Jack Stapleton 06 - Crisis by Robin Cook

Author:Robin Cook [Cook, Robin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Horror, Contemporary, Crime, Suspense, thriller
ISBN: 9780739471845
Publisher: Putnam
Published: 2006-08-07T23:00:00+00:00

11

BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2006

12:30 P.M.

Alexis, Craig, and Jack had found a small, noisy sandwich shop that looked out onto the broad Government Center esplanade. Randolph had been invited, but he'd begged off, claiming he had preparation to do. It was a beautiful late-spring day, and the esplanade was full of people escaping from their confining offices for a bit of sunshine and fresh air. Boston struck Jack as an outdoor city much more so than New York.

Craig had been his usual brooding self at first, but had begun to relax and join the conversation.

“You haven't mentioned the autopsy,” Craig said suddenly. “What's the status?”

“It's in the hands of a funeral director at the moment,” Jack said. “He's got to take the paperwork to the health department and arrange for opening the grave and transporting the coffin.”

“So it's still a go?”

“We are trying,” Jack said. “Earlier I was hoping it might happen this afternoon, but since there's been no word, I guess we'll have to aim for tomorrow.”

“The judge wants the case to go to the jury on Friday,” Craig said discouragingly. “Tomorrow might be too late. I hate to put you through all this effort for nothing.”

“Maybe it is futile,” Alexis agreed dejectedly. “Maybe it is all for nothing.”

Jack looked from one to the other. “Hey, come on, you guys. I don't see it for nothing. It gives me the sense I'm doing something. And besides, I'm interested the more I think about the cyanosis issue.”

“Why exactly?” Alexis questioned. “Explain it to me again.”

“Don't get him started!” Craig said. “I don't want to raise any false hopes. Let's analyze this morning's proceedings.”

“I didn't think you wanted to talk about it,” Alexis said with some surprise.

“Actually I'd rather forget about it, but unfortunately, I don't have that luxury if we're going to make any changes.”

Both Craig and Alexis eyed Jack expectantly.

“What is this?” Jack questioned with a wry smile, looking from one to the other. “An interrogation? Why me?”

“You can be the most objective of all of us,” Alexis said. “That's obvious.”

“How do you feel Randolph is doing, now that you've seen more of him in action?” Craig asked. “I'm worried. I don't want to lose this case, and not just because there was no negligence involved. My reputation will be in the gutter. That last witness had been my preceptor in medical school, as he said, and my attending as a resident. I worshipped that guy, and still do professionally.”

“I can understand how devastating and humiliating this has to be,” Jack replied. “With that said, I think Randolph is doing a good job. He neutralized most of what Tony established with Dr. Brown. So I suppose I have to say from what I saw this morning it was a wash. The problem is that Tony is more entertaining, but that's not enough to switch attorneys in midstream.”

“What Randolph didn't neutralize was Dr. Brown's powerful analogy about a pediatric patient and meningitis. He's right, because that is the way you have to respond to a postmenopausal female when you even think she might be having a heart attack.

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