“She recognized Ian last night. Can you get neurology and psych in? Jamie reported the family might have unrealistic expectations. He reported anterograde amnesia and said she wrapped herself around Ian in fear. Should we give her a low dose anti-anxiety med?”
“I’d prefer not. Get me a drug screen. Let’s see what’s still in her system.” Hunter looked at the stoic faces of his two PAs.
“Okay, if someone can’t calm her, last resort is 0.5 mg Ativan IV to a max of 2.0 mg. Between the ice, lidocaine, and the ibuprofen-acetaminophen cocktail, maybe we’ll be lucky.”
“We get the message. Low meds.” Pete tossed Tucker an ice pack. “We live and hope. Rich brought Sophie in this morning. I’ll bring her up.”
* * *
Kieran waited in the very plush office of Dr. Joseph Maddox. Forest green leather couches and fox-hunting pictures showed off an old-world charm. Hunter Montgomery rushed in to join him. “Thought you weren’t gonna make it.”
Hunter finger-combed his blond hair. “Cassie’s shoulder surgery ran long. Did you hear anything from the board?”
Before Kieran could answer, Dr. Maddox’s nursing assistant beckoned them inside. Maddox stood behind his desk to greet his new patient, his expression turning sour when he saw Hunter. “What are you doing here? I’m calling security.”
“Fine by me.” Hunter sat across from Maddox.
“Dr. Maddox, I’m Kieran Chase. I have some questions for you.” He placed a series of photographs on the desk. “Cassie Modine. Tell me about her surgery.”
The photos showed the infection and the sponge. “I will not violate her privacy.”
“Okay, Doctor, no specifics. Let’s talk about how you would benefit from her death.”
Beads of sweat bloomed on Maddox's forehead. “I’m a doctor. My God, I would never harm a patient. I value my oath.”
“Joe, you’re a gifted surgeon. I can’t wrap my head around this. Even a kid at the bottom of his medical school class wouldn’t start on her leg. It was tied off with a tourniquet. She had life-threatening internal bleeding. Hell, she had an open chest. She could live without the limb.” Hunter was desperate for an answer.
“A person named Andromeda called you before Cassie was brought to the OR. Who is Andromeda?” Kieran added a copy of the wire transfer to the stack on the desk. “I think Andromeda told you to kill Cassie—and this transfer was for payment. I think you put that dirty sponge in her wound so, if she made it off the table, she would die from the sepsis later. Chalk it up to a surgical mistake, and your malpractice insurance would pay out. No muss, no fuss.”
“What do you mean by a dirty sponge?”
“The piece of sponge you left between her femur and her semitendinosus muscle during a surgery you refused help on. You didn’t think I’d have it cultured? You bastard. You could still see the needle marks in it. It was loaded with staph.” Hunter vibrated with anger.
Kieran slipped another picture in front of him. “Her arterial line.” It was a shot of Maddox going into Cassie’s room. A second picture was of the removed arterial line.
“What’s this? So what? I checked on a patient. I’m Chief.” Maddox sounded smug.
“You didn’t load her arterial line with bacteria? The same bacteria you bought in Manassas?” Kieran joined the stack of photos with the credit card receipt.
“Was that your insurance policy? In case she didn’t die from the leg infection, she would die from meningitis,” Hunter raised his voice.
Kieran put his hand on Hunter’s shoulder. “I think if Dr. Montgomery hadn’t intervened, Cassie would be dead. Dr. Montgomery wouldn’t have given a second thought if you didn’t refuse his assistance. I also think, with the serious nature of her injuries, no one would be the wiser. Your debt clouded your oath.”
Maddox squirmed in his seat. “I think you have suspicion and innuendo. I wouldn’t kill someone for a hundred grand.”
“Are you telling us you would kill for more?” Kieran’s voice edged higher.
Maddox glared. “My god, I wouldn’t kill anybody. How dare you insult me? You two are funny. What do you want?”
Hunter leaned in. “I want your resignation turned in by close of business today. I want you to turn in your license. I want assurances you will never touch a patient again.”
Maddox laughed. “You think you’re so smart. I was you once—young and cocky. I am God to my patients. You can’t prove any of this.”
Kieran placed another document on the table. “This is a notice of suit for medical malpractice.”
“Chase, you think you can get away with anything because of your money.”
Kieran stood. “Dr. Maddox, there are two Metropolitan Police detectives outside waiting to have a discussion with you about the attempted murder of Cassie Modine. After they leave, human resources will give you formal notice of your termination as Chief of Surgery and your loss of privileges. After, you will be escorted from the premises by hospital security.”
