Jess glanced down and shuffled her feet. "I'm giving the lecture. I've asked Dr. Alerman several times for someone from psych to participate in a lecture series covering ER psychiatric issues." She shrugged. "No one has been willing to take it on. Dr. Alerman presented a series of lectures last year, but he said he didn't have time this year."
Anger surged through Kim. What were you thinking Philip? The ER doesn't need a person to liaison with from psych. It needs the psych department staff to get off their collective asses and do their damn jobs. Kim pushed aside the unproductive emotion. "If you give me a list of the topics you'd like covered, I could create a series of lectures and present them."
"I wasn't trying to foist the conferences off on you," Jess said.
"I know you're not." Kim grimaced to herself at Jess's choice of words. She would bet anything someone from psych had accused Jess of doing just that — foisting the ER conferences on psych. "I'm volunteering to give the lectures. I enjoy teaching residents. The last place I worked had a psychiatric residency. I miss presenting resident conferences since there's no psych program here. I've got quite a few lectures ready that I used with psych residents. I could tailor a number of them to apply to the needs of the ER residents."
Jess stared at Kim for a moment, clearly shocked by the offer. For the first time since she had opened her office door, Jess actually smiled. "If you're sure..." At Kim's nod she continued, "I really appreciate you doing this." Jess glanced at her watch. "We need to get to the conference. I'll work out the schedule with you later."
"Okay. Sounds good." Kim smiled when Jess picked up the cup of coffee from her desk before heading for the door.
* * *
Jess gathered up her charts at the nurses' station. She planned on heading for her office to get some paperwork done before the rapidly approaching end of shift. The doors to the ambulance entrance of the ER banged open. Jess looked up in time to see two police officers enter. A slender, red-haired female officer was accompanied by a large, burly male officer. She was holding what appeared to be a small child wrapped in a jacket. All Jess could see was matted hair at the top and a tiny pair of sneakers sticking out of the bottom of the coat.
Jess dropped her charts back on the counter and strode over to the officers. "What've you got?"
The woman officer pulled back the jacket revealing a small, dark haired little girl. "We found her locked in a basement storage unit of an apartment building," she said. "Tenant of the building called it in. He heard what he thought was an animal crying when he went in to get his bike from his locker. When he spotted her, he immediately called 911. We're not sure how long she's been there. Guy said he didn't hear anything the last time he was in his locker, which was two weeks ago. We cut the lock and got her out of there."
Jess gazed at the little girl, but resisted the urge to reach out and take her into her arms. Oh, little one, what happened to you? Her hair and clothes were filthy. Jess couldn't see her face. Her little face was buried in the officer's jacket. "Have you located her parents, Officer...?"
"Williams. We're still looking for them. According to the neighbors, no one has seen the mother for the past week. Boyfriend was around for the first couple of days after the mom left, but not for the last three days. None of the neighbors remember seeing Tara, that's the little girl's name, for the last week. But according to one of the women we spoke with that's not uncommon. Her mom doesn't take her out of the apartment very often." Williams shook her head, her anger plainly written on her face. "She's filthy, but didn't have any obvious injuries that we could see. She wasn't even crying when we found her. She did scream when one of the officers picked her up, but she hasn't made a sound since."
Jess's anger soared at the thought of the girl's uncaring parents. What the hell kind of sick person could do this to an innocent child? She had seen some terrible things perpetrated on children during her time in the ER, but she never got used to it. Jess pushed her anger aside. Her focus now was Tara. "All right. It's an emergency so I can treat her without parental consent. Let's get her into an exam room."
As Jess turned she spotted Kim standing close by. She was glad that she was still in the ER so late in the day. Jess beckoned her over. "You heard the history?" At Kim's nod she continued, "I'd like you to observe while I check out her physical condition. See what you can pick up from her reactions. Afterward, you can do a full assessment if necessary."
"All right. I would recommend you keep the number of people present to a minimum. Just being exposed to a large group of strangers is stressful for a child this young. She doesn't need that in addition to whatever else she has already been through," Kim said.
"Fine. Let's go," Jess said. She motioned for Officer Williams to follow her.
Maggie, one of the admitting nurses, ran up to the group. "Dr. McKenna, there are a bunch of reporters in the waiting room asking questions. They're blocking access to the admitting desk and won't leave."
Jess scowled. Great. Just what we need. "How many are there?"
"I'm not sure how many people there are but two different camera crews are filming," Maggie said.
Jess glanced at the other officer's nametag. "Officer Johnson, how about rounding up the people from the media and getting them out of my waiting room? They're interfering with patient care."
The officer smiled at Jess and rubbed his hands together. "Gladly, Doc. Where do you want them?"
Jess resisted the temptation to tell him exactly where she'd like them to go. She realized her thoughts must have shown on her face when both officers and Kim chuckled. Jess shook her head and forced her professional persona back into place. "Maggie, show Officer Johnson where Conference Room C is. If it's not empty, clear it out. Inform the rest of the staff what's happening. I don't want any reporters sneaking into the ER proper."
Jess turned her attention to Officer Johnson. "I'd appreciate it if you'd escort the press to the conference room and then make sure they stay there. You're welcome to use the room if someone from your department wants to make a statement to the press. I'll update Officer Williams on Tara's condition once I finish my exam."
"Thanks, Doc," Johnson said before turning to follow Maggie.
"Now that all that's settled, let's get this little girl checked out," Jess said. She headed toward an exam room with Kim and Officer Williams on her heels.
* * *
"Go ahead and set her down," Jess said motioning toward the gurney.
Kim moved to the head of the gurney. She wanted to be close enough to offer the little girl comfort and emotional support while Jess did her physical exam.
Tara didn't react in any way when the officer followed Jess’s instructions.
Jess moved to the opposite side of the stretcher. "Officer, please wait outside while I complete my exam."
"If you can get her to talk I really need to hear anything she can tell us. I tried to connect with her on the way over here, but she wouldn't even look at me."
Jess nodded. "I understand that, but my main concern right now is to make sure she's not injured and assess her physical and mental condition." Jess looked down at the little girl. She was huddled in the oversize jacket with her head resting on her knees. She had yet to make a sound or even move. "Once I'm finished you can come back in."
"All right. I'll go check on how Johnson is doing with the reporters," Officer Williams said. "Let me know when you're done."
"I'll have one of the nurses come get you." Jess waited until the door had closed behind the officer. She met Kim's eyes over Tara's head. "I want a detailed accounting of what I find as we go. But, I'd rather not have another person in the room. You mind taking notes?" she asked.