Chapter Eighty-Five

It was apparent that his offered hand wasn’t going to be accepted, so he withdrew it. “It’s nice to see you again, Leah.”

With a suspicious smile that matched her narrowed eyes, she answered, “I’m actually surprised to see you here, Doug. This kind of work isn’t normally up your alley.”

He laughed. “True. I’m doing it as a favor for a friend.”

With the same smile, she asked, “Doesn’t this present a conflict of interest? After all, you’ll be advising the committee on the merits of our grant application which includes a request for computer infrastructure…from me. I would think, considering our recent history, you would be excused.”

“Recent history?” asked Senator Davis.

“It was really nothing more than business, Joe,” offered Doug. “I’m sure Ms. Haverty agrees we can remain professional.”

She simply maintained her smile.

“Well,” Angela said, breaking the sudden silence. “I see they’re starting to serve dinner. Why don’t we all return to our tables.”

“I think that’s an excellent idea,” agreed Trapper, turning Leah away from Doug. “Why are you shaking?” he asked quietly, leaning close as they walked across the room to their table with Angela lingering behind to speak to Senator Davis.

“Sorry. I get this way when I’m furious.”

“That’s comforting. It means you’ve never been furious at me.” He glanced over looking for a smile, and he got one.

“You’re right. I was beyond furious with you and threw my shoes across my office.” She didn’t look but definitely heard a deep chuckle as he pulled her chair out for her, then seated himself next to her. “You do realize that unless he is excused, we’re screwed, don’t you?”

Taking her hand, he gave it a pat, followed by a kiss. “I wouldn’t worry about it. Senator Davis seemed taken by surprise. I’m sure there will be an inquiry. Angela,” he said, as she joined them at the table. “Any problems?”

Leah knew she was thinking by the way she stared at her plate. “Leah, you need to tell me about this recent history. Doug Manning has a bit of a reputation in Washington. A lot of people owe him favors, and he’s been known to collect in, let’s say, creative ways.”

“I’ll do one better than that,” she said, digging into her clutch and pulling out a card. “This is my attorney. Call him on his private number on the back of the card and tell him you’re working on a grant with me. He’ll know it’s true because you have his private number. Ask him to overnight a copy of the court transcript and final ruling for Manning Consulting vs. Leah Haverty.”

Angela sat back as more people joined their table. After everyone introduced themselves as the meal was being served, Angela excused herself. “If you gentlemen will excuse me for a moment,” she said. “Ms. Haverty, would you join me?”

“Of course,” said Leah, laying her napkin on the table next to her plate.

When they were out of earshot of everyone, Angela turned. “He sued you? You sued him? What?”

Leah smiled and bowed her head, but quickly looked back up. “He sued. I countersued. He wasn’t happy with the decision.”

“And what can I do with these papers?” Angela looked sidelong at Leah when she saw the same seditious smile she had seen earlier that evening.

“Whatever you need to do with them.”

The ladies returned to their table, apologizing for their absence. During dinner Trapper and Leah talked about deep sea fishing, Lake Tahoe and Fallen Leaf Lake and, of all things, the charming town of Pescadero. There was no mention of Doug Manning, the grant, work or politics for the remainder of the evening.

***

Arriving at Angela’s around midnight, both Leah and Trapper were exhausted. Their first day in Washington hadn’t been that busy, but with their early and long flight from San Francisco on top of an evening of talking non-stop about everything but what they had come to Washington to talk about, they dragged into the house and flopped on the sofa.

“You both did a lot of talking tonight, and you made a good first impression.”

“How do you know that,” asked Leah with her head on the back of the sofa and her eyes closed. “You disappeared.”

“Not true. I was talking to everyone you had already spoken with. They all think you’re an attractive couple.”

“Wait a minute. We didn’t tell anyone we were a couple,” objected Trapper.

“Of course you didn’t. With words, anyway.” Both turned their heads and gave her a wary look. “If you don’t want people to know you’re a couple, you have to stop walking so close. Trapper, you have to stop touching her arm or wrapping her arm around yours, and you both have to stop whispering in each other’s ear and then smiling like you do.”

“Like we do?” Leah asked, smirking.

“Yes. Like you’re both love struck.”

Dropping her forehead into her hand and rubbing, Leah asked, “Is that going to hurt us?”

“Not necessarily. But when it’s time for business, you can’t be a couple. That means, Trapper, no touching. And stop whispering sweet nothings in her ear.” He harrumphed. “We’re all tired. Why don’t you both turn in? We have an even busier day tomorrow.”

Neither argued. They rose from the sofa and walked slowly back to their bedroom where they sat on opposite sides of the bed and undressed. Leah went into the bathroom to wash her face, and before she got back, Trapper was in the bed asleep.

The next morning, Angela ushered them out the door early for a breakfast meeting with two Congressmen who wanted to know why the hospital needed two MRI machines in addition to a laser surgery center.

“The only laser surgery center on the west coast is in Los Angeles,” said Trapper. “There isn’t one to the north, and though the center in Los Angeles takes care of Southern California quite well, getting there from the north takes eight hours or more just from San Francisco or it costs an arm and a leg to fly. With San Francisco being centrally located, we can serve southern Washington, Oregon, the Sacramento, Stockton and Modesto areas as well as Nevada. In fact, we get a lot of our patients from Las Vegas because they don’t want to drive into Los Angeles. They generally come a long way for surgery, and we’ll be able to get them home earlier because laser surgery is less invasive.”

“And what about the MRI machines?” asked Congressman Michaels.

“There is only one MRI machine in San Francisco. In fact, it’s the only one within four hundred miles, and it’s at the University of California. Many of their patients are at the poverty line or below and go there because much of the University’s services are free. Care is given by their med school students for practical experience. The average patient doesn’t want to be cared for by a student who’s not even at an intern level. With the laser center and the ability to offer microvascular surgery, our patient numbers are going to rise quickly. Two machines might not even keep up with demand, but it’s a start.”

The two committee members looked at each other with puzzled expressions. “Dr. McIntyre, are you basing your need for two MRI machines on the supposition that you’re going to be getting the laser surgery center or money for microvascular education?”

“Absolutely not. They were simply examples. We’re already in the process of building a new wing. Ms. Haverty can speak to the hospital’s growth as well. But let me show you this first,” he said, removing a CT scan and x-ray film from his satchel along with a film from an MRI. He passed them over to the congressmen. “These two are what we have to work with today. As you can see, the image is shown in varying levels of gray…not very detailed.” He passed the MRI image to them. “This is what we will be able to see with the MRI machines. We do a good bit of guessing when it comes to working with CT scans and x-rays, and many times, we have to do exploratory surgery just to confirm what we’re seeing. The scans from the MRI machine will cut that by two-thirds. That means, gentlemen, we won’t be cutting people open just to make a decision on a course of treatment. I would be happy if all we get are the MRI machines. But you have to remember the microvascular surgery and laser surgery will have the same effect. With microvascular surgery, we’ll be more successful at saving severed limbs, and we’ll be able to repair the fine vessels in organs where before, we transplanted replacement organs. The laser surgery center enhances that, but also reduces the size of incisions, and in many cases turns a major surgery into an outpatient procedure.”

Leah sat forward with a set of charts, handing them to the congressmen. “Gentlemen, the growth of the hospital alone warrants developing ways to improve services…to make them more efficient. Here are the numbers that prove this out. As you can see, we designed the computer systems with the hospital’s current patient load plus thirty percent in mind. Before we even got the system completely installed, patient numbers had already reached the thirty percent we allocated for future growth. Our tape library is almost full, and those tapes have to remain available onsite for three years by law. All this is because San Francisco is one of the fastest growing metropolitan areas in the country. If San Francisco Memorial were to build a laser center and be able to offer microvascular surgery, in addition to the influx of patients just the MRI machines will attract…well, we’re talking about the potential for exponential growth.”

“Dr. McIntyre, Ms Haverty, do you realize that many of the other institutions represented here are asking for the same things? What makes you more worthy than anyone else?”
Trapper sat back in his chair and took a sip of water, taking his time to answer that question. “I believe if you look at projected growth in all areas of the country, you’ll find your answer. It will certainly do good to install an MRI machine or build a laser center anywhere in the country where people live. But you have to consider the number of people receiving those services, and the cost to get to those services from anywhere else in the country. The number of people coming into California each year alone certainly warrants better health services. And because San Francisco has a major international airport, flights in and out are much less costly than flights to smaller cities. Simply put, for the average American, San Francisco is one of the most economical places to go for these kinds of services. In addition, centrally locating these services in California means they’ll be offered right out the back doors of millions of people.”

“You make these services sound inadequate for the growth California alone is experiencing.”

“To be honest, this is inadequate. But this can be the springboard to get more help from the private sector. We don’t intend to stop with just this grant. We intend to keep looking for ways to expand these services to keep up with demand.”

The waiter brought their checks out, prompting Leah to pull cash from her handbag. Trapper pulled out his wallet as well and laid cash on the table with his check.

“Pardon me for asking, and please tell me if it’s none of my business, but aren’t you both on an expense account? It’s highly unusual to pay cash when you’re on business.”

Leah smiled. “We’re not on an expense account. The hospital’s budget was set at the beginning of the year with little wiggle room, so we’ve financed this trip personally.”

Congressman Michaels simply nodded and stood, followed by Congressman Evans. Trapper and Leah rose as well and everyone shook hands. “Dr. McIntyre, Ms. Haverty, thank you for speaking with us today. I do hope you enjoy the rest of your stay.”

After the committee members left, Trapper and Leah resumed their seats, nibbling on their cold breakfast. “What do you think?” asked Leah.

“Hard to tell. I’m sure they’ll hear the same song and dance from everyone else who wants an MRI machine, a laser surgery center and money for microvascular education,” said Trapper sarcastically.

She winked at him. “Oh. Does that count as taboo? Perhaps if we’re delivering the same message, we should enhance our delivery.”

“And just how do we do that?”

“I don’t know, but we have to come up with something that sets us apart. Come on,” she said, standing. “We have another meeting at the Senate offices in an hour, and I have no idea how long it takes to get there.”