Hope House - The Office of Mr. White
Mr. White NPCed by Todd.
Hope House turns out to be an aging house in a poorer district of Dallas. A person with an eye for such things would note that the building appears to be in great need of some attention, but at least it has been recently painted. Someone has even planted some flowers in the yard, though they are wilting slightly in the summer heat.
The inside is not much more cheerful than the outside. There is wallpaper, carpet, and drapes that were probably last replaced in the 1970's, and although care is clearly taken to keep things clean, there are the inevitable signs of wear and tear.
Most of the inhabitants live on the first floor, and what was formerly a large kitchen has been renovated into a kind of nurse's station. However, the man that Mignonette has come to see is a Mr. Reynold White. Upon arrival, one of the nurses will direct her up a creaky set of stairs to a tiny office on the second floor.
—-
Mignonette moves slowly from the curb to the front of the building, making a sidetrip to circle the building in its entirety, making notes on a small pad, before she steps up to the front of the house, ringing the bell and waiting until she's brought in by the staff. Once she's announced herself, and pointed in the direction of the office, she makes her way up along the stairs, pausing outside of the door that she's been directed to, the knock light and quick. Whatever other reason have brought her to Hope House today, she's dressed professionally, as neatly and smartly as she might if she were going into the courtroom.
—-
"Come in, come in!" The voice that meets Mignonette's knock is a deep, friendly baritone, which sounds a bit flustered. She might hear the tail end of a telephone conversation the man was holding before she arrived, "No, I'm sorry, but there are laws about that. No. No, I'm sorry. No….I'm sorry, but I have an appointment just now, I'll have to call you back. Yes, I know. Yes. I'm sorry, but… Goodbye. No… Goodbye…" There is a long pause, and then he adds, a bit more exasperated, "Goodbye."
Upon entering the office, she would find it a tiny, cramped space, without much more room for anything but a desk and two chairs. There is a small computer on the desk, though like the rest of Hope House, it looks rather aged. Behind the desk sits a middle-aged gentleman, only slightly less formal than Mignonette in a dress shirt, slacks, and a tie. He wears a name tag that proclaims, 'Hello! My name is Reynold!' and has dark hair that is going grey at the temples.
When he manages to hang up the phone, he immediately stands and holds out his hand across the desk for Mignonette to shake. "Hello! Welcome… You must be Ms. Savoy. I'm Mr. White. Or Reynold, if you prefer."
—-
The only decorations are a few photographs in frames on the walls. One is apparently of his family, as it features a much younger Reynold with a woman and two children. The other was taken in front of Hope House with a group of people who are presumably residents.
Reynold smiles and nods, "Mignonette, then. Have a seat," he offers, but waits for her to take him up before sitting himself. "Well, I appreciate that… So I understand that you wanted to talk about one of our residents?" he asks, folding his hands on the desk and getting right to business.
—-
Mignonette settles easily into the visitor's chair, setting aside the small notepad she brought with her, and instead, pulling a legal pad out of her briefcase, which she sets down against the legs of her chair, "Yes, I'm working in conjunction with Dr. David Trudeau, currently of the CDC, trying to assist him in finding the identity of one of your residents, Mr. Todd Landers."
—-
Reynold White gets a confused little smile. "Oh, my. I see. Well, Mr. Landers is a…an interesting case, that's for sure. Technically, I'm not supposed to tell you anything unless Mr. Landers consents. Medical records, you know. But if you're working with Dr. Trudeau, I guess it shouldn't hurt anything. It's no mystery, though. Before he came to live here, he lived with his mother in east Texas. Unfortunately, she's passed away, and he has no other relatives."
As he speaks, Reynold searches a battered filing cabinet, and eventually comes up with a manila folder with Todd's name. He flips through the papers contained there, and nods. "Yes. Her name was Ruby Landers. Apparently she was a very isolated individual. She'd been dead for days when they found her." Mignonette might find the name familiar.
—-
"And you're certain that she was his mother? You have his birth certificate, or some proof that they were actually related? Excuse me for seeming unwilling to accept facts, but with his condition, he's certainly not in any position to verify those facts for us. Any medical or dental records from the time period when he was living with Ms. Landers before her death?" Mignonette doesn't ask to see the file, just yet, but she does make notes, her writing neat and even as she skims the pen across the no longer blank page.
—-
Reynold suddenly looks a little uncomfortable with Mignonette's questions. "Um." He flips through the file. He is silent for a long while, and watches Mignonette. "I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm sure that you mean well, but perhaps it would be best if you left well enough alone?" he suggests, gently. "Todd is happy here. He's doing quite well, in fact… I mean, considering his condition. I know that sometimes he wanders off, but you have to understand, we're understaffed and underfunded here. We do the best we can, but Todd is a curious and intelligent man. Sometimes he just…gets away from us. But I've spoken with the volunteers, and we're working out a rotation…"
—-
"That's what I thought. You do train your employees to tow the party line quite well, Mr. White. But let me be clear. Mr. Landers came to us, Dr. Trudeau and I. He wants to know who he is. He wants to know what happened to him, and he wants to know if he can be cured. Whether or not he can be is a question that only Dr. Trudeau and his medical colleagues can answer. But clearly Mr. Landers is -not- content to let well enough alone. He wants answers, and he deserves them. Whatever his condition might be, he is a human being and he deserves to be given the same amount of respect and dignity that every human being deserves." Mignonette's tone is still cool and professional, whatever her emotions might be, "As the people primarily responsible for his well-being it shocks me to find that every one of your people that I have encountered all feel that it would just be better for that poor man to spend the rest of his life in the dark. So I have to wonder…would it be better for him? Or would it be better for you? Lack of funds should not be a factor or a consideration when it comes to giving your residents the best quality of life they can be afforded. If it is funding and staffing that you are lacking, I can assist you in increasing both of those. My firm has quite a number of contacts with charitable organizations which might be willing to assist you."
—-
Reynolds listens patiently to every point that Mignonette makes, though he still seems slightly troubled. "I understand how it must look to you, but…" He glances back down at the file, wearily. He keeps one hand pressed against the top of it, but finally takes a deep breath and lets it out in a slow sigh. "You seem like a nice person. I'm sure that you mean well…" He glances up, still troubled, as he asks, "Mignonette, can I request that what I am about to say will stay strictly between us? I am trusting that you have Todd's best interest at heart…"
—-
"I would not be here if I did not have Mr. Lander's best interests at heart, Mr. White." But once he asks for things to be kept confidential, she sets aside the pen. It's as off the record as she can get, and she offers it, "Of course. Confidentiality will not be a problem."
—-
Reynolds watches Mignonette for a moment, but seems to believe her. He folds his hands again, and finally says, "Well… Officially, Todd Landers doesn't exist." He reaches to straighten an object on his desk, as he continues, "He has no birth certificate, no social security number… For all we know, he was born in Ruby Landers' kitchen and spent his whole life in that house." He looks up to meet Mignonette's gaze, frowning slightly. "You have to understand… The employment program and the therapy that Todd has been receiving are government programs. Technically it's not legal for us to be providing him with these services… Here's here at the request of a very close friend of mine, and admittedly it's a very unique case."
Reynolds smiles, though it's a bit pained, "Obviously, we never expected to have such a respected lawyer and doctor take an interest in his case. Personally, I would be very happy if you could do something for him. I just would appreciate it if you didn't call attention to /how/ he came to be here. We have other patients…/legal/ patients to think about, after all…"
—-
"The answers we are looking for are not for the state, or for the county or any other government agency, Reynold. The answers we're looking for are strictly for Mr. Landers. Though it may prove helpful later, if we can discover who he is. For the legality of his treatment, though that would be something for you and Dr. Trudeau to decide. If it would open up additional avenues of treatment for him. I am not interested, nor is my aim to destroy the good work that Hope House has done for Todd, and for your other residents. But he deserve an answer to his question. And I will give you whatever assistance I can, with improving the funding for the House."
—-
Reynolds relaxes tremendously when Mignonette promises not to turn him in. He's probably one of those people who doesn't even speed on the highway. "Okay….okay. Well. I guess we can provide you with a copy of his file," he says, with a smile. "I personally don't know much about his family situation. I only really know what's in the police report. However, I can give you the name and badge number of the police officer who found him. Just… Let me warn him that you're going to be calling. He might be a bit…tight-lipped, otherwise." He reaches for a pad of post-it notes and starts writing.
—-
"I do appreciate your willingness to help me. And I am sorry if I come across as a bit bull-headed. Despite the reputation of my profession, I have a vested interest in assisting those who cannot assist themselves. And I was brought in specifically to make certain that Toddwas not only assisted, but also protected under the law. I would appreciate the file, and the information on the investigating officer. And I will wait for your direction on when to proceed."
—-
Reynolds finishes writing, and sticks the post-it to the file. "I've written the officer's name. This is a private number where you can reach him. I'll be sure and let you know when I've contacted him." He slides the file over. "If you will, just ask the nurse downstairs to make a copy for you. The copy machine is kind of awkward…" His expression softens, and he smiles at Mignonette. "I know it's difficult for Todd with his disability… But I'm sure that he appreciates your help. And…I'm sure that the rest of us who work with him appreciate it as well."
—-
"And I will let you know when I have a chance to contact some of the charities I know in the city who might be interested in taking on the challenge of Hope House." Mignonette rises from her seat, accepting the file. "Thank you. I will let her know, and make certain that I keep things confidential. You have all of my contact information already, and I can always be reached through my office or on my cell. Thank you for being willing to help me help Todd. He's really blossomed, since he's been out. He did very well at our charity dinner, and it seemed to make him quite happy to be so readily accepted among his peers."
—-
Reynold smiles and stands as Mignonette rises. "Of course… It's been so good for him to get out with people who…don't have problems. He has a lot of potential, we just haven't had to resources to help him." He reaches to shake Mignonette's hand. "Really… Thank you," he says, genuinely.
—-
Again, that professional handshake, before Mignonette steps back from the desk and the chair she was sitting at, putting away notepad and legal pad and reclaiming her briefcase, "Then we will do everything that we can to make certain that you do. A place like this should not have to suffer or cut down on the services you and your staff are so obviously willing to render. Thank you again, Reynold. I'll see myself out. I'm sure you have a great deal of work to get back to." And with that said, she turns, heading back out into the hallway.
