“But you’ve been in touch since then?”
“We’ve gotten together a couple of times over the last few years,” Angela said.
“I can’t believe I’m hearing this,” David said.
“Oh, please, David,” Angela said with exasperation. “You’re being ridiculous.”
“I think Mr. Scali would probably do fine,” Calhoun said. “If not, as I said, I know some companies who will gladly help for a modest fee.”
“At this point, we’d do well to avoid any fees,” Angela said. With that, she started to clear the table.
“Any chance of getting a description of the tattoos from medical records?” Calhoun asked.
“I think so,” David said. “Most physicians would probably note them in a physical examination. I certainly would describe them in any physical I’d do.”
“It sure would help prioritize our list,” Calhoun said. “I’d like to interview those with tattoos on their forearms and wrists first.”
“What about the people who work for the hospital?” David asked.
“We’ll start with those,” Calhoun said. “Absolutely. Also I’ve been told Steve Shegwick has a tattoo on his forearm. I’d like to talk with him.”
Angela came back and asked who wanted ice cream and coffee. David said he’d pass, but Calhoun was eager for both. David got up and went to check on Nikki.
Later when they were sitting around the table after the meal was complete, Angela expressed an interest in organizing the efforts for the following day.
“I’ll start interviewing the tattooed hospital workers,” Calhoun said. “I still think it’s best for me to be the front man. We don’t want any more bricks through your windows.”
“I’ll go back to medical records,” David said. “I’ll get the social security numbers and birth dates and see about getting descriptions of the tattoos.”
“I’ll stay with Nikki,” Angela said. “Then when David’s gotten the social security numbers and birth dates I’ll take a run into Cambridge.”
“What’s the matter with sending them by fax?” David asked.
“We’ll be asking for a favor,” Angela said. “I can’t just fire off a fax.”
David shrugged.
“What about that Dr. Holster, the radiotherapist,” Calhoun said. “Someone has to talk with him. I’d do it but I think one of you medical people would do a better job.”
“Oh yeah,” David said. “I forgot about him. I can see him tomorrow when I finish at medical records.”
Calhoun scraped back his chair and stood up. He patted his broad, mildly protuberant abdomen. “Thank you for one of the best dinners I’ve had in a long, long time,” he said. “I think it’s time for me to drive me and my stomach home.”
“When should we talk again?” Angela asked.
“As soon as we have something to talk about,” Calhoun said. “And both of you should get some sleep. I can tell you need it.”
23
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 30
Although Nikki suffered from abdominal cramps and diarrhea throughout the night, by morning she was better. She still wasn’t back to one hundred percent, but she was clearly on the mend and had remained afebrile. David was vastly relieved. None of his hospital patients had showed this kind of improvement once their symptoms had started. He was confident that from here on Nikki’s course would mirror his own and that of the nurses.
Angela woke up depressed about her job situation. She was surprised that David’s spirits were so high. Now that Nikki was so much better, he confessed his darker fears to Angela.
“You should have told me,” she said.
“It wouldn’t have helped,” David said.
“Sometimes you make me so angry,” Angela said. But instead of pouting, she rushed to David and hugged him, telling him how much she loved him.
The phone interrupted their embrace. It was Dr. Pilsner. He wanted to find out how Nikki was doing. He also wanted to put in another plug for continuing her antibiotics and respiratory therapy.
“We’ll do it as often as you tell us,” Angela said. She was on the phone in the bedroom while David listened on the extension in the bathroom.
“Sometime soon we’ll explain why we spirited her away,” David said. “But for now, please accept our apology. Taking Nikki out of the hospital had nothing to do with the care you were providing.”