Chapter 8
Chapter Eight
Lindy’s progress encouraged Roxanne. She smiled at the nurse as she emerged from the sleeping girl’s room.
“I think I see a big difference since she was put in Dr. Oki’s program,” Roxanne said to the nurse.
“It’s too soon to say for sure officially since it’s only been a few days. But I think you’re right. It’s too bad they won’t be taking any more patients.”
“What do you mean?” Roxanne stopped.
“They’re officially closing down the project after May.
It’s all winding down for the final stats and reports.
We’ve already started. They’re even hiring clerical and administrative staff now to close everything out and finish the papers and reports.
But then you should know that. I hear it’s thanks to you that we can continue with our current patients.
” The nurse smiled. Roxanne stared at the woman in silence trying to remember that the woman was only the bearer of the news, not the decision maker.
Trying to keep the edge off her voice, Roxanne spoke.
“Where did you hear all this?”
“Directly from the president’s office. The memo was distributed to all the affected staff.” The nurse began to push her cart on.
The news stung Roxanne deeply. She felt heat rise inside and felt completely powerless.
She had a meeting with Harry today. This was probably what it was about.
She tried to stay calm. She called to the nurse, “Take good care of Lindy for me.” She gave the nurse a tight smile and turned on her heel.
Pounding down the hall to the elevator, she headed, not for Harry’s office, but to the office of Dr. Colin Evans, President and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of CMH.
Luckily, when she got there he was in, and his secretary was not.
After a perfunctory knock on his outer office door and a wave through the glass-walled room, Roxanne threw open his office door and stepped in.
Dr. Evans stood and smiled his greeting.
Roxanne returned the greeting, but not the smile.
“Have a seat Ms. Monet.” He was probably the only one left at the hospital that called her that.
She had convinced the others on the board to call her Roxy, along with the rest of the universe.
But then she didn’t forget that he had a long-standing, if recently distant, friendship with Penelope Boswell.
Their relationship dated back to when Penelope was involved in the CMH League.
He had never favored Roxanne’s flashy style and only conceded to allowing her to flourish because she came along at a time when they needed extra money for the new building and expansion programs.
Roxanne sat in the chair he indicated and spoke right up. “I would like an explanation as to why Dr. Oki’s program is being ended. Why can’t he continue until next year’s NIH grants come through? You do realize this makes my special fund a lame duck measure?”
He looked at her directly, without even blinking.
“Yes. Your fund was never meant to be anything more than a one-time measure from what I understand. Frankly, I would prefer that you drop the crusade entirely. One of the reasons NIH gave funding to another hospital instead of ours for this type of project is because we’re considered to be ‘fund rich.’ We have a wealth of resources and they recognize that at NIH and are now using that as a factor in awarding their ever-shrinking grants.
Frankly, we prefer the NIH grants to a fund like yours.
“As for Dr. Oki’s research program, we have to pick and choose more carefully now, which research projects we continue and which we let other facilities carry on for the overall good of the medical community.
I think you should stop the special fund now in its tracks before you’ve gone public.
The money that’s in it now can be diverted to the general fund.
We’ll wind down the program by May on this year’s grant.
It will save us from any potential embarrassment if people find out your special fund promotion is only for a handful of children for a short term.
We could be the laughingstock of the industry.
It might even jeopardize our other fund-raising efforts which we have come to rely on more and more.
” He finished his speech and steepled his fingers, leveling her with a serious look.
She looked back at the man with an unblinking stare of her own.
To a casual observer his arguments sounded reasonable, even good.
But she knew better. This was a political move on his part to gain more control over Harry’s development department.
Besides, that “handful of children” he referred to included Lindy.
“Dr. Evans, what you say is all well and good, but as you so euphemistically put it, that handful of children is made of real people, flesh and blood, as important as anyone else at any other hospital. I’m talking about life-saving here, not jockeying for position in the medical research community hierarchy.
“And I’m highly insulted that you doubt my talents as a communicator.
You know I can take the fact that there are only these few kids left in this life-saving program and turn the fact into an asset instead of a liability.
It would never be an embarrassment. Not only am I not going to stop my crusade as you put it, but I’m going to lobby the full Board of Directors to continue Dr. Oki’s program. ”
“Don’t fight me on this one, Roxanne.” He used her first name, but it had the opposite effect from making him sound friendly.
“I have the hospital league behind me.”
“Don’t be so sure.” She left his office.
She took the stairs instead of the elevator to Harry’s office. Harry was talking with his secretary, Pat, when Roxanne strode in.
“I want to talk to you, Harry.” She walked straight into his office and sat down.
She rummaged through her Louis Vuitton bag looking for her iPhone.
What a waste of money, she thought, throwing the bag down on the chair after she’d retrieved the phone.
She placed a call to her travel agent, glancing at the offensive bag.
“I wish I had the five hundred dollars now that I paid for that thing,” she said out loud.
Then she drew her attention back to her call.
“Kelsey, this is Rox. I need a flight to DC and back—let me check.” She looked at the phone and found the app for the Celtics schedule, then went back to her call.
“Thursday the 18th, a.m., and I’ll return at midnight on the flight with the team…
okay, I’ll go first class. But it has to be that return flight.
Thanks.” She clicked off and turned around to see Harry Brown taking up the doorway.
“What are you up to?”
“Don’t be so suspicious Harry. I’m only going to Washington, DC for the Celtics game.”
“Tickets that tough to get in Boston are they? You’re up to something or my name’s Mr. Potato Head.” Harry came in and closed the door behind him as Roxanne laughed at his reference to the name she had called him once during an argument.
“I have a reliable source at NIH and I’m going to talk to him.
” She held her hands up at the frown puckering Harry’s brow.
“Just to get information. I’m only going to feel out the situation on Dr. Oki’s research grant on the outside chance that there’s any validity to Dr. Evans’s argument that a special fund could hurt us with NIH.
I’ll smooth over any and all ruffled feathers before they happen.
Because Harry, come hell or high water, I’m going through with the special fund campaign. And it’s going to work.”
“Well you answered my question. Rox, I have only one piece of advice for you—watch out.”
“That’s profound, Harry. I would have been lost without those words.”
He rumbled past her and sat down on the edge of his desk.
“What?’ she asked.
“Ever since the bad press you got about Don’s death there’ve been grumblings on the board. Between Dr. Oki and I, we’ve managed to convince them it would blow over—and it has, thank God. Don’t stir things up now.”
“Oh that. Look, Penelope and I aren’t exactly best of pals, I’ll admit, but she did charity work for the hospital in the past and I don’t think she’s going to interfere in a good cause. I have to go through with this project.”
“Do we have a spokesperson yet?”
“No, not exactly. But I’m working on that. Tonight,” she reassured Harry with false bravado. Why had she waited this long to talk to Brian? It had seemed like there’d be plenty of time and she’d wanted to pick the right time, but that had never materialized. Now it was urgent.
“Have it your way. But the project has to be independent. No CMH staff allowed to participate. Directive came from you-know-who’s office today. Sorry Rox.”
“That God damned bastard. So that’s what he meant.”
Harry looked up.
“Of course, whatever I can do to help in my spare time, let me know. And I’m sure Laura will donate her lunch hours.”
Roxanne put her hands on her hips and laughed. “Harry, you’re more like mashed potatoes.” She stepped up to him and planted a kiss on his forehead. He turned red and she laughed again. Harry mumbled something about getting back to work. Roxanne walked to the door to leave, then turned.
“Don’t worry about a thing.”
“I wasn’t worried. You just make sure you properly wrap those NIH people around your pinky. I don’t want anything to unravel later.”
Normally Roxanne drove herself to the airport, especially when she was taking such an early flight and returning the same night. But tonight she had other plans. She dropped her briefcase in the foyer after she ran down the stairs.
“No need to run. Laura’s not supposed to get here for another ten minutes.” Bonnie handed Roxanne a mug of coffee and they both went into the kitchen and sat down.
“That’s right. I forgot I set my alarm ten minutes ahead.” Roxanne laughed as she inspected her freshly painted cherry red nails. Bonnie looked her over.