He had picked Harry up in the MercedesPhilip had sold him — the one that Phil claimed defined the man as an attorney.The four doors as well as the trunk had electronic closing mechanisms, and therear couch — seat hardly did it justice- reclined. It wascertainly reassuring to see that Wetstone was successful enough to afford suchtransportation. But today the Mercedes had tapped into Harry's midlife feelingsof inadequacy. And block by smooth air-conditioned block, it was inflating themlike a Thanksgiving Day float. Gratefully, there were just a few more blocks togo.
'Did Sam Rennick say what they were goingfor?' he asked.
'Sam plays things pretty close to thevest, but it was clear that he isn't willing to concede any of the points we'vepresented to him — not the sketch from Ms. Hughes, not the floor buffer theory,not the call to your office from the killer. They want you off the staff untilthe case is resolved.'
'Can they do that?'
'Probably. There are a few spots in thehospital bylaws where the language about who can do what to whom is vague — purposely vague, we think. The bottom line is that if they vote you out — andbelieve me, we've got some cards to play before they do — we can try for aninjunction. But we'd better get a damn sympathetic judge. A far better ideawould be to beat them back right here and now. That's what I intend to do.'
Harry stared out the sun-sensitive windowat the passing scene. He had no desire to be booted from the MMC staff. For onething, his patients were his emotional and financial life-blood; for another,being barred from practice in the hospital would make it that much harder toput the pressure on the killer. And they had enough progress since connectingwith Walter Concepcion to believe that before long, some sort of strategy forputting pressure on him might actually evolve.
Maura was on her way to meet with herbrother's friend, Lonnie Sims. The Dweeb had access to the latest in thegraphics suspects. Together they would enhance Maura's sketch and addphotographic quality, coloring, and detail. The result would be, essentially, afull-color mug shot, front and side views. They would then add and subtract,mix and match, until they had similar photos of the man with his appearancealtered.
When Harry and his lawyer entered theexecutive conference room for the second time since Evie's death, theatmosphere was distinctly more formal — and more threatening. Recordingmicrophones had been placed at several spots around the massive table. Theplayers from the first drama were all there already, along with a number ofnotable newcomers including members of the hospital board of trustees, thedepartment heads who made up the medical staff executive committee, the headnurses from Alexander 9 and Alexander 5, Caspar Sidonis, and a legalstenographer. There was also a man sitting beside the hospital attorney whomHarry did not know — a rough-hewn man in an ill-fitting blue suit.
Steve Josephson squeezed Harry's hand ashe passed. Doug Atwater smiled uncomfortably and came over.
'Harry,' he whispered, 'I'm glad I gotthis chance to talk with you. I hope you understand that the other day I wasonly suggesting what I thought would be best for you. Obviously, I upset you,and I'm sorry for that. I wanted to be sure you know that I'm behind you ahundred percent in this thing.'
Half a dozen snide responses sped throughHarry's head. None of them made it to his mouth. Atwater didn't deserve it. Overthe years he had been most supportive of Harry and his struggles to keep familypractice a respected option. Suggesting that Harry take a voluntary leave fromthe hospital was the only way he could think of to avoid the hearing that wasabout to take place — a hearing in which Harry seemed destined to be humiliatedand ultimately swept aside.
'I understand, Doug,' he said. 'But Ihaven't done anything wrong, so I just can't go down without a fight.'
'In that case, give 'em hell, Harry.'Atwater grinned.
Sam Rennick reviewed the ground rules thathad been agreed upon by him and Mel Wetstone.
Witnesses would give a statement andanswer questions from first Rennick, then Wetstone. Harry would be permitted tospeak after each witness, but only to respond to questions from his lawyer, notto address any of the witnesses directly. When the hearing was concluded, thejoint hospital and medical staff executive committees would vote by secretballot whether to suspend Harry's admitting privileges or not.
'Before you begin, Mr. Rennick,' DougAtwater said, 'I would like it to go on record that the Manhattan HealthCooperative will abide by the ruling of this hearing.' He looked over at Harry.'Dr. Corbett's status as a physician provider for MHC will remain intact solong as he has admitting privileges at this hospital.'
Considering that the health plan was boundonly by its own laws in picking and removing physician providers, Atwater'sstatement amounted to an endorsement. His company could have made the resultsof this hearing essentially moot by simply cutting Harry from its rolls. It wasa move Harry had feared they might make. He was doubly glad, now, that he hadheld his temper with Doug.
The head nurse from Alexander 9 startedthings off by reading affidavits from both of the nurses who had been on dutythe night of Evie's death. There was no question in either of their minds that,except for Maura Hughes, Harry was the last one to see his wife before thelethal rupture of her aneurysm. Sue Jilson recounted in some detail Harry'srequest to leave the floor for a milk shake and then return. The hospitalattorney used his questions to pin down the nurse about the security setup onthe floor. Then he homed in on the clinical condition of Maura Hughes.
'She was about the most classic case ofthe DTs I've ever seen,' the woman said. 'She was restless and combative,sweating profusely, and disoriented most of the time. When she wasn't accusingthe staff of ignoring her, she was swatting at insects that weren't there. Shewas medicated almost the entire time she was on our service, and despite that,she was still one of the most disruptive patients we've had in a long time.'
Harry and Mel Wetstone exchanged glances.The hospital attorney knew Maura's sketch was about to be presented, and waseffectively destroying its credibility by painting such an unappealing pictureof her. It was the reason Harry had argued against having Maura attend thehearing to present her drawing herself. Mel had warned him what she might hear.
Wetstone cleared his throat, took a slowswallow of water, and favored the nurse with an icy smile.
'I'm sorry Ms. Hughes was so disruptive toyour neurosurgical floor,' he said.
'Thank you,' the nurse replied, completelymissing Wetstone's sarcasm.
'You don't have very warm feelings towardalcoholics, do you?'
'Does anyone?'
Wetstone allowed half a minute for theresponse to sink in around the room.
'As a matter of fact, yes. Some peopledo,' he said softly. 'The American Medical Association has formally classifiedalcoholism as a disease. The American Psychiatric Association has also. I hopeyou're not prejudiced against too many other diseases as well. I have nofurther questions of you.'
The head nurse, beet red, folded her notesand stared off at a spot that would keep her from eye contact with anyone. Ifthe impact of her testimony hadn't been neutralized entirely, it had certainlybeen diminished. Wetstone turned to Harry.
'Dr. Corbett, have you been in touch withMaura Hughes since her discharge?'
'I have.'
'And how's she doing?'
'Quite well, actually. She hasn't had adrink since her surgery, and she's started back on her painting.'
The white lie was one they had agreed uponthe previous day.
'Oh, yes, she's an accomplished andwell-regarded artist, isn't she? You have a drawing of hers here with you?'