“Dr. Garza, you’re aware of the plaintiffs’ charges?”

“Yes. And I feel very sorry for the families.”

“I’m going to ask you specifically about the patients who were admitted by the emergency room while you were on duty.”

Kramer questioned Garza, beginning to feel better by the minute as the doctor explained away each of the patient fatalities in a reasoned, believable, authoritative voice. Garza was in a great groove.

“Do you see any pattern in these deaths, Dr. Garza? Anything at all?”

“I see the absence of a pattern,” Garza said, raking his thick hair away from his forehead. “I see the random, regrettable errors that happen every day in every hospital in the country. In the world for that matter.”

“Thank you, Dr. Garza. Your witness,” Kramer said to O’Mara.

Kramer watched Maureen O’Mara walk to the lectern, an expression on her face that cast a cold shadow over Kramer’s newborn feeling of relief. He knew Maureen. Had gone against her a few times before. She was always prepared, always smart, and a strong interrogator.

But he saw something now in her face that alarmed him.

She looked eager.

Chapter 71

Chapter 71

YUKI LEANED FORWARD in her seat as Maureen addressed the witness.

“Dr. Garza, Jessie Falk was your patient?” O’Mara asked. “Do you remember Jessie Falk?”

“Yes. Of course I do.”

“Your Honor, it’s been established that Jessie Falk was admitted to Municipal for cardiac arrhythmia. That her death was caused by the wrongful administration of epinephrine that caused her subsequent cardiac arrest and death.”

“Mr. Kramer?” asked the judge.

“That’s fine, Judge.”

“So stipulated.”

Yuki felt the tension in the air, imagined the expectation and dread of the dead woman’s husband, a young man sitting only three rows ahead of her.

“Dr. Garza, how did Mrs. Falk die?”

“As you said, she had a heart attack.”

“That’s true, Doctor. But what I mean is, can you describe her death so that we can better understand her last moments?”

Larry Kramer rose to his feet immediately. “Objection! Your Honor, Counsel is trying to prejudice the jury. This is outrageous.”

“Your Honor, I’m merely asking how the patient died. That’s what this case is about.”

“Yes, yes. Of course it is. Dr. Garza, please answer the question.”

Yuki saw surprise ripple across Garza’s face. That was interesting. He cleared his throat before he spoke.

“Well, she went into ventricular tachycardia. A very fast heartbeat.”

“Would you say that would have hurt her and frightened her?”

“Probably. Yes.”

“What else, Doctor?”

“She would have tried to contact anything in her immediate environment.”

“Claw at the sheets, for instance?”

“Probably.”

“Try to call out?”

“Your Honor!” Kramer broke in. “Out of respect for Mrs. Falk’s family —”

“I’m touched, Mr. Kramer,” said O’Mara. “Be concerned for my clients now.”

“Overruled. Dr. Garza, please answer the question.”