Code Blues (43 page)
Authors: Melissa Yi
Tags: #romance, #suspense, #womens fiction, #medical, #doctor, #chick lit, #hospital, #suspense thriller, #nurse, #womens fiction chicklit, #physician, #medical humour, #medical humor, #medical care, #emergency, #emergency room, #womens commercial fiction, #medical conditions, #medical care abroad, #medical claims, #physician author, #medical student, #medical consent, #medical billing, #medical coming of age, #suspense action, #emergency management, #medical controversies, #physician competence, #resident, #intern, #emergency response, #hospital drama, #hospital employees, #emergency care, #doctor of medicine, #womens drama, #emergency medicine, #emergency medical care, #emergency department, #medical crisis, #romance adult fiction, #womens fiction with romantic elements, #physician humor, #womens pov, #womens point of view, #medical antagonism, #emergency services, #medical ignorance, #emergency entrance, #romance action, #emergency room physician, #hospital building, #emergency assistance, #romance action adventure, #doctor nurse, #medical complications, #hospital administration, #physician specialties, #womens sleuth, #hope sze, #dave dupuis, #david dupuis, #morris callendar, #notorious doc, #st josephs hospital, #womens adventure, #medical resident
But it wasn't my place. The fact that I
reminded her of Laura made it even more unprofessional. "I'm sorry,
Mrs. Lee. I do know one or two people at the police department.
They might be able to help you with...justice.” The word tasted
foreign in my mouth. I hurried on. "In the emergency room, we deal
with medical problems. You seem quite stable. Are you feeling more
depressed lately?"
She shook her head. "I feel much better now
that I've met you."
I closed my eyes. I couldn't save this
woman. I could hardly save myself.
"Please, Dr. Sze. Just have a look at her
file. That's all I'm asking."
I had to say no. I took a breath.
One of the things I never liked about psych
was, when you interview a patient, you're not really an ally.
You're mentally critiquing what they say and how they say it while
trying to categorize them. It sounds harsh, but a gazillion people
came to the ER and said, "I'm depressed.” Very few of them were
truly suicidal. Some of them were trying to manipulate you. Some of
them just wanted attention. Of course, this happened in emergency
medicine too, which was what I planned to specialize in, but I
generally wanted to be on the patient's side instead of inspecting
them from behind glass.
This time, though, I should keep her behind
glass.
I knew what my supervisors would say. I knew
what I should say. I forced the sentences into the air, creating a
barrier between us. "Mrs. Lee, please, let's concentrate on you.
Have you thought about hurting yourself?"
She sighed. "No, I am not suicidal.
Naturally, after Laura was killed, I had days of despair, but I
never attempted to kill myself. I have never tried to hurt anyone
else. I am not hallucinating. I do not have a special relationship
with God or Satan. I do not drink or take any drugs except an
occasional Ativan to help me sleep, and even then, I only take half
a milligram. I know I am at St. Joseph's Hospital in Montreal,
Quebec, Canada, and that it is August fourteenth in the year
2011."
I stared at her, wide-eyed. She'd just
encapsulated a psych interview better than I could have done.
She smiled. "It's just practice, Dr. Sze.
I've had many, many of these interviews. I could go on if you like.
But I am not crazy. I am not going to hurt you or anyone else,
including myself. I already have a doctor and I'm not asking for
any special treatment. All I am asking is for you to read my file
on Laura. You don't even have to meet with me. I could leave a copy
in your mailbox."
"Mrs. Lee.” I should say
no. I should concentrate on medicine or even on Tucker.
Curiosity killed the cat.
Satisfaction brought him back.
At last, I looked into her steady brown eyes
and said, "All right."
Hit. And Run.
the third Hope Sze novel
“
Entertaining and
insightful.” –Publishers Weekly
"Narrating in a sprightly style while
sharing some of the nitty-gritty of a resident's job, Hope Sze is
an utterly likeable character.” –Ellery Queen’s Mystery
Magazine
A Kobo Top 50 eBook
The Editor’s Pick at Kobo Next
Magic? Dr. Hope Sze steers clear of
magic.
But when “Elvis the Escape King” chains and
nails himself inside a coffin and lowers himself into Montreal’s
St. Lawrence River, he can’t break free.
So Hope restarts his heart and saves his
life. But now Elvis demands to know who sabotaged his stunt.
Hope hung up her amateur detective badge two
months ago in order to tend to cancer patients on palliative care.
The only cases she solves right now are case studies on pain and
over-stuffed emergency rooms.
Which gets just the tiniest bit boring.
Hope could escape Montreal any day now. She
could transfer to Ottawa to join her ex-paramour, Ryan. No more
unspeakable Montreal drivers and stymied medical care. No more
working with the charming yet infuriating Dr. Tucker.
Hope the Escape Artist can afford to act
generous. As parting gift to Montreal, city of festivals (and
murderers), she could help Elvis out. Just asking a few questions
won’t hurt anyone.
Right?
And so Hope plunges into her most
unconventional and, possibly, her most terminal adventure yet.
Where the magical art of escape and the dastardly art of
crime vie for centre stage, and the better man may lose.
Forever.
“
The best yet.” –G. Smith,
M.D.