Mitchell,” he said, pointing to a high-backed vinyl chair.

“Tell me what you have in writing.”

I handed him the printed ultrasound summary from St.

Jude Community Hospital showing the six-centimeter pelvic mass.

“The triage nurse, Paula Jenkins, left a voicemail on our home line yesterday confirming the missed appointment,” I said.

“My husband deleted the message before I got home.”

Marcus Vance didn’t interrupt.

He unclipped a silver pen from his pocket, opened the top legal pad, and wrote three short notes in neat block letters.