They stared at each other as if they had a connection so powerful that it was baffling to them both. They stared at each other until the nurse supervisor walked into the room and broke the spell. Edmund calmly, reluctantly even, removed his hand from her.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“You wanted to see me, Dr. Keating?” She was an older white woman who didn’t bother to knock first.
Edmund knew he was aroused, but it couldn’t be helped. He had to address the nurse.
And as soon as he turned toward her, she saw his midsection too. She couldn’t help but see it. His pants had tented.
Maude could see the displeasure all over that old lady’s face. She seemed shocked as she looked at him. She’d heard he had a preference for a certain type of woman, but she always thought they would be of a high class like him. Butthis girlwas his preference too? It was as ifshewas offended, as if he had to be kidding her.
But Edmund didn’t “kid” with anybody. “Miss Drayton didn’t have breakfast this morning. Why is that?”
“Apparently her doctor wants her to fast so they can run additional tests.”
“That’s not in her chart at all. And I spoke with her doctor. He said he already ran tests.”
Maude looked at him. “Tests? What tests?”
Edmund looked at her. “You haven’t gone to testing yet?”
Maude shook her head. “No sir.”
“But you’ve been here all night!”
“And they ignored me all night. Except when they wanted to ask me some of their stupid questions.”
Edmund looked at the nurse. “Is this true? She haven’t been to testing yet?”
The supervisor nodded. “It’s true. Doctor Mills forgot to order any tests. I assumed he would when he made his rounds later this morning.”
Maude could tell Edmund was angry now. “Mills is officially removed as her physician of record,” he said to the supervisor. “From now on, I’m her doctor.”
The nurse was floored. “You, sir? The chief of surgery?”
“I’ll chart what tests I want run on her, and I want them completely presently. I’m holding you personally responsible to see that my orders are carried out.”
“Yes sir.”
“And when Mills arrive this morning, tell him to come see me. If I’m still in surgery, tell him to wait.”
“Yes sir.”
Edmund glanced at his watch. It was almost six a.m. He looked at Maude. “You’ve been here since nine-thirty last night, am I correct?”
“Around that time, yes sir.”
Then he looked at the supervisor. “You were on duty an hour-and-a-half later?”
“Yes sir.”
“Why did you allow Dr. Mills to leave this hospital before he ordered any tests on anassaultvictim?”
Maude wanted to know that too.
The supervisor was embarrassed. “There must have been some miscommunication,” she said.
“It was nastiness and arrogance,” Maude said to the nurse. “Including from you. That wasn’t miscommunicated at all.”
