Rathburn bristles. “I’m a doctor, I hold two doctorates. Two. His firstborn daughters have asked for my help.”
“She double D’d him,” Claudia whispers to me, amused.
“That doesn’t give you standing,” the officer replies. “And alleging manipulation without evidence is a serious accusation.” The officer looks back at Elena and Bianca. “Have either of you personally witnessed harm, neglect, or unlawful restraint?”
Elena opens her mouth, then closes it.
“Well, no,” Bianca says finally. “But?—”
“But you don’t like the arrangement,” the officer finishes. “That’s not a police matter.”
Rathburn exhales sharply. “This is ridiculous. She’s clearly positioning herself?—”
The officer cuts her off, voice firm now. “Miss, I need you to stop. I’ve already explained the scope of a welfare check,” he continues. “You’ve escalated this into allegations you cannot substantiate. If you continue, this shifts from concern to harassment.”
Bianca’s face goes pale. Elena looks furious.
Rathburn laughs once, sharp and wrong. “Harassment? The family. The shareholders. People with a vested interest in Arthur Fairfax’s wellbeing.”
The officer meets his eyes. “Then act like it.” He turns back to me. “Ms. Fairfax, I’ll proceed as discussed.”
I nod.
As he steps toward the entrance, Rathburn snaps, “This isn’t over.”
I look back at her. “Astute observation,doctor.”
Larry buzzes us in and steps aside.
“Good evening Sofie. Sorry about this.”
I smile at him, “Just another day.” I nod to Claudia. “This is Claudia Holloway, and she and her fiancé, Deacon Moretti, have full access.”
“I’ll add them right away.”
We step into the elevator, and the doors slide shut, sealing us in.
“I want to be clear,” I say carefully.
Claudia interrupts. “Before we go any further, medical information requires consent. Arthur Fairfax can give it himself, or Sofie can as his healthcare proxy?”
I nod, “Yes.”
He nods at once. “I understand.”
I add quietly, “I can authorize what’s necessary.”
He gives me a brief look, not invasive, just confirming. “That’s more than sufficient.”
The elevator hums as it climbs.
“I want to be clear,” he continues, voice low, almost conversational. “This isn’t my first welfare check involving money, power, or family disputes. Sadly, pretty common here in New York City. For what it’s worth, I see this a lot. Adult children weaponizing concern when control or money is involved, I don’t need a diagnosis,” he goes on. “I need to see that he’s safe, not being restrained, and speaking of his own free will. If he tells me that, we’re done.”
“And if he doesn’t?” I ask.
“Then I reassess,” he says simply. “But nothing I saw downstairs suggests immediate danger.” He pauses, then adds, “What Ididsee was people trying to use concern as leverage.”
There it is.
