“I’m very sorry about that, but I wasn’t expecting to be on a med flight to Atlanta. And as far as our reputation goes, everyone I spoke to when I stopped back at the conference, and I do mean everyone, was absolutely understanding of the circumstance. Nobody felt that hearing your speech would have altered the result of the election. One of them said they were sure that next year you would win. The only concern anyone expressed was for Cap’s well-being.”

“He shouldn’t have been there in the first place. My primary obligation is to this organization, and, in my professional opinion you demonstrated a considerable lack of foresight with your actions. Now you’re hurting us again by demanding time off that you simply don’t have coming to you. Lack of foresight, lack of perspective, lack of loyalty, lack of solid judgment. Tell me when to stop.”

“Walter, the only measure by which I should be judged is my ability to reinstate licenses suspended by the board of medicine and if you measure me by that benchmark I’m the best we ever had here.”

“We’ll, since I’m the boss, I guess I get to decide which benchmarks matter most.”

“Jesus, Walter.”

Filstrup busied himself with his computer, while Lou, still dumbfounded and flushed, stood by with nothing to do but watch. When the psychiatrist finally looked up, his expression was one of utter triumph.

“I just informed Mrs. Peterbee of your termination,” he said. “She’ll take care of all of your exit paperwork. Thank you for your service, Dr. Welcome, but as of this moment, those services are no longer required. If you need a reference, I’ll be happy to provide one.”

“Well, that makes me feel so much better, thanks.”

“I hope you don’t take this personally.”

“When you come up with another way for me to take it, just let me know.”

“Please understand I have to do what’s best for the PWO.”

There was an intense buzzing in Lou’s ears. His fists clenched and loosened rhythmically. If only they were in the ring. Or perhaps he could just pretend they were, and flatten the pompous ass’s nose across his face. He loved his job and had always taken pride in doing it well. Plus he certainly needed the income. Now he’d been terminated. The entire situation felt surreal.

And worst of all, the one person he most needed to turn to was lying in a hospital bed more than six hundred miles away, sick enough so that the president of the hospital had sent for Lou.