Chapter 9 - THE NURSE WHO REFUSED
Nathan tried the handle.
Locked.
“Mae.”
He called.
“Open the door.”
Mae said nothing.
Doreen joined him.
“Nurse Rowland, you are interfering with a medical evaluation.”
Mae finally spoke.
“Correct.”
Leah stared at her.
Doreen clearly had not expected that.
“You could lose your job.”
Mae smiled without humor.
“Then I’ll update my résumé.”
The psychiatrist spoke from farther away.
“I’m not signing anything until legal reviews this.”
Dr. Rusk snapped.
“This is my patient.”
“No.”
A new voice entered the hallway.
Male.
Calm.
“This is my client.”
Adrian Wells.
Leah almost cried.
Doreen said.
“You have no authority here.”
Adrian answered.
“I have a medical power-of-attorney executed by Leah Carver three months ago.”
Nathan went silent.
Adrian continued.
“And I have an emergency order from probate court restricting any transfer of Owen Carver’s trust authority pending investigation.”
Doreen’s voice dropped.
“You had no time to get that.”
“I had six hours.”
Then came another voice.
Hospital administration.
The chief medical officer.
“Dr. Rusk, step away from the patient area.”
Dr. Rusk protested.
“What?”
“You are being placed on immediate administrative leave pending review.”
The hallway erupted.
Doreen shouted.
Nathan tried to speak.
Mae waited.
Then someone knocked three times.
“Mae.”
Adrian said.
“It’s safe.”
Mae opened the door.
Leah stepped out slowly.
Owen beside her.
Nathan stood ten feet away.
Doreen behind him.
Dr. Rusk was being escorted toward the elevator.
Adrian walked directly to Leah.
“Are you okay?”
“No.”
She said.
“But I’m here.”
Nathan moved toward her.
“Leah.”
She lifted one hand.
“Do not come near me.”
He stopped.
Doreen stared at the bassinet.
“That baby belongs with his family.”
Leah looked at her.
“He is with his family.”
Doreen’s face hardened.
“You’re unstable.”
Adrian turned toward the chief medical officer.
“Did you hear that?”
The administrator nodded.
“So did I.”
Then Mae held up her phone.
“And I recorded the conversation outside the door.”
Doreen’s face went blank.
Nathan closed his eyes.
The chief medical officer looked toward security.
“Please escort Mrs. Carver and Mr. Carver from the maternity floor.”
Nathan stared.
“You can’t remove me.”
Leah answered before anyone else could.
“Yes.”
May you like
She looked directly at him.
“I can.”
