Chapter 6 - The Price of Staying Alive
The scandal broke forty-eight hours later.
Ashgrove Memorial suspended senior administrators.
Investigators reopened twenty-three patient deaths.
Patrick Doyle was charged in connection with Faye’s attempted murder and multiple financial crimes.
Nathan Vale faced a mountain of charges.
Sully cooperated completely.
Emmett disappeared from public view.
For three weeks, Faye heard nothing from him.
Then, on a rainy Monday morning, she returned to Ashgrove for the first time.
Her supervisor met her at the nurses’ station.
“Someone is waiting for you.”
Faye sighed.
“If it's another investigator, tell them I already gave three statements.”
“Not an investigator.”
Emmett stood near the window.
No entourage.
No expensive overcoat.
Just a dark suit and two coffees.
Faye approached.
“You’re brave.”
“Why?”
“You brought hospital coffee to a nurse.”
He handed her one.
“I bought it across the street.”
“Then you're learning.”
They walked toward the empty waiting area.
Faye sat.
Emmett remained standing.
“You vanished.”
“I was busy.”
“Doing what?”
“Closing things.”
She studied him.
“What things?”
“Warehouses. Accounts. Businesses that should never have existed.”
Faye blinked.
“You're leaving?”
“Parts of my old life.”
“Why?”
Emmett looked through the window.
“My mother wanted me out.”
“That was three years ago.”
“I’m slow.”
Faye smiled.
“Yes.”
He looked back at her.
“I also established something.”
That immediately made her suspicious.
“What?”
“The Maeve Kavanaugh Patient Advocacy Fund.”
Faye stared.
“It will pay for independent patient advocates, medical whistleblower attorneys, and emergency assistance for nurses who report misconduct.”
“You did that?”
“Yes.”
“With clean money?”
Emmett looked offended.
“Mostly.”
“Emmett.”
“Yes. Clean money.”
She laughed.
It was the first time he had heard it.
He liked the sound more than he expected.
“There’s something else,” he said.
Faye’s smile disappeared.
“What?”
“The board wants you to run its clinical oversight program.”
“No.”
He blinked.
“You didn’t hear the salary.”
“I don't care.”
“It’s considerable.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because I’m a nurse.”
“You would still be helping patients.”
“From an office.”
“Yes.”
“I hate offices.”
Emmett stared at her.
“You nearly died uncovering hospital corruption.”
“And?”
“You’re worried about an office?”
“Yes.”
He nodded slowly.
“That might be the most irrational thing you've said.”
Faye stood.
“Welcome to healthcare.”
She started walking.
“Faye.”
She turned.
Emmett looked strangely uncertain.
A man who had frightened politicians and criminals suddenly seemed unable to finish one sentence.
“What?” she asked.
“Dinner.”
“With the board?”
“No.”
“With investigators?”
“No.”
“Then who?”
“Me.”
Faye stared.
“Are you asking me on a date?”
“I believe that's what this is.”
“You're terrible at it.”
“I haven't had much practice.”
She considered him.
“One dinner.”
Emmett nodded.
“One.”
“No bodyguards at the table.”
“Agreed.”
“No private restaurant where everyone bows when you enter.”
“That complicates things.”
“Emmett.”
“Fine.”
“And I choose the restaurant.”
He sighed.
“You negotiate aggressively.”
“You should see me when someone tries to discharge a patient without transportation.”
He smiled.
“Seven?”
“Seven.”
As Faye walked away, she turned.
“One more thing.”
“Yes?”
“Don't be late.”
Emmett Kavanaugh checked his watch.
May you like
For the first time in years, he looked nervous.
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