Tender Touch (43 page)

“I’ll be okay,” Jade murmured absently.

Damon glanced at her. “Tell me the truth,
Jade. Do you have the ammunition you need to fight back?”

“I think so. Well, actually, I’m pretty
sure,” Jade added quickly at the look of concern her response
caused. “Don’t worry about me. You have enough on your mind. I can
take care of myself.” The last thing she wanted was for Damon to
become a target.

“I know you can. But I’m going to help you
from now on,” Damon said. He folded her hand into his. “It’s the
least I can do after acting like such a jerk—believing stupid
gossip.”

Jade gave him an affectionate poke in the
ribs. “No more beating ourselves up, okay? Besides, I don’t care
about gossip. The people who really matter to me know the
truth.”

“The way Bill manipulated this whole
situation really pisses me off. He’s always figuring an escape
route no matter what situation he lands in.” Damon wore a grimace
as though just talking about Bill Lang made him sick.

“Yeah, and he’s done a good job this time. I
could even be indicted for malfeasance in office.” Despite her best
efforts, Jade’s voice trembled. Her whole career could be ruined,
and she could face criminal charges.

“I won’t let that happen,” Damon said, his
voice harsh and intense.

“Well, between Mike Testor and Tavis,
they’ve—”

“Tavis Collins?” Damon cut her off.

“Yeah. You know him?” Jade stared into her
diet cola with a morose expression. “He’s real smooth. They’ll
cover for each other for sure.”

“Yeah, that’s right. He’s one of Bill’s good
buddies.”

“They’ve been friends for a long time.” Jade
looked up at him with a curious expression.

“Of course. Tavis Collins.” Damon tapped the
tabletop with his fingertips. He stared ahead at the crowded dining
room without really seeing anyone.

“Damon, remember me?” Jade waved her fingers
in front of his face.

“Hmm? Oh, sorry. Listen, baby, I’ve got an
errand to run.” Damon stood up.

“Now? We just got here.” Jade put her hands
on both hips. “Damon Knight, what are you going to do?”

“I’ve got an idea that just might blow this
whole thing up in their faces.” Damon nodded to himself. “Yeah, I’m
going to have a little chat with my old buddy.”

“I’m not letting you out of my sight until
you explain. Damon?” Jade’s mouth flew open with surprise because
Damon was already rushing off while she spoke.

“Gotta go, sweet. I’ll call you later. But
I’m going to make sure everything works out fine.” Damon blew her a
kiss.

“That man has not been getting enough rest.”
She shook her head.

Jade stared after him with a befuddled
expression. Then she thought about his last words. That was it! She
should have thought of it before. The waitress appeared.

“You ready to order?” The young woman, the
name LaQuinta stamped on a plastic name tag on her blouse, held a
pencil poised over a pad.

“No, thanks, we changed our minds.” She paid
for their soft drinks.

Jade glanced at her watch. It was only
five-fifteen. She could make it back to the office in plenty of
time before the building closed at six.

“Might was well now that I’m free for the
evening,” she said. Excitement over her idea pushed her to dash out
just as Damon had. Hours later she was home when the doorbell
rang.

“Baby, you’re all set.” Damon pulled her to
him and kissed her. Her eyes were bright with enthusiasm. “Here you
go.” He handed her a large brown envelope.

“Hey, doesn’t feel like a diamond necklace,”
she quipped.

“It’s even better. Take a look.”

Jade sat down to scan the papers she took
out. “My, oh, my,” she said. “How did you manage to get a hold of
these?”

“Doesn’t matter. Just the evidence to bury
Bill Lang in his own you-know-what.” Damon wore a wicked smile.
“Just wish I could be there.”

Chapter 18

“Sit down, Ms. Pellerin.” Secretary Chauvin
gestured to a chair. The top DHH official had the graceful but
proud bearing of an old Creole family. His voice held just a touch
of an accent. Iron gray hair was swept back from his forehead.

Sitting in the secretary’s office in a half
circle around the large room were six other people. Jade recognized
two top Medicaid officials: Hazel Preston and her assistant
director Wilton Trosclair among them. Bill Lang and Mike Testor sat
stiffly next to each other. They did not greet her when she
entered. Bill even avoided eye contact.

Chester Howard entered from a side door next
to Secretary Chauvin’s desk. The heavy, black eyebrows were in
sharp contrast to his pale skin. His long face gave no clue as to
his mood. He looked as he always did, like a humorless accountant.
Known for his dogged stand on conservative spending that kept him
ignored through successive freewheeling liberal/populist governors,
Chester Howard sat closest to Secretary Chauvin. After
introductions were made, Secretary Chauvin got down to
business.

“I called this meeting because the
department is facing serious questions. To be blunt we all have a
credibility crisis with the public and the legislature.” Secretary
Chauvin glanced around the room, watching the others react to his
words.

“Sir, reporters are digging for any scraps
and...” Mike Testor’s voice trailed off weakly at the slight shift
of Chester Howard’s eyebrows.

“We’re facing a severe Medicaid funding
shortage. But our congressional delegation is reluctant—and that’s
putting it mildly—to approach the feds on our behalf to get more
time or concessions.” Secretary Chauvin glanced at Bill then Jade.
Seconds ticked away as the expression on his face made it clear he
expected a response.

Bill cleared his throat. “Tightened controls
on several programs have already resulted in savings. A few
programs have been scaled back, several will be eliminated—”

“While others have been expanded and rates
increased, as a reporter named Savoie has taken great trouble to
describe.” Secretary Chauvin pulled the article from a file folder
filled with other newspaper clippings.

“Well, we know that news reporters will
print one side of the story.” Bill shrugged. “Notice he hasn’t
mentioned our cost-cutting measures.”

“That’s not the focus of the investigation.”
Howard’s bland Southern drawl came out just above a whisper.

“Exactly.” Bill leaned forward. “He’s going
to slant the story to give it maximum effect. That’s what sells
newspapers. What we need to do is emphasize what we’ve done in
response to the serious Medicaid shortfall. We can counter the
effects of these stories.” His voice had the old confident
quality.

“Ms. Pellerin, do you agree with your
boss?”

“Well, I think—” Jade tried not to fidget
under his gaze.

Bill cut her off. “We shouldn’t be on the
defensive.”

“So you suggest we all but ignore these
articles?” Secretary Chauvin made a tent with the fingers of both
hands.

“No, obviously we must answer direct
questions. I’ve put together a report that outlines all our
cost-saving activities— some of which were reviewed by the Health
and Welfare Committee members before we took them.” Bill snapped
his fingers at Jade, who handed him a small binder. He took the
report without looking at her. Secretary Chauvin did not reach for
the report, nor did he look at the white vinyl binder in Bill’s
hand. Instead he turned to one of the Medicaid administrators.

“Wilton, tell me about Health Tech and the
nursing home rates.”

Wilton Trosclair shifted in his seat. He
glanced at Mike then caught himself. His boss, Hazel, sat
impassively next to him.

“Health Tech owns eight nursing homes in the
state, ten in Texas.” Wilton tugged at the tie clipped to his white
shirt. “We, uh, did a review of rates and found the nursing homes
were not being adequately reimbursed to cover the cost of care.
This is based on—”

“Figures that were provided by the
Association of Nursing Home Administrators,” Howard, his voice
still low, finished for him.

“Er, yes, that’s true. But we checked them
thoroughly against reasonable expense rates in the rest of this
region of the country.” Wilton bobbed his head, seeking some sign
of encouragement. No one moved.

“Yet the profit statements reviewed show
that Health Tech, taken as only one example, has shown a stable and
substantial surplus. Couple this with some scathing survey reports
on patient care, and we have to wonder why an increase was
granted.” Chester Howard’s brows went up just a fraction.

Hazel Preston, her heavy jaw quivering,
flashed him an irritated look. “We have to respond to their request
by state regulations. If the figures indicate an increase, we have
to give it. My section has acted totally in accordance with all
state regs.” She clearly meant to show that she was not
intimidated.

“I know that, Hazel. I also know you can use
past performance on patient care surveys as a factor in your
decision.” Howard did not raise his voice to match her tone.

“But it’s not a usual part of the process,”
she clipped back at him.

“These are not usual times, Ms. Preston.”
Secretary Chauvin stared at her hard. “I want to hear from you,
Bill.”

“Well, I...” Bill glanced at Mike. “To be
candid, Secretary Chauvin, Health Tech has worked hard to improve.
We know that. Ms. Pellerin worked closely with them.”

“So increasing rates was the reward for
their efforts?” Howard glanced around the room.

“Well, I wouldn’t say that,” Mike put in
with a grin. “Let’s just say in consideration for future
services... Ahem. Ms. Pellerin could give more details.”

Secretary Chauvin turned in his heavy
leather chair to stare at Mike. “Is that so, Mr. Testor?” A long,
tense silence stretched after his voice died away.

Jade felt as if a trap had closed over her.
Here she was caught between two men who would gladly let her take
the fall and two conservatives who would just as soon jettison
holdovers from a previous administration. Bill was seen as part of
the old liberal system. He’d been appointed with reassurances that
he would not continue old practices. Obviously Howard had been
watching his every move. She was surprised when he turned to Hazel
and Wilton instead of her.

“We need a full report outlining the nursing
home rates and any other rate changes made in the past eight to ten
months.” Howard did not blink at the glares the two gave him. “By
noon tomorrow.”

“Why, we’ll need more time,” she
grumbled.

“It’s all in a computerized database. I
helped set it up two years ago.” Howard’s heavy brows twitched when
Hazel snapped her mouth shut and stomped from the room.

“Yes, sir,” Wilton stammered. He scurried
after her.

“Review our report when you have time. Let
me know if you have any questions.” Bill started to leave. A look
of relief started across his face then stopped at Howard’s
voice.

“Wait, Lang. We’re not done yet.” Howard
closed the door behind Trosclair. He sat in the chair beside Jade
this time.

“What about these disturbing reports that
you and Ms. Pellerin have ties to several providers? We need to
know if there is any aspect of your relationship that can be
misconstrued.” Howard’s voice was mild, but it was clear he was
asking for loaded information.

Jade felt as though she were the easiest
target. Bill and Mike had political connections. What did she have?
She fingered the brown envelope in her lap. As though from a
distance, she heard Mike and Bill rattling on. Jade could tell
Secretary Chauvin and Howard were not impressed. Using the
information she had was the last thing she wanted. Deep down, Jade
would love to simply close her eyes and make this all go away. But
her career was on the line. Jade wouldn’t stand by and take the
fall, especially when she’d done nothing wrong.

“Well, it may be best if I speak with Jade
and Mike alone. I’ll get back to you with my findings.” Bill gave a
solemn nod.

Jade snapped to attention. “Excuse me,
Secretary Chauvin. I feel compelled to say there is nothing
questionable about any decisions made in which I took part.”

“Jade, we’ll talk later.” Bill stood up.

“I have a list of all meetings, and my notes
to correspond with our response to the inquiry on nursing home
rates.” Jade opened the envelope and handed Howard a memo sent to
Wilton Trosclair.

“You’ve stepped over your authority, Jade.”
Mike Testor took the memo from Howard’s hand. “We’ll send a full
report with all the details.”

“I’d like to see it, actually.” Howard
retrieved the paper from a flustered Mike.

“I here are several documents regarding the
hospital certificates granted.”

Bill struggled to maintain his composure.
“What are you doing?” he said in a taut voice.

Howard looked at the dates on one sheet
after another. His dark eyes held a predatory gleam when he looked
up at Bill and Mike. “Some of these are dated before you were
appointed assistant secretary, Lang. When did your discussions with
these providers begin?”

Jade fought to steady her breathing. The
papers indicated that Bill was cutting deals even before his
appointment was confirmed. She turned to stare at Bill. Greed and
arrogance. So eager to get the ball rolling, he had started working
with men like Franklin immediately in preparation for his rise to
power. No doubt he didn’t think the obscure paperwork, filed
routinely and forgotten in a maze of cabinets on the fourth floor,
would ever be found.

Jade had taken a big gamble. Howard and
Secretary Chauvin might decide she was expendable. Her stomach
tightened as she waited for their reactions. Secretary Chauvin and
Howard looked at each other. Howard stood up.