It isn't the normal ring. It is the red phone. The external line reserved for "Donor Relations" and emergencies.
Dr. Silva is down the hall, looking confused as he watches Foster wheel Mrs. Gable toward the elevators. He starts walking back toward the desk, a frown forming on his face.
The phone rings again.
Mama Ortiz is sitting at the desk, eating a tamale. She looks at the ringing phone. She looks at me.
"You did something," she says. It isn't a question.
"I adjusted some paperwork," I say innocently.
She narrows her eyes. She picks up the phone.
"Surgical Floor, Nurse Ortiz speaking."
I can hear the voice on the other end from three feet away. It is loud. It is angry. It is Alistair.
"WHO IS THIS? I WANT TO SPEAK TO THE ADMINISTRATOR! I JUST RECEIVED AN ALERT FOR A FIFTY-THOUSAND DOLLAR CHARGE TO MY DISCRETIONARY FUND! FOR A 'MRS. GABLE'? I DON'T KNOW A MRS. GABLE! IS SHE A SENATOR? IS SHE A DIPLOMAT?"
Mama Ortiz doesn't flinch. She chews her tamale slowly.
"Mr. York," she says. Her voice is calm, heavy, and dangerous. "This is Rosa."
Silence.
Dead silence on the line.
Then, a much quieter, trembling voice."Rosa? Rosa Ortiz?"
"That’s right," she says. "Why are you screaming at me, Alistair? My ear is ringing. Do you want me to get a migraine? You know I get cranky when I have a migraine."
"No! No, Rosa, I—I didn't know it was you. I was just... there’s been a charge. A mistake. Someone is looting the Foundation fund!"
"Mrs. Gable," Rosa says, looking at me. I give her a thumbs up. "Yes. She is a VIP. Very important."
"She is? Who is she?"
"She is a nice lady who gave my intern a candy," Rosa says. "And she needs a scan. Unless you want to come down here and tell her she can't have it? I think I have an open slot in my schedule to discuss it with you. I can bring my forceps."
"No!"Alistair sounds terrified."No, that won't be necessary. If... if you say she’s a VIP, Rosa, then she’s a VIP. Just... keep the receipt?"
"Goodbye, Alistair. Drink some water. You sound congested."
She hangs up.
She looks at me. A slow, terrifying grin spreads across her face.
"You got balls, Princess," she says. "Using Daddy’s credit card."
"It’s not theft if it’s family," I say.
"Dr. York!"
Lucas storms up to the desk. He looks frantic.
"Where is Mrs. Gable going? Foster just took her to the Platinum Wing! And Radiology just called—they’re prepping the contrast machine. They said the order came from theBoard."
He slams his hands on the desk. He looks at me. He connects the dots. The hair. The shoes. The smirk.
