Siobhan's Beat Read Free Page B

WMH, but when he caught sight of the dazed, intimidated expressions worn by those who accompanied him, AJ slowed and took the time to see his world through their eyes. Staff members moved with brisk purpose; patients were transported on gurneys and wheelchairs while others made their way with walkers and assistance from volunteers and therapists. The environment sang with carefully orchestrated crisis containment, high-energy battles to restore health and normalcy as quickly as possible.
    Once he closed the conference room door, Siobhan’s family assembled around the oblong table, and formal introductions took place. AJ paid close attention, wanting to figure out dynamics and relationships.
    The three women, he discovered, weren’t Siobhan’s sisters. Not by blood, anyway. Rather, these were three extremely close, long-time friends. The first to extend her hand was a red-head named Maeve; next came a statuesque brunette, Aileen, who didn’t stray too far from the brother’s side. In conclusion, AJ greeted Kassidy who had long, chestnut hair and the face of a model.
    AJ claimed a chair at the head of the table and kicked off the consult. “First, let’s review what we know.” He tapped into Siobhan’s e-chart, studying the patient profile that had been assembled by admissions. “Siobhan Douglas is twenty four, in top physical condition, with no known health issues. She was in a single-vehicle automobile accident that, according to the police report, didn’t occur due to any form of driver negligence. Evidently, slick roads and a rain/snow mix coupled with the downhill trajectory of the car caused her to lose control. A seatbelt saved her life and a guardrail kept her from going over a twenty-foot embankment, but that same guardrail collapsed the driver’s side door on impact and pinned her inside, breaking the tibia of her left leg as it caved in.
    He looked up briefly, slowing the pace of his clinical analysis once he noticed quivering chins and glittering eyes from the women present. Meanwhile, the two men held jaws clenched and faced him almost fiercely.
    AJ continued. “It was a clean break, so I don’t foresee complications, and if she heals comfortably, recovery should progress with rapid results.” He angled his computer so they could view the screen. “As you can see in her x-ray, the break happened here.” He used a pen tip to delineate. “Our biggest concern will be getting her through rehab once the bones heal and rejoin, and I’m also concerned about internal injuries. Her body was pinned, and jarred pretty severely, hence the pain she indicated when she woke up. Her left arm is badly bruised, swollen and wrapped to help minimize the sprain she endured. Additionally, in the ER, she had issues with nausea and a severe bout of dizziness. A lingering condition called vertigo seems to be in need of monitoring.”
    “The leg bone.” Maeve, the redhead, spoke first. “We’re talking about the bone that supports her weight, correct?”
    “One of them, yes.”
    The woman’s expression fell into lines of sorrow—and fear. “Could there be a worse injury for a dancer?”
    “Yes, the Achilles, or a spiral break of the tib-fib, which would be a compound break. She can recover from this. Fully. Given time .”
    Coop hadn’t meant to challenge, or be sharp, but he wanted them to realize Siobhan was fortunate. All attention homed in on the slightly hazed, gray and white cast image on his computer screen and the assemblage continued to absorb the shock of being thrust into a nightmare.
    At length, Kassidy blew out through pursed lips and crossed her arms against her midsection. “I know our Siobhan. First question she’ll ask? What’s the timeline for recovery?” She reached up to worry the necklace at her throat—a delicate cross.
    She met Coop’s gaze in a direct, no-nonsense manner he instantly respected. “She’ll be here for two or three days because I want her monitored. Yes, her bones