Crescent City Chronicles (Books 1-3)

by Judith Lucci

  Bette Farve, an angry, thin-faced stick of a woman, bristled at Alex's questions and responded sarcastically, "I talked with the night nurse briefly, but she was so traumatized that she didn't make much sense. It was a waste of my time." Bette hesitated for a moment and continued arrogantly, "If we'd been able to reach you, Ms. Destephano, perhaps we could've been more prepared for this." Bette's voice was cold and had a caustic edge to it.

  Alex ignored the implication. She and the chief nursing officer rarely agreed on anything, and frankly, Alex didn’t like her. "We're preparing now. You need to get up there and provide psychological support for the nurses who cared for and observed Mrs. Raccine's situation for lack of a better word. You need to call psych and arrange for a post-traumatic stress counselor for the nurses. Please leave here now and report to Six North so we can know firsthand what is going on up there."

  Alex knew she was invading the territory of the chief nursing executive, but didn't care. She detested Bette Farve and found her an inept nursing leader who didn’t care about her staff, her patients, nor anything other than the prestige of her position and time off. Usually Alex had a little more patience with Bette, but it was unfathomable that Bette would be in a meeting with the administration when her staff was coping with a medical and political disaster and the police.

  "I wasn't aware I worked for you, Ms. Destephano. As you know I report to Mr. Montgomery."

  Alex glared at Bette, looked at Don, and spoke directly to him, "To safeguard our legal position, Ms. Farve needs to be on Six North reviewing the situation and providing support for her staff. This is necessary for obvious reasons, especially for support of CCMC's potential liability. We can manage here without her. As soon as she assesses these things, she can report back to us. In fact, I'll be up there shortly to talk with the staff myself."

  Don looked at Alex blankly and seemed unable to respond. He looked back at the floor.

  Alex persisted, "Don, Ms. Farve needs to report to Six North. Now. I insist!"

  After a brief silence, Don nodded his head, and Dr. Ashley addressed Bette directly, "Please go to Six North as Alex suggests. Any information you gather will help us handle this situation the best way we can."

  Dr. Ashley continued to speak with Alex and the group after Bette left. "Captain Jack Francoise will report to us shortly and give us his preliminary findings. And, to answer your final question, Alex, the Governor does know, and he's terribly upset, distraught even. We moved Mrs. Raccine to the other VIP suite and he's with her now. At this point, his concerns are only for his wife."

  The room was quiet as each staff member reflected on the situation and contemplated the hospital's situation.

  After a few moments, Don Montgomery's secretary, Latetia, entered. "Mr. Montgomery, the reporters are pressing for a statement. Are you ready?"

  Don didn't respond, but continued to stare at the floor. Everyone was looking at him for direction, but he seemed incapable of speaking, much less of making a decision. He seemed to have checked out.

  Alex glanced at Dr. Ashley and said, "Tell the press we'll issue a statement at ten this morning. In the meantime, we'll continue to gather information and assess the situation." The other members of the executive team nodded in agreement.

  Alex spoke sharply. "Don, pull yourself together. We've got a major crisis here and need to deal with the media and the public."

  There was still no response from the CEO, who seemed to be unable to answer or understand.

  Alex sighed and looked at the group, "Call an emergency meeting of the Hospital Board of Trustees. They can help us decide the best way to handle this. Are you with me on this, Don?" Alex stared at the CEO. He didn't answer, but did nod his head.

  Elizabeth Tippett stood to leave the room to notify the board as Alex asked the group, "How did the press find out?"

  Dr. Ashley shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Don't really know. We suspect a staff member on Six North called them. Otherwise, we have no idea."

  “Actually, Dr. Ashley, that’s not right. Someone made an anonymous call to the CCMC operator and told us to go check on Mrs. Raccine, that something had happened to her and she needed help,” Elizabeth reported, "at least that’s what the nurse told me earlier."

  Alex could hardly believe her ears. “What, someone called us? We didn’t discover it on our own? This is incredible. That must mean that..."

  “Exactly," Elizabeth interrupted, "Yes, that whoever is responsible called to let us know.”

  "Who found Mrs. Raccine?"

  "The night charge nurse reported that she was called by the hospital operator and told to check on Mrs. Raccine. The nurse did so and found Mrs. Raccine unresponsive and covered in blood at five-fifteen this morning. She immediately called hospital security, who called Bette, the administrator on call. After she called me, I contacted Dr. Bonnet. We all arrived about thirty minutes later. Then I called the police."

  Alex's stomach knotted when she realized that Mrs. Raccine was Robert's patient. "Has Bonnet seen Mrs. Raccine since this happened?"

  "Yes, he says she’s stable, and has no physical injury, but is unresponsive, almost comatose. She hasn't moved or spoken since she was discovered. Her vital signs are stable, except for some heart problems." Dr. Ashley had a worried look on his face as he paused for a moment and continued, “The biggest concern here is her mental state, although we're monitoring her heart which could become a greater concern."

  Alex stood up. "I'm going up to Six North and talk with the staff. If anyone needs me, call my cell. Let me know about the board meeting." Alex leaned over and whispered to Elizabeth. "See if you can get Don to pull himself together."

  "Okay, Alex. How do you want to handle the press? We owe them something in less than two hours." Elizabeth looked desperate. "They didn't teach us how to handle these kinds of crises in journalism school," she said, smiling weakly.

  "Elizabeth, nobody's prepared for anything like this. The best thing to do, at this point, is to admit there was an attack on the Governor’s wife and that she’s stable. Tell them something while telling them nothing. You can do it. You know the Texas two-step kind of thing. Draft it up and we'll talk about it later."

  ***

  The Six North nursing unit was crackling with chaos and activity. Instead of the normal early morning baths, treatments, and vital signs, there wasn’t a nurse in sight. There were three uniformed NOPD police officers in the hall, and three others in the nursing station. Alex was greeted by Janelle Wells, nursing director of Six North. Her disheveled appearance and rapid speech indicated her stress.

  "Things are bad. Six nursing assistants and hospital attendants have left the hospital, saying they were afraid to work here today. We've only two RNs. Angela's working days, and Susan is still here from a 12-hour night shift. She volunteered to stay over, but she's zonked emotionally and probably too tired and stressed to be useful." Janelle paused for a breath and continued as she waved her arms toward the policemen. "These guys in the police uniforms have got to go, or at least change their clothes. Patients are frantic, and their families are asking all sorts of questions. There are all kinds of rumors floating out there and some families are threatening to take patients to another hospital. I can't give care to these people with only two nurses. This is crazy." Janelle threw up her arms in dismay.

  "Where's Bette?" Alex looked around for the nurse executive.

  "In the examining room interrogating Susan who's so tired and upset she can hardly talk. Bette, B.F., the bitch, is brow-beating her to death." Janelle again threw up her arms in frustration. “Susan told the police everything she knows, there's nothing else to say. Bette told her that if she had been on her toes, this wouldn’t have happened. What kind of bullshit is that?" Janelle's voice expressed her contempt for her boss.

  Alex smiled as Janelle referred to Bette as B.F. She'd heard many interpretations of the initials by both nursing and medical staff, from big foot to butt face, and other less gracious interpreta
tions. "What's Bette want from her?"

  "Who knows? She's asking her over and over again why no one charted on Mrs. Raccine between two o-clock and five-fifteen this morning. Like, give me a break. Who gives a damn about the charting? Susan thinks she’s blaming her for what happened."

  Alex nodded but made no comment. "We'll worry about the documentation later. Call the nursing office and see how many of these patients can be transferred to other units. Have them call an agency and arrange for supplemental staffing to get us through the next few days."

  Janelle's eyes dilated instantly, her fear evident. "Are you out of your mind? I can't do this without Bette's approval. She'd fire me." Janelle paled at the thought.

  "I'll handle Bette. Now, move before someone falls out of bed or leaves AMA," Alex said crisply.

  Janelle hesitated, and then disappeared into her office to make the calls.

  Alex walked down the hall. Robert Bonnet was walking toward her. He looked terrible. "Robert, any change in Mrs. Raccine?"

  "No, Alex. Things are the same. Physically, she was pretty stable but now her heart's acting up. She's traumatized. I don't know if she'll ever recover psychologically."

  "A little early for such a dire prediction isn't it? Please keep that to yourself," Alex said, putting on her lawyer hat. "How's the Governor taking this?"

  "As well as he can. Hasn't said much and hasn't asked any questions. I don't think he's put things together, or realizes what's going on yet. I’m not sure I do." Robert sighed deeply. "Anyway, he was spared seeing his wife covered in blood and didn't see the dead rooster, snake, and black candle in her room."

  "Black candle? I don't understand. What's this mean?" Alex looked confused.

  Robert paused as his cell phone went off. Checking it, he said, "Got to go. You'll know soon enough. Jack Francoise is interviewing staff and security. He said he'd speak to all of us soon." He hurried toward the doctors' lounge to answer his phone.

  "Where is Captain Francoise? I'd like to meet him," Alex hollered after him.

  "He and several other members of his troop are in the lounge."

  Alex bravely opened the door of the staff lounge. As she observed Captain Francoise, she wasn't impressed. He was a big man in his mid-fifties, a bit overweight, and balding. He had a steely look about him, an effect increased by his short salt and pepper hair. To top it all off, he was eating a jelly doughnut and drinking coffee. His tone was condescending as he continued to interview Susan. He was really pressing her, seeming intent on getting her to admit to things she didn't know. He was a little too Gestapo-like for Alex.

  "Excuse me, Captain Francoise—" Alex began.

  "What the hell, excuse me, Missy," the Captain barked at her. "I'm busy. I'm conducting a confidential police investigation. Get the hell out of here."

  Alex remained in the doorway, more from shock than defiance. She didn't move.

  Francoise stood up and said in a mocking voice, "You deaf. Get out of here now or I'll have you escorted out... on your ass." The Captain eyed her menacingly.

  Alex, red-faced, composed herself, and began, "Let me introduce myself. I'm Alexandra Destephano, the CCMC in-house legal counsel. I've got a right to be here...."

  Captain Francoise interrupted her, obviously unimpressed with Alex or her position. He lost his temper, and his face turned red. "I don't give a damn who you are! No one needs to be here. This young lady isn't under arrest. I told Ms. Farve I wanted to interview all staff, and she gave me her blanket permission. I was just being nice. I don't need anyone's consent. This is a crime scene, or don't you know that?" The policeman sneered, glaring at Alex. "You can leave," he gestured toward Susan. "I'll talk with this 'important lawyer lady' for a while, and I'll find you again later."

  Francoise came across so angry and sarcastic that Alex braced for the worst.

  Susan left quickly.

  Alex sat down next to the Captain. "Have you any preliminary information you'd like to share with me?"

  Captain Francoise looked amused. "Oh, I've got lots of information, but I ain't ready to share it with nobody. I'm far from done. I'll have a short report for your board of trustees when they meet this afternoon." The Captain stopped for a few minutes and surveyed Alex critically. "Incidentally, Andre Renou, the Governor's chief aide, would like to be present when the board of trustees meets. I trust you ain't worried about him being there?" He smirked at her.

  Alex was astounded at the Captain’s barrage of sarcasm. "We'll be happy to have Mr. Renou present for the meeting but, of course, if the board goes into executive session, he'll have to leave."

  Francoise gave Alex a deprecating look and said sarcastically, “You’ve got to be kidding. Who in the hell do you think you are? You really think you can throw out the Governor’s right hand man? We'll see about that now, won't we? Anything else, Ms. Destephano?"

  Alex continued bravely, "Could you arrange for the uniformed officers to leave? It's upsetting the patients and their families. If you need to continue surveillance, you could do it with plainclothes police officers."

  "Surveillance with plainclothes officers. What kind of bullshit is that? Are you a policeman and a lawyer too? I'll think about it. Now get out of here." The Captain dismissed her with his behavior and returned his attention to his notes.

  Alex quickly left. She was appalled at Francoise’s language and coarseness. Still smarting from his condescending behavior, Alex immediately ran into a red-faced and obviously pissed Bette Farve.

  "Destephano, how dare you authorize the transfer of patients from this unit, or approve supplemental staffing, especially from an agency. Those are my decisions. Not yours. Who do you think you are?"

  Alex looked straight at the nursing executive and said, "I am the hospital attorney. There's no staff to run this unit. How're you going to provide care with no nurses? As the legal counsel for this medical center, it’s within my purview to evaluate risk potential. This unit and its complex medical patients present a high risk. Thirty patients and three nurses in a crisis situation predicts, or rather guarantees, unsafe care. What you’re doing is unsafe... now get out of my way."

  Alex turned and walked away, feeling Bette’s eyes as they bored into her back. She knew Bette was vengeful and would get her back. B.F. carried grudges, and Alex had previously been the victim of her vindictive behavior. It was usually pretty bad.

  What the hell, Alex thought. On her way to her office, Alex stopped in administration and found it still in chaos. Elizabeth was seated at the conference table.

  "Has Don straightened out yet?"

  Elizabeth shrugged her shoulders. "Nope, not really. How does this sound for the press? 'Early this morning, Mrs. Grace Raccine, First Lady of Louisiana, encountered an assault in her hospital room at Crescent City Medical Center. She is currently in stable condition, and resting in her room. Governor Raccine is with her. The hospital is investigating, and details will be forthcoming.'"

  "Sounds good. Let it go." Alex wondered if the day could get any worse as she waved to Dr. Ashley on her way out.

  Chapter 5

  Alex found Bridgett strangely quiet when she finally reached her office at eleven o'clock. She had expected Bridgett to pellet her with a million questions. Even more, Alex had expected Bridgett to work her inside network and have the inside scoop about Mrs. Raccine. Bridgett was silent and seemed unwilling to talk. She answered Alex’s questions with a perfunctory “yes or no.” Alex was surprised, even stunned, by Bridgett's reticence and lack of interest in the events surrounding them.

  "You okay, Bridge? You're mighty quiet."

  Bridgett nodded without meeting Alex’s eyes, picking up the phone when it rang. "It's for you. Your grandfather. I'll put it through."

  Alex closed the door of her office and pushed the button on her phone. "Granddad, where are you?"

  "In my hotel. What the hell's going on over there? What's happened to Grace Raccine?" Her grandfather's voice was loud, demanding.

  "Wha
t did you hear?"

  "TV said she had an accident in her hospital room and was in a coma. That true?"

  Alex rolled her eyes. "Pretty much. It's actually a little worse. They found a dead rooster, a snake, and a black candle in the room with her early this morning. She was in shock and is unresponsive."

  "What? What the hell! What's that mean? What the hell, this is one heathen damn city!"

  "I don't know, Granddad. I have no idea. It's weird. I'll tell you more tonight when we get together, okay?" At any other time, Alex would have admonished her grandfather’s language.

  "Yeah. Yeah, okay. Be careful, Alex. Don't like this, especially this snake shit. This is one fucking low-life place. I want you back in Virginia. Don't understand your love for this hellhole. Why would anyone do something like that to a sick and dying woman?"

  "I don’t know and I will be careful. Bye, Granddad." Alex hung up the phone, just as her cell phone rang again. She was already tired and it wasn't even noon.

  Her grandfather hung up the phone and was soon deep in thought as he dressed for his lunch appointment. The events concerning Grace Raccine concerned him, mainly because he was fond of her and was disturbed by the brutality, or at least the symbolism of it. He shook his head as he left the hotel. Damn this city, he thought as he hailed a cab. Alex needs to move back home to Virginia. We've got plenty of hospitals there that need a good lawyer.

  Alex returned to work and as she began to outline the events of the morning for the board of trustees, she became acutely aware that she didn’t have the understanding or expertise to deal with the Raccine situation. She called John Marigny, an esteemed and politically wise New Orleans lawyer, who handled most of the trial work for CCMC.

  Alex explained the situation at the hospital, and John made no comment, but agreed to meet with the board at one o'clock. Alex prodded John for an explanation of the rooster, snake, and black candle, but he remained silent.