That's a possibility that we're investigating, along with several others.
The administrator flushed. Yes, I should have guessed that.
Dr. Swindell, the last time we spoke, you mentioned a connection between Dr. Castle and Clifford Grant.
He was her attending, her supervisor during her residency.
So they would have been close?
Professionally, yes.
Four years ago, would Dr. Castle have had the skills to harvest a human heart for use in a heart transplant? If you know.
I trained as a surgeon before I decided to become a hospital administrator, so I' m well aware of the technique, Swindell said with some pride. Justine is a highly skilled surgeon. I believe she would have been able to perform the operation.
McCarthy considered Swindell's answer for a moment. Then he stood. Thank you, Doctor.
Feel free to call on me for help anytime.
We appreciated the way you sped things along the last time I asked for your help. If you could do the same with this subpoena ...
Swindell held up his hand. Say no more. I'll get on it immediately.
Chapter 44
The reservation at the Fish Hatchery was for eight, but Amanda was intentionally late. When she spotted Tony in the upscale crowd in the lounge at eight-twenty she was pleased to see him casting anxious glances toward the door. He was wearing a dark sports jacket without a tie, a white shirt and gray slacks, and he was every bit as handsome as she remembered. Amanda worked her way through the crush at the bar. Tony saw her and flashed a wide smile. Amanda extended her hand but Tony ignored it, pulling her into a quick bear hug.
You look great, Tony said enthusiastically. He pushed her back. God, look at you.
Amanda felt herself flush.
Our table won't be ready for a few minutes. Do you want a drink?
Sure.
Amanda ordered a margarita. The bar was packed, and she and Tony were pushed hip to hip. The contact felt good.
When did you get back to Portland? she asked while they waited for the drinks.
I've been at St. Francis for almost a year.
Oh, Amanda answered coldly, stung by the fact that he' d taken so long to call her. I guess you've been busy.
You've got every right to be mad. It's just that ... Well, I guess I was embarrassed because of what happened the night you showed up at my house. I didn't know if you' d want to hear from me.
You have nothing to be embarrassed about, Amanda said, keeping her tone neutral. I certainly had no right to assume that you would be alone.
You needed someone to comfort you, and you came to me. When I found out what you' d gone through in the mountains I felt like a complete shit.
There wasn't any reason for you to feel that way, Amanda said, answering more sharply than she had intended.
Tony looked upset. He took a deep breath.
We were friends, Amanda. You don't have to sleep with someone to care for them.
The hostess chose that moment to tell them that their table was ready. Amanda was grateful for the interruption and followed her in embarrassed silence. The hostess gave them menus and a wine list. As soon as she left, Tony put down his menu.
Let me clear the air, okay? Otherwise we're both going to be blushing and mumbling all evening. I' m going to start with Justine. I' d seen her around the hospital, but I never spent much time with her until Cardoni attacked Mary Sandowski. I happened to be passing by when Justine confronted him. I was afraid that he might hit her, so I asked if there was a problem, just to let Cardoni know that Justine wasn't alone. After we calmed down Mary, Justine and I talked. One thing led to another. When I ran into you at the Y, we were already sleeping together.
Tony paused and looked down at the table.
I don't want you to take this the wrong way. I' m not someone who flits from woman to woman. But Justine and I ... Well, I don't know any other way to put this. Our sex was recreational. She was going through a hard time, and I was a distraction. I liked her and I think she liked me, but it didn't mean anything.
Tony ...
Let me finish. You did mean something to me. I've always liked you, even when we were kids. But it was more like a big-brother-little-sister thing then. When I saw you at the Y it was confusing. You weren't a kid anymore. You were a woman. I didn't know how to treat you. After we spent those two evenings together I couldn't stop thinking about you, and I wanted to see you again.
So what stopped you?
I was accepted into one of the best residency programs in the country, and it was in New York. A long-distance romance didn't make any sense. And I had no idea how you felt about me. We' d only dated a few times. You were starting a career. Tony shrugged. Then you saw me with Justine. The only thing I want to know is how badly I hurt you, because I always hoped that you didn't care enough for me for my leaving to matter.
A welter of emotions confused Amanda. She was thrilled that Tony felt strongly enough about her to bare his soul, but his frontal assault was coming so fast that it didn't give her time to think.
I don't know how I felt when you left, Tony. It's been years, and a lot has happened in between.
Maybe that's best, he said. Maybe we should just start over and see what happens. Would that be okay? Could you do that?
Amanda smiled. I' m here, aren't I?
I guess that's right. You didn't shoot me down.
And I didn't shoot you, either. She smiled. Not yet, anyway.
The waiter arrived, and Tony seemed grateful for the interruption. Amanda opted for a safe topic of conversation as soon as the waiter left with their orders.
What are you doing at St. Francis?
I've finished my residency and I' m an attending plastic surgeon. I just gave a paper in New Orleans, last Friday, at the annual meeting of the American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons, Tony said proudly.
What was it about?
The long-term aesthetic effects of immediate versus delayed breast reconstruction using the pedicled TRAM flap.
In English, please, for the scientifically impaired.
Tony laughed. Sorry. It's not that complicated, really. You can do breast reconstruction after a mastectomy in a number of ways. The pedicled TRAM flap involves taking abdominal tissue to use in the reconstruction. You don't have to do the reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomy. You could do it a year later, if you wanted to. But I've concluded that immediate reconstruction looks better, and I talked about the basis for my conclusion. Impressed? Tony asked, sipping his margarita.
Not bad for a college dropout, Amanda answered with a smile.
Now that you know all about pedicled TRAM flaps, fill me in on what you've been up to. It said in the paper that you just won a death penalty case. Are you specializing in criminal law like your father?
Yup. I think I' m genetically programmed for it.
Do you like representing criminals?
I don't know if like is the right word. Criminal law is exciting, and I think the work is important. With a case like Justine's I feel I can do some real good.
How is she holding up?
She's a strong woman. But no one really does that well under these circumstances. She's worried about her career and her future. Jail is a lousy place to be even if you're guilty. It's hell if you're innocent.
So you don't think she's guilty?
No, I don' t.
Why?
Amanda was not certain how much she should reveal about the case to someone who was not involved in Justine's representation. But Tony was very bright, and it would be interesting to see how a nonlawyer saw the case after hearing the facts.
You have to promise to keep what I tell you to yourself.
Of course. Doctors have confidentiality restrictions, too.