Give me two minutes to tell her physicians where I’ll be. What room?”
I told her. Hung up. We pushed into a different vacant room. I got Nik and Willow settled on the only semi-comfortable chairs. I stood, arms folded over my chest, feet braced apart. I was sick and tired of this hospital being allowed to jack with the people I loved.
It ended here.
Chapter 14 – Ryker
Abigail pushed into the room. She had a thin folder, a laptop, and her phone with her. She was busy tapping at the screen. She looked up after she hit a final button. Her smile was curiously mysterious. “Just making my excuses to the consult team.”
I nodded. “What the hell happened, Abigail? When did this become a drive-thru for people to pick up patients?”
Abigail stiffened. Narrowed her eyes at me. “You know better than that, Mr. Penn. I take each of my patient’s care very seriously.”
I nodded again. “Yes. You do. The same obviously can’t be said for the others. If we need to move Corrie to a different facility where this kind of shit won’t happen again, simply tell me and I’ll get her moved.”
Abigail shook her head. “Wait for the hospital admin to get here. I can’t discuss the internals without them in the room.”
“They’ve got five minutes before I start calling the media and making a fuss.” I tipped my wrist, took note of the time.
Abigail sighed. “You’re a hard man, Mr. Penn. I even respect that, for the most part. I also admire your laser focus in dealing appropriately with the guilty people and not spreading the blame to everyone else.” She gave me another significant look. “If you could please be patient, I would be personally appreciative. If you decide to move Corrie, I’ll help you find a different ward.”
Something else was going on here. And my inside woman was having to be cautious about what she said out in the open.
Willow tapped her foot against mine. My girl had obviously picked up on it too.
I gritted my teeth. “Fine. For you, Abigail. But I’m running very low on patience with this entire hospital.”
Abigail nodded, smiled.
Willow tapped my foot again.
“I apologize in advance for any of the backlash that gets tossed on you.”
If it were possible to pet me with her foot, Willow did it. I could have sworn I felt her love and appreciation oozing at me from where I’d set her. Women. Making men into better humans with a simple foot tap.
I was turning into a pussy.
Two doctors breezed through the doors like they owned the place. While almost true, they set me off by leading with their proverbial dicks in this instance. I eased my weight to the balls of my feet. Sized each of them up.
Dr. Nancy Smith and Dr. William Gregson. Two of the worst power-hungry people in this godsforsaken place of torture and pain.
“Mr. Penn. Why am I not surprised?” Nancy said.
Abigail eased to the side, her eyes wide and downcast. She shook her head as her mouth tipped up at the corner. Apparently Dr. Smith wasn’t well liked by her underlings.
“Nancy, you’ve got two minutes to talk yourself out of criminal charges.” I looked at my watch again. “Your time begins now.”
My mother pushed through the doors. Her lawyer face was on and it was impenetrable. “I’ve got the documents right here.” She waved some papers in her hands. “I’ve also got the DAs office and some police officers waiting downstairs to frog walk you out of here.”
Nancy snarled. “Daphne.”
“It’s Mrs. Sheridan, Nancy. Don’t make me repeat myself or my son do so either. I believe that leaves you ninety seconds.”
“What is the meaning of all of this? What criminal charges?” Dr. Gregson bellowed.
Abigail stepped forward, handed both doctors a set of papers from her folder. “This is the meaning of this meeting, Doctors.” She turned back to me, her gaze penetrating but the message was unclear.
I was quiet as they scanned whatever Abigail had given them. As I watched them read over the documents, I heard Nik’s gear bag signal an incoming encrypted packet. I looked over my shoulder at her.
She was watching me, her fingers poised over the zippers of her bag.
I nodded.
She unzipped her bag and pulled her iPad out. She unlocked it, pulled open the right app, then handed the device to me.
I flicked my gaze back to Abigail’s. With the slightest dip of her chin, she told me who the sender was. I skimmed through the document.
Right