Chapter Fourteen
Over a week had passed since an angry Joan visited Vera late in the night. Vera was beside herself with worry. Her repeated pleading with the staff was always answered with, “the Governor’s on holiday.”
“Vera?” It was a warm and familiar voice.
Vera thought it was her imagination. Bridget Westfall, who had been terminated when Joan returned, could not possibly be at the protection unit.
“Are you all right?”
Vera looked up. Bridget was standing at the entrance.
“Wha - - ? How?”
Bridget laughed, “Sorry for the surprise. I’ve been called to help Linda Miles.”
“Linda? What? Why?”
“She is acting governor until Ferguson can return,” Bridget explained, “she was hospitalized last week for an aneurysm and from what I heard it’s kind of serious.”
Unknown to Vera, in the days following Joan’s hospitalization, Derek Channing had found a notebook on her desk with information implicating Jake Stewart for drug trafficking at his current and prior assignments. To avoid further scandal, the Board “convinced” him to quietly resign and never again seek employment within the corrections system. Linda Miles was promoted to deputy and appointed to temporarily fill the governor’s shoes. To support Linda, the Board reinstated Bridget Westfall.
“How is Joan?” Vera choked back tears.
“From what I’ve heard, it is touch and go. She might end up with disabilities. I think they’ll have to operate.”
“Could you go check on her?” Vera pleaded.
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
In response to Bridget’s question the nurse behind the desk answered,
“Room 253. If she’s asleep, don’t wake her.”
As she approached the room, Bridget was surprised to hear laughing. Cautiously peering in, she saw the Governor laughing with a young nurse who, with her back turned toward the entrance, was fidgeting with some flowers in a vase by the bedside.
“Hello, who are you?” Joan smiled.
Bridget cleared her throat, “Governor, it’s Bridget Westfall.”
Both Joan and the nurse looked quizzically at her.
“I used to work with you at Wentworth.”
“I’ll be back to check on you later,” the nurse said smiling to Joan.
Joan smiled back and waved as the nurse left the room.
“You said, Miss Westfall? I’m sorry, I’m having trouble with my memory,” Joan said pleasantly.
“It was a while ago,” Bridget said dismissively. “Vera is very worried about you.”
“Vera?” Joan tilted her head.
“Miss Westfall?” it was the nurse, “may I speak with you?”
After telling Joan that she would come again in a few days, Bridget followed the nurse out into the hallway.
“The aneurysm is giving her some trouble with her memory,” adding, “she tires easily.”
“Who is making decisions for her? I don’t recall her having family,” Bridget asked.
“We are talking with her lawyer. She has a power of attorney.”
“Who is it?”
“A Vera Bennett. They are trying to locate her now.”