20. Jack
20
JACK
D r. Fisher sat across from me with two other board members and one police investigator. They had invited the patient's lawyers to join us for the meeting, but their invitation was declined. Though it was still good news for me. Nick looked more confident than I'd seen him look in weeks, and I hoped it was because they were closer to getting an answer for the hospital like they had for me.
"Dr. Stewart, we've uncovered very conclusive evidence that foul play was involved." The detective spoke calmly, but I could see he was anything but. Having a double homicide in his city was probably not something he enjoyed dealing with, especially one so brutal as this. Those patients had come to Cambridge for life-saving treatment and had gone home in a body bag.
"I understand that, sir. No one is more shocked or appalled to hear that than me." I folded my hands on the large oak table and leaned forward. I wanted to pry for information and find out what more they had figured out, but it didn't concern me anymore. I was just the lucky son of a gun whose career was saved. I felt relieved but saddened at the same time.
I also felt like today would have been the perfect time to tell Nick about my involvement with Ashley, but when this meeting was over, he had a few more with other doctors in the hospital who were now under investigation. My intern Farah was one of them, though I still didn't believe she was involved. Ashley had presented that idea, but Dr. Blake had a good heart, even if she was a bit eccentric at times.
"The patient's family have decided to drop the suit in lieu of this investigation being opened." Nick sat in his chair leaning back, one arm draped over the table with fingers drumming. "You'll probably see an email or letter about it soon. But you can breathe a little easier. I've already informed hospital trustees and our insurance about everything, and believe me, they are thrilled for you but nervous about what it all means."
"I imagine you'll have your own internal review to process once this is all over." The detective's head bobbled like it was on a cheap spring. "We have hundreds of employee files to sift through. What can you tell us about Dr. Farah Blake?"
I thought about telling them Ashley's suspicions for a moment, but I hesitated. I knew Farah had worked on both of those patients because I had assigned them to her when they came in. But I knew her pretty well, having worked with her for a few years. She was a kind soul who deeply cared about people and their health and wanted to change things for them. I believed in her, and even after a few months of fearing one of my team had done this to spite me, I now regretted feeling like that.
"Dr. Blake is a professional. She's highly skilled and knowledgeable."
"And if you were tasked with investigating her, would you?" The way the detective narrowed his eyes on me unnerved me. Yes, four months ago, I'd have said I would investigate her. Now I felt the opposite. Ashley's snooping around had shown three other events that might be connected, but no one could speak of that without revealing she had access to hospital information she was not legally permitted to have. It wouldn't just ruin Sam's career—though I wouldn't mind if it did that—it would ruin Ashley's too.
"I can't say that I would. But I would be looking at other cases within the hospital that might have had similar outcomes." That was as far as I could go without their being suspicious. Last thing I needed was them looking at me for this.
"I see.” The detective glanced at Nick and sighed. "He's right, you know. If there were two recent ones that are very obvious, we'll need to look at them all. There could be more deaths that your people overlooked as accidental or natural causes. We'll need full access to all patient records." He tapped a finger on his chin and grimaced, and I imagined he was thinking of all the extra work he'd have.
"Of course, Detective. I'll need a full warrant for that. I'm sure you understand. With HIPAA regulations, I have to have it, but while you're preparing to get the warrant signed, I'll work with the board and HR to iron out our end so your investigators have full access the minute it's ready." Nick was all about policy and procedure, which made me shrink back even more from my confession about Ashley.
Not only had we broken the non-fraternization policy by sleeping together while both being employed here, but I had fudged her paperwork, making her look like an intern, not a full-fledged doctor. He'd think it was funny personally, but he wasn't just my friend. He was the board chairman and known for being a stickler. It made my gut tie in knots thinking about how it would play out. She wanted to stay here, but the only way for that to happen would be to confess.
"I think we have everything we need from you, Jack." Nick stood and reached a hand toward me, and the detective stood too.
I rose, shaking Nick's hand and feeling most of my stress surrounding this situation leave for good this time. The lawsuit was dropped, or would be within hours. I was in the clear, so no one was looking at me anymore, and the only worry on my mind now was whether Ashley was ready to commit to me or not. Which was turning out to be a pretty huge concern.
"I'll see you out on the floor, Doc." Nick smiled at me and pulled his hand away, and I nodded.
"If you learn anything new, I'd love to know." I hoped by saying that, both he and the detective would keep me in the loop. I could learn about things the old-fashioned way by gossip—which wasn't entirely credible—or by news, which wasn’t thorough.
"Of course.” Nick’s final comment ushered me out the door, and I was in the hallway alone, hoping to find Ashley and tell her the good news.
After our little run-in with Calvin Saturday morning, we agreed to play it cool. Besides, my patient load and the stress of the suit had me so busy and stressed, I wasn't much company. Now, feeling better, I wanted to stop for a moment and relish the feeling of freedom. It was a feeling I had taken for granted so often, I forgot what it felt like. I reached into my pocket and dialed her number, but it went to voicemail.
"Hey, Ash. I got some good news. I'd like to share it with you. I also want to talk about the future, where you see yourself, where you see me in your life.” That was as vague as I could be without sounding too ambiguous. We had tough conversations to have and hard decisions to make. We had to do it together, because whether she believed it or not, it was us against the world now—especially her father.
If she chose to remain here, we would have a lot of garbage to deal with, and that meant Sam Gooding too. It was a lot, and it was something I wanted to deal with swiftly so I could continue the momentum of feeling free and fresh. "I'll send you details. Let's meet at the yacht club. Say, seven p.m.? I'll see you then."
I hung up and put my phone in my pocket. Tonight would be the night I told her how I truly felt, and I hoped she felt the same. If not, it might be me leaving—the hospital and the city. I couldn’t sit back and watch her go off with Gooding. Not in a million years.