Tuesday, 4:00 p.m., Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), Farmington, CT
Alice Roberts
Alice Roberts held the phone away from her ear, ignoring the stream of histrionic chatter coming from the other end of the line.
God she hated dealing with this asshole.
Less than a year in office and Governor John Redmond was already proving to be more corrupt and inept than his predecessor. At his insistence, she’d assigned four of the six OCME staff physicians to the Clark investigation, including herself and the Deputy Chief. They’d been working full tilt on the case for the past twenty-four hours, but apparently, that still wasn’t good enough.
Scowling, she put her ear back to the receiver. “Yes, Governor. I understand this is a priority.”
Now Redmond was going off on the headlines running on CNN and FOX, how both networks had just reported Pulsar would file for protection under Chapter 11 by the end of the week. He asked if she’d heard the most recent rumor: that a foreign-owned pharmaceutical company, based out of the United Arab Emirates, of all places, was conducting secret buyout talks with Pulsar’s board.
If that went through, what did she think would happen to Pulsar’s planned multi-billion dollar R & D facility in East Haven? What would happen to the five thousand high-paying jobs he’d already promised his constituents?
“I’m not really in a position to say, sir,” she answered coolly.
That set off another tirade. Redmond wanted answers, goddamn it! Everyone knew Jean Clark’s death had been a fluke, caused by one idiot doctor’s incompetence. So why the hell hadn’t the OCME already cleared Pulsar’s good name? Each minute the case dragged on was a fresh insult to the taxpaying citizens of the Nutmeg State, and Roberts’ agency would be held accountable.
“Rome is burning, Doctor Roberts!” he ranted. “We don’t have time for your OCD! Just do your fucking job and get that report out!”
Fucking job? Nice language, Governor.
“We’re doing what we always do,” Roberts purred, knowing her dulcet tone would drive him ape-shit. “As you know, our mission is to provide accurate certification of the cause of death here. Sometimes, the relevant forensic tests take time, and with all due respect, sir… you can yell all you want, but that won’t make our gels run any faster.”
“Yes, well as you know,” the Governor warned, “We’re facing a severe budget deficit this year. Cuts will have to be made.”
“Thanks for sharing.” Roberts rolled her eyes at Deputy CME Samir Patel, who had just strolled into her office. “Now if you’ll excuse me, Governor, I have work to do.”
She disconnected the line before the blow-hard could respond, then crossed her arms and looked up at Patel.
“So, Samir: Do you have something?”
Patel’s stubble-covered jaw hung open. As a recently Board-certified Anatomic and Forensic Pathologist, fresh out of residency, he wasn’t used to this sort of drama. “Did… um, did you just hang up on the Governor?”
Roberts gave him a no-big-deal shrug. “We had nothing more to say.”
The pathologist grinned before taking his customary seat beside the Chief’s desk. This was one of the reasons why he and the rest of the OCME staff worshipped their boss: Absolutely nothing seemed to faze her. Brimstone could be falling from the sky and she’d still be focused on the day’s caseload.
“Well…” He held out a stack of freshly printed lab results. “You might change your mind when you see these.”
“Is that right?” Roberts slipped on her reading glasses before taking the sheets. “Let’s see what we’ve got here.”
As she scanned the print out, Patel narrated: “The first three pages are results from the ELISA runs. The rest show the Western Blots.”
“Hmmm.” Roberts glanced up. “That is interesting. And you confirmed these results?”
Patel nodded. “We ran each test in triplicate. No problems with any of the controls.”
“I see.” She reread the results summary, highlighted on the last page. “Strong work.”
Once Patel had left, Roberts set down the lab results and clicked open the file labeled “GOODWIN” on her desktop computer. Inside, she’d amassed a substantial database on the doctor, including five professional references from his medical school days, internship and residency. She’d spoken to three of these references earlier that day, and each colleague had painted a similar picture.
Jake was an exceptional physician. Brilliant, driven, dedicated to his patients, and above all else, meticulous.
Not the type to make a careless error and certainly not the type to cover one up.
It was a picture that didn’t fit at all with the hard facts now in front of her.
*****
© Copyright 2025 graymartin. All rights reserved.
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Hmmm
It is hard yet again to review such a short chapter with such an obvious plot development.
I am beginning to like Alice Roberts she reminds me of someone too.
Nothing else that I could add, nit, subtract, or suggest
Okay, moving on to next chapter
I like your story, almost done.....
Hey Gray,
You've been busy this weekend! : ) writing is great, of course, so I'll get straight to the meal : )
This chapter has a lot packed in it, all very germane to your story. Here's my issue - apart from POV 1st to 3d ; ) and the additional POV shift from Alice to Patel/staff (how would Alice know why her staff adored her?):
Other than the tc with Govenor Asshole, these critical plot points are told rather than shown. I suggest slowing way down to show the testing pages and the interviews with othe doctors. Using Jake's POV, the test results would have to wait for him to see later, Gov Asshole would be a TV interview he watches, and the character references would be conversations ye has with his doc pals.
Re Presumed Innocent - funny how you and I keep using that book with each other! : )
Great hook at the end, as always, Geay!
: )
Terri
Oh, so now there is some proof to Implicate Jake. This is not good. However, I feel the good Dr. Roberts will figure the whole thing out. She's already got wheels turning as to what the report says and what the references say about Jake. BUT, if she finds out about Bree, then that will surely complicate matters.
I'm on to the next chapter.
~Ann
Morning Gray,
More strong work! couldn't resist using Robert's comment. Alice Roberts sounds like someone you'd want in an investigation. Another well-written chapter that flows like a big river. Changing to Roberts' POV didn't bother me. Unless you used the "fly on the wall" POV, you don't have many options. And if Roberts winds up fighting for Jake, making us wait to see them together could up suspense. When it comes to switching POVs, Tolstoy used to aggravate literary critics by changing the POV in a chapter. Once he used a dog's POV in a scene, just to piss off his critics.
Liked Alice Roberts' professionalism and no-nonsense attitude, and she could either save Jake's behind or jeapordize Jake's security if those tests showed that Pulsar's fad med is the killer. And the governor is governing with Jake in his sights. Every crisis needs a scapegoat, and scapegoats sweat suspense. And the prospect of the UAE getting involved is intriguing. I wouldn't be too surprised to see the Chinese's version of Big-Pharma making a cameo appearance. This feels like a pivotal chapter where the plot could take different paths. I'm thinking now of the old TV series The Fugitive: A falsely-accused doctor on the run, looking for a one-armed man. Just rambling now. I look forward to see where you take Jake.
Nothing to nit.
nathan
Ah, you know that good feeling, when you were right! So yes, this is all about bringing PULSAR down, so it can be bought cheap, then exonerating them and placing all the blame of the poor hapless Dr. What a scheme....and they had to do it this way coz the dr couldn't/wouldn't be bought off, he had too much integrity, so they had to frame him.
The Bree/Kristy setup? Still unclear on that....
Gray....As promised I got to review another one. As I have said before the POV change does not bother me. I think you handle it well and it definitely moves the story forward. I thought the dialogue with the mayor was on target and typical of the red tape and arrogance that has become the way of politics. I think you are smart keeping these chapters short, and in that way they move he story to the next level....Will be reading more soon....Denise
Hi Gray,
Short and sweet and to the point... I think you have to have this POV - it just adds depth into the investigation... On some level she is really pulling for Jake, but all the damn evidence seems to piling up against him, if the last of the chapter is any indicator... Definitely keep it in kiddo - that's my vote... Good job...
Happy Writing & Keep Smilin'.... Jax
Hello Gray, I don't have trouble with the short chapters from other characters POV that fill in some of the details that are going on as the story unfolds. Keep them short and I think you are fine. In this one you keep Dr. Roberts in character, not putting up with any crap from anyone but trying hard to keep an open mind about Jake. And now we know why there was the meeting between Caulder and the Arab sheiks so many chapters ago.
Maybe the governor should be on a speaker so Dr. Roberts can have her hands free for some purpose. That would explain how Dr. Patel can understand the situation as soon as he walks in the door.
This chapter was a whole lot of telling. And the pov didn't work for me. I think you could easily get the same information out without going this way.
For instance, as a matter of protocol, Jake could receive a call from his lawyer, or the ME herself that covers all the same political pressures and information. If the call was from the a lawyer, you could even have that person share that the results aren't good without revealing more yet. Basically, with a little work, ALL of the information in this chapter can be delivered via Jake's intimate view through meetings, calls, or letters.
I do love the potential behind the content here though--very juicy!
Hey, Gray - Again, no issue with POV for me - assuming Roberts will be important to the plot. You've suggested a tie-in to Caulder with what's happening to the Pulsar fortunes, and that's good. And now there appears to be a substance in Clark's body that shouldn't be there. And that this suggests negligence on Jake's part. Hmm. The pre-filled syringe? Where is that nurse?
- "God(,) [she hated] (I hate) dealing with this asshole. {Her direct thought, so should be in first-person}
- ...the Governor warned, "[W](w)e're facing a severe budget deficit this year."
- ...before the blow[-]hard could respond...
- As she scanned the print[]out, Patel narrated...
Take care,
Jack
I don't like three interruption but it grew on me as the chapter progressed. I'm going to reserve judgment until I've read a chapter or two more.
The writing was as smooth as usual. I also liked the chapter but still am not sure if it should stay.
On top there next one.
Author
Reply
The multiple POV problem is the major glitch that's been keeping me from finishing this story and trying to get it published. I still haven't figured out how to tell the story through only Jake's POV...
Hello, Gray. Nope. The brief POV changes don't throw me. And it appears that this woman is going to be climbing down the throats of others, and that Jake will have another buoy...ah, but extreme danger is obviously not far off for Mr. Goodwin and his family.
And Caulder's agenda hasn't disintegrated...he and his fellow sharks aren't far off...can't wait to discover exactly what THEY have in mind globally!!
This is still one heck of a ride, Gray!
CHEERS!!
Mike
Author
Reply
I try to keep these chapters short and to-the-point, since that's what Alice Roberts' personality is like. My goal is to have her working one end of this "murder mystery" while Jake works the other. She's also a surrogate for my readers, who I want to "figure things out" as she does. Thanks for spending so much time with this story, Mike. Makes the time I spend on it worth while! Later, Gray
Another hmmm....haha. I don't know if this will end up being a cut or keep for me. The UAE rumor is I'm assuming a clue and can be placed anywhere - seems like something Twitter would have all over the place.
As far as her being a great doctor, meh, can sum that up in a few sentences and put it in Jake's POV. Again, it's a well-written chapter, I wouldn't cut anything if you kept it, but do you keep it? I reserve judgment. :)
Until tomorrow,
Lauren
Author
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You and me both. Not sure if I can rework this without Alice's POV. Maybe I'll try. Thanks so much for the help!
Gray
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