Chapter 6 - DR. THORNE HAD MONEY IN NORTHSOUND TOO
Dr. Thorne’s involvement was not charitable.
He owned twenty-two percent of NorthSound Recovery Group.
Travis owned thirty-eight.
Two investors split the rest.
Mom owned none.
She had only guaranteed debt.
That was almost worse.
Dr. Thorne had treated the $155,000 like a medical emergency because for him it was a business emergency.
Hospital compliance uncovered that his white coat and presence in Room 412 created obvious concerns about whether he had used his professional status to pressure a patient’s family regarding a private venture.
The hospital did not fire him overnight.
It began a review.
His department chair interviewed him.
Medical staff leadership requested records.
NorthSound’s business practices were outside the hospital’s control, but Dr. Thorne’s conduct inside their facility was not.
Travis called it a witch hunt.
He sent me an email:
You didn’t just betray me. You went after Martin’s medical career.
I forwarded it to Rebecca.
She replied:
Do not respond.
So I didn’t.
Then NorthSound employees began calling Mom.
The clinic had thirteen employees.
Physical therapists.
Medical assistants.
A receptionist.
Billing staff.
People with nothing to do with my forged name.
The lender froze additional advances.
Payroll was due Friday.
Mom called me.
“If they miss payroll, those people have families.”
I stared at the phone.
“Then Travis needs to tell them the truth.”
“He’s trying.”
“No. He’s trying to get me to fund it.”
“You have the money.”
That sentence finally made me angry enough to raise my voice.
“My savings are not the family fire extinguisher.”
Mom went silent.
I continued.
“I worked ten years for that money.”
“You sold a condo.”
“I paid that mortgage.”
“Your father helped with the first down payment.”
“He gave both of us twenty thousand dollars.”
Mom stopped.
Travis had received the same amount.
He used his to start the detailing company.
I had used mine on property.
The difference had become family mythology.
Shannon had money.
Travis had dreams.
Therefore Shannon was selfish if she protected money and Travis was brave when he risked it.
The loyalty shift started with Sheila.
Then the hospital.
Then one of NorthSound’s passive investors, a retired physical therapist named Gary Mitchell.
He contacted Rebecca after hearing my name had appeared on the rescue guaranty.
“I never approved adding her.”
That mattered.
NorthSound’s operating agreement required investor consent for certain major guarantees.
Travis had bypassed it.
Dr. Thorne argued it was an emergency bridge amendment.
Gary disagreed.
May you like
For the first time, people inside Travis’s business were asking the same question I had been asking for years.
Who exactly gave you permission?
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