‘That’s piffle and you know it,’ Lemon said. ‘And so will the committee, you’ll see. I’m not wasting any more time arguing with you. I shall make my comments to the committee and no one else.’
‘Such a comfort,’ Levy murmured and smiled at Kate who was sitting silently in the armchair near the window of Levy’s office. ‘Kate, my dear, some more coffee?’
She smiled back at him and shook her head, and then went back to thinking about the conversation she had had that morning with Oliver’s solicitor. She ought to be worried about the forthcoming inquisition from the ethical committee for which they were here, but somehow she couldn’t get at all anxious over that. All the fuss over Slattery seemed to her now to be inconsequential. It was Oliver and his appalling situation that mattered.
‘There are very few options open to us,’ Andrew Curlew had said, his voice clacking busily into her ear. ‘I’ve thought about it all very carefully, and as I see it, we either plead confusion — Oliver didn’t realise the man was a policeman —’
‘They’ll never take that,’ Kate had said, wanting to shout at the man for his stupidity. ‘He was talking to him, demanding to see the Inspector —’
‘I’m well aware of that. I was just spelling out the options. You have to do that even if you immediately jettison them. Now, that was the first and it’s out. The next is to cry confusion because of all the hubbub there was. Oliver didn’t realise what he was doing — and yes, I’ll agree before you say a word. That’s out too, because he’s a highly experienced journalist and used to any sort of hubbub. And anyway the scene was comparatively peaceful up to that point. The trouble didn’t start until after he hit the sergeant. In fact the hitting of the sergeant was what started it. Which leaves me, as far as I can see, with just one other possibility. Provocation.’
‘It’s the only one,’ Kate said. ‘It’s what happened.’
‘You were there?’ the little voice said smoothly. ‘You have evidence to offer?’
She reddened. ‘You know I wasn’t. But Oliver’s told me and —’
‘I’m afraid what Oliver tells you and what constitutes evidence are two very different things,’ he said with what she knew was mock regret. This man is really hateful, she thought then, holding the phone to her ear so tightly that her knuckles were white. He ought to be on Oliver’s side, for God’s sake, not acting like some sort of prosecutor. And then she knew she was being absurd; mere partisanship wouldn’t get Oliver out of this mess. He needed legal expertise and this man was the source of it. ‘
Well, all the same there must be some witnesses —’
‘I’m working on finding them. Some of my chaps are on the picket lines today talking to these people —’
‘They’re not a picket line,’ she said, childishly pleased to be able to put him right. ‘They’re demonstrators. There’s no strike going on here.’
‘Not much to choose between ’em, is there?’ the sleek voice said. ‘These rabble-rousers are all the same.’
‘Hardly,’ Kate said sharply. ‘People with a genuine grievance aren’t rabble-rousers, as you put it.’
‘Well, all that is by the by.’ The man sounded impatient. ‘If you could get Oliver to phone me — I gather he has access to a phone there?’
‘He has, of course. But he’s far from well still, and I don’t want him bothered more than is necessary. That’s why I’m talking to you now rather than him.’
‘You’ve been very helpful, Miss Sayers, but I do have to consult with my client directly, you know. Some things can’t be done at second hand.’
‘Of course.’ She felt her teeth clench at his patronising tone. ‘I’ll see to it Oliver phones you as soon as he feels fit enough.’
‘Thank you —’ He hesitated a moment and then went on in a more affable tone. ‘I’m sorry to see you’re having problems of your own, Miss Sayers.’
She stiffened. ‘Oh?’
‘All the papers today — most unpleasant for you being labelled as — well —’
‘As what?’ she said softly, trying for Oliver’s sake not to let him know how angry she was. How far would this man go, for God’s sake?
‘Well, the friend of such people as this Hynes person. Most unpleasant.’
‘Miss Hynes is my patient, Mr Curlew,’ she said. ‘That is all. My patient. And I do not discuss my patients with anyone except my patients. Do you understand that?’
‘Oh, perfectly.’ He still hadn’t registered how angry she was, she realised, for he said then, ‘But do keep it in mind that if you need any — um — legal advice I’m always here. Any friend of Oliver’s, you know —’
‘Yes,’ she said and hung up sharply, too furious to care how unmannerly she was, and went to see Oliver to tell him what had been said.
‘He’s not a bad chap,’ Oliver had said, uncomfortable when she’d told him how maddening she had found his tone of voice and his attempt to discuss her affairs. ‘Really he isn’t. Not considering he’s a lawyer. I — we owe him a lot, really. Always taken very good care of us —’
She realised then that of course he was talking about Sonia and the divorce, and the matter of the access to the children, and felt her jaw tighten. No matter what happened, no matter what the issue, that bloody woman crept in somehow and she allowed herself the luxury of a moment or two of sheer hate for her. They’d never met, and probably never would, but Kate could not remember ever feeling so powerfully about anyone ever before. But wallowing in hate wouldn’t help, she thought, dragging her practicality back to the top of her mind. It’s getting Oliver out of this mess that matters. And if Curlew could do it, well and good, even if the bloody man was involved with the repellent Sonia.
‘He wants to talk to you when you feel up to it,’ she said then. ‘But don’t push yourself, darling. You’re really far from well.’ And indeed he wasn’t well. Clearly he had an appalling headache, for he squinted painfully against the light and any undue sound or movement, and around the livid contusion on his face and his now very bruised eye his face was pallid and damp. But he made a small grimace at her.
‘Too bad,’ he said. ‘I’ll have to talk to him. Find out what he’s doing —’
‘Provocation, that’s the line he’s taking.’
‘Fair enough. That man was bloody provocative.’
‘He’s sent people to the demo to talk to them. See if he can find witnesses for you.’
‘I doubt he’ll get far,’ Oliver said. ‘People don’t like to get mixed up in cases involving police, cases like this. They won’t come forward. I might even —’ He stopped and swallowed. ‘They might send me to prison for this, you know.’
‘They couldn’t,’ she said, and stared at him in horror. ‘I thought, a court case, a lot of publicity, a fine — all that would be bad enough. But surely not —’
Oliver shrugged. ‘It’s a major offence, striking a police officer. They really get very steamed up about it.’
‘But this is — you were just doing your job, for God’s sake! And they tried to stop you —’
‘I know, I know. I’ve been on to the Union too. This morning. They’re getting in touch with Andrew too, see if they can do anything. But I’m not sanguine. Believe me, if I get out of this with no more than a fine I’ll be damned grateful. Pray for me, love, because God knows I need it.’
Sitting now in the Dean’s office waiting to be summoned to talk to the Ethics Committee she tried to do as he asked; to say inside her head the sort of prayers she used to make when she was a child. Please God, make it all right for Oliver. Please God don’t let it happen — But there was none of the comfort she had found as a child in the silly words. That was all they were, silly words.
The phone on Levy’s desk pinged and he picked it up.
‘Yes,’ he said after a moment and hung up. ‘Mr Lemon, perhaps you’d care to go in? They’re ready for you.’
‘Splendid,’ Lemon said and marched over to the door. ‘Now we’ll see —’
‘Mm? Oh, well enough —’
‘I was dreadfully sorry to hear about your friend Merrall. Such a nasty business.’
‘Yes. He’s got a severe facial contusion and a black eye. No skull damage fortunately. But some concussion.’
‘I was thinking more of the — um — repercussions,’ Levy said almost apologetically. ‘To get involved with police in that way — very unfortunate.’
‘Unfortunate is one word for it,’ she said grimly. ‘He could go to prison, you know?’
‘Yes, I know. If there’s anything I can do to help —’
‘If you’re willing to go to court and say you think he was justified, that might be useful,’ Kate said wearily. ‘But you know you can’t and I know you can’t. But thanks all the same.’
‘No I can’t do that. But anything else, just let me know. I wish I’d seen it all. Then I could have been a witness.’
‘I wish I had. Then I could have hit the damned policeman too,’ Kate said with a sudden spurt of rage, and Levy grinned sympathetically. ‘Well, yes, that would have been satisfying. Useless but satisfying.’
‘As it is, I’m just —’ She rubbed her face with both hands. ‘To tell the truth, I’m so tired I can hardly think straight.’
‘Try not to let that show too much when you deal with this committee,’ Levy said. ‘They’re a pretty reasonable bunch, but we mustn’t let them get the idea that you’re — not on top form, you know?’
‘I know. I’ll be careful.’
‘No need to be careful. Just be honest.’
She looked at him. ‘Honest? Frankly, I wasn’t planning to be — shall we say — as open as I might. I’m not admitting for example that the cystoscopy was your idea —’
‘But you must!’ Levy said and smiled at her. ‘My dear, I need no protection from you, believe me. Tell them all about it as it happened. My pressure on you, all of it. That really is the best way.’
She frowned, puzzled at the insouciance he was showing. ‘But Professor Levy, you know how that’ll look? As though we conspired or something —’
He laughed then. ‘My dear, we did! And you must say so. No, don’t look like that. I know what I’m doing. Trust me. Ah —’ He cocked his head as the sound of muffled voices came from outside his door. ‘I rather think Lemon’s on his way. My, isn’t he cross!’ And they both sat in silence as they heard more shouting outside and then the thump of feet on the stairs.
‘There! And I thought he’d come back and tell us what happened,’ he murmured, and Kate looked at him, still deeply puzzled. Why on earth did he look so relaxed and comfortable? After all, he’d really behaved in a very devious way, and Lemon had been justified in his anger, fully entitled to do what he’d done, which was to complain to the committee. Levy should be a little more concerned than he was, surely?
The phone pinged on his desk again and once more he answered it and then smiled at Kate. ‘Both of us —’ he said. ‘Certainly. We’ll be in at once,’ and he hung up the phone and stood up and held out one hand to Kate invitingly.
‘Sensible people, want me to come with you. Feel better now?’
‘Oh, yes,’ Kate said and stood up. ‘Heavens yes! But it still feels like being on trial or something. It’s like sitting outside the headmistress’s office —’
‘Isn’t it just?’ He opened the door. ‘But it won’t be like that, I do assure you. I do my homework, you see, Kate. You can’t be Dean of a hospital like Old East without being a good politician who does his homework. And I’ve done mine. So stop worrying —’
The committee room was large and cluttered, with all the assorted detritus of years set on and against its walls. Portraits of long dead members of the medical staff, framed diplomas and testimonials and pictures of classes of long ago medical students jostled with cases in which elderly surgical instruments were displayed museum-style, and rather battered and ill-matched chairs. At the big central table there were six people sitting, two of them women, and at the head of the table was Laurence Bulpitt. He got up as they came in and grinned at Kate.
‘Hello, my dear,’ he said. ‘Nice of you to spare the time for us. Do you know everyone? You do, of course, Levy. Let me see now, Mrs Cantrip — John’s wife, you know? And a Deaconess of St Matthew’s in Pennington Street. And Miss Barber from the Nursing School you may have met. And of course Neville Carr I needn’t introduce. And by no means least, Peter Impey, our tame lawyer, and Father Jennings who has retired from his parish but still finds time to give us. All good friends to the hospital as I’m sure you know. And we do appreciate your coming along to help us.’
With a little flurry of nods and smiles she was led to a chair at the table and Professor Levy sat down facing her and smiled encouragingly at her.
‘Now, Kate, I do want you to understand that we are not in any way — ah — attempting any criticism here. We just need to know, as the hospital’s Ethics Committee, how things — ah — are happening here. I don’t have to tell you that ethical problems are part and parcel of every day’s work. I doubt any of us can get to lunchtime without having to wrestle with something that has a moral element in it. After all, it’s the stuff our trade is built on, hmm?’
Laurence Bulpitt was well launched on his way and looking at him and his comparatively young face Kate thought — He’s on the way to a knighthood too. He’ll be a major force in the Royal College one of these days, and she tried to see the man she had first met so long ago when she too had been comparatively low on the career ladder; he was older than she, of course, but all the same he’d just been a bouncy registrar then, full of himself but very agreeable. And now he sat there at the head of a committee, sleek and rather plump and undeniably good-looking in the way that expensive clothes and a touch of self-indulgence always create good looks, and she sat in front of him like a frightened child.
She gave herself a mental shake then. She was not a frightened child. Nor was she a junior medical student. She was a consultant in her own right, and to make a fuss over what was happening here was demeaning. A situation had arisen that had to be sorted out, that was all —
‘We have a situation here that we have to sort out, Kate,’ Bulpitt said, which unnerved her somewhat. ‘And I’m sure we can. Please, will you tell me — tell the committee — how it was Mr Gerald Slattery came into your care? And what you did for him?’
She let her eyes move so that she could see Levy and he smiled at her and inclined his head gently and she thought — He’s right. What’s the point in twisting anything out of some sort of sense of loyalty? I’d only make matters worse and I hate that sort of thing anyway —
So she told them, exactly as it had happened, what it was all about, of the conversation with Levy in the ICU, of her conversations with Slattery on the issue of whether or not he should be tested for HIV and of what happened in the theatres and how she did her best to deal with the problems of the heavy blood loss. And they listened, all of them silent, some of them taking occasional notes, and when at last her voice came to a stop they sat, still silent, and waited.
Then Bulpitt stirred. ‘Well, thank you, Kate. A most useful performance that, succinct and speedy. It was a pleasure to hear you. You agree?’ And he cast a sweeping glance round his committee who murmured and nodded back at him. ‘It is pretty well what I thought —’
‘And as I already told you before this meeting, Laurence,’ Levy said and leaned forwards to prop his elbows on the table and his chin on his fists. ‘It seemed to me essential that we had the man dealt with as soon as possible and with the minimum of fuss, before Lemon could turn the whole affair into a — well, you can imagine. I was very grateful to Kate for agreeing to help me and for allowing the small subterfuge of the cystoscopy.’
‘I wouldn’t have done it if there was any harm in it,’ Kate said then, needing to defend herself. ‘A man of hi
s age — it can be a useful screening. I know it’s an invasive investigation, but all the same —’
‘I agree,’ Bulpitt said. ‘I’m a few years younger than the patient, and I’d be delighted if any medical man caring for me took the trouble to check my plumbing as a routine. I see it much as I see the provision of cervical smears for women — a practical step. No need to apologise for that. No, Kate, we owe you our gratitude. You helped defuse what could have been a very unpleasant situation for Old East.’
Kate was puzzled and looked at Levy, her brows raised.
‘I’m not sure I — frankly, I felt some guilt over all this. I thought you’d rap my knuckles hard.’
‘What for? Taking on a worrying patient and handling him with great skill?’ Bulpitt said. ‘Why be ashamed of that?’
‘I could have been accused of poaching another practitioner’s patient,’ Kate said. ‘Dammit, I did.’
‘Happily, we needn’t talk in those terms,’ Bulpitt said. ‘It’s one of the few personal benefits of NHS practice, you must admit. No need to worry about each other’s incomes. No, you were most helpful. It’s Mr Lemon who — well, I really can’t say that.’
‘I can,’ Levy said unexpectedly. ‘And I will. You needn’t minute it,’ and he looked over his shoulder at the secretary in the corner who was taking busy shorthand. ‘I think Lemon behaved appallingly. We can’t have people going out of this hospital saying surgeons risked their lives by refusing to operate on them unless they submitted to blood tests they had every right to refuse! And refusing to let other surgeons take care of them. A stand had to be taken and I determined to take it. I was rather afraid at first that I’d created a bigger problem than we could handle, and was concerned for Kate — but in the event it’s all turning out well enough. You see the situation from my point of view —’
‘We had to,’ Neville Carr cut in. ‘It’s the same as the patient’s.’
Clinical Judgements Page 33