Silent Fear, a Medical Mystery (18 page)

“No. You’re still wearing clean suspenders. When they start looking like napkins, I’ll let you know.”

Ralph grinned. “You must have heard about Lucy.”

Danny leaned in for privacy and shook his head. “I had such a soft spot for her. I feel so terrible, she didn’t deserve this.”

“We have more cases today,” Ralph said, “in Tennessee, Kentucky, and Georgia, as well as New York and North Carolina.”

Danny shot a glance at Joelle. Her mouth formed a frown. “We just met with Tim and Peter. We’re sure the new treatment isn’t working.”

A small muscle in Danny’s eye gave a nervous tic. “Come on,” Joelle said, standing with her coffee cup. “Let’s go see Michael Johnson and talk on the way. I know you’re between cases, but our youngest patient has taken a dive and is on the ventilator.”

Michael was moved to the ICU over night after Peter had watched his breathing slow and had inserted a breathing tube. They entered his room and stood around the critically ill youth. No longer resembling a basketball player, he looked like a gaunt skeleton with sunken eyes.

“I thought he was beating PAM,” Danny said.

“He’s had the best resiliency,” Joelle said. She opened Michael’s chart and evaluated his medication list, ventilator settings, and nurse’s notes. She checked the bedside chart for vital signs and made a note of present infusions. Ralph decided what additional antibiotic to add to the regimen, and Danny performed a bedside neurologic exam on the nearly comatose teen. After ten minutes they congregated in a circle by the sink.

“I’m grabbing a flight to Atlanta later,” Ralph said. “It’s time to directly oversee treatment research while macro-managing docs and CDC reps by phone in the various locations. But that still means you’re a major contributor, Joelle.”

The steady rhythm of Michael’s heart rate beeped across the room with the drone of the ventilator. “I’m already committed, Ralph. I’ll make sure every medical resource in Nashville stands behind me while I plunge into the darkness to do this research.”

“But first, I’ll tap into your brain Danny, metaphorically speaking. Until you’re diagnosed with PAM, Ralph and I now believe you carry some kind of immunity. Can I ask you some personal questions?”

“No problem,” he said.

“Have you been on any medications or over-the-counters in the last two or three weeks?”

“No. I’m not on anything and didn’t take anything recently.”

“You’ve taken no antibiotics before or after PAM broke out?”

“No,” Danny assured them.

“Have you had any medical problems at all?” Ralph asked.

“Nothing, at least that I’m aware of.”

The three of them gave each other a blank stare. Danny shrugged his shoulders. “If there’s anything remotely contributory you can think of,” Joelle said, “let us know.”

Chapter 15

Rachel’s adrenaline zipped through her bloodstream like a fish in a stream after a heavy rain. She had schemed all week, and now that Friday morning had arrived and Leo had left for work, she’d execute her strategy. So far, so good, except for the incessant drizzle which had started at sunrise.

For three days she had scouted places to rent. She settled on an apartment in the same complex she’d lived in before shacking up with Leo, but in a different building overlooking the Tennessee River and not far from work. The most complicated part of leaving Leo would be acquiring a baby sitter for Saturdays, but right now she didn’t have to worry since this weekend Julia would be with Danny.

Of course, she’d have to start paying rent, but in essence that would be paid by Danny’s child support. Other than Danny, her plan involved a big payoff, a hefty retribution.

For one hour she folded clothes and stuffed toiletries into a suitcase which she hadn’t been able to do under Leo’s surveillance. Julia had been easier because her toys were kept in a container in the other bedroom. For the large items like the crib, high chair and playpen, she hired two college boys with a small moving business to come in at 10 a.m., a safe time after Leo left and with enough time to pack up the small truck and cart everything over to the new apartment.

By 9 a.m. she had the bulk of everything packed while Julia stayed preoccupied with a plastic rattle and her bottle. Now came the tricky part, the note she must write with the details which could make or break her idea.

She took an 8 ½ by 11 inch sheet out of the printer and sat at Leo’s desk. She edged his laptop back, careful not to trigger it awake, where she’d have the displeasure of perhaps seeing his porn sites pop up. She selected a pen and began.

Hi Leo,

I just wanted to write you a letter since I decided to move out sooner than I thought. I have enjoyed most of the time we’ve spent together and thank you very much for letting my daughter and me live with you. Things were going quite well for a time! However, after much deliberation, I have decided our relationship has gotten a bit too intense. I hope we can stay friends. I’m sure I’ll see you at the hospital any time I happen to come by during the week.”

She put the paper at arm’s length and read it several times. Satisfied with the tone, striving to not anger him, she liked what she’d written and continued.

“There’s only one thing I hope we can solve. Recently my baby Julia has developed outright signs of being hurt. It always shows up after the day I work, which is Saturday, and you have taken care of her. Evidence is on her arms and bottom and I don’t believe the hot coffee story. I think medical people, lawyers, or a court of law would coin it ‘child abuse.’

However, I won’t seek assistance with this issue at present or maybe never. I can come by Maxine’s on Wednesday night at 7 p.m. to meet you for a quick drink. I will expect a sack with ten grand (cash) which will insure my silence. You are such a smart man, I don’t need to write down the implications for you if I report the aforementioned.”

Rachel stopped again, still tormented about the blackmail amount. At first, she thought a few grand. But that didn’t make sense because that would be petty change for him. He’d committed a punishable crime which would dent his career forever, smear any fictitious nice-guy reputation he had, and perhaps put him on one of those neighborhood watch child abuse lists. Hell, ten grand to get out of this was cheap.

Finishing, she put pen to paper again.

“Looking forward to seeing you on Wednesday night. I’ll also bring you the house key I have for your place.

Sincerely,

Rachel

Once again she read it. Satisfied, she placed it in an envelope with Leo’s name and placed it next to his cigarettes on the counter.

Rachel looked at Julia sitting like a princess. One hand juggled her bottle to her lips and with the other, her fingers played with her toes. One thing was for sure, this child wasn’t even a year old yet and she was already bringing in a contribution towards Rachel’s cost of living, and more.

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A stack of little white phone call slips graced the top of Danny’s desk. Unusual, because when patients scheduled appointments they got handled by the office and he never had such a volume of personal messages. He picked up the group and weeded through them. They certainly weren’t from friends or family, they came from the Atlanta Journal and New York Times to the Vanderbilt University student paper. The callers would appreciate a few words with him, if possible. He slipped the notes into his shirt pocket.

Danny poked by Bruce’s office and then looked for him in the kitchen. Bruce waved him in while eating half a sandwich.

“Did you get a hold of Jeffrey Foord?” Danny asked.

Bruce shook his head. He finished swallowing and said, “I did. He’s accepted the offer. He can start as soon as the paperwork, malpractice insurance, and other matters are in place. It could take a week or a month, but he’s on board.” Bruce faintly smiled, pleased with himself.

“Phew, glad to hear it.” Danny selected a croissant ham and cheese sandwich from the platter on the table, slobbered it with mayonnaise, and took a bite. He had performed two surgeries at the hospital and had come straight over without lunch.

Cheryl walked in with a wide grin and stopped short upon seeing Danny. “You sneaked right by me.” She slapped a thin pile of file folders on the counter, wanting to join the docs. She used Danny’s knife and cut a sliver off a sandwich she put on a plate. “Did you get your messages?”

“I did. And why are you beaming today?”

“It’s Friday and I can’t wait to have the next two days off. And isn’t this your big baby weekend?” She sampled what she’d cut, appreciative of the lunch platter left by a visiting drug rep.

Danny chuckled. “It’s going to be interesting. I haven’t held a baby in years.”

Bruce wiped his hands on a napkin and rose. “You have to support their top heavy heads, that’s all there is to it.”

“She’s not that little any more. I understand she’s crawling around and sitting up.”

Bruce looked over his bifocals. “I bet on Monday you’ll feel like you worked all weekend.” He threw his sandwich wrapper away, slipped out the door, and didn’t envy his colleague at all.

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At five o’clock Danny left the office, darted to his car, and called Casey and Mary to let them know he’d arrive soon. He mumbled against the non-synchronized traffic lights on the way home. Why were they set up so that at every intersection you waited at a red light? He wanted to be on his way to pick up Julia.

“Hi anyone,” he shouted while opening the front door. Female voices emanated from the back of the house. “Who’s coming with me?” Danny found them huddled over the coriander counter in discussion over a bag of baby items.

“Hey Dad,” Annabel said.

“We’re staying here,” Nancy said. “And so is Mary.”

“Well thanks for getting these things,” he said, noticing a bag of disposable diapers, powder, packaged toys and a yellow outfit on a hanger.

“You’re welcome,” Mary said. Untying her headband, she let her dark red hair spill onto her shoulders.

“I just don’t know how cooperative Julia’s mother is going to be,” Danny said, “and what she’s going to send with her for the weekend.”

Joining the group from the adjacent room, Casey exchanged glances with Mary. “Probably not much,” he said. “I don’t know what you can trust her for, besides the fact that she’s crooked as a dog’s hind leg.”

“Ha. That’s pretty funny,” Annabel said. “That’s why I don’t want to go. I don’t want to see that awful lady.”

“Speaking of dogs …” Danny said while opening the patio door for Dakota to come in. The wavy-haired dog bumped and pranced into all of them, giving extra nudges to Danny. “We forgot you, didn’t we? I’ll make it up to you and you can come for a car ride.”

The word car made Dakota spin around and speed to the door.

“I’m coming with you,” Casey said. “Somebody’s got to do it.”

Danny eyed him. No gym clothes. “Did you go to the gym after work?”

“No. I’ve been waiting on you.”

“Two men, a rambunctious Chesapeake Bay Retriever, and a baby,” Mary said. “Who would have thought? Needless to say, we’ll be waiting on you all when you get back.”

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For the first twenty minutes, Dakota stayed restless. He stalked between the back windows monitoring the adjacent cars on I-40. Danny looked into his rearview window. “Dakota, spare me the window cleaning when I get home.”

Casey spun around. “Dakota, there are no other dogs right now spilling out of pick-up trucks. Consider it a boring ride and chill.”

Dakota whimpered and disappeared from view behind the back seat.

“So what’s the latest with the PAM outbreak?” Casey asked. “Or do I have to turn on national news to watch you?”

“Speaking of news, I have a whole stack of phone messages from reporters and news channels that want me to call them. Why don’t we trade places, and while you drive I’ll make phone calls?”

“Sounds fine,” Casey said. Danny put the blinker on and started moving over for the next exit.

“Yesterday Joelle and Ralph asked me about my recent health history. They wonder why I haven’t been a meningoencephalitis patient.”

“Being the astute ambulance driver that I am, you know I’ve thought the same thing.”

“You know, we joke about that,” Danny said as he drove down the exit ramp and made a right on red, “or I kid around at your expense. But you give top notch first responder treatment to folks whose lives sometimes depend on your quick judgment and care. That’s all I have to say about that, including thank you for your involvement with Melissa. I mean that.”

Danny didn’t glance at Casey. It felt good to get that off his chest. He’d wanted to do it for awhile. He pulled to the drive-in window while Dakota bounced up from the back.

Casey pulled out his wallet. “I know you respect EMT’s, especially me. And Melissa, well, I still think about what happened and feel so bad about it. I miss her, too.”

Danny felt a sadness sweep over him while his eyes got moist. Dakota let out a bark.

“We’re not forgetting you, you spoiled thing,” Danny said quietly. He pulled up to a fast-food window, asked for a small burger, two chicken sandwiches, fries, and drinks. He handed the hurried cashier Casey’s twenty-five dollars. After placing the heavy calories on the floor, Danny parked in a spot, pulled out the burger, and walked to the back end of the car. He opened the door and asked Dakota to wait patiently while he split it in half. “Take them politely,” he said. “Good dog.”

Danny and Casey changed seats. Danny wiped the burger and Dakota’s slob off his hand. “So getting back to the PAM,” he said, “we didn’t do anything extra to my hand injury when you put the Steri-Strips on, did we?”

Casey rubbed his mouth with his hand. “No. I didn’t even put any Neosporin on it, which we probably should have.”

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Casey dealt with the building traffic of a Friday night while Danny managed one telephone interview with The New York Times. Since the epidemic had reached the Empire State, he gave them his time. An enthusiastic female reporter tailored her questions into two areas. What was Danny’s personal background and to what extent do neurosurgeons deal with intracranial infections? She also wanted to delve into another spin on the story - the source of contamination; and prodded him about preventive measures. What do swimmers need to be aware of? Where would an organism like this likely be found?” Danny welcomed the questions and ended the call when Casey approached the half-way point between Nashville and Knoxville where Danny had arranged to meet Rachel.