“Have there been calls? Threats?”
“Threats?” Her brows rose. “Why don’t you come up.”
I followed her up to her condo. She had a good unit with a view of the lake. The space was sparse in décor. Boxes were stacked along a wall.
“Still not unpacked?” I asked.
“It’s slow going. Can I get you something to drink? I don’t have beer but I have wine.”
“Wine is good, thanks.” I sat on her couch, wondering if she’d finish unpacking or settling in. I knew she’d be here for her dad, but that didn’t mean she’d ever fully settle into life here. Another reason to not want to pursue a relationship with her again.
She exited the little kitchen with two glasses. She handed me one and then took a seat on a chair across from me. I suppose that was a good thing. Yesterday she’d sat next to me on the couch and we ended up fucking.
“What is this about threats?” she asked.
“I have two messages from people who want to put me in the morgue.”
Her expression grew concerned. “You should call the police.”
“They’re just angry about Ms. Mason. But if they’re calling me, they’re probably calling the hospital.”
She shook her head. “I haven’t heard that.”
“What have you heard?” I took a sip of the wine. It was good, but I could have used something stronger.
“Nothing.”
“Am I going to be sued? Fired?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. Actually, if you have a little time, perhaps you can tell me from your perspective.”
I sat back, closing my eyes for a moment to get the strength to go through it again. “She came in saying she felt like her batteries were running out.”
“Her batteries?”
“I took that meant she was low on energy. She was clammy and had a temperature. I thought she probably had the flu, but her blood pressure and heart rate were up and her legs were swollen, so I wanted to rule out a heart or lung issues.”
“Did you ask her questions about heart or lung issues?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yes.” I took a moment to think back. “I never got a straight answer. During the exam, she talked a lot about being my teacher. But she never indicated any chest pain or shortness of breath. That I do remember.”
“Yet you still ordered tests.”
“Like I said, the blood pressure and heart rate, along with swollen legs, made me want to rule that out.”
Mia gave me a smile. “That’s what Peggy said and what your notes say.”
I shook my head. “If I hadn’t left her to deliver the baby—”
“There was no one else to do it, and at the time that was more pressing. Procedurally—”
“Don’t.” I said more tersely than I should have. “Knowing I followed procedure doesn’t help. A woman died on my watch. A woman this town loves.”
“A woman in her seventies who smoked and took all day to get to the hospital. It’s possible it was already too late for her when she got to you.”
I pinched the bridge of my nose as emotions swirled through me. I wanted to know I wasn’t to blame or that there wasn’t anything I could have done differently, and yet, it wouldn’t change the fact that a woman who trusted me to care for her had died.
There was a knock on Mia’s door. She stood. “I’m not expecting anyone.” She opened the door. “Eli.”