‘Have the police any idea who was responsible?’ she asked as Luke finished writing up the last of the detailed notes that would accompany Lisa when she was eventually found a bed in an IC unit.
‘Not yet. It appears that after hitting Lisa the car hit a gatepost, so they’ve got some paint scrapings.’ He slid the wad of notes into a plastic holder and clipped it to the end of the bed. ‘The inspector in charge of the investigation told me that the forensic lab should be able to match the paint with the make of vehicle. That should help.’
‘I don’t know how anyone could drive off and leave her there! The driver must have known he’d hit something even if it was foggy.’
‘Especially as he hit the gatepost immediately afterwards.’ Luke’s tone was grim as he looked at the unconscious girl. ‘I hope he’s been having nightmares about what he’s done. He deserves to!’
Maggie sighed. Maybe the driver had had nightmares but it didn’t mean that he would feel that he had to own up. It wasn’t the first time that she’d had to deal with the results of a hit-and-run incident, although, thankfully, the occasions had been few and far between.
‘I’d better get back. We’re up to our eyes in it this morning.’ He handed her the pen with a sigh. ‘That fog caused havoc last night. There were three serious RTAs, which meant that the routine stuff had to wait. I have a list of people with fractures waiting to be seen. Half the town seems to have been wandering around in the fog, tripping over kerbs!’
He rolled his eyes as she laughed. ‘Anyway, I’ll ring through as soon as I hear about a bed. Hopefully, we shall be able to get Lisa into an IC unit before lunch.’
He hurried away and she settled down with some paperwork. It was only routine stuff—ordering supplies and filling out requisition sheets, things like that—so she could do it and still pay close attention to the patient. However, after a few minutes she found her mind wandering and sighed as she realised which direction it was taking.
She forced herself to concentrate on how many dozen sterile dressings they would need in the coming week. That was far more important than sitting there daydreaming about Luke. Anyone would think she was falling in love with the man from the way he seemed to be on her mind all the time…
Her heart gave a small lurch. Maggie stared at the order sheet without seeing a word that was printed on it. She wasn’t in love with Luke. She couldn’t be!
She took a deep breath then applied herself diligently to her work.
It was lunchtime before an IC bed was found for Lisa at the Royal, the hospital in a neighbouring town. In the event it was Robin who came to tell Maggie that the girl was to be transferred there. It appeared that Luke was still in Theatre so Robin had been delegated to make the arrangements.
‘At least she won’t have far to travel,’ she observed thankfully. ‘I wouldn’t like to think of her being driven all round the country.’
‘Me neither. There’s been a lot of reports recently about that happening,’ Robin agreed. ‘It all boils down to funding, doesn’t it? There just aren’t enough intensive-care beds for the number of patients who need them.’
‘Or enough experienced nurses to man them,’ Maggie added as the ambulance crew arrived. She helped them transfer Lisa to a trolley then accompanied them down in the lift so that she could hand over to the nurse who would travel with the girl on the journey. Their route took them through the A and E department, which was even busier than usual that day. Maggie hurried on ahead, holding open the swing doors so that the paramedics could push the trolley outside to where the ambulance was waiting.
‘Is she going to be all right?’
She paused as a young man accosted her. He was about Lisa’s age, with closely cropped fair hair. He was sporting a fresh plaster cast on his right wrist so she assumed that he’d been having treatment when he’d spotted Lisa being wheeled through the department.
‘We can’t give out information about a patient, I’m afraid,’ she explained. ‘Are you a friend of Lisa’s?’
‘Me? Oh, no…no… I…um… I don’t know her. I… I’ve never seen her before,’ he stammered, edging away. Maggie put out a hand to stop him but he evaded her as he hurried out of the building.
She frowned as she went outside to the ambulance. The youth’s behaviour had been very strange. He’d looked really scared when he’d denied knowing Lisa. Yet why had he bothered to ask about the girl if he didn’t know her?
There was no time to dwell on it, however, because the other nurse arrived just then. Maggie quickly updated her on Lisa’s status then waved the ambulance off on its journey. It was a ten-mile drive to the Royal and she mentally crossed her fingers that there wouldn’t be any hitches on the journey there.
‘She’s on her way, then?’
She looked round as Luke came to join her, feeling her heart give another of those alarming little hiccups as she took stock of what he was wearing. Normally, she would have described the green scrubsuits everyone wore in Theatre as the most un-sexy outfits in the world. In fact, a lot of staff jokingly referred to the baggy trousers and tops as passion-killers. However, Maggie realised that she might have to review her opinion in future.
Luke looked decidedly sexy as he stood there, watching the ambulance driving away. There was a stiff breeze blowing that day and it had plastered the lightweight cotton against his chest and thighs. She felt her head go fuzzy with a sudden rush of blood as her eyes swept over the well-toned muscles so temptingly displayed…
‘Maggie?’
There was a quizzical note in his voice which brought her back to earth with a resounding thump.
‘Sorry. I was just, er…just thinking about the journey Lisa has ahead of her,’ she explained, latching onto the first excuse that came to mind. ‘I hope there aren’t any hold-ups.’
‘Me, too. It certainly isn’t ideal to have seriously ill patients being driven around the country like this.’
‘Does it ever happen in the States?’ she asked curiously as they went back inside.
‘Oh, yes. Funding is a problem in America, too, especially for a lot of public hospitals.’ He sighed. ‘Unfortunately, we don’t have the benefit of a national health service like you have in England. Those who can afford it pay medical insurance and those who can’t are treated in public hospitals via the Medicaid programme. It can lead to a two-tier system no matter how dedicated the staff working in the hospitals are.’
‘We’re lucky. I know we all grumble…patients and staff…but on the whole it’s a good system,’ she agreed. ‘What kind of hospital do you work in? Public or private sector?’
‘Both. I like to feel that I’m making a positive contribution to society, so I decided to combine the two. I divide my time equally between both.’
‘Even though you could make a lot more money by concentrating on your private work?’ she queried in surprise.
‘Yes.’ He paused and looked around the waiting-room. As usual there was a crowd of people waiting to be seen. They were from all walks of life and all ages, too. His gaze moved from a mother with a small child to an elderly lady. ‘I could double my income if I worked solely in the private sector but money isn’t everything, is it? Take a look around you and what do you see? People who need help.’
He looked at her then and there was an expression in his eyes which made her feel suddenly humble. ‘All I’ve ever wanted to do is to help people. That’s a reward in itself.’
Maggie didn’t know what to say. It simply brought it home to her once again how badly she’d misjudged him in the beginning. Suddenly, the need to apologise for the mistake she’d made was too great to ignore.
‘I feel so bad about the way I treated you when you first came to Dalverston, Luke. I was horrible to you and my only excuse is that I had the completely wrong idea about you.’
‘It’s no wonder.’ He grinned at her. ‘I didn’t exactly go out of my way to make a good impression when we met at your grandmother’s house, did I?’
&n
bsp; ‘Well…’
‘Don’t answer that! It makes me squirm when I think about that evening. Still, it’s ancient history now. We’ve come to understand one another a lot better since then.’
Had they? a small voice whispered. Did she really understand the effect he had on her, for instance? Wasn’t that all part and parcel of knowing him?
Maggie smiled determinedly, hoping that he couldn’t tell how confused she felt. ‘I’m sure we do. Anyway, I’d better get back. I’ll speak to you later.’
She hurried towards the lifts. One arrived almost immediately and she stepped inside. She caught a last glimpse of Luke before the doors closed and sighed.
Life had been so easy pre-Luke Fabrizzi!
CHAPTER EIGHT
MAGGIE had just returned from lunch when Luke phoned to tell her that Lisa Duckworth was on her way back to the hospital.
‘She’s coming back to Dalverston? But why? What’s happened,’ she demanded, her heart sinking.
‘There was some sort of mix-up, apparently. It seems that the IC bed had been allocated to another patient and nobody knew until the ambulance arrived at the Royal. Their bed manager claims that someone from Dalverston told him that the bed was no longer needed when he phoned to check what time Lisa was due to arrive.’
He sounded exasperated. ‘Morgan is furious and demanding to know who was responsible but nobody seems to have any idea. Anyway, it means that Lisa will have to stay here until we find another place for her, although I’m not happy about her being moved a second time.’
‘I can understand that. The last thing she needs in her condition is to be trailed all round the country. Is there no chance at all of her getting a bed in the IC unit here?’ Maggie asked anxiously.
‘We’re looking into it now. Evidently, there is an actual bed available but there isn’t anyone to cover it. They have a member of staff on holiday and another off sick. However, in view of what’s happened, Fiona Watts has decided to ring round the agencies to see if she can find a qualified IC nurse.’
‘There are all too few of them about, that’s the trouble. It’s such a demanding job that not many nurses opt to take the course. Anyway, I’ll get everything ready here. When will Lisa be arriving?’
‘Roughly ten minutes, according to the ambulance crew. Sorry about this, Maggie. I know it must be putting even more pressure on you but there isn’t anything else we can think of at the moment. As soon as I hear anything I’ll get back to you.’
‘Thanks.’ She hung up then went to find the others and explained what was happening. Doreen heaved a weary sigh.
‘It’s not on, is it? I mean we’re working at full stretch as it is and now this. Oh, it’s not that poor kid’s fault, but there’s only so much you can do at any given time.’
‘I know,’ Maggie sympathised. ‘And it certainly isn’t ideal to have Lisa here, but we’ll just have to do the best we can. I suggest that you and Tracy take your breaks now then we won’t be so pushed later. Angela can have hers at the usual time.’
‘Which means that you’ll miss out, like you did this morning.’ Doreen shook her head. ‘Let’s hope that Luke appreciates all the trouble you’ve gone to for him, Maggie. Make sure you’re suitably compensated is all I can say… Speaking of which, what about that fiver you owe me?’
‘What fiver?’ She blushed as she realised what her friend meant. ‘Look, Luke and I are just good friends, for your information. There’s absolutely nothing going on between us!’
‘Tell that to the marines!’ Doreen retorted as the other two laughed. ‘Everyone knows that you’re seeing him so I can’t understand why you’re trying to deny it. Frankly, I’d be tap-dancing in the middle of the street if a hunk like that had asked me out!’
‘I give up! There’s no point talking to you when you refuse to believe a word I say.’
Maggie quickly made her way to the side room. She busied herself, getting everything ready for Lisa’s return, but Doreen’s comments kept ringing in her ears. It was uncomfortable to know that the whole hospital was talking about them. She would have to mention it to him soon…
She sighed. What difference was it going to make to Luke if people gossiped about them? Come December he would be on his way back to Boston and what had happened here in Dalverston would be of little consequence to him.
It was a sobering thought. Fortunately, the ambulance arrived soon afterwards and she was too busy getting Lisa settled to think about it any more. Morgan Gray appeared to check on the girl and it was obvious that Luke hadn’t been exaggerating when he’d said the consultant was angry about the mix-up.
‘It just isn’t good enough. It’s bad enough having to move a patient in this condition but to then discover that we’d been misinformed about the availability of an IC bed is beyond the pale!’ He handed Lisa’s notes to Maggie, his face drawn into a scowl that boded ill for whoever had created the confusion.
She sighed as he bade her a curt goodbye and left. If Lisa didn’t pull through, she guessed that there would be an investigation into what had gone on that day. She only hoped that the mistake hadn’t been made by any of the Dalverston General staff.
Thankfully, Lisa’s condition didn’t deteriorate as the afternoon wore on. Maggie stayed with her for most of that time, only leaving her briefly to check that there were no problems in the ward.
She decided to leave Tracy in charge while she was away. It would be valuable experience for the younger nurse, although she sensed that Tracy was a little apprehensive about the responsibility. However, when she went back a short time later, Tracy looked a lot more confident.
‘Everything OK?’ she asked, automatically checking the monitoring equipment. Although not as high-tech as that used in the IC unit, it was quite a complex set of machinery and gave a constant reading of the girl’s blood pressure, and heart and respiratory rates. She was pleased to see that Lisa seemed to be stable.
‘Fine. I bet it’s really interesting, working in ICU,’ Tracy observed thoughtfully.
‘Does that mean you’re thinking of doing the IC course?’ She smiled when Tracy hesitantly nodded. ‘Well, I think you’d be great at the job. You’re quick, careful and, above all else, you follow instructions to the letter.’
‘Do you really think so?’ Tracy positively glowed at the praise. ‘I’ll have a word with Fiona Watts and see what she says about me applying for the course, then.’ She headed for the door and paused. ‘Oh, by the way, there was someone here a few minutes ago, asking after Lisa.’
‘Do you mean her parents?’ Maggie asked in surprise because she hadn’t expected them to get back from France so quickly.
‘No. It was a young man, about Lisa’s age, I’d say.’ Tracy shrugged. ‘I suppose he must be a friend of hers but he didn’t give me his name. I didn’t tell him anything,’ she added hurriedly. ‘I told him to have a word with you and sent him to the office.’
‘I didn’t notice anyone in the corridor.’ Maggie frowned as she went to the door and looked along the corridor but there was no sign of anyone waiting outside the office.
‘Maybe he decided not to wait. He didn’t look too good himself, to be honest.’ Tracy explained. ‘He had a bruise on his cheek and his arm was in plaster. Perhaps he decided to leave it till later.’
‘Perhaps.’ Maggie didn’t say anything else as the younger nurse left. However, she knew that it was too much of a coincidence for there to be two people asking after Lisa, both with their arms in plaster. What was going on? The youth she’d spoken to that morning had denied being a friend of the girl, so why had he been trying to find out about her once again?
Maggie knew that she wouldn’t rest until she’d discussed it with someone else. She might be reading something into nothing yet she had a funny feeling about what had happened. In the end she decided to speak to Luke and see what he thought. If he agreed that it needed to be taken further, then she would tell Roger Hopkins what had happened. It wasn’t unknown for cranks to latc
h onto a patient after they’d read about them in the local paper, and she suspected that there would have been coverage about Lisa’s accident that morning.
She had Luke paged then settled down to some more paperwork, wondering when she would ever get to the end of it. It was about half an hour later before he arrived and she got up when he tapped on the door.
‘Thanks for coming. I wanted your opinion on something that has happened.’ She quickly explained about her encounter with the young man that morning then called Tracy in to tell her bit of the story. Luke frowned as the young nurse went back to the ward.
‘Sounds like the same guy, doesn’t it? I can understand why you were concerned, Maggie. I think we need to tell the police about this, just to be on the safe side.’ He shrugged when she looked at him in surprise. ‘There are a lot of crazy people about and we don’t want to take any chances, do we?’
‘I suppose you’re right.’ She sighed as she looked at the teenager. ‘As if the poor kid hasn’t enough to put up with!’
‘I’ll get onto them right away. Can I use the phone in your office?’ He swiftly headed out of the room then paused to look back. ‘Be careful, Maggie. Until we know what this guy wants, just be on your guard.’
She smiled when she heard the concern in his voice. ‘Don’t worry. Careful is my middle name!’
‘Hmm, I have my doubts about that somehow.’ He grinned crookedly at her. ‘If you were that careful, you would never have gotten yourself involved with me!’
It had been meant as a joke and she took it as that. However, her heart sank when a second later Doreen popped her head round the door. It was obvious that her friend must have heard Luke’s parting comment.
‘Out of the horse’s mouth, eh? I shall expect that fiver in the morning.’ Doreen shook an admonishing finger at her. ‘Trying to welsh on a bet, indeed. I’m ashamed of you!’
‘Oh, but…’
The Italian Doctor Page 12