uncomfortable situation into another. Small talk wasn’t one of his strengths.
“Your father is an excellent speaker.”
To Theena’s credit, she seemed completely at ease. As if suddenly being forced into conversation with a complete stranger was normal for her.
“He believes all Greeks should be outspoken; the result of seeing Zorba too many times.”
Unlike her father, Theena didn’t have the slightest trace of an accent. Her voice was low, but soft in an undeniably feminine way.
“He does remind me a bit of Anthony Quinn.”
“Don’t let him hear you say that; he’d be insufferable. I’m to understand that you’ll begin your investigation tomorrow?”
Bill nodded. “It’s not an investigation, really. All I do is review your testing and give a preliminary report to the committee.”
“But you have the power to stop the process before it gets to that, correct?”
“Yes.”
She took a sip of wine, leaving the tiniest trace of red lipstick on the glass. The rim had a complete circle of half moons around it, like a deliberate design. Bill thought of his own wine, back at the other table. A nice Merlot would take off the edge.
“I’ve seen Dr. Nikos lecture before, but this was the first time he introduced Manny. It’s incredible.”
“Yes, we’re all terribly excited. Manny especially. This drug has done wonders for him.”
“Was he the first human test subject?”
Theena’s demure expression flickered.
“Actually, no. There was someone else who began the program at the same time as Manny. But there were… complications.”
“Something to do with the drug?”
“No, nothing like that. It was a personal matter. The N-Som worked fine.” Theena smiled. “I hope you aren’t ignoring Mrs. May to be sitting here with me.”
Bill automatically looked at his wedding band.
“She… died last year.”
“I’m so sorry. Was it sudden?”
Bill almost blurted out a yes. He caught himself in time.
“She was sick for a long time.” The image of Kristen, lying in the hospital bed, filled his mind. “And you? Is Mr. Boone off mingling?”
Theena wiggled her large diamond ring. It caught the light and winked.
“Last I heard he was in Texas. I kept the name because anything is preferable to Stefanopolous. So, how does one get a job at the FDA?”
Bill thought about the long, boring version. After completing his studies at the University of Chicago and his internship at Rush-Presbyterian, Bill was undecided between a residency or private practice. He’d known from a young age that he’d be an M.D., but when the day finally came he realized that he enjoyed learning about medicine more than actually practicing it.
Congress made the decision for him. The year was 1992, and they’d just passed PDUFA-the Prescription Drug User Fee Act, which authorized the FDA to charge drug sponsors for their services, expediting the approval process. Suddenly CDER, which had been impossible to break into, had hundreds of openings for reviewers. Bill had leapt at the chance.
“I was just in the right place at the right time. How about you? You’re a chemist, right?”
“Actually, I’m a pathologist, like my father. Specializing in neuropathology, of course.”
Bill’s confidence slipped another notch. Beautiful, and a brain surgeon.
“Exciting work?”
Theena laughed, a rich, warm sound.
“I think I’ve developed a permanent squint from looking in the microscope so often. No, it’s not what I would call exciting. But it’s not without rewards, either. What time shall we expect you at DruTech tomorrow?”
“Whenever is convenient.”
“Anytime is fine. Research continues around the clock. Your predecessor preferred to work during the night shift.”
Bill raised an eyebrow. “My predecessor?”
“The prior CDER agent. Did you ever find out what happened to him?” Theena studied Bill’s face. “You have no idea what I’m talking about, do you? He was sent by the FDA last month to review some preliminary research, worked with us for a week, and then left without a word. A Dr. Bitner?”
Bill knew Michael Bitner. They’d golfed on several occasions. He’d have to give him a call, find out what had happened.
“Someone call the police!”
The cry came from the other side of the banquet room, followed by shouts for a doctor. Bill hurried through the crowd, Theena on his heels. The activity was centered around the Men’s Room. Bill had to shove gawkers out of his way to get in.
“I’m a doctor! Give me some room!”
At first, all Bill saw was blood. It took his brain a second to register that under all that blood was Dr. Nikos.
Theena screamed.
Bill knelt down, soaking his pants leg. He automatically reached for the carotid artery, then stopped his hand when he saw the gash in the doctor’s throat, deep enough to expose the esophagus. Dr. Nikos was gone, long beyond anyone’s help.
“Over here! There’s another!”
Bill was ushered over to a second pool of blood. In the center of it was Manny. His tuxedo shirt was shredded, over half a dozen wounds covering his abdomen and chest. A scalpel handle protruded from his sternum.
“Tried… tried to save… da…”
Manny coughed, spitting red. Bill tilted Manny’s face to the side so the blood didn’t run down his throat. His pulse was strong, but when Bill tore off Manny’s shirt he didn’t hold out much hope. The guy looked like a lasagna.
Bill left the scalpel embedded, concerned that removal would cause more bleeding. He enlisted four guys with cloth napkins to keep pressure on Manny’s many wounds. He also put Manny’s feet up on a chair to stave off shock.
The paramedics arrived shortly thereafter, intubing Manny and carting him away.
Bill looked around the room, trying to spot Theena. He went back into the banquet hall, the crowd parting for him when they noticed his bloody clothing. He checked her table, the hotel lobby, and finally the parking lot.
She was gone.
Jack Kilborn
Disturb
Bill was in the shower when the phone rang. He let the machine pick it up, holding the curtain partially open to hear who it was.
“Bill, this is Theena Boone…”
Bill grabbed a towel and hurried out of the bathroom. The fact that Theena was attractive and single wasn’t lost on him, but Bill tried to rise above that and convince himself his concern was professional. She’d just lost her father.
“Theena?”
“Bill. Hello. I… was wondering what time you were stopping by DruTech today.”
The question caught him completely by surprise.
“I wasn’t planning to, actually. I figured, because of yesterday-how are you holding up?”
“I’m strong, Bill. Dad raised me that way. He also wouldn’t want this to interfere with our work. N-Som was his dream. Now that he’s gone, it’s even more important that I finish what he began.”
Tough lady. Bill wondered how much of it was genuine, and how much was bravado.
