this whole damned deregulation mess we have on our hands today. But that’s not all,” Dave paused again, raising one hand. “One of the residents in training, a Doctor Rahn, stood up and fearlessly challenged both McGrath and Hanes, knowing full well he could have been thrown out of his residency. But by the grace of God, the national neurosurgeon’s organization got wind of it and saved him by threatening to investigate the lack of diagnostic criteria that the CDC had already identified. In fact, neurosurgeons from all over the country are now disagreeing with this procedure because there’s just too much blood loss. Bill, they often transfuse the infant’s total blood volume two or three times in this procedure - and as you know, the tissue that separates the skullcap from the brain can hemorrhage extensively when you remove the entire skull cap. In fact, the neurosurgery society has decided this type of procedure is far too extensive and dangerous for what’s been previously known as a simple cosmetic procedure. And from what I’ve been told, Hanes is lucky those babies haven’t been dying left and right. I heard that at the last national meeting of neurosurgeons, the whole professional society was up in arms on this issue, and they really took McGrath and Hanes to task.”
“Stop right there!” Bill said raising both hands. “You mean the neurosurgeons, as a group, are willing to openly oppose what these guys were doing?”
Dave nodded.
“Boy, that’s a positive change from their usual code of silence,” Bill chuckled, quickly washing down another full cheek of Rueben. Then suddenly he shouted, “Damn it!” Causing several other patrons to look his way - “Just what the hell is this administrator doing? He’s supposed to be acting in behalf of the patient, and all that crap is going on right under his nose?”
Dave quickly put his forefinger up to his lips, hoping to quiet Bill down as he reached over and patted his arm. Then cautiously looking around the room to see that nobody was still listening, he explained what he wanted Bill to do.
“Bill, I can’t put my name on any consultant report without knowing the facts, so here’s the bottom line. This administrator is so preoccupied with saving his ass that I need someone to investigate the situation and find out just what’s been going on here. I need you to go and talk to people and get the facts.” With that Dave pushed his empty plate away, again leaning closer to Bill. “I need someone I can trust,” he whispered. “Someone who can go out and visit with the parents, the residents, the members of the medical staff, and check out the condition of these children they operated on - and you’re the best in the business. You don’t have to take sides, or fight another corrupt organization this time, just get me the facts, and find out what the hell’s going on.”
For a long moment Bill sat with his eyes staring at the ceiling before he finally looked back at Dave with a sly grin on his face. His disgust at what Dave had told him was obvious, as he thoughtfully nodded before he spoke.
“Perhaps I could help you,” he said, gazing once again at the ceiling. “In fact, if I don’t have to take sides, it may even prove to be enjoyable - and I could use some extra money right now.”
They both talked for at least an hour, discussing in detail what needed to be accomplished before Bill came back with, “I’m really surprised that things have worked out between us - because I had no intent of ever helping you again when I came in here.”
Dave laughed. “Bill, I don’t mean to change the subject, but Bakencamp’s Nursing Director walked out on him last week, probably because he’s asked her to help him cover his tracks. She must’ve anticipated the level of scrutiny they’re going to be under, so now he needs a top notch Nursing Director - one who has no ties with the past. He needs somebody like a Mary Swanson,” Dave whispered, looking ill at ease as he uncomfortably shifted his position. “Have you kept in touch with her?”
With that Bill sat back and laughed so loud that almost everyone in the restaurant looked his way.
“You sure know how to use a guy!” He howled, biting at his lower lip and shaking his head from side to side. “Yes, Mary and I have kept in touch. In fact, she’s one of the few people I still trust.” With that, he looked directly into Dave’s eyes with a crafty grin. “Why do you ask if I’ve kept in touch?”
“Well, I want you to persuade her to take a sabbatical from her retirement and help get some standards back at this hospital. As you know, this New World Oligarchy is trying to deregulate everything so they can steal with impunity.”
Bill could only think of how wonderful it would be to have Mary working with him again, but he also knew that she was now financially set for life, and he already suspected she’d have almost no interest in getting back into this ridiculous rat race for more big bucks.
“You know damn well my chances of getting Mary to help us would be far greater if you were to call her,” Dave explained with a wily grin.
“Well, you better not get your hopes up. I doubt very much if she’d ever get back into this rat race. She’s worth several million dollars and seems very comfortable with her present life in Florida.”
“Wasn’t her husband a well known surgeon?”
“Yes he was,” Bill, said thoughtfully. “In fact, he was a very close friend of mine - but sadly he died of a stroke shortly after they retired to Fort Myers.”
“Oh my God - I’m so sorry to hear that. How old is Mary?”
Bill frowned, looking away for a moment - “Perhaps late forties, maybe forty-six or seven.”
“Why don’t you at least call her, and see if she shows any interest at all. Even if she’d only take on a short term assignment, she could be a big help right now.”
Pausing a moment, Bill finally said with a sympathetic smile, “all right - I should call her anyway. I really need to see how she’s been handling Doc’s death.” Folding his napkin and placing it neatly on the table he continued. “Yes, I agree, she could really straighten things out fast - but I just don’t feel she’ll take on this can of worms.”
* * * * *
As soon as Bill arrived home he called Mary. The phone rang several times before she answered.
“Mary? This is your old friend Bill Warner.”
“Bill,” she cried, pleasantly surprised. “It’s good to hear your voice. I think of you often.”
“Mary, I’ve been meaning to call you for some time. But as you know I’m not very good at that. How have you been?”
“Oh, pretty good. My friends have been a big help since Doc’s death. They certainly haven’t given me much time to think about myself. How about you? I worry about you.”
“Mary, I’ve been busy writing, but I’m not sure anyone wants to read what I have to say. I guess I’ll have to get my name on the front page of the New York Times before they’ll realize I have something worthwhile to say.”
“Hey, that powerful Oligarchy doesn’t want the public to ever understand what’s really going on in this country - do they? But we’re all going to have to face up to the facts someday, or go broke - and I don’t know anyone that can tell the truth better than you,” she added. “So what’s up?” she asked, knowing Bill would never have called just to chitchat.
“Mary, do you remember Dave Nelson, with The Harrington Associates?”
“You
