Read Online Flashback by Michael Palmer - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Michael Palmer
Tags: Suspense
Ads: Link
almighty God go any one of you.
“I thank you for your patience, and would welcome your questions and comments.”
Not a hand was raised. Beaulieu nodded in a calm and dignified manner, and then returned to his seat, apparently unmindful of the many annoyed and angry expressions that were fixed on him.
The staff meeting proceeded uneventfully. At the end of “new business,” Zack was formally introduced and welcomed with brief, measured applause. Sensing that some verbal acknowledgment of the greeting was called for, he stood up.
“Thank you all very much,” he began. “It feels great to be home again, and to be on the medical staff of the hospital in which I was born. As Dr. Norman noted in introducing me, in addition to my neurosurgical practice, I shall try to function as a medical neurologist until we are large enough, and lucky enough, to get one of our own. It is my hope to care for all those who need help in my area of expertise”—he glanced over at Guy Beaulieu—“regardless of their ability to pay.
“I would also like to thank our radiologists, Drs. Moore and Tucker, as well as my brother Frank, for their work in obtaining our CT scanner. It’s a beautiful piece of equipment, and both radiologists have gone out of their way to become versed in its use. Sometime soon, the three of us plan to present some sort of workshop on the interpretation and limitations of the technique.
“Since my nearest backup is close to a hundred miles away, I’ll be on twenty-four-hour call, except during my vacation, which is scheduled from August third through August fifth … three years from now. Thank you.”
There was laughter and applause from around the room.
“Oh, one more thing,” Zack added as the reaction died away. “I expected there might be some unusual problems arising from my decision to return and set up shop in the town where I was born and raised. So I’d like to make it perfectly clear that there is absolutely no truth to the rumor—started, I believe, by Dr. Blunt over there, who delivered me and was my pediatrician—that I won’t go into the operating room without the one-eyed teddy bear I insisted on clinging to during his examinations.”
Suzanne, with Jason Mainwaring in tow, caught up with Zack in the corridor.
“Zack, hi,” she said. “Thanks for the laughs in there. Have you met Jason?”
“I think briefly, a few months ago,” Zack said, shaking the surgeons hand. “Nice to see you again.”
“Same here,” Mainwaring said, in a pronounced drawl. “That was a cute little speech, Iverson. I was especially partial to the line about the teddy bear.”
“Thanks” Zack said, wondering if the man was being facetious.
“I even liked that other one. About your next vacation being so far away. You’re a funny man.”
“Thanks again.”
“However,” the surgeon continued, “I would caution you against makin’ any more inflammatory statements about this Beaulieu business until you know all the facts. Y’see, Iverson, I’m the staff member Beaulieu alluded to in there—the one he’s suin’. And noble as you tried to sound in your little pronouncement there, you and Beaulieu aren’t the only oneswho do charity work. I operate on plenty of folks who can’t pay, too.”
Zack was startled by the mans rudeness.
“Well,” he said, “I’m glad to hear that. I only hope they get their money’s worth.”
“You know,” Mainwaring countered, “I’ve always heard that only the most arrogant and sadistic surgeons elect to spend their professional lives suckin’ on brain.…”
“Hey, guys, what is this?” Suzanne cut in. “This sounds like the sort of exchange you both should have put behind you when you climbed down from your tree houses and started high school. Jason, what’s with you? Were you attacked in your crib by a mad neurosurgeon or something?”
Mainwaring smiled stiffly. “My apologies, Iverson,” he said.
He extended his hand, but shielded
“I thank you for your patience, and would welcome your questions and comments.”
Not a hand was raised. Beaulieu nodded in a calm and dignified manner, and then returned to his seat, apparently unmindful of the many annoyed and angry expressions that were fixed on him.
The staff meeting proceeded uneventfully. At the end of “new business,” Zack was formally introduced and welcomed with brief, measured applause. Sensing that some verbal acknowledgment of the greeting was called for, he stood up.
“Thank you all very much,” he began. “It feels great to be home again, and to be on the medical staff of the hospital in which I was born. As Dr. Norman noted in introducing me, in addition to my neurosurgical practice, I shall try to function as a medical neurologist until we are large enough, and lucky enough, to get one of our own. It is my hope to care for all those who need help in my area of expertise”—he glanced over at Guy Beaulieu—“regardless of their ability to pay.
“I would also like to thank our radiologists, Drs. Moore and Tucker, as well as my brother Frank, for their work in obtaining our CT scanner. It’s a beautiful piece of equipment, and both radiologists have gone out of their way to become versed in its use. Sometime soon, the three of us plan to present some sort of workshop on the interpretation and limitations of the technique.
“Since my nearest backup is close to a hundred miles away, I’ll be on twenty-four-hour call, except during my vacation, which is scheduled from August third through August fifth … three years from now. Thank you.”
There was laughter and applause from around the room.
“Oh, one more thing,” Zack added as the reaction died away. “I expected there might be some unusual problems arising from my decision to return and set up shop in the town where I was born and raised. So I’d like to make it perfectly clear that there is absolutely no truth to the rumor—started, I believe, by Dr. Blunt over there, who delivered me and was my pediatrician—that I won’t go into the operating room without the one-eyed teddy bear I insisted on clinging to during his examinations.”
Suzanne, with Jason Mainwaring in tow, caught up with Zack in the corridor.
“Zack, hi,” she said. “Thanks for the laughs in there. Have you met Jason?”
“I think briefly, a few months ago,” Zack said, shaking the surgeons hand. “Nice to see you again.”
“Same here,” Mainwaring said, in a pronounced drawl. “That was a cute little speech, Iverson. I was especially partial to the line about the teddy bear.”
“Thanks” Zack said, wondering if the man was being facetious.
“I even liked that other one. About your next vacation being so far away. You’re a funny man.”
“Thanks again.”
“However,” the surgeon continued, “I would caution you against makin’ any more inflammatory statements about this Beaulieu business until you know all the facts. Y’see, Iverson, I’m the staff member Beaulieu alluded to in there—the one he’s suin’. And noble as you tried to sound in your little pronouncement there, you and Beaulieu aren’t the only oneswho do charity work. I operate on plenty of folks who can’t pay, too.”
Zack was startled by the mans rudeness.
“Well,” he said, “I’m glad to hear that. I only hope they get their money’s worth.”
“You know,” Mainwaring countered, “I’ve always heard that only the most arrogant and sadistic surgeons elect to spend their professional lives suckin’ on brain.…”
“Hey, guys, what is this?” Suzanne cut in. “This sounds like the sort of exchange you both should have put behind you when you climbed down from your tree houses and started high school. Jason, what’s with you? Were you attacked in your crib by a mad neurosurgeon or something?”
Mainwaring smiled stiffly. “My apologies, Iverson,” he said.
He extended his hand, but shielded
Similar Books
