The small auditorium at the medical examiner's offices was hot and stuffy. The room was occupied by an assortment of surgeons, pediatricians, fire rescue, police officers, clergy and forensics professionals, including the medical examiner. Elizabeth was Horizon Hospital’s representative on the committee that met quarterly to discuss deaths of children between the ages of birth to eighteen in the surrounding thirty-three counties. The purpose was to find ways to prevent pediatric mortality. Elizabeth ground her teeth thinking about Viola Dufour's death.
The medical examiner posted the first case on the screen: the death of a premature infant after the mother was in a high-speed motor vehicle collision. Elizabeth was so lost in the picture of the perfect baby girl; she missed the question directed her way.
"Dr. Reed? Do you think something more could have been done for the mother?" A fire captain sitting behind her tapped her shoulder, making Elizabeth jump. The ME repeated the question.
"I'm sorry. Um, no. The trauma sheared the mother’s aorta. Nothing short of having an OR there would’ve saved the mother and infant, and even with that, survival was not likely." Elizabeth considered her own traumatic delivery.
The meeting went on to discuss three other deaths, all preventable accidents. The ME shuffled through his paperwork. "There is one more case. A death occurred at Horizon this morning: a sixteen-year-old girl died after an appendectomy. I managed a gross exam at the behest of former Governor Reed's office as well as the girl's father."
Elizabeth shivered.Why is her father interested in this?
The ME detailed his physical findings. "The chart did not show lab work for pregnancy. I'm waiting to see if they missed it in error. I found pus in Morison's pouch and old blood in the abdominal cavity. I also found the left ventricle enlarged and a friable pericardium. The breakdown of the heart was the un-survivable issue." The laboratory results appeared on the screen. "The toxicology testing from my office is not back."
He flashed the ultrasound picture and the CT scan films next. "Dr. Reed, please recuse yourself from commentary."
She listened to the skilled workers rip apart Viola Dufour's initial work-up and praise the resuscitation attempt as an extraordinary effort. In the end, her death was voted preventable. Dr. Knox and the initial care team violated the acceptable standards. The committee decision would be forwarded to the Iowa State Medical board for sanctions against Horizon. The hospital and staff could defend themselves at that time.
Weariness took over her body after the meeting adjourned. Elizabeth was resting her head against her steering wheel when Reverend Brookfield knocked on the glass. "Dr. Reed, are you all right? This was a rough end of a difficult day."
"Thank you. I'm fine." She put her car into gear.
Chapter Seven
Clay Jenner's eyes blazed. "You idiots. A ditch. What the hell is wrong with you people?"
"Calder choose Tuesday to build a new hog pen. We got rid of Frable and Pitts. It caught us unprepared, so we headed back with the kid, and his entire crew was digging in the area. We put the kid in the ditch and went back to pick up Price. The radio chirped they found the kid. Things became more favorable, and we dumped Price. The plan was to move him into the new pen after dark," Lieutenant Irvin Lamb said.
"Price died only after you arrived, and the kid is alive. Trip, Ralph, what the fuck? Why didn't you put one right between his eyes? You better hope Austin Bailey dies," Clay said.
"Hey, the kid's not on me; I took your word. After you did your thing, I don't understand how she lived," Corrections Officer Boyd Thomas said.
Ralph looked haunted. "Trip and I went back to move Price; Bailey met us in the road."
"Fuck you, Jenner. I grew up with Austin, and his wife is expecting their first kid. I can't shoot a guy who's had my back. Next time you make the kill. You said to give him a warning, and we did," Trip said.
"Calm down. We need to hold the course. No more kids for a while. Kids bring attention. The shortage will build demand," Thibodaux Spooner said. "We need to talk about Elizabeth Reed."
"What happens to the lady doc is my decision to make," Clay said. "All you medical people must do a better job with the injured."
"Whoa, the jail isn't equipped to handle the injuries you and your people inflict. Two residents moonlight in the infirmary. Besides me, we have three attendings. I'm working on recruiting more. Stop using the damn flashlights. Elizabeth isn't the only one who figured the bruising out. She's the only one who's forced the matter. The other is willing to stop," Craig Hillinger said. "Randy, damn it, you colossally fucked up with Dufour's kid. The medical examiner filed a complaint. The consequences are out of my hands."
"Too late to go back. What does the boss want to do?" Alden McAllister asked.
"Like Tibby said, hold the course. We took care of the last Fed, and the earmarked investigation is stopped due to lack of direction," Clay said. "The high-priced superstars Homeland pays hit a brick wall." Jenner's mouth pinched in a scowl. "Meeting adjourned. Everyone, keep your pants on."
Acorner in Austin's room became Martin's office. Pete, awaiting his personnel, watched Austin with the help of an ICU nurse. The advice Martin got from Julian refreshed his mind and body—sleep and food. After a family dinner, he took time to call Todd Duran from Homeland.
"Found an FBI agent dead." Todd’s voice cracked.
Martin's gut twisted, agreeing with Todd a leak existed. This convinced him Austin saw something. After reading and rereading every file, he outlined a level dark undercover operation for the jail.
Thursday, July 11th
The trip to the hotel from the hospital after dawn was short. Martin spoke with Mike Johnson, second to him in the command structure and Bravo team's second squad. A new dark operation was outlined and would start ASAP. Troy volunteered for the role of prisoner, refusing to put anyone under his command in that level of danger.
Unable to sleep, Martin sought some air to clear his head. He got in his rental car and headed to his childhood home as the sun crested the horizon over the pond.
"What did you step into, Austin? Sunshine, you saved him." His body's reaction to thoughts about her reminded him of when she was his. Her red hair still surrounded her face like a halo, and her eyes, eyes he'd never seen the likes of, were still the color of violets. Her body was thinner, frailer than he remembered, but she was as beautiful as ever.
