Home » The Archives » Chapter 9 » Regrouping and Recouperation
| Re: Regrouping and Recouperation [message #126 is a reply to message #125] |
Sun, 22 July 2012 18:58   |
artisticrainey
Messages: 1228
Registered: July 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
Karma:
|
Field Commander
Switzerland |
|
|
Monday, August 6, 10:00 a.m., L.A. (5 a.m., August 7, Tracy Island; noon, same day, Kansas)
"So, will we be ready?"
Ned Cook glanced over at Joe, who sat down beside him at the table in the RV. "I think so. The roadies are putting up the scaffolding for the stage, and the electricians have started their work. People are getting interested, watching what's going on."
"You think you'll be able to get in and see the IR doctor?"
Ned sighed. "I doubt it, but we've got her orthopedist to interview this morning, and I'm still waiting on that footage from MWAN's Gavin Belle. He struck a hard bargain, but at least I don't have to send our people out there."
"Will he do it live?" Joe picked up one of Ned's data pads and started scrolling down the long list.
Ned shook his head. "It's the last spot, and it'll be dark out there by the time we get to it. He's going to record it and get it to me by one for editing." He put down his data pad and rubbed his temples. "You sure you don't mind doing the man on the street stuff?"
"Nah. I don't mind. I'd rather be out there than stuck up here."
"I'd rather be back in New York, to tell the truth, but this is far too big an opportunity to pass up." Ned picked up another data pad and looked through the notes he had there. "It's custom made to frame my retrospective, and if we have to make next year's a little longer, so be it. A chance like this happens once in a blue moon, and I have to take advantage of it." He glanced at his watch. "That doctor will be along soon. I'd better get make up in here."
"Right." Joe rose. "Let me know what you need help on. I can edit that ISS piece for you if you want."
"Thanks, Joe, that'd be a help. You know what I'm looking for."
"I'd better," Joe said with a chuckle. "We've been working together long enough."
Xxxx
Dr. J. Edward Willis was feeling on top of the world. He would have whistled if he knew how as he strode to the public relations director's office. He was on his way to have his interview with Ned Cook approved, and didn't see any reason why it wouldn't be.
It's not like I'd violate International Rescue's security or anything, he reasoned. I never really saw her face, after all. Not with the anesthesia mask and hair cover. And I won't talk about her injury, either; that would be unprofessional. I mean, it's not like I've even been allowed to follow up either; Carmichael's been very picky about who is let up there. He smiled a little. Still, having IR's CMO for a patient is going to get my career restarted, and so will this interview.
He breezed into Geraldo Montoya's office and told the secretary who he was. "Mr. Montoya's expecting you, Dr. Willis," she said pleasantly, as she activated the vidphone. "Mr. Montoya, Dr. Willis is here."
"I'll be right there."
Willis gave her a smile as Gerry Montoya came out of his office. "Come with me, Dr. Willis," the public relations man said, "We're meeting in the conference room down the hall."
"All right." Willis sounded puzzled, but was amenable. The two men strode down the hall to a small conference room.
"Good morning, gentlemen." Sitting at the head of the table was Dr. Theresa Mercado-Tucker, Mercy General's head administrator.
"Good morning, Dr. Tucker," Willis said smiling. She nodded at him, then at Montoya as he greeted her.
"Well, hello, Andy," Willis said as he saw Andrew Carmichael already seated in one of the comfortable chairs around the table. "Are you here for the same reason I am?"
"I don't think so, Jonah," Drew said, his voice holding just a hint of his original drawl.
"No, he's not," Dr. Tucker said crisply. "Sit down, Dr. Willis, please. We're just waiting for one more person."
Dr. Willis sat down, putting one ankle on the opposite knee. "So, Gerry, did you get the request for an interview?"
"Yes, I did." Gerry picked up a data pad, one of several on the table.
"I'm afraid we're going to have to say 'no' to this, Dr. Willis," Dr. Tucker said firmly.
Willis frowned. "Why? I won't be breaching International Rescue's security or doctor/patient confidentiality."
"We'll get to the reasons in just a moment," was her reply. The conference room door opened again to admit the head of the legal department, Eugene Koberle, who carried a briefcase. "Hello, Gene. Come and sit down."
"Thank you, Dr. Tucker." Koberle shook hands with her, and with each of the men, then sat down. Willis frowned a little, but Drew focused his attention on Dr. Tucker.
"Well, now that we're all here, we can get to the reasons behind our refusal to allow you the interview," she said. "Gene?"
Koberle turned to Willis. "Dr. Willis, I'm here to tell you officially that an investigation has been opened into your handling of the injuries suffered by International Rescue's CMO."
"What?!" Willis cried, incredulous. "What kind of farce is this?"
"No farce, Jonah," Drew said quietly. "Gene, please show him the evidence."
Koberle opened his briefcase, and pulled out two sealed plastic bags, each with a vial in it. There were papers tucked into each bag. He handed one to Willis. "Do you recognize this, Dr. Willis?"
Willis looked it over carefully. "Yes, I believe so. These are the bits of metal I pulled from the patient's leg."
"Do you recognize these?" Gene handed over the other bottle.
Willis shook his head. "They look the same, but..."
"But you didn't pull them from the patient's leg, Jonah. Dr. Singh did, after you left," Drew explained. "There are affidavits written and signed by those in the surgical suite. And this isn't the first time something like this has happened. Jonah, you're in it deep this time."
"So, I missed a few pieces. I would have found them eventually. Anyone could make a mistake like that," Willis said, handing the bags back to Koberle.
"Not on a patient like this, Dr. Willis. You've seen the crowds out there, haven't you? How do you think they'd react if they knew you'd made such a major 'mistake'?" Dr. Tucker said, looking Willis in the eye. She shook her head. "No, Dr. Willis. You will not be giving any interviews."
Koberle spoke up. "We will be conducting our investigation discreetly, of course, for the sake of the hospital."
"But until that investigation is complete," Dr. Tucker said firmly. "Your practicing privileges here are suspended. We will decide later whether or not to refer this to the state authorities."
"This... this... this is ridiculous! I'm a physician... a surgeon in good standing here! You can't do this to me!" Willis shouted. He stood, his face red with anger. "That interview... Ned Cook... that's national exposure. International! I need... I deserve to have that!"
"Jonah." Drew's sharp voice cut across Willis's bluster. "That's enough."
The angry man stopped, and Dr. Tucker added, "Dr. Willis, you say so much as 'boo' to Ned Cook or any other reporter, and the hospital will cut you loose." She lowered her tone. "It's bad enough that this happened in such a high profile case. Don't make it any harder on yourself than it already is."
Willis dropped back down into his seat. He rubbed the bridge of his nose and shook his head. "Doesn't look like I have much choice, does it?"
"No, Jonah," Andrew said quietly. "I'm afraid you don't."
"You can call Mr. Cook from my office, so you can give him your regrets," Gerry said, as he rose to his feet.
xxxx
"Damn!" Ned slammed his satellite phone closed.
"What?" Joe asked, directing his attention away from the piece he was editing.
"Dr. Willis has declined to be interviewed." Ned shook his head. "The hospital has reminded him that it's against their policy in high profile cases. Now what am I going to use to fill that time?"
"I'll just do some more 'man on the street' stuff," Joe said. "And there's always a montage to tie things together at the end. Get Sylvia on it; she's good at that kind of stuff."
Ned took in a deep breath and let it out, slowly. "You're right. We can fill it in. I just wish I could talk to either of the doctors who worked on her."
"Hey, Belle may get lucky and talk to one of the EMS workers or something. Just chill, Ned. This will pull together. You'll see."
"All right." He moved over to where Joe had been working on the ISS rescue. "Show me what you've got."
Post by Tikatu on 10/30/2006
  
|
|
|
|
Current Time: Fri May 17 05:24:03 EDT 2024
Total time taken to generate the page: 0.01494 seconds
|
International Rescue: The Next Phase
Search
Help
Members
Login
Home
