Someone To Save you (28 page)

He searched Sam for a reaction. When he got nothing, he continued, glancing down at the file. ‘The tablets were Alprazolam, a controlled-drug, used for the treatment of...’

‘Anxiety and insomnia,’ Sam finished.

‘Yes,’ he said, ‘of course, you’ll know all this…’

They were strong stuff. And yes, one of the drugs of choice for doctors who, unable to cope, seek a lifeline in a desperate attempt to save their career. Professor Khan’s earlier line of questioning made total sense. ‘How much was there?’

‘Half a box – thirty tablets,’ he replied.

Although it wasn’t a large amount, no more than a few days’ supply, it was still enough to raise serious questions, especially given their source. ‘And they definitely came from the hospital?’

‘Definitely,’ he replied. ‘The stock number matches those in the hospital pharmacy.’

‘They’re not mine,’ Sam said. ‘Someone must have put them there.’

Ed Stansfield blinked a few times, never taking his eyes off Sam. ‘You’re claiming that someone has set you up?’

‘Yes,’ Sam replied, facing him down. ‘Why did the hospital start searching people’s lockers?’

‘They received a call tipping them off.’

This was all now so transparent. ‘From who?’

‘The caller didn’t give their name.’

‘Was it a man or woman?’

‘A man.’

‘And did the caller specifically mention my name?’

‘Yes,’ he replied. ‘The person named you.’

Sam shook his head, consumed by confusion and anger. This person aimed to ruin him, and they might succeed yet. ‘Then someone has definitely set me up. Someone’s trying to wreck my career.’

Ed Stansfield let that claim sink in. ‘Have you got enemies, Sam? Someone who would go to these lengths? Someone who works at this hospital, maybe?’

Sam again thought of Miles. ‘There’s only one person I don’t get along with, but I’m sure he wouldn’t do this.’

‘Don’t rule out anything, Sam. If what you say is true, then you have to consider everybody. Think the unthinkable. Who is it?’

Sam put a hand to his head, wondering whether to say the name. He felt terrible making the accusation. ‘Miles Henderson. He’s a surgeon too, a colleague. We’re going for the same job next week. We don’t get on.’

‘But you said you don’t think he would have done this?’

‘No, I don’t think he would,’ Sam replied. ‘I don’t think he’d go to such lengths, I really don’t.’

‘Then if not him, who?’

Sam closed his eyes. Maybe there was someone else - someone who would certainly do something like this, although how Sam didn’t know they would have got access to the drugs. ‘Did you hear about the rail crash last week which I was involved in?’

He nodded. ‘I saw it on the news.’

‘The whole thing was a set up. They made it look like a suicide, but it wasn’t. They wanted to get at me.’ No matter how many times Sam said this, to himself or others, it didn’t sound any less crazy.

Ed Stansfield remained silent as Sam explained the video of the train crash, and the mystery of the girl who had led him to the scene.

‘So you think this person might have also set you up with this?’ His voice was neutral, with no clue as to whether he took this idea seriously.

Sam shrugged. ‘Maybe. I don’t know what to think. But I can’t rule it out.’

‘But they would need to have access to the pharmacy stock of controlled drugs.’

‘I know.’

‘Or they would need to know someone who does have access.’

Sam had already thought of that. ‘Maybe.’

Now he did look interested. ‘And what do the police say about all this? About the train crash being a set up?’

‘They’re not convinced,’ Sam said.

Ed Stansfield drummed his fingers on the desk, looking off into mid-air for inspiration. ‘Sorry,’ he said, realising what he was doing. ‘Old habit.’ He pulled at his lip. ‘We’ve got to play this very carefully,’ he said. ‘I want you to defend yourself in there – hold your ground and don’t let the board bully you into saying something you might regret. But I don’t think at this stage it would be at all helpful to tell them what you’ve just told me. Don’t talk about the rail crash, or this person who you think might be responsible. Keep to the bare facts – the drugs aren’t yours, and you don’t know how they got into your locker.’

‘And do you think they’ll believe me?’

‘Maybe,’ he said. ‘Your record is exemplary. You have a fantastic character reference from Professor Adil Khan. And there’s been no report of erratic behaviour that might indicate the abuse of controlled drugs.’

Sam sensed Ed was holding a negative back. ‘But?’

‘But,’ he said, ‘the drugs
were
found in your locker.’

31

Straight after Ed Stansfield left, Sam called a local taxi company and arranged for them to pick up Anna from the airport. He then left a message on Anna’s mobile, explaining that he had to attend an urgent meeting at the hospital – he didn’t expand on that – and that a taxi would be waiting for her in the arrivals hall. Anna was currently 30,000 feet in the air, but Sam hoped that she’d switch on her phone soon after landing, so wouldn’t have chance to wonder where he was.

For the following few hours, Sam did as Professor Khan had advised. He spent the time at thought, hidden away in his office, drinking cups of tea and thinking through how he was going to handle the situation. Emotions battled for supremacy within him; fear, anger, confusion. It was hard to know what to do, and he longed for Anna to be there. She was always so good at helping him to see through the fog. But eventually he came to the conclusion that Ed Stansfield was right – it wouldn’t be sensible to talk about conspiracies or links with his sister’s murder, Richard Friedman, and the train crash. It would just risk him looking paranoid, or delusional. And for the board that might be enough to confirm their suspicions that he was indeed using the very drugs that had been found in his locker.

But still, there was a link between these events. Sam was sure. The board meeting just wasn’t the right time to voice it.

When Sam had exhausted his thought processes, he emerged from his hideaway, seeing just one nurse as he passed quickly through the department. He headed for the lift and down towards Louisa’s office. It was now twelve thirty, and she would have just finished her morning’s consultations.

She was indeed in her office. As Sam approached, he could see her through the window of the door, talking on her mobile. He peered through the glass and tapped a hello. Louisa looked startled to see him. She held up a hand for him to wait and then turned her back to him, finishing off the call in just a few seconds. She faced Sam and beckoned him in.

‘Sorry,’ she said, ‘my sister. She’s going through another one of her man crises.’

‘She okay?’ Sam said, closing the door behind him, his mind not really on the wellbeing of Louisa’s sister.

‘Oh, you know Helen,’ Louisa dismissed with a wave of her hand. ‘She gets like this from time to time, worrying about whether this man or that man is Mr Right. Anyway, how are you? No more calls or emails?’

Sam sat down, feeling guilty about injecting another dose of negativity into Louisa’s life. He looked across to her, wondering how to word it. In that moment Louisa knew that something had happened, and her face tensed.

‘What is it, Sam? What’s happened?’

‘Professor Khan called me this morning,’ he began. ‘The hospital did a search last night of my locker and found half a packet of Alprazolam tablets. The board now think I’m a drug abuser and have called an emergency meeting for three hours’ time.’

‘My God,’ Louisa said. ‘But, that’s rubbish, Sam, it’s rubbish. How did they know to...what made them look in your locker?’

‘Someone called and tipped them off.’

Her anger was palpable. ‘Who?’

Sam shrugged. ‘They don’t know. Or if they do, they’re not saying.’

‘But this is just crazy. Someone’s set you up.’

The strength of her certainty surprised Sam. He had expected support, of course, but her instinct was total rejection of the allegations – there was no doubt in her eyes. ‘Thanks.’

‘For what?’

‘For believing me.’

Louisa looked offended at Sam’s insinuation; that he may have doubted that she would believe him. ‘Of course I believe you. I’m your friend.’

‘It doesn’t mean I have any right to expect such rock solid support from you.’

‘Of course you do,’ Louisa hit back. ‘You have every right.’

Sam smiled his gratitude. ‘It means a lot.’

Louisa had already moved on with her thoughts. ‘So who the hell’s done this?’

‘The drugs came from hospital stocks.’

‘No,’ Louisa exclaimed. ‘It’s someone at the hospital?’

‘To get the drugs, you need staff access to the controlled drugs cabinets on the ward,’ Sam said. ‘So it must be someone who could get that access.’

Louisa thought on that. ‘You think it could be Miles?’

‘I don’t think so,’ Sam said. ‘I don’t think he’d do it.’

‘Probably not,’ she replied. ‘He’s not that bad or desperate – at least I don’t think he is. But if it isn’t Miles, then who?’

Sam waited a beat. ‘The same person who sent me the link to the train crash recording.’

Louisa didn’t look that surprised. ‘You think this is all connected?’

‘I know it sounds outlandish, but it does make sense in some ways. Someone is targeting me, Louisa. This could be just another example.’

‘But the access to the drugs. It means that the person works here.’

‘Or maybe,’ Sam said, repeating Ed Stansfield’s earlier thought, ‘they have contacts in the hospital.’

Louisa shook her head. ‘This is all so crazy, Sam.’

‘I know.’ Sam decided not to discuss his suspicions of Marcus at this point. He wasn’t sure why exactly, maybe because it just felt like too much. He would talk to Louisa about it, but not right now.

‘So what are you going to do? You have to attend the board meeting?’

Sam nodded. ‘Three o’clock sharp.’

‘And who’s going to be there?’

‘I don’t know. Carla, for certain. And whoever in the senior management team can make it I guess. Professor Khan too.’

‘And does he support you?’

‘Yes,’ Sam said. ‘But there’s only so much he can do.’

Louisa let out a sigh of frustration. ‘Do you think they’re going to suspend you?’

‘I don’t know.’

‘But what about the job interview?’

‘I really don’t know.’

‘This is awful, Sam, just awful. Whoever’s doing this, we can’t just let them get away with it.’

‘I know,’ Sam said. ‘They won’t.’

He wasn’t sure whether he really believed that, but he had to think positively. He had to think this would all end happily.

Just then Sam’s mobile buzzed in his pocket. He excused himself and pulled out the device.

It was a message from Louisa’s stolen phone.

Cathy died in my arms, Sam. Where were you?

Sam made his way up to the boardroom, still seething about the taunting text message. Somehow he had to put the actions of this sick individual to the back of his mind, at least for the next hour - but how? The doors to the lift opened and Ed Stansfield, as promised, was waiting for him on the other side.

‘Hi,’ he said, unsmiling, still clutching his file. ‘Are you ready for this?’

Sam nodded.

‘Remember,’ he said, dropping the volume, ‘try not to be drawn by the board into saying anything you might regret. If you feel uncomfortable answering any of their questions, just glance over at me and I’ll take it.’

‘Sure.’

He patted his back. ‘Let’s go then.’

They walked along the corridor, silence descending, and came to the boardroom. Ed Stansfield knocked and they were called in. The room layout had been changed to an interview style. The long board table, and its occupants, faced them along the back window, with two empty chairs in between. Unlike a few days ago, the board table was fully occupied. Sam did a quick scan of the people present. There were eight of them. Carla Conway was sat in the middle. Either side were six of the permanent board members, with Professor Khan at the far end. And immediately on Carla’s right, a late to middle aged man who Sam didn’t recognise. He assumed it was the hospital solicitor. Sam looked back at Professor Khan, who nodded a greeting almost imperceptibly, sending a hidden message of support.

‘Sam,’ Carla began, ‘if you wouldn’t mind taking a seat.’

This time there were no smiles.

Sam sat down and Ed Stansfield took the seat next to him.

‘Thank you for coming at such short notice,’ Carla began, stony-faced. ‘The board appreciates your co-operation in this serious matter.’