We sit like that for a long time, not talking, just breathing.
Her phone buzzes. She pulls it out, glances at the screen, and goes still.
“What?” I ask.
“Email from HR.” She’s staring at the phone. “They want to interview me tomorrow. About Winters’ complaint.”
My stomach drops. “Tomorrow?”
“Two PM.” She looks at me. “Guess we’re doing this.”
“You’ll be fine. Your documentation is solid.”
“I know. I just—” She stops. “It’s been hanging over me and now it’s actually happening.”
I turn to face her. “What do you need?”
She thinks about it for a moment, then repeats my words from earlier.
“Just you. Being there. Not trying to fix it, just—there.”
“I can do that.”
She nods, sets her phone down. “Okay. Tomorrow at two.”
35
MARNIE
The HR officeis on the third floor of the facility, in a part of the building I’ve only been to twice—once when I was hired, once for annual compliance training.
It’s 1:55 PM. I’m five minutes early because being late would look bad, but also because sitting in Roman’s apartment waiting made my anxiety worse.
The door opens and a woman in her forties with dark hair pulled back appears.
“Dr. Walker? I’m Claire Hirsch, Director of Human Resources. Come on in.”
The office is small but professional. Two chairs across from her desk, a window overlooking the practice rink.
She gestures to one of the chairs and I sit, hands folded in my lap to keep them from shaking.
“Thank you for coming in,” Claire says, settling behind her desk. “I know this has been a difficult time. My condolences on your mother’s passing.”
“Thank you.”
She opens a thick folder on her desk.
“I’ll get straight to it. Dr. Winters filed formal complaints alleging that your relationship with Roman Varga compromised your medical judgment and that you demonstrated insubordination regarding another player’s treatment. These are serious allegations.”
My stomach drops but I keep my voice steady. “I’m aware.”
“Walk me through your treatment plan for Captain Varga’s shoulder injury. Specifically, why you recommended twelve weeks when Dr. Winters felt six was sufficient.”
I take a breath.
“It was a grade two AC separation. The standard protocol is eight to twelve weeks before return to contact sports. I kept him at twelve because of his history with shoulder injuries and because rushing back risks chronic instability that could end a career.”
“But Dr. Winters is the senior physician. Why did you feel comfortable overriding his recommendation?”
