St Matthew's Passion - By Sam Archer Page 0,38

at the door and, seeing Emma wasn’t there, came in.

Melissa sighed. ‘Before you ask, I’m fine, thanks. I had a scare yesterday but I was unharmed, and I’ve got over it.’

Deborah perched on the edge of the desk. ‘I know you have. You’re tough. I haven’t come to talk about that.’

Melissa put down her pen and watched the nurse, waiting. Deborah’s expression was positively grim.

‘You’re tough, but you’re also stubborn. You won’t take advice.’

‘Perhaps you’ll clarify what you mean,’ Melissa said coolly.

‘Yesterday. After the boy with the knife had run away. Two of the nurses saw you and Mr Finmore-Gage.’

‘Yes.’ Melissa felt her breathing quicken. ‘He scared the attacker off. I was petrified. He comforted me.’

‘He certainly did, by the sound of it.’

‘What are you insinuating, Sister Lennox?’ Melissa stayed seated with effort.

‘I’m not insinuating anything. It was plain for the nurses to see. You were kissing.’ Deborah held up a hand to head off Melissa’s protest. ‘I’m not getting into an argument about who started what. I’ve no interest in that. What I’m concerned about is the smooth running of this department, and the proper management of the patients under my care.’

‘Oh, come on.’ Melissa was on her feet now. ‘Patient care isn’t suffering.’

‘Isn’t it? Fin’s mind is elsewhere. He’s distracted. He loses his temper more easily. No harm has come to any of the patients that I know of, thank God, but it’s only a matter of time. To do the job Fin does, that you do for that matter, a doctor needs to give one hundred per cent. It’s not there at the moment. And the other staff are noticing it, too.’

Melissa was speechless. Was it true? Had her performance, and even Fin’s, been lagging? And was it so obvious that junior staff members were picking up on it?

When Deborah continued, her tone was a fraction softer. ‘You may call me a nosey old bat, Melissa, but I’m not blind. It’s obvious when a man and a woman have… been together. There’s a difference in the way they conduct themselves, the way they interact with one another.’ She sighed. ‘And I suspect that the two of you aren’t an item. Not quite. But you can’t let go. That’s the problem.’

Melissa watched her in silence for a long moment. When she trusted herself to speak, she said, her voice quiet: ‘If, for the sake of argument, what you’ve said is true. What do you expect from me? From Fin?’

Deborah spread her hands. ‘It’s a tough one. I’ve been in love myself. I know how powerful the forces are that drive you in one direction, even when your head tells you it’s all wrong. But I’m afraid I can’t give you any advice in this case. You’re going to have to come up with a solution yourself.’ She paused, as if steadying herself for what was coming next. ‘This is going to sound harsh. You’re a superb doctor, as I’ve said before. I’ve never wavered in believing that about you. And it’s great seeing a woman do so well in a man’s game. But I have to think about my department, and my patients. If this carries on, if whatever’s going on between you and Fin doesn’t end, and the work here continues to feel the impact, then I’ll have no choice but to make a formal complaint about you to Professor Penney.’

The blood pounded in Melissa’s temples, a giddiness setting in. ‘You wouldn’t –’

‘I would, believe me. And it might not be upheld, but it’s not the sort of thing you want to have to deal with. It’s highly unpleasant.’

‘You’re blackmailing me.’

‘Not at all. I’m simply warning you of the perfectly legitimate action I’m prepared to take in order to protect my department. Please don’t test my resolve, because I’m not bluffing.’

The steel had crept back into the nurse’s tone, and her eyes reflected the hardening. Melissa held her gaze for three seconds, four. Then she straightened the notes on her desk, squaring the edges off, and lifted her head.

‘Very well,’ she said briskly. ‘Your comments are noted.’

‘And? What’s your response/’

‘I’ll do what I have to do,’ said Melissa. She walked over to the door and held it open, indicatin the meeting was over.

It was only after the nurse had gone that Melissa slumped down at the desk, her face in her hands.

Decision time.

Chapter Nine

In the event, Melissa didn’t make her decision until just before dawn the following morning.

One of a doctor’s most treasured resources was sleep, and