The request found D. Creel through Mercy General's retiree telephone service.
It never showed Caelin the number. His aide entered the incident code, Dorsey entered her administrator badge, and an automated operator asked whether the call concerned benefits, misconduct, or death.
Dorsey chose misconduct.
"That choice opens a formal review under Creel's employee record," hospital counsel said through Station Four's speaker. "Any statement he makes becomes part of the hospital file."
Caelin pulled his chair closer to the monitor. "Does it suspend the old authority while the review remains open?"
"Only the part carried by his signature. Emergency Authority Zero remains separate."
That was the split Ty remembered. Creel had signed the use. The authority above him had sealed consent. Time had buried the hand and kept the code clean.
Dorsey pressed the call button.
