“Absolutely not. The media came to me. They told me they heard about the clinic through a leak.” An idea finally broke into view. Harvey seized it. “They implied, Dr. Markey, that the leak came from Washington. Your offices, in fact.”
Markey tilted his head toward the ceiling, considering Harvey’s accusation. Then he said, “Maybe the leak came from Michael Silverman or Sara Lowell? I understand that they are both good friends of yours.”
Harvey shook his head. “They knew nothing about the clinic until the day before yesterday when we diagnosed Michael as being HIV positive. That reporter from
Markey looked at him doubtfully. He leaned forward, “Forget that matter for a moment,” he said. “I think it’s time we stopped dancing around and got to the heart of the matter.”
“You lied to us, Dr. Riker. Your reports were falsified.”
“Falsified?”
“You know what I’m talking about. You experimented on Bradley Jenkins. There was no mention of him in any of your reports.”
Harvey cleared his throat. “A patient has a right to confidentiality, Doctor.”
“Not in this case, he doesn’t. There were no studies on him, no lab test results, nothing.”
“But—”
“You haven’t changed, Riker. You still don’t understand that there are rules that must be followed.”
“I know all about rules.”
“No, I don’t think you do. You’ve always been the same, always looking for the easy way.”
“Not the easy way,” Harvey corrected, fighting to hold back his growing fear and rage. “I look for the way with the least amount of bureaucratic bullshit to wade through. I look for the way that will save the most lives quickest.” He stopped, not wanting to continue but knowing he was powerless to stop. “You’d understand that if you were more of a doctor than a pencil pusher.”
Markey’s eyes widened behind his thick spectacles. His whole face became two angry eyes. “Who do you think you’re talking to?”
“Dr. Markey, if you’d just listen—”
“Do you understand the seriousness of your actions?” Markey interrupted. “You could have your grant revoked. The clinic could be shut down and all your findings labeled invalid.”
Harvey stared at him, frozen, afraid for a moment to speak or even move. Finally, his lips parted. “Senator Jenkins forced me to keep Bradley’s name out of the reports,” Harvey said, grasping at anything to stay afloat. “If you try to close us down, there will be a scandal like you’ve never seen before.”
“The senator’s good name has already been dragged through the mud,” Markey replied. “A little more isn’t going to hurt.”
“So what are you saying?”
“Simply this. I have a proposal for you.”
Harvey looked at him, confused. “Proposal?”
“What I am about to offer you is not negotiable. You either take it or we close the clinic. It’s your choice.”
“I’m listening.”
“You have falsified reports, which we both know is a very serious issue. All your findings are tainted. We could disregard them all together… or we could allow you to build upon them.”
“I don’t understand.”
“Michael Silverman is your most recently admitted patient. Correct?”
“So?”
“Not much work has been done on him yet?”
“Very little. He’s been on SR1 for less than twenty-four hours.”
“Good. We are going to watch his progress. I am bringing in my own men to monitor everything that happens with Silverman. They will chart every detail of his treatment. When and if he becomes HIV negative, we’ll be able to reexamine your other findings and begin testing—”
“It could take years!”
“You should have thought of that before you tampered with NIH reports,” Markey snapped.
“I didn’t tamper with evidence,” Harvey half shouted. “I tampered with a goddamn patient list — that’s all. One goddamn name.”
“The point remains. If you could falsify reports on one thing, you could do it for others.”
“But we’ve already cured six patients.”
“Only three of whom are still alive. And how do we know that your findings on them are not distorted?”
“Test them, for chrissake!” Harvey shouted. “I’m not going to let you get away with this. I’ll do whatever it takes—”
“Simmer down.”
“I’ll go to the press.”
Harvey was sure he saw fear in the man’s face, but Markey just smiled at him. “An unwise move, Dr. Riker. First off, I’ll immediately cut off your grant. Then I’ll reveal to the world that you falsified reports, that you would not allow us access to your patients, that you have never cured anybody, and anything else I can make up. Our PR men will make you look like some charlatan selling snake oil. You won’t be able to get a job cleaning bedpans by the time they’re finished with you.”
Harvey’s mind battled back his mounting panic. “The facts will prove you’re lying,” he said.
“Eventually, perhaps — if you haven’t falsified them. But by the time they do, I’ll already have stalled you into the next century.”
Harvey stared at him in horror. He knew Markey was semi-bluffing, that he did not want to be forced into a confrontation, but what he was saying was also true. He could destroy everything. Even if Harvey cleared his name and proved that Markey was lying, it would take months. Years maybe. And in the meantime the money would stop. A cure would be delayed indefinitely.
Raymond Markey stood and moved toward the door. “My people will be here tomorrow afternoon. Please inform your staff.”
Michael came to consciousness slowly. He heard the TV. A man talking. Sounded like the news. His eyes blinked open.
“Good morning, handsome,” Sara said.
He felt groggy. His vision was blurred. He rolled over and kissed Sara, who was lying next to him. There was a book in her hand.
“Good morning, Nurse. You better get out of here before my wife gets here.”
“Funny.”
“What time is it?”
“Almost noon. How do you feel?”
He tried to sit up. “Like a small animal died in my stomach.”
“Yuck. Guess what I have here.”
“What?”
She held the book closer to his face. Michael squinted and read the title out loud. “
“Oh?”
“Moahmar.”
“And if it’s a girl?”
“That is for a girl. So what’s happening?”
“Let’s see. What do you remember last?”
