4.30. Hogmanay
Francis Fallon Hospital, Glasgow
The car drifted into the path of a bus headed for Springburn. Just in time, Gavin Law caught the flash of headlights and realised his mistake. He swerved back to his own side of the road and felt the wheels lose traction on the icy road. If he didn’t get a grip, there would be no new year for him. Fat snowflakes landed on the windscreen. He didn’t see them. The shocking turn of events had made him blind. He’d been a fool and he knew that now. His mistake had been to believe he was the one dropping the bomb. Wrong. They were ahead of him.
Half an hour earlier, he had taken the lift to the seventh floor of the private hospital and barged into the director’s office. Jimmy Hambley was alone. He looked up from behind his desk; if he was surprised, he didn’t show it. Law launched his ultimatum, boiling with righteous indignation.
‘I complained months ago about Wallace Maitland. You know what he did to Mrs Cooper yet he’s still operating. Your inquiry disregarded my evidence, and cleared him, for Christ’s sake. The family has asked me to testify on their behalf in their legal action and I’m going to. I’ll be the star witness.’
He leaned across the table.
‘You’re covering for Maitland because he’s your wife’s brother, but you won’t get away with it. Francis Fallon will be on the front page of every newspaper in the country, and it won’t stop there; the GMC will get involved. This is your last chance to do the right thing – admit liability and settle with the Coopers. After that, I expect you to deal with Maitland.’
The response was unexpected and more ruthless than anything Gavin Law could have foreseen. The director listened to the outburst, then calmly reversed the roles.
‘Mr Law. I was going to send for you. You’ve saved me the trouble. An allegation of misconduct has been made against you. Serious misconduct.’
Gavin Law sneered. ‘What is this? What the hell is this?’
‘A letter informing you of the process and your rights is on its way. You may wish to consider representation. That would be my advice. It may well be a matter for the police. As of now, you’re suspended from all duties. Please leave the premises.’
‘Allegation? Of what?’
Hambley told him and watched the colour drain from Law’s face.
The accuser had become the accused.