Hidden Obsession

SMYTH pulled the Bentley up to main doors to the hospital. With the engine still running, he exited the car and rounded to the back passenger door. Although Maura had breakfast at the hotel, she couldn’t resist the freshly squeezed orange juice and lightly buttered croissant made ready for her during the morning ride. Two breakfasts in one day hardly made up for all the ones she’d missed while Sean’s health deteriorated.

Maura quickly dabbed her lips and flipped her compact from the side pocket of her black leather tote that nicely doubled as classy briefcase. She grinned widely, checking for any latent crumbs stuck on her lips or between her teeth. Nope. All good.

She stuffed the compact back into the tote right before Smyth opened her car door and once again proffered his well-manicured hand to her.

Maura exited the posh backseat, gracefully putting one of her black pumps in front of the other. With her tote in one hand, she smoothed her light gray pencil skirt and adjusted the hem of her matching lightweight jacket. The white chiffon blouse she’d chosen not only complemented her polished look, but it was perfect for the humid Miami morning, which was a drastic but welcome change from the turtlenecks and wool coats she’d left behind in Boston. First impressions counted, even though she had no committed plan to accept this emergency department position. 

The glass doors to the hospital parted. Andrew Dodd, wearing a white lab coat over maroon scrubs stood on the other side. His smile pushed past the dark stubble dotting his face.

Suddenly she felt overdressed.

This was hardly the polished, rich man she expected. She’d only seen his hospital profile pic, and some Googled photos of him and his family. Somehow she’d been thinking of him as a distant emergency department chairman, all suit and no action. Clearly, she was wrong.

Andrew held out his hand.

“Welcome to Mount Zion Medical Center.”