Chapter 20: Steady Hand

The hospital board met on Thursday at four, and the agenda had one item.

*Carrow Foundation grant, orthopedic service. Twenty million. For vote.*

Eleven people sat at the long table.

The chair sat at the head of it with a donor pin on his lapel.

It was gold, with a small harbor on it.

Hannah sat beside me in her grey cardigan, and under the table she squeezed my hand once.

The detective stood at the back by the door with his arms folded.

The chair rose and shook my hand.

"Mr. Carrow. The board is deeply grateful. A gift on this scale is rare."

"It isn't a gift to you," I said. "It's to the hospital."

"Of course."

"I read the attachment you sent. It says the grant is conditional on a seat for the foundation's chair on the board."

His smile held.

"A formality."

"I didn't write it. I'd like to know who did."

"My office prepared a draft."

"Your office also sent a suspension notice for Dr. Brooks, copied to my brother."

I set a folder on the table.

"Your bank paid for the atrium on the third floor."

"I'm a donor to many things."

"Meridian Harbor Trust has a board of five, and you chair it."

"It lent my grandfather's company four hundred million dollars, on signatures that weren't his."

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