Shock

"I don't think people would recognize me," Joa

"You're not going to be able to get a job without giving a Social Security number," Deborah said. "And the number and the name have to match. It's not going to work."

Joa

"Well?" Deborah questioned.

"I'll get the name and Social Security number of someone who died recently," Joa

Deborah's jaw had dropped open at Joa

"I'd prefer to call it committed," Joa

"I think you're going to be committed to Walpole Prison," Deborah said. "Either that or a mental institution. That's the kind of committed that's involved here."

"I'm not robbing a bank," Joa

"I don't know what kind of offense impersonating a dead person is," Deborah said. "But I know unauthorized access into computer files is a felony."

"I'm aware of that," Joa

Joa

"Well…?" Joa

"All right," Deborah said with angry resolve. She lifted a hand and poked a finger at Joa

"Excuse me?" Joa

"I'm not letting you go out there and get in all sorts of trouble without me. After all, it was my idea to do the egg donation in the first place. You're not the only one with a problem with guilt, and I'd never be able to live with myself if something happened to you that I could have prevented."

"You don't have to come with me just to be my protector," Joa

Deborah closed her eyes and extended her hands palm down. "This is not an argument. The die has been cast. Obviously you're serious about this crusade, and now so am I." Deborah's eyes fluttered as if it had been difficult for her to open them.

Joa

"I'm serious," Deborah said with a nod. "I'll get a job as well. With that huge lab out there, I'm sure they're as hungry for lab techs as they are for secretarial help."

"Then let's do it," Joa

SEVEN

STILL HABITUATED TO ITALIAN time, the women found themselves awake early despite their exhaustion. Deborah was the first to get out of bed. Believing Joa

"You look like something the cat dragged in,' Deborah said as she eyed her roommate.

"You've looked better yourself," Joa

"Me too," Deborah said, "How about we go down to Charles Street for breakfast? I need coffee big time."

"Since the cupboard is bare we don't have much choice."

Three quarters of an hour later the women descended to the square and walked down Mt. Vernon Street to Charles. It was a fine spring morning with lots of bright flowers in the window boxes. Although there were few pedestrians until they got to Charles, the birds were out in full force. At the end of Charles Street fronting the Boston Common they found a Starbucks that was open. They went in and ordered cappuccinos and got some pastry as well. They carried their food over to a small marble table by the window. At first they ate and drank in silence.

"The coffee is good," Joa

"Isn't that the truth," Deborah agreed. "But it is reviving me."

"So you still want to go out to the Wingate Clinic and get jobs?" Joa

"Absolutely," Deborah said. "I'm psyched. But we'd better start brainstorming about specifics. How are we going to get names and Social Security numbers of dead people?"

"That's a good question," Joa

"How did he or she do it?"

"She had an in. She worked in a hospital and got the information from the hospital chart."

"What did she do with it?"

"It was a Medicare scam of some sort."

"Good grief!" Deborah commented. "That's interesting, but unfortunately it's not going to help us. That is, unless you were thinking of enlisting Carlton's help."

"I think we'd better leave Carlton out of this," Joa

Deborah took another sip of her coffee. "I think we should break the problem into two parts. First we get the names. After we have the names we worry about getting the Social Security numbers and whatever else we need, like birth date and maybe even mother's maiden name."

"Getting names won't be a problem," Joa

"Good ideal" Deborah said. She sat forward eagerly. "Why didn't I think of that? It's perfect. The obituaries usually have ages if not birth dates. That will help picking out appropriate names since we should try to look for women about our age, as bizarre as that sounds."

"I know," Joa

"Getting the Social Security number is going to be more difficult," Deborah said.

"Maybe I'll have to break down and ask Carlton for help," Joa

"That's a lot of ifs and maybes," Deborah commented.

"I suppose," Joa

"I've got it," Deborah said. She slapped her palm against the tabletop. "A couple of years ago when my grandfather died, my grandmother had to get a death certificate to take his name off the deed to the house."