'I have no strong sentiment against Dr. Marshall,' Darden went on, 'but I believe he lacks your commitment and dedication to medicine.
I like the feel you have for your work-the flair, if you will. You have demonstrated a clinical aggressiveness-a willingness to take chances, to do whatever it takes to get a patient through a crisis-that appeals to me.'
'Thank you again,' Eric said. 'Can you say why Reed didn't get chosen?'
'Not really. Joe Silver's the one who suddenly pushed for an extension.
You might not know it, but it was Joe who made Craig Worrell into that post a few years ago, past a lot of strong objections around the hospital, and he took a fair amount of flak when the choice went sour.
Maybe he got cold feet about backing another loser.'
'Maybe…' Eric said distantly.
'If we can sway either of those votes, you're in.
We've decided that a two-to-one vote will do it.'
'I appreciate your telling me all this,' Eric said.
'Needless to say, Reed and I were both wondering what had gone on.'
'I wish I knew,' Darden said. 'Eric, I don't think White Memorial can easily afford to lose a physician with your skill and committment.
And speaking for myself, I would love to have another faculty member with a philosophy so much like my own. The votes at staff meetings are always perilously close between the conservatives and those of us who believe this hospital must move ahead to stay ahead. Do you remember that AIDS outreach program I proposed a year or so ago?'
'I heard about it, sure. I had planned to volunteer to help man the clinic when it was set up. In fact, I signed up on that list you sent around.'
'I know. It might not surprise you to learn that Reed Marshall did not.
Well, regardless, what you may not know is that my proposal to the medical staff was defeated by just two votes.'
'That must have hurt, to come so close,' Eric said.
'No idea is ever dead until those who behave in it say it's dead,'
Darden replied. 'Craig Worrell was one of the negative votes.'
'I see.'
'If I were you, and I wanted that position as much as you seem to, I would do whatever I could to sway the vote of either Dr. Silver or Dame Teagarden in my favor. Can you think of any way you might do that?'
'No,' Eric lied, glancing inadvertently at the drawer of his desk.
'No, I can't.'
'Well, then… I, um, I hope you understand that while I have great respect for Reed Marshall,'if there is anything you know about him that would help influence either of my comrades on the committee..
'No,' Eric said, unable to conceal how startled he was. 'No I don't.'
He hesitated, and then added, 'Dr. Darden, I think you should know that over our years of working together, Reed and I have developed a pretty deep respect for each other. Even if I did know something damaging about him, which truthfully I don't, it's doubtful I would be able to share that information with anyone even if it meant losing out on the job.'
'Well said!' the chief exclaimed. 'That's precisely the response I wanted from you. And you have my apology for even bringing the subject up. Call it a final test if you want to, and consider yourself to have passed with flying colors. Just keep up your good work, Eric.
I'll do what politicking I can. Then we'll cast our chips on the table and let them fall where they may.'
Before, Eric could respond, there was an insistent knock on the office door.
'Eric, it's Kristen.'
'Time to get to work,' Haven Darden said, opening the door. 'We'll talk again.'
The nurse was breathless.
'Eric, Reed wants to see you in Trauma Two right away.', 'Go,' Darden said. 'I'll help Miss'!-he read the nurse's name tag-'Baker plow through that waiting room.'
Eric hurried past the medical chief and down the hall to Trauma Two. He could smell the blood and feel the chaos and desperation in the room the moment he cleared the door. Reed, an intern named Stuart Spear, and two nurses were clustered about a litter bearing a woman who appeared to be in extremis. She was propped bolt upright and was gasping for breath through the blood cascading it-from her mouth.
'What gives?' Eric asked, noting Reed Marshall's pale, wide-eyed face.
Reed motioned the intern over to the head of the bed and handed him the rigid suction catheter.
'Just keep sucking her out,' he ordered. 'Jill, get me three units. I don't care if they're cross-matched yet or not. I'll sign.
Also, tell the respiratory therapist to get in here.'
He hurried over to where Eric stood.
'She took the steering wheel in her neck,' he whispered. 'At first there was just a trickle, but all of a sudden she erupted.'
'She's drowning,' Eric murmured. 'Her larynx has probably been fractured.'
'I tried calling ENT down to tiach her, but they're in the O.R.
'I don't think it's wise to put her head back and cut on her neck.
Just paralyze her and put a tube in.'
'But… but what if I paralyze her and then can't see past the blood to get the tube in?'
'Of course you can get it in. I'll work the suction.'
'I… I'm not so sure that's the right thing to do,' Reed said.
Eric glanced over at the patient and the two who were working on her.
The respiratory therapist entered the room and began preparing his Ambu breathing bag.
'Reed,' Eric said softly, 'it doesn't look like you have much time. A trach win be dangerous, messy as hell, and probably take too long. The balloon on the tube you put in will tamponade the bleeding.
Call for the succinylchohne. You can do it. I know you can.
I've seen you tube a hundred people.'
'Not like her. You do it.'
'You can do it, Reed,' Eric whispered. 'I'll be right there with you.
Just order the sux.'
Marshall turned to the nurse.
'Give her sixty of succinylchohne IV, plekse, and have respiratory set me up with a seven-point-five tube.' He looked back at Eric, who shook his head a fraction. 'Make that a six-point-five,' Reed said.
He crossed to the woman, whose respirations were growing less and less effective. 'Mrs. Garber, we're going to put a tube in to help you breathe. In order to do that, we're giving you medicine that will make it impossible for you to move. Try not to be too frightened. Youll be breathing better in just a minute.'
Moments after the rapidly acting paralytic was injected, its effects began. The woman's muscles, including those that were enabling her to breathe, began to twitch, writhing without coordination or pattern.
Then, in seconds, they all went slack. Eric set the litter back flat.
Instantly, blood welled up in the woman's mouth. He took the suction and moved to Reed's right hand. The monitor pattern remained rapid and steady.
'Go for it,' he said, hunching next to Marshall's ear. 'Just think of the anatomy. Look for your landmarks, and concentrate.'
Reed slid the broad blade of the laryngoscope along the edge of the woman's tongue as Eric stabilized her head with one hand and sucked the blood clear with the catheter in his other.
'Take your,' Eric whispered, craning to see what Reed was looking at.
'I… I can't see.'
'Wipe off the laryngoscope light and do it again.
It's only been ten seconds.'
Out of the corner of his eye, Eric saw the monitor rate begin to drop.
Reed wiped the blood off the light at the tip of the blade and inserted it again. His left hand, clenched about
