Page 18 of Decker

Savannah: Hell yes, be at mine at six and bring wine. I’ll order takeout.

Addie responded quickly.

Addie: Like that is it? I want all the details. Especially the ones about a certain profiler who seems very interested in all thing’s Dr Sankey these days. If the rumours are true, he also played the hero last night.

Savannah should have known her friend would know.

Savannah: Fine you can have details but make it two bottles of wine and get Javier to drive you.

Addie: You got it, girl.

Savannah smiled. She’d never thought her patient could become her closest friend or that by saving her life she’d be inheriting an entire group that made her feel like family. She loved her own family but her sister living away made it tricky for them and they’d never been that close. With her parents living on the coast now, she didn’t get to see much of them either, but she knew they loved her and were proud.

Weekly phone calls still centred around her love life, or lack thereof, and how her time was running out to have a family of her own. As if she didn’t already know all that, but love couldn’t be forced. God knew she tried and look how that turned out.

“Savannah, what are your thoughts on this?”

She blinked as Percy addressed her and realised, she had no idea what he was talking about. She was so tired it was beyond comprehension but also too keyed up to sleep. “Well, Percy, I agree with you.” She hedged her words not knowing what she was agreeing with but usually agreeing with his thoughts. He was a sound leader and insightful, and more often than not right in his assessment.

“Good, then it’s agreed. We’ll suspend admissions into the Neuro ward until a full independent investigation has taken place. I’ll bring in another neurosurgeon on a short-term contract to help with what we have and go from there. We need to be seen as proactive after last night.”

Savannah bit her tongue and regretted her daydreaming now. Closing her department wasn’t what she wanted, short term or otherwise, but she’d agreed. Perhaps Percy was right, and it was the best option short term. They needed to get their house in order and make some changes. Last night should never have been allowed to happen and that it had reflected badly on her as the lead.

“What about Dr Farr?” Eddie Shand, head of Orthopaedics asked.

Percy pursed his lips and glanced at her with sympathy, which she didn’t need. Or want. “Dr Farr has been released on bail pending a court hearing, but he’s suspended for now.”

“He should be fired!” Dr Shand stated, banging the table in outrage.

Orthopaedics tended to be arrogant bastards thinking they ruled the world because they brought in the big money.

“Dr Farr will be dealt with by the book so there are no comebacks.”

“Fine.”

“If that’s all, we’re finished here.” Percy stood and the others followed suit, filing out of the room.

“Dr Sankey, do you have a second?”

She turned and nodded at Percy as the conference room door closed. “What’s up, Percy?”

He smiled kindly and she remembered part of the reason she’d made the move to this hospital. Percy Gromadski was a good man and an even better leader.

“I wanted to let you know that I’ve arranged cover for you for the next few days. Take some time off. I know you must be exhausted and what you went through last night must have been frightening.”

“Honestly, I haven’t processed it yet. I knew Andy was spiralling but not to that degree. Have you spoken to Darla Jenkins?”

Percy wrinkled his nose in distaste. “No, but she’s on sick leave. No doubt her boyfriend’s behaviour last night has put a strain on her, and with her being pregnant it’s even worse.”

“I’m sure, I actually feel sorry for her. Andy will never change but now she is tied to him by a child. At least I can get free when the finances are finalised.”

“Very true. Now, your cover is coming in in thirty minutes. Why don’t you do the handovers for your patients and then get yourself home? I don’t want to see you inside this hospital until the investigation is over.”

“But, Percy, those are my patients.”

“I know. If we need you, we’ll call and do a Zoom consult, but I want you as far away from this mess as possible. You’re too good a doctor to get caught in this shit and let me tell you, changes are coming. I’m clearing out the deadwood now I have the chance.”

Percy was kind but he was also cutting when it came to his first love, which was his hospital. He’d worked his way up to this role, retiring from surgery early when an accident had damaged his hand and left him with a tremor that ended his career as a general surgeon.

“Fine but make it quick. You know I hate being side lined.”

Percy chuckled. “I do know that but think of it as having time to work on that paper you’ve been talking about.”

That was a good idea, but she didn’t voice it, instead, she made her way to her office and began the long process of handing her patients over to someone else. Something that didn’t sit well with her, but she knew she had to do it.