After That Night

Dr Sara Linton is determined to save a teenager’s life after a crash – but she makes a vow that runs deeper, in this extract from Karin Slaughter’s latest novel

The doors to the ambulance bay burst open. Johna was running down the hall. “Sara, MVA happened right outside. Mercedes versus ambulance. They’re pulling the victim from the car right now.”

Sara jogged toward the trauma bay with Eldin close behind. She could feel his anxiety ramping up, so she kept her voice calm, telling him: “Do exactly as I say. Don’t get in the way.”

She was slipping on a sterile gown when EMTs rushed in with the patient strapped to a gurney. They were all soaking wet from the rain. One of them called out the details. “Dani Cooper, 19-year-old female, MVA with LOC, chest pain, shortness of breath. She was going about 30 when she hit the ambulance straight-on. Abdominal wound looks superficial. BP is 80 over 40, heart rate’s 108. Breath sounds are shallow on the left, clear on the right. She’s alert and oriented. IV in the right hand with normal saline.”

Suddenly, the trauma bay was crowded with people in a well-choreographed, disarrayed ballet. Nurses, respiratory therapist, radiographer, transcriber. Every person had a purpose: running lines, drawing blood, gas, cross and typing, cutting off clothes, wrapping the blood pressure cuff, pulse ox, leads, oxygen, and someone to track every step that was taken and by whom.