Tina was seated at her desk less than five minutes after returning from lunch when the chairman buzzed her asking her to please come back into the conference room.

“Dr. Kennard, the board has decided to go along with your recommendation in the case of Elizabeth Porter. She will be accepted here as a patient in a pro bono capacity. I will notify the proper authorities to begin her transfer to the facility. I will also, notify the court of our decision and to expect monthly reports. She will be a patient here at our treatment community no less than 12 months which will more than satisfy the stipulations placed upon her by the court.”

“Although, you requested to be relieved of this case because of past association I regret to inform you Dr. Kennard that it is the opinion of this board after reviewing Ms. Porter’s previous case history you will remain the head psychiatrist working in conjunction with Dr. Black. You are the most qualified individual to handle this particular case.

Dr. Black will be responsible for reviewing all of the medical and mental health recommendations made by you regarding Ms. Porter. If at anytime during Ms. Porter’s stay with us she refuses treatment which in your professional opinion you deem beneficial to her this board will not hesitate to remand Ms. Porter back into the custody of law enforcement officials.”

“If you have nothing further to add this meeting is adjourned. Have a good day ladies and gentlemen.”

Everyone except Tina got up and filed out of the room. She could not believe the board had not replaced her on the case. From this point on she knew she could not discuss the case with Kit because of patient confidentiality. Tina’s professional abilities were on the line here. How was she ever going to get Bette to open up to her? If she couldn’t get Bette to communicate she was going back to jail on the board’s recommendation. If that happened Tina knew she would never be able to live with the sense of failure she would feel and the guilt that she would carry with her for the rest of her life.

Going back to her office she finished out her day making notes in individual files of how well patients were responding to treatment. On the drive home she reminded herself to be available to talk to Kit tonight after Angie went to bed. But right now she needed a stiff drink. Pushing down a little harder on the gas pedal she looked forward to getting home.