Rescue Team Read Online Free PDF Page B

worried about her son, and they’ve been waiting awhile.”
    “I’m sure she appreciates your help, Judith. The hospital’s lucky to have you—especially today.” Wes shook his head. “Their morning got off to a rough start.”
    She leaned in, lowered her voice. “I couldn’t help but overhear that you’re the man who rushed to help with the newborn.”
    “I only did what little I could, ma’am. Right place at a tough moment.”
    “Well, thank you,” she said, extending her hand. “If more folks took the responsibility to help where they could, this would be a healthier community—and a kinder world.”
    “Amen,” Wes agreed, taking her hand.
    -  +  -
    “Did the police talk with you yet?” Lauren sank into the desk chair across from Kate.
    “No.” Kate minimized the computer program. But I am going to tell them I saw that girl. Aren’t I? “So far they’ve only asked me to point them in the direction of the night staff. You?”
    “They wanted to know what I saw in the waiting room. Which, beyond the horror on Albert’s face, wasn’t much. Except the backside of your hustling scrubs and that blur when Wes Tanner sprinted by.”
    “You know him?”
    “Wes helped teach my CISM classes. And he was here after Sunni went missing—for the staff debriefing.” Lauren caught Kate’s frown. “What?”
    “I got an earful in the parking lot,” she explained, resisting the urge to once again check the back of her head for a lump. “He’s teaming with social services to give that refresher at our staff meeting.”
    “Um . . . things have changed some. Cynthia said she called you.”
    “I haven’t listened to my messages. What’s going on?”
    Lauren spread her hands on the desk. “Friday’s going to be a debriefing instead. Small, voluntary of course. For those directly involved in the Baby Doe incident. It will be offered to the clerks, the janitor, and the nursing staff. Anyone who feels affected by this tragedy.”
    “Why the change?” Kate asked, certain Wes Tanner was responsible.
    “Because your team’s feeling more than a little shell-shocked, Kate. They need to know they have our support.” Concern flickered across Lauren’s face. “Albert is sure that if he hadn’t changed his routine—if he’d cleaned the bathroom an hour earlier—the baby would still be alive.”
    “I heard the doctor say there’s a chance the baby never took a breath,” Kate said solemnly. “He was so premature. But we won’t know the official cause of death until the medical examiner’s finished.”
    “Meanwhile, Albert’s blaming himself. And the clerk who opened the door when you and Wes were rushing the baby to the code room has a daughter with a high-risk pregnancy. She cried when she told me about it. Everyone’s been affected in some way.”
    Kate thought of Dana’s whispered question. “If I’d done things better . . . ?”
    “Because Wes was directly involved in the incident,” Lauren continued, “he’ll take part the same as the others. Like you and—”
    “Wait.” Kate held up her hand. “You said voluntary . I agreed to the dispensing of stress information at a staff meeting. I never said I’d volunteer for a debriefing. Besides,” she added, determined to make Lauren understand, “I don’t think the staff would be comfortable talking about their personal situations and feelings in front of their department director.”
    “Rank is set aside at a debriefing. It’s not a fact-finding mission or a critique of an event,” Lauren explained. “It’s human beings coming together to get through a tough situation. Cynthia and the chaplain will facilitate. Wes and I will offer what we can in a supporting role. And I think,” she added gently, “taking part could go a long way toward getting your team behind you. It could show them that you care.” She smiled. “Even more than making cupcakes.”
    Kate squeezed her eyes shut. “Please swear to me you’re not