other attorney. “Mr. Taylor, I know you’ve just been presented with the opposition. Any response?”
“Yes, Your Honor. As the petition indicates, the Jane Doe has been pronounced irreparably brain dead. Although the hospital has her on life support, every minute counts in terms of organ viability. When the story broke, numerous people contacted the police and the hospital, claiming to know the woman. None of those stories panned out and several people were associated with a radical group opposed to organ transplantation. I have to question why the Cooks waited so long to step forward.”
“Ms. Sterling, that’s a valid question.”
“Judge, the Cooks live in Atlanta, Georgia. Their daughter ran away from home a year ago and they hadn’t been able to find her. Last night Mr. Cook was watching a news program when it aired the story about Jane Doe. They contacted the hospital immediately and are scheduled to land in West Palm Beach at twelve-thirty.”
I paused to marshal my thoughts. “The Cooks should be allowed a chance to be with their daughter one last time.”
“Your Honor, this woman is an empty shell—”
I whirled on Taylor but the judge held up her hand. “Counselor, that will be enough. I find that asking the hospital to wait a few more hours to allow the Cooks to identify the woman in question is not unreasonable. I’m granting the injunction for the forty-eight hours requested.”
She rose.
After the judge exited, I gave Taylor a nod. “The Cooks will head straight to the hospital. I’ll contact you later today. If it’s not Rachel, I’ll advise the judge and you immediately.”
“We would appreciate it.” He turned and walked out of the room.
I turned on my phone and left the Cooks a message. Then I rushed out of the room. Next stop, Oceanview.
A short time later Dr. Rosa Cruz stood next to me at the window to the room where the lifeless Jane Doe lay in a hospital bed. Machines that kept her heart beating hummed and beeped. “We’re not monsters here,” the administrator murmured. “What David Hassenfeld did was reprehensible. The hospital is reviewing procedures to prevent anything so heinous from ever happening again.”
“Good.” I continued to watch the woman caught helplessly between life and death. More than anything else, I wanted a resolution for her. Whatever mistakes she had made in her life, her spirit deserved to go on to the next leg of her journey.
“We really did try everything possible to save her.