Chapter 7 - SAMUEL VOSS CALLS
Samuel Voss called Jonathan before Jonathan called him.
That told Caleb Grant the hospital knew records had been requested.
Voss’s voice was calm.
Almost fatherly.
“Jonathan, I heard Ethan has been evaluated.”
Jonathan sat in his study.
Nina stood by the nursery door listening from a distance.
“Yes.”
“I’m sorry he’s uncomfortable.”
“Uncomfortable?”
“I’m told there’s a rib finding.”
“A fracture.”
“Likely old.”
“From birth?”
Pause.
“Possibly.”
Jonathan stared at the wall.
“You told me his birth was routine.”
“I told you his course stabilized.”
“That isn’t the same.”
“Jonathan.”
There it was.
Tone.
Grieving widower.
Be reasonable.
Voss continued.
“Newborn resuscitation can be frightening to families, which is why we focus on outcome once the baby recovers.”
Jonathan almost laughed.
“So there was resuscitation.”
Silence.
Then:
“Yes.”
“Chest compressions?”
“I’d need to review.”
“You signed his clearance.”
“Yes.”
“Did you review then?”
Voss’s voice tightened.
“Jonathan, I understand grief creates a need to connect events.”
The sentence was careful.
Cruel because it sounded compassionate.
Jonathan said:
“Did you cancel Laura’s ultrasound?”
Silence.
Longer now.
“Her postoperative course was being monitored.”
“That’s not an answer.”
“I made a clinical judgment.”
“She died less than four hours later.”
Voss exhaled.
“Jonathan, nothing you find in these records will bring Laura back.”
Nina’s face changed.
Jonathan’s did too.
“Then you won’t mind me reading all of them.”
He ended the call.
Within twenty-four hours, St. Matthew’s legal department sent Caleb a preservation acknowledgment and a letter requesting that Jonathan avoid direct contact with staff involved in pending internal review.
Caleb smiled without humor.
“They’re mobilizing.”
Jonathan looked at him.
“Good.”
“Not necessarily.”
“Why?”
“Because now every witness gets counseled.”
Jonathan understood.
The hospital had entered the story as an institution.
May you like
Institutions do not panic like people.
They organize.
