The Glass Wall by Clare Curzon

case tomorrow. And what chance there was of the case being thrown out. And there’d been others within hearing distance.
    God, what had he said to him? Anything, to get the little tick off his back.
    Now it was being read out to him from a slip of paper the Senior Usher had taken from an inner pocket. He’d deny it, of course. He’d said nothing of the sort; retained a dignified silence. It was a blatant case of malicious falsification.
    But, Brent said, there was an independent witness who upheld the accusation. Markham had not only given away the name of the Chairman for the coming case, but also his assured opinion that because of him the accused ‘hadn’t a wax cat’s chance in hell’ of getting off.
    He must see, Brent pointed out severely, that he had prejudiced the case and maligned a magistrate. This was an extremely serious matter and an inquiry must be held into why the court’s schedule now required changing.
    â€˜Look,’ Markham insisted, ‘we can go into this later. I’m needed in there right now. If you’ll wait until after the session I can explain what really happened.’
    â€˜We’ll discuss it now,’ Brent said stolidly. ‘Mrs Norris can take over your duties while the matter is looked into. Meanwhile you are indefinitely suspended.’
    The room was vibrating with hot light. Markham felt his head fill with a rush of angry blood. It was intolerable that the untrained housewife should, even temporarily, take his place. He could kill the pretentious cow. And this sanctimonious creature standing here who thought he could humiliate him.
    â€˜You know what you can do with your fucking job?’ he hissed close in Brent’s face. ‘You can shove it where the daylight never reaches. I don’t have to stand this. I’m handing you my resignation.’
    The man blinked and moved a step away. He had gone very pale. ‘In which case,’ he said quietly, ‘I have no hesitation in accepting it.’

Chapter Nine
    â€˜Audrey Stanford is threatening to discharge herself.’ Bernice told her when she returned to ITU.
    â€˜If she’s well enough for that she shouldn’t be with us. Have you paged Dr Ashton?’
    â€˜There’s some kind of crisis in the Psych department. She’ll be along as soon as she can. Meanwhile it’s up to us.’
    â€˜To restrain her? Is she really serious, or is this for effect?’
    Bernice shrugged. She’d clearly had her fill of this patient. Alyson nodded and went to apply damage limitation.
    â€˜Audrey, how are you feeling?’
    â€˜Bloody awful. What do you expect? Where’s Keith? I want him to take me home. Get my clothes, will you. I told the other girl.’
    â€˜Dr Stanford will be in afternoon surgery just now. I’m sure he’ll be visiting later. He’s cancelled the course he was meant to be going on this week.’
    â€˜So I should bloody well think. Which means he could be here to fetch me.’
    â€˜Before we let you go home we’ll have to make sure there’s someone there to look after you.’
    â€˜Because I can’t be left on my own? Try telling him that. Do you think he cares what becomes of me? It would have suited him if I’d died out there alone while he was off chasing his fancy women. It’s not as though he’ll have long to wait in any case. You know, don’t you? I’m on my bloody way out.’ Her voice rose to hysterical level. She reared up in bed, shaking, crouched forward, tense like a barking dog, weight on her balled fists in their dressings.
    â€˜You didn’t bring any clothes with you,’ Alyson said calmly. ‘They took you out of the bath, wrapped in a towel.’
    Audrey stared up at her, shaken into silence. ‘Nobody cares,’ she said bitterly.
    â€˜We all care,’ Alyson assured her. ‘That’s what a hospital’s about. That’s