'But I don't think it's a good idea for plaintiff and defendant to fraternize.' He smiled with a reflexive sort of mock- friendliness. 'I guess I mean sororize.' He extended his hand. 'I'm Ron Czernek.'
'Yes,' Karen said, taking his hand for a minimal duration. 'I've seen you on the news.'
'Well,' he said cheerily, 'you'll see a lot more of both of us real soon. Jury selection begins on Monday.'
'What?' Valerie cringed at the pain associated with speak-ing.
'I asked the court to exercise its inherent power to set the earliest possible date. Much to my surprise'-he stared at Karen-'the other side agreed not to demur. I pointed out that the immediate health risks to the baby required that we deter-mine custody as soon as possible.' A wave of illness permeated Karen.
'Fletcher's lawyer got the judge to spike my application for our taking temporary custody. The judge said that it was moot, since the child was in the hospital for the time being. And Shawn Deyo-the hospital's lawyer-he got the judge to sever the case against Bayside from the rest of the suit because they'd turned Fletcher in the moment they found out about it. We lost a deep pocket, but on the other hand, we'll get this over with in no time. Don't worry.' He stood over Valerie and stroked her golden hair.
Karen stepped back from the bed. 'I'll go, now. I hope you'll feel better soon.'
'Thank you,' Valerie said.
Ron muttered something under his breath.
When Karen's footsteps receded down the corridor, Valerie asked him what he had said.
'Nothing.' He continued to stroke her head. 'I'm sorry I couldn't show up earlier. It's just been a bitch of a morning. Want to hear it?'
Valerie closed her eyes for a moment. 'Not really.' She opened them. Her voice was soft but strained. 'Could you call the nurse? I really need something to handle this pain.'
'
Mark Landry would have preferred not to run into Dr. Fletcher, but by the time he saw her, there was no graceful means of escape.
'`Morning, Doctor,' he mumbled. He tried to keep walking, but Fletcher took him by the arm.
'Don't worry,' she said in an even voice. 'I'm not going to break your neck.' Her hand released him.
'It was all bound to come out sooner or later. I just objected to your sneaking around instead of confronting me directly.'
'You evaded my questions.'
'You didn't ask what was on your mind.' She folded her arms and looked at him with that weary expression doctors reserve for when they are particularly professionally frustrated. 'Look, let's just ignore all that. I've got to concentrate on Renata and all my other patients and a lawsuit. You saw that line of pickets out there this morning. And the cops. And the reporters. Any-one in white coming and going here is going to be considered fair game. I admit I brought this down on all of us, but-'
'You certainly did,' growled the voice of Dr. Lawrence. He strode up to the pair, dark anger across his brow. 'I wish the board would get off its duff and agree to file a cross-suit against you. We had to admit one of our own residents with a gash on his head from one of the protesters. Damned pro-lifer tried to beat the kid to death with her picket sign.' He narrowed his gaze to Fletcher. 'I hear the trial begins next week.'
'Actually, just jury sel-'
'I'd advise for everyone's safety that you attend all the pro-ceedings and come here only under the most urgent neces-sity.'
'I can't do that,' she replied.
'Try.' He turned to the young man. 'And you, Landry. Back to the lab.' He continued on his way.
'Pompous jerk,' Landry muttered after the administrator turned a corner. He looked at Dr. Fletcher.
'I always wondered why you seemed so unconcerned to be running both the baby factory and the abortion mill. I think I understand why you had to do things the way you did. Maybe after the trial I'll find out why you bothered at all. It doesn't seem to pay to rock the boat either way.' Fletcher's voice was grim. 'Sometimes a boat has to be rocked hard to steer a new course.'
