"I'm all right," she sniffed.
Chief of Staff Craig Hillinger approached Elizabeth. The handprint evoked a heavy sigh. "What happened?"
"Cecile Dufour struck her." Connor held the pack.
"Dufour's kid is dead?" Craig pulled the resident's hand away to examine Elizabeth himself. "Damn, Beth. What happened?"
"Septic shock and a ruptured ectopic."
"Knox missed it? This opens us up to huge liability." Hillinger was all business.
"Liability? Try murder. A sixteen-year-old kid is dead because Randy's mistakes killed her." Elizabeth tossed the pack into the trashcan. "I have work to do." She walked off in a huff.
Carol Whelan was next. Police reported her husband threw her down a flight of basement steps, fracturing three vertebrae. The woman also had such severe abdominal injuries from being stomped, she required a colostomy. She maintained this was caused by a clumsy fall down the stairs.
"Hi, Carol. How are you doing today?"
"Much better, Dr. Reed. What happened?" She stared at Elizabeth's reddened cheek. "I haven’t introduced you two yet; this is my husband, Karl."
"Not for you to worry about. Karl, you must be happy Carol is doing so much better."
"How soon can she come home?" Karl asked.
Elizabeth forced a smile. "The next step will be if she can tolerate some ice chips."
"What are you saying?" His tone turned mean.
"Mr. Whelan, I'm not saying anything other than to tell you your wife is going to require help for quite some time. The orthopedic surgeon can explain more from his perspective. Social services will contact you to arrange a stay in a rehabilitation facility before she comes home. Why don't I let you two visit? I will come back and examine your wife later." She remained pleasant.
"No, you can examine her with me here. I don't want you putting any more ideas into her head."
"Mr. Whelan, the only ideas I am putting into your wife's head are to make sure she understands she needs time to heal. Activities will be limited for quite some time." She washed her hands at the sink and examined her. "The incision is healing well. Your nurse will bring you some ice chips. Sound fair?"
"Ice was never this exciting," Carol said. Karl scowled at them.
"I'll come back later," Elizabeth said.
Karl grabbed her arm. "I said you needed to say what you’re going to say while I'm here."
Elizabeth shrugged her arm away. "Mr. Whelan, you will not dictate how I practice medicine." She walked out of the room again, bumping into the always-present minister. "Vile man. Excuse me," she muttered, oblivious to the reverend's sharp gaze.
The prisoner looked better than the previous day, even after the major surgery. "Thank you." He shook her hand.
"I'm happy you’re doing well. Dr. Keller will be in later, and Dr. Keys will be in tomorrow morning."
Ryan McLaren walked with two physical therapists in the hall. The man was in a farm accident and flown in by Life Flight near death. "Ah, my siren." His palms opened to welcome her.
"Mr. McLaren, you're looking good today." She took his offered hands.
"Much better. Oh, honey, what happened? What's going on?"
"A little tired." Elizabeth placed her stethoscope over his heart, lungs, and belly. "First-rate rumbles."
"That mark didn't happen from being tired. Take care of yourself," he prescribed, his worry evident in his tone.
"Promise. I’m happy you’re out for a stroll today. Tomorrow, we will dance like I promised," she grinned.
"Nothing like the present!" The walker was pushed away, and, singing in a voice like Eric Clapton, Ryan McLaren took her hand and started to move to "Wonderful Tonight."
