Hard To Breathe, page 31
part #2 of Drake Cody Series
With the crowd parted and a chance to get his bearings, Drake looked upon the person in extremis and felt something inappropriate, possibly immoral, and certainly unprofessional. The patient whose life hung by a thread was not Rachelle. Bay five—not four. A two-ton weight lifted off Drake's chest.
As Dan Ogren approached death, Drake felt relief so profound it approached joy.
***
Drake could not believe Ogren had made it to the helicopter. And then he'd hung on so impossibly much longer. It had to be his athlete's strength and animal-like endurance that kept him alive. His collapse was overdue.
The sweat marking the scrubs of the aide performing compressions, the medication packaging strewn about, and the burned-flesh smell of earlier defibrillation attempts showed the team’s resuscitation efforts had been extensive. A second aide relieved the first in performing chest compressions while Drake assessed for any last-ditch lifesaving interventions. Each second of effort confirmed the futility.
The resuscitation team had not cut any corners and they were experienced. Nothing had been overlooked. They knew what the final outcome would be as if it were a multiple choice question where all the answers were the same.
“Hold CPR,” Drake said. Pausing the compressions allowed Drake to see the heart rhythm on the cardiac monitor. The wave-forms showed the impulses to be terminally slow and irregular. The last beats of a dying heart. There was no pulse.
Death would not be stopped. Drake smelled it amidst the fecund odor of damaged tissue, the coppery smell of blood, and the sour tang of sweat.
He moved nearer to check Ogren's pupils.
Drake's breath caught and he rocked back. My God!
Awareness burned in the eyes of the dying man! Drake leaned closer. Ogren's fierce and cruel eyes locked on Drake’s—unblinking and red-tinged like those of an animal caught in a beam of light in the darkness.
The beeps of the monitor became one continuous note.
“He's flatline,” Tracy said. All cardiac activity had ceased.
The hatred in Ogren's eyes flared, then faded like the last glow of a dying ember.
There were no more possible interventions.
The eyes no longer reacted or registered light. A fixed and unseeing dullness claimed them. The heart no longer beat. All signs of life were gone.
Whatever Dan Ogren had been—he was no more.
Drake wished he had never been.
Chapter 77
Drake stood in the ICU washroom. He rinsed his face and started to clean up. He scrubbed more aggressively than if he were prepping for surgery. He held his hands and forearms in near-scalding water and applied the harsh and pungent iodophor soap. After a one-minute scrub, he repeated the scrub using the brush.
He did not want to touch Rachelle with hands that had been contaminated by Dan Ogren.
He dried his hands on a paper towel.
Before Ogren's Code Blue, Drake had received a report that Rachelle was stable. Holding her own was good. He had to be realistic—as sick as she was, it would take time for her to get better. The code had kept him from her.
He'd not been to her bedside since the flight beeper had launched him into the blizzard.
As he approached bay four, Tracy looked up from Rachelle's bedside and smiled. She gave a thumbs-up.
His chest clutched. Yes!
He would check the electronic monitors, vital sign charts, blood gases, and lab results, but he trusted no lab test as much as he did the thumbs-up of his skilled nurse friend.
The smile stretched across his face felt foreign. In the past few days it had not been present often.
Rachelle's eyes were open. The breathing tube and ventilator were gone. Still groggy and drawn, she managed a flicker of a smile as Drake stood stunned at the bedside. Clearly still sick, but the change made him want to cheer. Incredible.
“She's so much better,” Tracy said.
“Rachelle?” Drake put a hand on her arm and bent close. Her skin felt better—not clammy or doughy.
“Hi, Drake. Very tired. But better.” The effort of speech seemed a challenge. “Was scared. The kids?”
Drake bent and put his face along her cheek. He gently squeezed her.
“I was scared, too. Real scared.” Her improvement could not be more dramatic. She'd been intubated only hours ago. “The kids are fine. Having fun at Kaye's place.”
Her eyes drooped. Exhaustion showed, but the fear had left.
“Rest now, my lovely lady. No worries,” Drake said.
She closed her eyes and was out.
Drake straightened and looked at Tracy, open-mouthed.
“I know,” she said. “Totally amazing. Her vitals improved, her temperature came down, and at that point she definitely did not like the ET tube. Dr. Kelly checked her, then had us pull the tube. She's done fine. Blood pressure and pulse improved. Sleepy but alert. I was just going to page you but then bed five went south and the Code Blue was called.” She looked at Rachelle, whose eyes were closed and breathing appeared easy. “You must be so relieved.”
Tears sprang to Drake's eyes. He tried to speak but couldn't.
Tracy looked at him, set down the chart, and opened her arms.
Drake stepped into her hug and held her. There were no words for what he felt.
“Oh, geez,” he said gaining control and stepping back. He swiped a hand across his eyes. “I thought I was going to lose her.”
Tracy nodded.
“I'm a wreck,” Drake said. “Didn't feel that coming.”
She smiled. The embarrassment he felt about his breakdown was instantly erased.
She pulled over a chair. “Sit down, Drake Cody. You're worn out.”
“Thank you.”
“Both of you need rest.” She picked up her chart. “I'm going to keep the curtain open so I can keep an eye on Rachelle.” She moved toward the nurses' station.
Drake noticed Clara Zeitman, the head of lab services, sitting at a computer console in the nurses' station. He felt as if she'd been looking at him, her mouth pinched, eyes narrowed. Why was she here in the middle of the night?
He leaned back on the chair. So tired. He looked at Rachelle—dark bags under her eyes, pale skin, and her scarred neck exposed. To him no one could be more beautiful.
His career, D-44, and their dreams in peril, but Rachelle looked safe.
Thank you, God, for not taking her. He'd been given much but wanted more. The future they'd worked for was worth fighting for.
He would rest for a bit then prepare. He'd have to be more together than he'd ever been.
Tomorrow would be big.
It would be their future.
Chapter 78
Clara had watched it all from her spot in the ICU. The death of the man who loved her more than anything. The one who would have been with her forever.
Before Dan died they'd let a man in to his bedside. She overheard a nurse say it was Dan's lawyer. Mesh, the attorney who had worked for Dan forever. She didn't know him but it seemed unfair that he got to be near Dan. That his words, not hers, had been the last her man had heard. She’d seen the intense-looking man speaking to Dan for only a minute or two before Dan’s ventilator alarmed. A nurse entered and fixed it. Less than a minute later the attorney left. He'd never even touched Dan. Even as little contact as that, she envied.
Later Dan had started to crash. Everyone in the unit had been expecting it. It could not be stopped.
She'd sat at the computer console at the nurses' station only thirty feet away as they'd worked to save him. Might as well have been thirty miles.
She'd had to stay clear. She could not reveal what they meant to one another.
All her feelings had to remain hidden.
Including how she felt about the person who was to blame.
Drake Cody—the lying bastard. He should have never been allowed into medical school. She couldn't fault how he'd handled Dan’s rescue or resuscitation. Nothing could bring him back when he’d gone Code Blue.
But despite Drake Cody's medical efforts, he was as guilty of Dan's death as the whiny, clinging bitch who'd shot him.
Drake Cody's reporting of Dan to the police had caused everything.
His self-righteous, illegitimate action had caused her to lose her perfect mate. He’d taken from her the incredible body and bliss that had been hers. He took from her the only person who'd ever loved her.
She would make Drake Cody pay.
The Code Blue personnel had left, and the remaining ICU nurses and aides were cleaning and preparing Dan's body for transfer to the morgue.
She resented their hands on him. He had been hers fully and completely. They were not worthy to lay hands on his magnificence.
Her eyes drifted to bay four. Drake Cody's wife ill with a major infection. The curtain was drawn back and Clara could see her plainly.
Clara was surprised to see the prominent scarring of her neck. Looked like an old burn. Damaged goods.
Sick as hell and badly scarred but pretty even so.
Drake Cody materialized at the bedside. Clara had not seen him reenter the unit. His hair was wet. He must have cleaned up after the resuscitation but he looked drained. Darkened circles under his eyes. Face gaunt.
When he looked at his wife, his face showed he did not see the scarred and sick woman as damaged goods.
Bastard!
Why should Drake Cody have someone to love?
He'd lied and cheated, stealing from a deserving person like her the chance to be a physician. And now he'd taken Dan from her.
The wheels turned in Clara's head.
She knew how to make things happen. The corrupt medical school admissions system had kept her out of their sacred club, but she knew more about medicine than all but the best of them.
It would be so easy for her to make the pretty little lady gone. Two strategies came to her within a minute.
She would make Drake Cody suffer...
Should she make him pay now or later? Either way, she would see that justice was served.
Chapter 79
Hospital
Drake woke to voices. It took a moment to get his bearings. He'd left Rachelle in Tracy's hands and taken one of the hospital's first-floor call rooms. He'd dropped to sleep like a rock. He checked the glowing digital clock in the dark of the windowless room. 6:30 a.m. Less than three hours’ sleep. He ached a bit and his throat was sore, but given what he’d faced the past few days, his body had held up well.
The voices that had awakened him came from the hallway. Drake didn’t mind the early hour. This would be a big day. He sat up and his gaze found the picture of their children hanging on the tubing of his stethoscope. With luck they would all be together soon.
If Rachelle had made a turn for the worse, Tracy would have called him. No news was good news, but he still needed to be cautious. Rachelle was not safe yet, but he had a good feeling.
The thought of how sick she’d been left him hollow. After a quick shower, he'd visit the ICU and hopefully find his good feeling was warranted.
Next would be his last-ditch efforts to save his career and maintain possession of D-44. The state medical board was scheduled to meet this evening, and stripping him of his medical career was on their agenda.
Drake had violated the rules by denying his criminal record when he'd applied to medical school. His conviction had been unjust. Nonetheless, his clear and repeated denials of its existence was grounds for loss of his license and the end of his career.
The bad publicity Drake had attracted due to the drug-seeker did not help, particularly with the board facing its own PR issues. Public sentiment and recent media articles suggested the medical board was lax and did not appropriately discipline physicians. Drake could serve as a high-profile example.
Additionally, the university and its medical school had members on the state medical board. Kline, as CEO of a university-affiliated teaching hospital, also had influence.
His situation in a nutshell? Grim, with a high likelihood he would lose everything. He took a deep breath. Don’t panic and keep focused.
To continue the work he loved and take care of those who depended on him, he’d have to fight hard and without rules. He was not intimidated by the size or power of his adversaries. Screw them. Screw their flawed and corrupt methods.
Who was on his side?
Rizz was damaged physically and otherwise, but he was formidable. He was both a liar and brutally honest. Brilliant, fearless, and able to read people—both the good and bad—like no one else.
Jon had given the support he could. His recovery was still uphill.
S. Lloyd Anderson had shown himself to be the kind of legal warrior they needed. Just before sleep, Drake had read Rizz's text describing their meeting with Kline. Anyone who could impress Rizz that much was special.
Lloyd had texted as well and informed him that he'd passed on the envelope with Drake's conditions to the university representative. Drake’s demand for a meeting with representatives of those in power would occur in a couple of hours.
Today would decide his future.
Chapter 80
Beth sat in the den of the Kenwood estate, her puppy on her lap, the morning sun making the snowy world bright though the window. Despite the kindness of the police and medics, a phone call of reassurance from her lawyer, and even the call from her mother, it was holding Kidder that had finally helped her to stop trembling.
She'd done it. She'd killed Dan.
People had questioned whether returning to the house she'd shared with him was a good idea.
Over the past years Dan had been here less and less.
She'd withdrawn, which the abuse counselor said was common. Other than her volunteer work at the animal shelter and other charity events, she'd hardly gone out. Despite this being the place where she'd suffered the most abuse, it felt safe.
She rubbed behind the ears of her pup and he snuggled against her. Impossible to think that in the beginning this was the way she'd been with Dan. He'd been the best-looking man she'd ever seen. Older, confident, and exciting. He'd seemed kind and generous. Physically she'd experienced pleasure beyond what she thought possible.
She'd been blind to so much.
Had he thought of her as a pet? It hadn't been long before he started to treat her like some had treated the abused and broken animals she cared for at the animal rescue center.
She'd learned that the incredibly handsome man was ugly—dark, cruel, and sick inside.
She’d suffered so much hurt. He’d injured her physically, but the damage inside was even greater. Her mind and spirit had wavered. She’d begun to feel she deserved what came her way.
Then she’d found one who cared. Who sensed what was happening to her and would not let it continue. One who reawakened her knowledge of who she was—and that she deserved more.
He’d convinced her that there was a way to be free.
She hadn't believed she could love again. But slowly it had happened. First just glances, and her recognizing his kindness. Even without sharing words, she could feel his concern and sensed his worry about her.
The surprise when he'd showed up at the animal care center, though he’d hardly said a word. Then a scheduled meeting which they’d both known was a date. An illicit, forbidden, yet exciting and life-awakening date. It had led to much more.
He had helped her face the reality of her life with Dan and understand where it led. He'd helped her commit to breaking free.
He'd been planning a way out.
But things had not all gone according to plan.
The day that Dan had taken her to the ER, she'd known what comparing him to his father would do. But she’d had to do it. What she'd said was the truth. Dan wasn't one-tenth the man his father had been. At some level he understood that—and it enraged him. She’d been so scared.
He'd hurt her badly and the injuries were obvious this time. He usually hurt her in ways that did not show. She'd succeeded, but she’d underestimated his cruelty and it had terrified her.
Then the ER and Dr. Cody.
The doctor knew the truth right away. She could tell he cared and had tried so hard to help her. The plan had been for her to reveal the abuse.
But she'd denied Dan did it. That was what abused and fearful women often did. And that evening she'd been no different. Dan’s torture of her puppy and the fierceness of his attack had paralyzed her.
Her fear had almost ended things there.
But when the ER doctor reported Dan for domestic violence, despite her denial, it had kept the plan alive. As much as that had scared her, it proved things were possible. That she could get free.
In the ER, her fear had initially stopped her. Her emotions like a car with the brakes on full and the accelerator floored—stop or race for freedom?
Seeing the counselor and the police gave her a chance to face her fear and, in the end, it drove her on.
Getting safe. Getting to a place away from others. Limiting all contact.
But being hurt and alone in the RV at the campground had almost been too much. She'd never imagined the terror. Dan was in her head. Was she any different than Kidder hanging at the end of his leash?
She'd had no choice—she'd gone forward.
She hugged Kidder, recalling the nightmare of Dan's cruelty.
She'd called the attorney. Had her put the restraining order in place. She took the first steps suggesting divorce. She’d followed through the way she was supposed to, to make the plan work.
In the end, just her in the RV with the blizzard outside. Alone—no witnesses. That was the way it had to be. More isolated and afraid than she'd ever been. Waiting. Knowing Dan was coming.
She'd almost called the police when she saw the lights of his car—but by then it was too late. No one would be able to reach her in time.
Trying to convince herself that she had the courage to do her part. And knowing. Not just wondering or doubting but knowing she couldn't. That terror would forever haunt her...
