Page 71 of The Ampersand Effect

“I agree with Dr. Savage and Dr. Rhodes,” he finally said. “This girl has been through a lot, and it would be negligent of us to evaluate her for surgery without considering all possible diagnoses. An MRI of the brain is warranted, and will be performed this afternoon, alongside Dr. Vanders‘s physical assessment. Then we’ll determine the best course of action. Regardless of what the MRI shows, Dr. Savage, I want you and your team on this case. She’s going to need to be co-managed for best outcomes.”

“Yes, of course. Whatever you need.” Grier kept her expression professional, but inside she was doing an uninhibited victory dance. Dr. Miles dismissed them with a nod. “I’ll see you all next week.”

Grier didn’t see Vanders leave, but she heard his irritated grumblings as he aggressively pushed through the doors.

She was collecting her iPad and papers when she felt a gentle hand brush against her forearm. Looking up, she found Haleigh standing beside her, a conspiratorial gleam in her eye.

“Thanks for the assist.”

“Against Vanders? Anytime—nothing makes me happier than to see his grand schemes kiboshed.” She knew she should be more tactful when discussing colleagues, but sometimes she just couldn’t bite her tongue with that man. Besides, she felt relatively safe with Haleigh as her co-conspirator.

“He’s irritated because the hospital is already on him for his pro- bono percentages this year,” Haleigh divulged. “He’s had multiple surgeries canceled in the last several weeks, so he’s itching to cut. He doesn’t care what he cuts; he just wants to feed his ego. He’s been miserable on the floor. Several of the staff have lodged complaints, coming to me or Dr. Miles in tears after one of Vanders’s tirades. It’s getting rather old.”

Grier noticed Haleigh‘s eyes lighten a little bit. “And pathetic.” They both chuckled as they made their way to the door. Grier’s phone buzzed in her lab coat pocket, and she had to restrain the urge to pull it out immediately.

“Well, I’m curious what her MRI shows later. I could be wrong, but I have a hunch that something else is going on,” Grier said, reaffirming her earlier stance.

Her phone buzzed again, and then again shortly after. She offered Haleigh an apologetic glance as she shuffled what she was carrying to grab her phone.

“Popular today,” Haleigh chided playfully.

Grier couldn’t hide the giddy grin that spread across her face when she finally looked down at her phone and confirmed what she’d been hoping—Tobin was back from a blackout.

“I’ve been hearing that a sexy helicopter pilot has caught your eye lately. By the look on your face, I’d bet that’s her.” Haleigh winked.

A flush of mild embarrassment crept up Grier’s neck, quickly overshadowed by confusion. Who could’ve told her about Tobin? She’d only confided in Alix and Maren, and she trusted them implicitly not to gossip about her private affairs around the hospital.

With an air of nonchalance, she tried to dismiss the claim— more to extract information about the gossip’s source than to actually deny it. While she and Tobin hadn’t explicitly discussed going public,

she didn’t want to risk exposing Tobin before she was ready.

“It’s been a while since I’ve been the main topic of hospital gossip,” she said lightly.

Haleigh grinned tightly, restraint evident as she fought a larger smile. “I haven’t heard anything around here.”

Grier cocked an eyebrow, watching as Haleigh’s misstep registered. Haleigh coughed, color blooming in her cheeks as she fumbled for her phone. “I, uh—I need to get back. I have a consult in five minutes.”

She spun on her heel and hurried down the hall, the clack of her heels an echoing anthem of her hurried departure.

Grier stared after her in astonishment. Only one other person had the information Haleigh was privy to—the same person who had recently embarked on a clandestine rendezvous with an as-yet unnamed individual.

Grant.

Seventeen

TOBIN—8:03 a.m.

Morning! We had a pretty quiet night

but had an early morning transfer to the

main hospital. I just woke up.

TOBIN—8:03 a.m.

A few more hours and then I’m off for

the next five days.