# Maida Day — The Patient in Room 18 character guide > Maida Day in The Patient in Room 18 by Mignon G. Eberhart. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Miss Day, Miss Maida Day **First appearance:** 0001-the-patient-in-room-18 ## Snapshot A night nurse at St. Ann's whose level-headed competence frays against something she senses in Room 18 but cannot name. ## Who they are Maida moves through the hushed corridors of St. Ann's with the practiced calm of a woman who has made the hospital her home, answering bells and soothing restless patients. When she emerges from Room 18 looking peculiar and admits the patient 'does not seem to like the room,' her unease becomes the first crack in the hospital's routine. Her reluctance to speak plainly, and the quiet dread she carries back into the ward, makes her a barometer for the strange dread settling over the case. ## Relationships ### [Corole Letheny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters/corole_letheny) _friendship_ Corole and Maida share a close, supportive bond, often interacting as confidantes and allies. ### [Jim Gainsay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters/jim_gainsay) _romantic_ Jim Gainsay is romantically interested in Maida Day, with frequent interactions suggesting courtship or tension. ### [Dr. Balman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters/dr_balman) _professional_ Dr. Balman interacts with Maida Day in a professional capacity, possibly as a physician or investigator. ### [Dr. Fred Hajek](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters/dr_fred_hajek) _professional_ Dr. Hajek and Maida Day interact professionally, possibly as doctor and nurse or patient. ### [Huldah Hansinge](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters/huldah_hansinge) _friendship_ Huldah and Maida are friends or social acquaintances, interacting regularly. ### [Sonny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters/sonny) _family_ Maida Day and Sonny are likely family members, possibly mother and child or siblings. ### [Higgins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters/higgins) _professional_ Higgins and Maida Day interact professionally, likely in a hospital or institutional setting. ### [Melvina Smith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters/melvina_smith) _friendship_ Maida and Melvina Smith are friends or close acquaintances, with frequent social interactions. ### [Corole Letheny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters/corole_letheny) _friendship_ Corole and Maida share a close, supportive bond, often interacting as confidantes and allies. ### [Jim Gainsay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters/jim_gainsay) _romantic_ Jim Gainsay is romantically interested in Maida Day, with frequent interactions suggesting courtship or tension. ### [Dr. Balman](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters/dr_balman) _professional_ Dr. Balman interacts with Maida Day in a professional capacity, possibly as a physician or investigator. ### [Corole Letheny](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters/corole_letheny) _friendship_ Corole and Maida share a close, supportive bond, often interacting as confidantes and allies. ## In the story ### [I: An Unpleasant Dinner Party](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/i-an-unpleasant-dinner-party) Attends the dinner party; she is the object of Jim Gainsay's attention and seems unusually reluctant to attend. ### [II: In Room 18](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/ii-in-room-18) Nurse on duty; seen entering from outside, later helps Keate during the crisis. ### [III: Dr. Letheny Does Not Return](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/iii-dr-letheny-does-not-return) Keate's assistant, who telephoned Dr. Balman about two o'clock after the patient was found dead. ### [IV: A Yellow Slicker and Other Problems](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/iv-a-yellow-slicker-and-other-problems) Mentioned as having lied about visiting Sonny; her absence raises suspicion. ### [V: A Lapis Cuff Link](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/v-a-lapis-cuff-link) Keate's assistant; one of the few without an alibi for the night of the murders. ### [VI: I Make a Discovery—and Regret It](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/vi-i-make-a-discovery-and-regret-it) Sarah finds Maida in a window seat, dreading a visit to Corole. Later, Maida lies about when she last saw Dr. Letheny alive, and Sarah knows she is lying because of the cuff link. ### [VII: The Disappearing Key and Part of an Inquest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/vii-the-disappearing-key-and-part-of-an-inquest) Testifies at the inquest, questioned about her lost cuff link found in Dr. Letheny's pocket and her statement about wanting money. ### [Under the Barberry Bush](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/ix-under-the-barberry-bush) Encountered by O'Leary and Sarah; admits the syringe is hers but does not explain how it got there; is led away by Jim Gainsay. ### [X: A Midnight Visitor](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/x-a-midnight-visitor) Fellow nurse on duty; helps respond to the scream; confronts Corole directly, asking why she was in Room 18. ### [Room 18 Again](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/xii-room-18-again) Nurse on duty with Keate; helps search for key, expresses fear, retrieves lamp after blackout. ### [XV: Corole Is Moved to Candour](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/xv-corole-is-moved-to-candour) Revealed by Corole to have been the last person with Louis, meeting him in the orchard and quarreling. ### [XVI: The Red Light Above the Door](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/xvi-the-red-light-above-the-door) Walks with Sarah and later questions her nervous behavior. ### [XVIII: O’Leary Revises His Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/chapters/xviii-o-leary-revises-his-story) Present during O'Leary's explanation; leaves for Russia with Jim Gainsay after the events. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters/maida_day - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_patient_in_room_18_se/characters