“I’m very grateful,” Nancy said, sipping at her coffee. “But I have to ask, why are you doing this? I know you said that you had a positive experience at Manhattan Memorial, and I’m pleased to hear that, but there are hundreds of organizations you could be donating to. Why the hospital? And why in Ronald’s name?”
“Honestly? Two reasons—one altruistic and one not. You have no idea what a bad state I was in when I was admitted to the hospital. The details are very personal, and I’d prefer not to discuss them, but I was badly in need of the services I was offered—and they were offered with compassion and delivered with excellence. Your husband was running the hospital at that time. I feel a kinship and the need to give back.”
“That’s a lovely altruistic reason.” Nancy set down her cup. “And the not-so-lovely reason?”
Casey met her gaze head-on. “The hospital merger is a fait accompli. I believe it will result in medical care second to none. Meanwhile, news of it is dominating the media. Linking Forensic Instincts’ name with it is a wise idea.”
“Ah, good press for your company.”
“Exactly.”
Nancy leaned forward, her fingers linked tightly in her lap. “You know, of course, that Ronald was adamantly against the merger?”
Casey brows rose in feigned surprise. “I thought that had changed. Jacob Casper said—”
“I don’t give a damn what Jacob said.” Nancy’s eyes flashed. “Ronald would never have changed his mind. He cared about his employees and the quality of his hospital’s medical care, not creating a medical empire.”
“I see.” Casey fell silent for an instant. “Would you prefer I not make the donation? I wanted to honor your husband’s name, not to offend you. Madeline Westfield spoke so highly of him. She never mentioned—”
“Madeline Westfield?” Nancy spoke her name with venom. “She’s hardly a reliable source.”
“I’m sorry.” Casey spread her hands wide in apparent confusion. “I was under the impression that you and your husband were close friends of the Westfields.”
“According to whom?” Nancy was visibly fighting to keep her anger in check.
“Madeline. The hospital staff. Everyone I spoke to.”
“They were wrong.” There was a heartbeat of a pause before Nancy blurted out, “Conrad is the reason Ro
nald is dead. And Madeline’s reputed magical nursing skills did nothing to save my husband. They were our friends. Now they’re my enemies.”
“Mother,” Ron spoke up, a meaningful note in his voice. “Don’t.”
“Ron’s right,” Felicia added quickly. “You’ll only upset yourself.”
Nancy’s children were obviously protecting her. But from what? Saying something that might upset her or that might incriminate her? And how the hell did Madeline factor into Ronald’s death?
“I’m fine.” Nancy waved off her children. “I just want Ms. Woods to know with whom she’s dealing.”
“I barely know Madeline,” Casey admitted. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I heard that Conrad Westfield was your husband’s surgeon and that he couldn’t save him. That’s all I know.”
“Conrad was brilliant. He didn’t make mistakes. But suddenly, with a merger in the works that would have made Conrad everything he always wanted to be, he lets his closest friend bleed out—a friend who might get in the way of his promotion? That was no accident. And his dear wife failed to do the job she always excelled at and save my husband—a coincidence? Not in this lifetime.”
Baffled, Casey shook her head. “You think Conrad intentionally let Ronald die?”
“Mother.” This time Ron’s tone was firm. “Stop this.”
Nancy nodded, getting herself in check. “I can’t know what was in Conrad’s mind,” she said. “Or Madeline’s.”
“How does Madeline factor into this?” Casey asked. “She’s an E.R. nurse, isn’t she? How would that relate to your husband’s surgery?”
“Because Madeline was on call that day. She was part of the code team.”
“Code team?”
“I’m not surprised she didn’t mention it. She can’t be proud of her failure.” Nancy’s lip thinned. “Each day the hospital assigns a different team to respond to codes. The team consists of an anesthesiologist—who’s usually a resident—a respiratory therapist and three nurses, all of whom carry pagers.”
Tears filled Nancy’s eyes. “I was in the waiting room. Conrad came out to talk to me after the surgery. He was reassuring me that all was well when the Code Blue alert blasted over the PA system. It was Conrad’s name and operating room they were saying, summoning him back in and paging the code team.”