“We’ll put her on some medication for the blood pressure and to assist in blood sugar management, and she needs to make sure to eat properly, healthily, and on time, at regular intervals,” came the reply. “Based on what you’ve all told me, I’m sure she eats well at home, but while at work, it sounds like it’s a different matter. So I’d recommend she takes sick leave and stays quiet at home for the rest of her pregnancy, if at all possible. If she has another episode, we will likely hospitalize her and try to keep her on bed rest, and quite likely we will go ahead and take the baby to protect it. That doesn’t mean she’s out of the woods, but at least the baby would be safe.”
They all paled.
“Can we take her home now?” Laura asked.
“Not tonight, no. We’re keeping her overnight for observation and to make sure we have that blood pressure under control. It spiked rather badly for her to pop a nosebleed like that. Can you contact her husband and have him come in, please?”
“I can contact him,” Carter said, “but he can’t come in. He’s not on the planet currently.”
“Can you arrange for him to come back at once, preferably on a nonstop flight?”
“Not necessarily, no.”
“Why ever not?” the doctor wondered, surprised and displeased. He raised his chin and glared down his nose at Carter. “This is a medical emergency, sir.”
“I’m aware of that,” Carter replied, growing stern and seeming to swell in size. “I’m not deaf, and I’m not stupid. But he’s a detective himself, in a very serious sting operation, deep undercover. I can’t just yank him out, because he might not survive getting yanked out. These people play for keeps.”
“And you are, sir?” The doctor was still on his high horse. Carter decided to see his high horse, and raise him a rank. And a Throne.
“Director Lee Carter, IPD New Headquarters. I report directly to Emperor Trajan. I’m Detective Ashton’s supervisor.”
“And current mentor,” Maia Peterson added.
“Oh! I see.” The doctor deflated a good bit in self-importance. “Organized crime of some sort?”
“Of some sort. I’m not at liberty to say more.”
“Well, then… who is available to speak for her if she’s unconscious and needs treatment?” the obstetrician wanted to know.
“These are her parents,” Peterson explained, gesturing to the Ames couple. “They live in the adjacent, connected condominium to their daughter’s – it’s essentially one big, extended-family dwelling – and they provide child care for the daughter’s other child.”
“And we’ll be helping with the new baby, too,” Laura Ames added.
“Ah. Well, that will do, then.” The obstetrician frowned in thought. “Though, given her mindset – or at least, what I saw of it in the ER – it would probably be good for her if the husband can come home as soon as it can be safely arranged.”
“I’m already on that,” Carter said, tapping his temple. “But I have to do it just so. He’s going to be upset enough as it is, but he can’t let that show, or that could get him killed.”
“Good, then, and I understand now,” the doctor said, seeming relieved. “I was a little afraid it might be a case of the father having abandoned the pregnant mother…”
“Oh, no, no!” the others all exclaimed at once. “No, Nick is very much in love with Cally, and it shows,” Alexandre Ames remarked.
“He didn’t want to go on this case to begin with,” Laura Ames added. “But he was the best person for the case, and we all knew it.”
“He’s very good at what he does,” Peterson noted. “He used to work in my department, so I can speak to that directly.”
“Oh, now I understand much better. Forgive me for casting unwarranted aspersions, but I see a lot in this job,” the doctor noted, as the last of his arrogant attitude subsided. “As I’m sure all of you do, too. Now, then. Do any of you have any more questions?”
They all looked at one another, then one by one, shook their heads.
“Very well. I’ll go consult with her regular obstetrician and then see about getting her admitted overnight.”
“Rick?” Carter asked, in the special classified channel reserved for him to communicate with the two undercover investigators. Honda popped into the simulation just then.
“Right here, sir. What’s up?”
“We have a situation here on Sintar.”
“Yes, we heard about the spy getting killed. You guys ease up, okay? It nearly got Nick killed; the consul for the dead guy’s star nation decided Nick had betrayed them all since he was the new guy, so he brought another consul along with a buncha goons and roughed Nick up a couple days ago.”
“SHIT! You’re kidding! Is he okay? He’s not in the hospital, is he?”
“He’s got the mother of all shiners, his neck is still a little stiff, and there’s still some swelling in his face, but nothing’s broken. He can manage to open that eye now, and he’s gonna be okay. He went back to work yesterday, and he’ll be heading into the consulate soon, this morning.”
“Good. But that wasn’t the situation I meant.”
“Oh? What’s happened now?”
“It’s Cally. She’s developed gestational diabetes and really high blood pressure, and she and the baby are in danger of something called eclampsia. It could kill Cally, or both of them. She’s in the hospital now.”
“Oh damn! That’s not good!”
“Is there any chance you can break the news to Nick gently, then take over for him and send him home? I can arrange his ride…”
“No chance in hell, sir,” Honda said, shoulders slumping. “I can break the news gently, but that’s about it. He’s the one that’s in good with the Annalian consul. The guy has barely even met me. I’ve been playing
