"Believe me, we're going to have a peer review evaluation."
Paige knew what that meant: a group of physicians would review what had happened, but it would be done in confidence. The information would be withheld from the public and the patient.
"Dr. Wallace ..."
"You're part of our team, Paige. You've got to be a team player.''
"He has no business working in this hospital. Or any other hospital."
"You've got to look at the whole picture. If he were removed, there would be bad publicity and the reputation of the hospital would be hurt. We'd probably face a lot of malpractice suits."
"What about the patients?"
"We'll keep a closer eye on Dr. Kane." He leaned forward in his chair. "I'm going to give you some advice. When you get into private practice, you're going j to need the goodwill of other doctors for referrals. With-1 out that, you'll go nowhere, and if you get the reputation! of being a maverick and blowing the whistle on your: fellow doctors, you won't get any referrals. I can promise you that."
Paige rose. "So you aren't going to do anything?"
"I told you, we're going to do a peer review evaluation."
"And that's it?" "That's it."
"It's not fair," Paige said. She was in the cafeteria having lunch with Kat and Honey.
Kat shook her head. "Nobody said life has to be fair."
Paige looked around the antiseptic white-tiled room. "This whole place depresses me. Everybody is sick."
"Or they wouldn't be here," Kat pointed out.
"Why don't we give a party?" Honey suggested.
"A party? What are you talking about?"
Honey's voice was suddenly filled with enthusiasm. "We could order up some decent food and liquor, and have a celebration! I think we could all use a little cheering up."
Paige thought for a second. "You know," she said, "that's not a bad idea. Let's do it!"
"It's a deal. I'll organize things," Honey told them. "We'll do it tomorrow after rounds."
Arthur Kane approached Paige in the corridor. There was ice in his voice. "You've been a naughty girl. Someone should teach you to keep your mouth shut!" And he walked away.
Paige looked after him in disbelief. Wallace told him what I said. He shouldn't have done that. 'If you get the reputation of being a maverick and blowing the whistle on your fellow doctors . . .' Would Ido it again? Paige pondered. Darned right I would!
News of the forthcoming party spread rapidly. All the residents chipped in. A lavish menu was ordered from Ernie's, and liquor was delivered from a nearby store. The party was set for five o'clock in the doctors' lounge. The food and drinks arrived at four-thirty. There was a feast: seafood platters with lobster and shrimp, a variety of pates, Swedish meatballs, hot pasta, fruit, and desserts. When Paige, Kat, and Honey walked into the lounge at five-fifteen, it was already crowded with eager residents, interns, and nurses, eating and having a wonderful time.
Paige turned to Honey. "This was a great idea!"
Honey smiled. "Thank you."
An announcement came over the loudspeaker. "Dr. Finley and Dr. Ketler to the ER. Stat." And the two doctors, in the middle of downing shrimp, looked at each other, sighed, and hurriedly left the room.
Tom Chang came up to Paige. "We ought to do this every week," he said.
"Right. It's—"
The loudspeaker came on again. "Dr. Chang . . . Room 7. ... Dr. Chang . . . Room 7."
And a minute later, "Dr. Smythe . . . ER Two. . . . Dr. Smythe to ER Two."
The loudspeaker never stopped. Within thirty minutes, almost every doctor and nurse had been called away on some emergency. Honey heard her name called, and then Paige's, and Kat's.
"I can't believe what's happening," Kat said. "You know how people talk about having a guardian angel?
Well, I think the three of us are under the spell of a guardian devil." Her words proved to be prophetic.
The next Monday morning, when Paige got off duty and went to get into her car, two of the tires had been slashed. She stared at them in disbelief. Someone should teach you to keep your mouth shut!
When she got back to the apartment she said to Kat and Honey, "Watch out for Arthur Kane. He's crazy."
Chapter Eleven
Kat was awakened by the ring of the telephone. Without opening her eyes, she reached out for it and put the receiver to her ear.
"H'lo?"
"Kat? It's Mike."
She sat up, her heart suddenly pounding. "Mike, are you all right?" She heard him laugh.
"Never better, sis. Thanks to you and your friend."
"My friend?"
"Mr. Dinetto."
"Who?" Kat tried to concentrate, groggy with sleep.
"Mr. Dinetto. He really saved my life."
Kat had no idea what he was talking about. " Mike. . ."
"You know the fellows I owed money to? Mr. Dinetto got them off my back. He's a real gentleman. And he thinks the world of you, Kat."
Kat had forgotten the incident with Dinetto, but now it suddenly flashed into her mind: Lady, you don't know who you're talking to. You better do what the man says. This is Mr. Lou Dinetto.
Mike was going on. "I'm sending you some cash, Kat. Your friend arranged for me to get a job. It pays real good money."
Your friend. Kat was nervous.. "Mike, listen to me. I want you to be careful."
She heard him laugh again.
"Don't worry about me. Didn't I tell you everything would be coming up roses? Well, I was right."
"Take care of yourself, Mike. Don't—"