then back. From where he sat, Jared studied her face, the intensity in her eyes, the determination that had taken her through twelve years of the most demanding education and training. At that moment, more so than at any other time in their marriage, he felt pride in her-as a physician, as a person, as his 'Jared, ' she said breathlessly, her attention still focused on the notebook, 'I think you did it. I think it's here.'
'Show me.'
'See these two words, Thrombocytopenie and Hypofibrinogenamie?
Well, they mean low platelets and low fibrinogen. Just what Ellen is bleeding from. There's a notation here referring to Omnicenter Study Four B. Modification of Thrombocytopenie and Hypofibrinogenamie Using a Combination of Nicotinic Acid and Delta Amino Caproic Acid.'
'I've heard of nicotinic acid. Isn't that a vitamin?'
'Exactly-another name for niacin. The other is a variant of a drug called epsilon amino caproic acid, which is used to reverse certain bleeding disorders. See, look here. All together, seven women on these n three pages developed problems with their blood. They were picked up early, on routine blood tests in the Omnicenter.'
'But Ellen and the other two aren't listed as having problems with their blood. There's nothing written next to their names in the side effects column.'
She nodded excitedly. 'That's the point, Jared. That's the key. Ellen and the two women who died were never diagnosed. Maybe they just didn't have Omnicenter appointments at the right time.'
'The others were treated?'
Kate nodded. 'That's what this Study Four B is all about. They got high doses of nicotinic acid and the other drug, and all of them apparently recovered. Their follow-up blood counts are listed right here. I think you did it. I think this is the answer. I just hope it's not too late and that somebody at Metro can get hold of the delta form of this medication. If not, maybe they can try the epsilon.'
Jared handed her the receiver of the bedside telephone. 'Just tell me what to dial, ' he said. Kate's hand was shaking visibly as she set the receiver down. 'Ellen's still in the operating room. Nearly three hours now.'
'Who was that you were talking to?'
'Tom Engleson. He's a resident on the Ashburton Service. In fact, he's the one who called-Never mind. That's not important. Anyhow, he's been up to the operating room several times to check how it's going. The gastroscopist has found a bleeding ulcer. They've tried a number of different tricks to get it to stop, but so far no dice. They've had to call in a surgical team.'
'They're going to operate?'
Kate shook her head. 'Not if they can't do something with her clotting disorder.'
'And?'
'Tom's gone to round up the hematologist on call and the hospital pharmacist. I'm sure they can come up with the nicotinic acid. It's that delta version of the EACA I'm not sure of. Goddamn Redding Pharmaceuticals. I'm going to nail them, Jared. If it's the last thing I do, I'm going to nail them for what they've done.'
'I know a pretty sharp lawyer who's anxious to help, ' he said. 'I'm afraid even you may not be that sharp, honey.'
'What do you mean?'
'Well, we've got this notebook and your word that it belongs to Paquette, but beyond that all we have is me, and I'm afraid my word isn't worth too much right now.'
'It will be when they see this.'
'Maybe.'
'Either way, we're going to try. I mean somebody's going to have to come up with a logical explanation for all this that doesn't involve Redding Pharmaceuticals, and I really don't think that's possible.
Do you?'
'I hope not.'
'How long do you think it will take before we hear from this resident-what's his name?'
Kate suddenly recalled a gentle, snowy evening high above Boston Harbor and felt herself blush. 'Tom. Tom Engleson.' Did her voice break as she said his name? 'I don't know. It shouldn't be long.' It had better not be, she thought. They waited in silence. Finally, Jared adjusted his cervical collar and rubbed at his open eye with the back of his hand.
'Kate, there's something else, something I have to tell you, ' he said.
'It has a good deal to do with what you were saying before about your word not being worth too much.'
She looked at him queerly. He held her hand tightly in his. 'Kate, yesterday morning I spoke to Lisa.'
Kate sat in the still light of dawn, stroking Jared's forehead and feeling little joy in the realization that, in his eyes at least, she had been vindicated. Nearly fourteen years that he might have shared in some way with his daughter had been stolen. Fourteen years. His hatred of Win Samuels was almost palpable. To her, the man was pitiful-not worth hating. She had tried her best to make Jared see that and to convince him that whatever the circumstances, no matter how much time had gone by, he had a right to be a father to his daughter. He had listened, but it was clear to her that his pain and anger were too acute for any rational planning. There would be time, she had said, as much to herself as to him. If nothing else, there would be time. The telephone rang, startling Jared from a near sleep. Kate had the receiver in her hand well before the first ring was complete. For several minutes, she listened, nodding understanding and speaking only as needed to encourage the caller to continue. Jared searched her expression for a clue to Ellen's status, but saw only intense concentration. Finally, she hung up and turned to him. 'That was the hematologist, ' she said. 'They've started her on the drugs.'
'Both of them?'
Kate nodded. 'Reluctantly. They wanted more of a biologic rationale than Tom was able to give them, but in the end, her condition had deteriorated so much that they abandoned the mental gymnastics. They have her on high doses of both.'
'And?'
She shrugged. 'And they'll let us know as soon as there's any change..
one way or the other. She's still in the OR.'
'She's going to make it, ' Jared murmured, his head sinking again to the spot beside her hand. Less than ten minutes later, the phone rang again.
'Yes? ' Kate answered anxiously. Then, 'Jared, it's for you. Someone named Dunleavy. Do you know who that is?'
Bewildered, Jared nodded and took the receiver. 'Dunleavy? It's Jared Samuels.'
'Mr. Samuels. I'm glad you made it all right.'
'Are you in trouble for letting me go?'
'Nothing I can't handle. That's not why I'm calling.'
Jared glanced at his watch. Seven-fifty. Dunleavy's sixteen-hour double shift had ended almost an hour before. 'Go on.'
'I'm at the nurses' station in the OR, Mr. Samuels. They've just started operating on Mrs. Sandler. I think they're going to try and oversew her bleeding ulcer.'
Jared put his hand over the mouthpiece. 'Kate, this is the nurse who took care of me at Metro. They're operating on Ellen.' He released the mouthpiece. 'Thank you, Cary. Thank you for staying and calling to tell me that.'
'That's only one of the reasons I called. There are two others.'
'Oh?'
'I wanted you and Dr. Bennett to know I'm going to stay on and special Mrs. Sandler after she gets out of surgery.'
'But you've been up for-'
'Please. I was a corpsman in Nam. I know my limitations. I feel part of all this and… well, I just want to stay part of it for a while longer. I'll sign off if it gets too much for me.'
'Thank you, ' Jared said, aware that the words were not adequate. But Dunleavy had something more to say. 'I… I also wanted to apologize for that last crack I made about your wife.' He went on, 'It was uncalled for, especially since I only know what I know second or third hand. I'm sorry.'
'Apology accepted, ' Jared said. 'For what it's worth, she didn't do any of the things people are saying she did, and no matter how long it takes, we're going to prove it.'
