The Integrity Line, excerpt from new novel by Patrick Howard “Chapter One: Bacon”
- creativeoutletport
- 14 hours ago
- 1 min read
Updated: 13 hours ago
Patrick Howard's latest novel The Integrity Line examines the clash of cultures at a large healthcare system. The novel is a prequel to his previous work, Neutral No Brakes, and the second book to be published in Howard's Morley Trilogy.
The Integrity Line finds young Jeremy Kellner working as executive assistant in the Human Resources Department of Savalient Healthcare, a massive enterprise undergoing cataclysmic change and hobbled by a pervasive atmosphere of dissatisfaction and revolt among its employees.
Jeremy has become the trusted “fixer” for HR Director Gretchen on the thorniest matters that cross her desk. It is Jeremy’s job to field the daily tsunami of integrity complaints lodged by Savalient workers against one another on its anonymous hotline.
Normally an obedient and efficient hitman, he is troubled by Gretchen’s harsh treatment of Dr. Danny Glick, a senior scientist whom he believes is wrongly accused of “unwelcome conduct” toward a junior faculty member.
His budding friendship with the accused Danny forces Jeremy to examine his own past and confront the painful truths he has ignored until now.
