Fractured Bonds

5 - Emma

Contd from Three Years Ago.

I'm finally in New Jersey at a hotel that is about fifteen minutes from Pinewood General Hospital, where Mike and Nora work.

The depositions began with everyone praising Mike as a skilled surgeon and a good-hearted man.

However, some staff members didn't quite grasp the context of a deposition. They shared unnecessary details like, "I had to use the restroom during my ER shift" or "I retrieved a ring from a kid's butt." While it lightened the mood, it wasn't relevant.

The night was described by most staff members, even the cleaning crew, as chaotic—rain pouring down, patients flooding in. Doctors worked tirelessly, not only on car collision victims but also on unrelated cases. Dentists and ophthalmologists were among the few with free hands. Radiology was slammed. And the entire hospital was under an "all hands on deck" situation.

Due to a shortage of surgeons, specialists stepped up for non-specialty surgeries. Mike had just finished a scheduled appendectomy when he was urgently called to operate on Mr. Williams due to the severity of his injury.

After Mr. Williams' surgery, Mike was immediately summoned again to patch up another collision victim. The neurosurgeon in that OR had to attend to a more critical patient.

Every testimony echoed a similar narrative. I sifted through transcripts, noting key events:

1. Mike completed an appendectomy just as the car collision victims flooded the ER.

2. Specialist surgeons juggled scheduled and collision-related surgeries.

3. Neither Mike nor his staff knew about the patient's existing DVT condition. Therefore, Mike and his staff operated on the assumption that he was a healthy patient.

4. Mike stepped in to assist another victim, allowing the neurosurgeon to prioritize a critical case.

I closed my notes. This is a simple yet complex case. One that I would like to get over with, as soon as possible, which I mentioned to the hospital's legal team and to Mrs. Williams' lawyers.

Thankfully, her legal representatives are reputable and professional, which isn't something you come across easily in this field. 

Trust is a precious commodity, hard to earn, and acquiring it can be exceptionally challenging. Even within our own firm, the competition often breeds skepticism due to law being a competitive industry.

I gather my things and head home. As I settle onto my couch-bed, a text arrives from an unknown number. I swipe it away, only for me to get more messages from that same number. I open it to see that the messenger was Mike's annoying and creepy brother, Jacob, As much as I don't like him, I have to reply. I wonder how he got my number, though.

Unknown: Hey, this is Jacob Pendragon, Mike Pendragon's brother.
So, I wanted to ask you for a favor.   

Emma Sinclair: Hey. How'd you get my number?

Jacob Pendragon: I asked Mike for it. Listen, I need you to send over copies of everything you have on Mike's case.

Emma Sinclair: Why would you require them? And did Mike give you his permission?

Jacob Pendragon: I am getting my company's legal team to go over every inch of this case. Yeah, Mike did give his permission.

Huh. Does Mike not trust me, or did this guy coerce his brother into allowing him to keep a legal team on stand-by because he doesn't trust me enough? I make a mental note to ask Mike about this the next time I meet him.

Emma Sinclair: Ask your team or one of their representatives to come by my office day after tomorrow and take the copies

Jacob Pendragon: Thanks! Will do.

Well, more work. I text my secretary Alex and tell her to keep extra copies of everything we have on the Pendragon case.

I went to sleep after this because I didn't want any more nonsense interrupting me.

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