"You didn't ask?"
"No, one of the guards told me. Mr. Fitzgerald is a new admission in room four. He's got esophageal varices. I think he's gonna crap out."
"Terrific." Elizabeth pulled up his latest test results. "His liver is shot too. Depressed clotting factors. Is family with him?"
"Yeah, his wife. I think she drinks more than he does. I got buzzed on her fumes. As I explained her husband's illness, she called me the C word. More women have called me that than men," Virginia snorted.
"Next is a sad case. Twenty-eight-year-old Ralph Locke, a Silverton corrections officer, attempted suicide. Vicodin and Ativan. The ER tried, but his acetaminophen levels were toxic. I'm waiting on repeat labs, but I'm not expecting any change.
"Your new residents are all over the floor, courtesy of Randy dying. Here's the list. They are petrified of you. You’re a meany, having expectations." Virginia made a funny face. "Randy's load is fourteen inpatients as well as clinic hours. Four are here. Steve took the clinic hours and the floor. Hillinger reassigned Hailey to Steve. Her flirting won't affect his evaluation."
"He can't think her flirting will affect mine. Are they really scared of me? The new ones don’t know me well, yet. I’m not that mean, am I?"
Virginia's brows arched. "Mean, no. Fearsome, yes. Short-tempered, sometimes. Demanding, yes. Will you make them good doctors? Big time." Virginia gave her shoulders a squeeze.
After the report on the twenty-four ICU patients, Elizabeth wished Virginia a peaceful day off. She wanted to visit Austin before the residents found her. Virginia was right. If the man speaking with Martin was Patrick Hedges, he was hot, but he didn't make her blush like Martin did.
"Hi, how's everyone doing this morning?" Elizabeth felt her cheeks heat when Martin winked at her.
"Dr. Reed? I'm Patrick Hedges. Pleased to meet you. We are moving along, going to start the ECMO fresh air decrease about noon." He gave a side-eyed glance toward Martin.
Nodding, she said, "Call me Beth." Her hand rested on Austin's. "Dr. Hedges is taking good care of you. I'll come back to annoy you later. Thank you, Patrick. I'm here if you need me, but to be honest, he's one less worry. Now only twenty-three to go."
"You’re carrying the floor?"
"Just another day in the neighborhood."
She continued her rounds with her extra-large troop of residents. She needed a light-up orange baton like they used to direct planes. She exited a patient room as Henrietta Krump and Detective Young approached. Elizabeth faked a smile when the administrator asked her about Carol Whelan.
"Henrietta, what's this about? Are you going to do something about her husband, Detective?"
"Why would you ask that, Dr. Reed?"
"Dr. Harper advised me he caused a problem last night. The man is a menace. He caused her admission to begin with." Elizabeth did not hide her animosity.
"Did he threaten you?" The detective raised a brow.
"He did.” She lifted her chin in defiance.
"Karl Whelan was found dead this morning. Can she cope with the news?"
Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open. "Detective, I believe she’s strong enough for you to tell her. She'll be curious when he doesn't show up later. She always takes him back."
Henrietta pursed her lips. "It may be best for you to be there, Beth. I'll call the pastor too."
Elizabeth bit her tongue. She didn't find Reverend Brookfield helpful, but she wouldn't speak for her patient.
She directed Paul Young to Carol's room. "Carol, this is Detective Young from the Silverton Police Department."
Carol Whelan's heart rate escalated on the monitor. "Detective, I'm not pressing charges against my husband." Her breaths came faster. "You can leave now."
"I'm not here for that, Mrs. Whelan. I'm sorry to tell you, Karl is dead," Detective Young spoke in a soft tone. "I'm sorry for your loss."
Her mouth clamped shut until she found the words. "How did he die?" Her eyes bulged.
"Ma'am, someone slit his throat in your bedroom." The detective pulled up a chair, his eyes remaining on Elizabeth. "Mrs. Whelan, did Karl have any enemies?"
She shook in the bed. "No. Karl had some temper issues, but he also could be kind." Her heart rate rose again. "His throat? Our room?" Even when he was dead, she still protected the abusive man.
