It's Nothing Personal Read Online Free PDF Page B

  There are charges against me from St.
Augustine Hospital involving drugs.”
    Detective Morris kept his focus on Hillary
as he shifted topics.   “Can you tell
me how long you’ve been a scrub tech and where you’ve worked?”
    Hillary lifted her head slightly, but still
avoided any eye contact.   “I got my
first job in 2007, in Nevada.   A
year later, I moved with my boyfriend to Los Angeles.   I was pregnant, and he had gotten a
really good job there.   We were
trying to make the best life we could for the baby.   Before my daughter was born, I worked in
L.A. as a scrub tech for a while.   And, of course, I worked at St. Augustine.”
    Detective Morris asked, “Were you fired or
disciplined at either of the first two facilities where you worked?   In Nevada or California?”
    Hillary’s voice was raspy.   “I left the job in Nevada on good terms.   I only quit because we were moving.   In L.A., I was fired because of
attendance issues.   I had a lot of
problems with the pregnancy and missed a lot of work.   I always had doctors’ notes to excuse my
sick days, but they didn’t care.   It
was just as well anyway, because the baby was about to come.”
    “So after you lost your job in L.A., and
before you moved out here to work at St. Augustine Hospital, what did you do
for money?   You did have a baby to
support, right?”
    Hillary answered sadly, “Well, yes and no on
the baby part.   I did have a baby, a
little girl named Amber.   Me and her
dad split up pretty much right after she was born.   I couldn’t work and take care of Amber, so her dad took her up near San Francisco,
and they lived with his mom.   She
helped take care of the baby while my ex worked.   I moved in with some friends in L.A.,
but I didn’t have a car, and I couldn’t find any hospital jobs nearby.   I did some waitressing for a while.   Then, last fall, I called my folks.   I think they could tell I needed help –
I guess they could hear it in my voice.   Anyway, they invited me to come back home.   Once I moved out here, I got hired at
St. Augustine almost immediately.   I
guess it was a lucky break.”
    Detective Morris tapped his pen on the
wooden table.   He leaned closer to
Hillary and asked, “Since I’m not in the world of medicine, and I’d like to
understand things as best I can, can you explain what a scrub tech does and the
qualifications for the job?”
    Hillary’s eyes brightened.   For the first time since the interview
began, she sat up straight and turned to face the detective directly.   With her head held high, Hillary
confidently explained her job.
    “Well, in order to become a scrub tech, you
have to go to a certified program for about eighteen months.   The scrub tech’s job is to assist the
surgeon on cases.   Before the
surgery started, I would go into the OR and open the instruments onto the
surgical table.   Then I would have
to scrub in.”
    Sensing Hillary enjoyed playing the role of
the expert, Detective Morris strived to maintain the momentum.   He interjected, “What does that mean . .
. ‘scrub in?’”  
    Hillary became more animated and comfortable
with every word.   “Oh, that means I
scrub my hands and arms with a special soap and sponge.   Then I put on a sterile gown and
gloves.   The point is that no
surface of my skin or clothing is exposed, or else I would contaminate the
sterile surgical equipment.   Sorry,
I forget that not everyone knows what goes on in the OR.”
    “No need to be sorry.   I find this fascinating.   Please continue.”
    In response to Detective Morris’s
compliment, Hillary smiled.   Speaking with authority, she continued, “Once I was sterile, I would set
the instruments up for the case.   Then, me and the circulating nurse would count everything on the
table.   When the surgeon came in, I
would help him or her get into a sterile gown and gloves.   Then I’d help place sterile drapes over
the patient.   During the