Decisions, Quincy Moore [reading tree .txt] 📗

had to rub it in, I thought.
“However, that was not why and how we, that is my Sargent and I, arrived here. A little before Mrs Lang's 999 call we had received another call, informing us that a murder was about to take place in Eastfield's Hospital on the 3rd floor! Something that initially would have been followed up by a team of uniformed Police Officers. However, my Sargent and I were in the area and some of our uniformed staff are currently a little busy elsewhere, when your call – he looked at me as he said so – was finally traced back to this hospital, so we decided to check it out. We considered it a little bit of a coincidence that two calls came in, regarding something serious as 'murder in progress' or 'urgent assistance', for the same hospital. So that's what I am here for to find out! And your name is?”, he asked, looking at Matron.
“I am Mildred Coulton, Matron of this hospital and that – she pointed towards Angela – is Angela Griffin, she is the Sister in Charge tonight”,
“You have no authority here at this stage”, continued Matron, adding, that as far as she knew the patient was very much alive and currently looked after and cared for by the hospital's brilliant ITU doctors and staff. So, therefore there was no case of murder for Milton to investigate. She also pointed out that if I had followed correct hospital policy, I would have called the Sister in Charge, who then would have called her and it would have been her who would have decided on whether the police needed to be involved or not. She concluded that she was thankful for Milton's quick response to the phone calls, but that from here on, the hospital was able to deal with the matter themselves. She then turned to me and snapped: “Nurse Lang, my office! Now!”.
DCI Milton jumped in quickly: “Ms Coulton, I fully understand the position you are in, however, I still have to investigate the calls made, whether made by one of your staff members or not. There is no turning back at this stage!”
Matron turned around and looked DCI Milton in the eye. After a few seconds she said: “Very well, I suppose you have to do your job. But you have to promise me that you will liaise with me at all times and need to keep me informed about all your dealings during your investigation. The allegations made are very serious and the hospital's reputation is at stake here, so I need to be kept informed at all times!”
“Fair enough”, replied Milton. “Do I have you permission to question a few other people tonight? At least those who were working here now and earlier in the night?”
“Yes, that will be fine. Sister Griffin will help you with that. I need to speak to Nurse Lang first!” Matron answered.
As Matron made her way out of the treatment room towards her office on the first floor, I obediently followed her in silence, knowing that I was in for a serious reprimand for not having followed hospital policy. Yes, I was a little scared, not of Matron herself, but more for the possible consequences. Maybe she would decide to no longer use my services as Agency Nurse, despite my many years of impeccable service before, when I was working as a permanent member of staff. She would also have to explain to the agency why she would not want me back and that could mean that even the Agency would decide on terminating their contract with me. Once in Matron's office my worst fears became a reality: because of the breach of hospital policy I was told that my services were no longer needed and that she would inform the agency of her reasons to do so. My explanations that all I had done was to raise the alarm to get some help. There had been no telephone due to the refurbishment finishing touches still being in process and no immediate staff available to give me a hand. I also had not intentionally dialed 999 as this was just an unfortunate mistake. I had left out Thomas' refusal to help me, as I did not want him to get in trouble with Matron too – he would likely be questioned by DCI Milton anyway and that was more than enough in my opinion. She wasn't very understanding about any of my explanations and was more concerned about the current police presence and the effects this could potentially have on the Hospital's reputation.
She dismissed me with a quick wave of her hand, letting me know that I could leave the office and as I left she picked up the phone on her desk and made a phone call.
Al least her office has a phone, I thought. Things could have been so different tonight if there had been a phone or even a panic button near the office. My thought wondered off to the woman left in the empty bathtub – no nurse would do something like that – or would they? Well, if they did, they should not be in the profession at all, I thought. It would be classified as professional neglect or abuse, so maybe the police had something to investigate anyway. I felt the anger rise in me as I made my way back to the ward to pick up my bag and then go home.
“Are you OK?” asked Susan, when I reached the Nursing Station having returned from Matron's office.
“Not really”, I replied. “Matron has made it very clear to me that I am no longer welcome here and she will also inform the Agency, so perhaps I will even be out of work completely”.
“That's so unfair! You just did what you thought was right!” said Susan.
“Well, Matron doesn't see it that way. She thinks I should have tried to get help directly, likely meaning I should have gone through the proper channels like calling Angela first and then Angela could have organized anything else. She did not seem to understand that if I was not able to call the Crash Team because there was no phone, I also would not have been able to call Angela?” I said to Susan.
“I also explained to Matron that I had not meant to call the Police, that it had been a serious mistake and I only discovered it when I was checking my phone!” I added.
“They should have let you know about that phone!”
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“Thomas knew and the girls, well, most of us do, as we are here all the time. You have not been here for a while as you are Agency and with the refurbishments and so on. They still should have let you know. You see, I have a special hands free phone with me on my rounds, so did Thomas tonight. They should have let you know!” Susan said again, with guilt in her voice.
“Oh my God! You had a phone with you all that time and so did Thomas!” I said. I paused, allowing myself to think for a moment before saying:“Then again, it would not have made a huge difference though, Susan. You were on your rounds and I still would have had to try and find you in each and every room and Thomas, well, he was on his way out! So never mind! It's done now. I guess I should go home. Did you speak to DCI Milton by the way?”
“Yes, I did. That's why I was mentioning the phone. He was curious as to why I could get hold of the Crash Team so quickly and you were not able to do so!”
“God, that man can make you look or feel guilty without having done anything wrong”, I responded.
“Still, Elissa, it is pretty unfair of Matron to blame you for the Police presence? From what the detective was saying earlier, it was another call, plus the fact that they traced your call back to this Hospital, that they came her to investigate!” Susan said.
“Anyway, I am going home now” I said to Susan. “Poor Naomi, my child minder, she'll be wondering what has taken me so long tonight.”
“How's you son, Elissa?” Susan asked.
“Getting bigger, being very cute and very naughty” I replied with a faint smile.
“When will you be back?”
“Your guess is as good as mine! At the moment I will probably have to wait until my Agency has received Matron's report about why I am no longer able to work here. What a mess hey!”
Susan looked at me with sympathy: “Take care Elissa! I will have a word with the others, perhaps we can put in a good word for you”.
“Thanks for trying, I appreciate it if you do, but don't get your hopes up. Matron is a tough cookie! See you Susan”.
We hugged each other and then I made my way to the stairwell, I couldn't even be bothered with waiting for a lift to take me down to the basement. Instead, I ran down the stairs to the underground parking lot. I got out my car keys and got into my car. Before embarking on my journey home I made a quick phone call. After three rings someone picked up.
“Naomi, it's me. I am on my way now. Sorry it's later than expected. It was a busy evening. I'll make it up to you when I get home, alright. How is my little boy? Sleeping peacefully! Thanks Naomi, see you soon!”
I started the car and drove off home. Home where at least some of my life would feel a better place than the last couple of hours at work in the hospital. Home, where I just might be able to escape my feelings of apprehension and foreboding.

3
Reputation

When I woke up the following morning, it took me a little while to realize that I did not have to get ready that day for my previously booked shift and that perhaps I needed to inform the Agency as to what had happened the night before. That realization made me feel slightly depressed and I was almost inclined to turn over and try to sleep a little longer. However, once I am awake my mind gets active and I find it very hard to switch off again and, despite lying in my bed for a while in the faint hope I could return to the oblivion of sleep, I decided to get up. My brain was already working overtime and once again, as I had done many times on my return home the night before, after having given Naomi something extra for staying on so much longer to look after my son and after planting a soft kiss on my sleeping son's face before heading for bed myself, I went over every detail of that evening and questioned myself if I could have done things differently.

The sudden ring of the telephone brought me back to reality and I picked it up. It was DCI Milton to ask me if I could meet him for some further questions. I was a little taken aback. What further questions could there be? Had I mentioned something that was incorrect? I was thinking, whilst agreeing to come to the hospital and meet him there as he would be conducting further sessions with other staff members there that morning.
I phoned Naomi and informed her that I perhaps needed her services after all that day, even though I had explained to her in vague terms the night before, that