“Of course you’re right. I understand. I agree. There’s going to be a directors’ meeting in a half hour. I’m sure some of the directors will get Dr. Katz to cool down a bit. He’s been awake for twenty-four hours.”

I shake my head gently, and once again I try to find the kind-and-helpful me inside the rude-and-impatient me. “Okay, okay. What can I do to help?” I ask.

“Do what you usually do—just do a great job.”

“Dr. Sarkar, I—”

“Rudi,” he says.

Okay, he calls me Lucy. I should call him Rudi.

“Look. I get it. I really do get it. Katz is thinking about the hospital, its reputation, the bad PR. But you know what I’m thinking about?”

“Yes, I do. You’re thinking about the missing babies,” he says.

Hmmm. Bingo. Sarkar apparently has a good brain on top of that handsome face of his.

“That’s it. Rudi, there are two stolen babies out there—alone, starting life with who knows what kind of maniacs. There are two mothers right here, in this hospital, crying, aching, ready to die for their babies, ready to do anything to get them back.”

Sarkar nods. He’s grim. Then he says, “There’s a police and detective setup down in the residents’ cafeteria. It’s pretty impressive—computers, a lead detective, a few assistant detectives, a big group. NYPD is taking this very seriously.”

“Great, so am I,” I say. “In fact, I think I’ll pay a visit later to this in-house police unit.”

“They don’t know what they’re in for,” Sarkar says with a smile.

I begin to walk away and he calls after me, “Lucy. Speaking of paying a visit, is it okay if I pop by your office later? I have a little favor to ask.”

“Pop away, Rudi. I’m around all day,” I say. “Unless Dr. Katz fires me before then.”

“I hope not, Lucy,” he says. “We need you around here.”

Chapter 10

Chapter 10

MOST PEOPLE HAVE A good idea of what midwives do. We help deliver babies. But that is only a very small part of the story. Sure, maybe it’s the most dramatic part, maybe even the most important part, but about 20 percent of our time is spent helping bring babies into the world. And we don’t spend the rest of the time waiting around for our moms to go into labor.