Diagnosis Death Read Online Free PDF Page B

and my medical school loans will be the first things I repay." Elena took a deep breath. "Now please stop calling me. I know how much I owe. I know where to send the payments. I know all of it. Actually, I can't seem to get it out of my head."
    The emotionless voice was saying something when Elena hung up. It was just too much. She put her head on the desk and let the tears flow unchecked.

    "Good dinner."
    "Will, the worst meal you ever ate was wonderful." Dr. Cathy Sewell grinned. The way to her husband's heart might not be through his stomach, but it certainly represented an easy shortcut. "Coffee?"
    She poured coffee for Will, herbal tea for herself, and followed him into the living room. "Good news," Cathy said. "I got a call from Amy Gross today."
    Will put down the paper. "Did she find someone?"
    "Dr. Elena Gardner, one of the residents who's finishing in less than a month, had her practice offer fall through. Amy thinks she might be a good fit here. She'll drive up this weekend to talk with me."
    "Do you know her?"
    Cathy sipped her tea. "Vaguely, although I didn't recognize her name at first. Apparently she took her husband's name when they married." Cathy smiled. "Personally, I'm glad you were okay with my continuing to practice as Cathy Sewell. Can you imagine the hassle of changing the name on all those documents?"
    Will grinned. "Yeah, and I'm glad you didn't make me take yours. 'Law offices of Will Kennedy-Sewell, how may I help you?' "
    "Amy said Dr. Gardner has had some problems recently."
    "Professional problems?"
    "No, Amy says she's the sharpest resident they've had since I graduated. I waved that off as flattery, but if she practices the way I do that'll be good."
    Will got up from his chair and moved toward the small kitchen adjacent to the living room. "I want a couple of cookies to go with my coffee. Want anything?"
    "No, I'm good," Cathy called. She waited for him to return and settle into his chair. "You mentioned professional ability, and I guess it does affect that, although indirectly. Her husband had a ruptured berry aneurysm—" She caught herself and corrected her doctor-speak explanation.
    "A little over six months ago, a blood vessel in her husband's brain burst, and by the time they got him into surgery, the damage was too great for him to recover. He was left in the deepest level of coma. He could be kept alive, but he was never going to recover. Elena struggled with the decision to take him off life support. Apparently she finally agreed, but I get the impression there was some irregularity about the way it was done. Amy says Elena has had problems since then."
    "Such as . . . ?"
    "I tried to get details from her, but she said I'd have to ask Elena about them."
    Will took a sip of coffee, winced, and blew across the surface of the cup. "I'll be glad to sit in on the interview if you'd like my opinion, but I'm pretty sure you can trust your own judgment."
    Cathy began to run through the things she wanted to discuss with this new doctor. She took a deep breath and blew it out slowly through pursed lips. She smiled. Could it be that she was unconsciously practicing cleansing breaths to help her through labor?
    "Earth to Cathy? Where'd you go?"
    "Sorry. I was wondering how my patients might relate to Dr. Gardner. It won't be a problem for me, but I'm afraid it might be for a few of them."
    "Sorry," Will said. "I'm not following."
    Cathy pushed aside her cup and saucer. "I didn't recognize her from her married name, but when I heard her maiden name I remembered her."
    "Okay, I'll bite. What was Elena's maiden name?"
    "Perez."
    "And you think this might present a problem?"
    "As I said, not for me, but the potential is there. Since Doc Gladstone retired, I trade call with Dr. Brown. You and I know that Emmett Brown is a competent doctor, but there are still a few of my patients who refuse to see him because they're uncomfortable being treated by an African American."
    Will pushed his cup and saucer