blanket that made all movement more difficult, even breathing. Until
he’d come to Africa, he’d never experienced true tropical heat. Once
inside, enveloped with cool, air-conditioned air, Kevin grasped the edge
of his collar and pulled his shirt away from his back.
He started up the stairs, but he didn’t get far.
‘Dr. Marshall!’ a voice called.
Kevin looked behind him. He wasn’t accustomed to being accosted in the
stairwell.
‘Shame on you, Dr. Marshall,’ a woman said, standing at the base of the
stairs. Her voice had a lilting quality that suggested she was being
less than serious. She was clad in surgical scrubs and a white coat. The
sleeves of the coat were rolled up to her mid-forearms.
‘Excuse me?’ Kevin said. The woman looked familiar, but he couldn’t
place her.
‘You haven’t been to see the patient,’ the woman said. ‘With other cases
you came each day.’
‘Well, that’s true,’ Kevin said self-consciously. He’d finally
recognized the woman. It was the nurse, Candace Brickmann. She was part
of the surgical team that flew in with the patient. This was her fourth
trip to Cogo. Kevin had met her briefly on all three previous visits.
‘You’ve hurt Mr. Winchester’s feelings,’ Candace said, wagging her
finger at Kevin. She was a vivacious gamine in her late twenties. With
fine, light-blond hair done up in a French twist. Kevin couldn’t
remember a time he’d seen her that she wasn’t smiling.
‘I didn’t think he’d notice,’ Kevin stammered.
Candace threw back her head and laughed. Then she covered her mouth with
her hand to suppress further giggles when she saw Kevin’s confused
expression.
‘I’m only teasing,’ she said. ‘I’m not even sure Mr. Winchester
remembers meeting you on that hectic day of arrival.’
‘Well, I meant to come and see how he was doing,’ Kevin said. ‘I’ve just
been too busy.’
‘Too busy in this place in the middle of nowhere?’ Candace asked.
‘Well, I guess it’s more that I’ve been preoccupied,’ Kevin admitted. ‘A
lot has been happening.’
‘Like what?’ Candace asked, suppressing a smile. She liked this shy,
unassuming researcher.
Kevin made some fumbling gestures with his hands while his face flushed.
‘All sorts of things,’ he said finally.
‘You academic types crack me up,’ Candace said. ‘But, teasing aside, I’m
happy to report that Mr. Winchester is doing just fine, and I understand
from the surgeon that’s largely thanks to you.’
‘I wouldn’t go that far,’ Kevin said.
‘Oh, modest, too!’ Candace commented. ‘Smart, cute, and humble. That’s a
killing combination.’
Kevin stuttered but no words came out.
‘Would it be out of bounds for me to invite you to join me for lunch?’
Candace said. ‘I thought I’d walk over and get a hamburger. I’m a little
tired of the hospital cafeteria food, and it would be nice to get a
little air now that the sun is out. What do you say?’
Kevin’s mind whirled. The invitation was unexpected, and under normal
circumstances he would have found reason to decline for that reason
alone. But with Bertram’s comments fresh in his mind, he wavered.
‘Cat got your tongue?’ Candace asked. She lowered her head and
flirtatiously peered at him beneath arched eyebrows.
Kevin gestured up toward his lab, then mumbled words to the effect that
Esmeralda was expecting him.
‘Can’t you give her a call?’ Candace asked. She had the intuitive
feeling Kevin wanted to join her, so she persisted.
‘I guess,’ Kevin said. ‘I suppose I could call from my lab.’
‘Fine,’ Candace said. ‘Do you want me to wait here or come with you?’
Kevin had never met such a forward female, not that he had a lot of
opportunity or experience. His last and only love other than a couple of
high school crushes had been a fellow doctorate candidate, Jacqueline
Morton. That relationship had taken months to develop out of long hours
working together; she’d been as shy as Kevin.
Candace came up the five stairs to stand next to Kevin. She was about
five-three in her Nikes. ‘If you can’t decide, and it’s all the same to
you, why don’t I come up.’
‘Okay,’ Kevin said.
Kevin’s nervousness quickly abated. Usually what bothered him in social