Chapter 3 - THE WARNING INSIDE THE MEDICATION CART
Elise did not answer the anonymous message.
Instead, she documented the incident through the hospital's formal reporting system and contacted the appropriate clinical leadership.
She described the room-status discrepancy, the unidentified syringe, and the irregular supply labels.
Her supervisor listened.
Then asked a question that made Elise uncomfortable.
"Are you certain you want to file this?"
Elise stared.
"A patient nearly died."
"I understand."
"Then what's the problem?"
Her supervisor lowered her voice.
"Dr. Sloane personally authorized that room."
Elise felt cold.
"Why?"
"I don't know."
"Was it registered as an inpatient room?"
"No."
"Then why was a patient receiving treatment there?"
Her supervisor looked away.
"Elise, sometimes there are arrangements above our level."
Elise stood.
"Patient safety isn't above or below anyone's level."
That afternoon, she was called into Dr. Sloane's office.
He was a handsome man in his fifties with silver hair and a reputation for raising enormous donations.
His smile was practiced.
"Miss Marwood."
"Doctor."
"I understand you were involved in an unfortunate incident."
"A patient collapsed."
"Yes."
He folded his hands.
"Mr. Blackwood receives private medical services. His arrangements are confidential."
Elise remained standing.
"Confidentiality doesn't eliminate documentation requirements."
Sloane's smile thinned.
"You're young."
"Twenty-seven."
"And perhaps unfamiliar with the complexities of private medicine."
"I'm familiar with the need to identify what medication a patient received."
Silence.
Sloane leaned back.
"Your concern has been noted."
Elise waited.
Then he said:
"I suggest you focus on your pediatric patients."
When Elise returned to the ward, her access to the incident report had been revoked.
Her stomach dropped.
She tried again.
ACCESS DENIED.
Then she checked the record for Room 508.
The room was still listed as vacant.
No emergency event.
No patient transfer.
Nothing.
It was as though Adrian Blackwood had never been there.
At six that evening, a black sedan stopped outside her apartment.
Marcus stepped out.
Elise froze.
He approached slowly.
"Miss Marwood."
"What do you want?"
"Mr. Blackwood would like to thank you."
"He's awake?"
Marcus nodded.
"Yes."
Elise exhaled.
Then looked at the car.
"I'm not getting in."
Marcus surprised her by nodding.
"Understood."
He handed her an envelope.
Inside was a handwritten note.
You noticed something everyone else missed.
I need to know what.
Adrian.
Elise stared at the paper.
Then looked at Marcus.
"Tell him to contact the police."
Marcus's expression darkened.
"We're trying."
"Then keep trying."
She turned toward her building.
Marcus called after her.
"Miss Marwood?"
She stopped.
"Yes?"
"Someone inside Blackridge wanted him dead."
Elise looked back.
May you like
Marcus continued.
"And whoever it was knows you interrupted the plan."
