“Your team,” she smirked. “That hospital is a small facility.”
“And you believe bigger is better?” asked Rory. “Listen lady, keep your uppity, high-end attitude to yourself. We’re trying to help people here. According to our research your facility hasn’t found shit. You’ve lost twenty-five people directly related to this unknown virus and you currently have more than seventy hospitalized. Don’t pretend with us. And don’t ever underestimate our intelligence again.”
She cleared her throat, straightening her jacket and nodded at the men.
“My apologies. I didn’t mean it that way. We can discuss how you knew about the patient deaths later. That’s confidential.”
“Deaths aren’t confidential,” said O’Hara. “They’re public record and the location of the death is always mentioned. Twenty-five and based off the number you have hospitalized, that will go up.”
“This isn’t a virus that’s just affecting the rich and famous,” said Max. “It’s affecting everyone. All ages, races, sexes, rich, and poor. Now, you can either help us or we can go to the hospital board and let them know how we were received.”
She stared at them, then down at the tablet in front of her. She’d sorely underestimated the men, mistaking muscle for stupidity.
“We know that we didn’t have patient zero,” she said calmly. “The first person we diagnosed had dinner at the same restaurant as the first person diagnosed at New Orleans General. We thought that was the tie but as new patients came in, we realized they had no contact with one another.”
“Do you have a virologist working on this?” asked Rory.
“Yes but he’s had no luck whatsoever. I can ask him to share what we have. For what it’s worth, I know Riley and Suzette. We’ve met at several conferences. They’re both dangerously intelligent,” she smirked. “Whatever they’re doing is going to yield results sooner or later.”
“I appreciate that,” said Max. “Riley is my wife. Do you have any inkling of what’s happening here?”
“I wish I did,” she said finally sinking in her chair, looking exhausted and older than when she’d walked in. “At first we thought we had another case of norovirus spreading. Everyone had gastrointestinal issues. Then it was the high fevers, coughs, and the blisters. It looked like the plague but it wasn’t that. This is something none of us have seen before.”
“Do you believe the carrier could be an animal or bird?” asked Rory. She pursed her lips, looking at the tablet once again.
“It was something we thought about at first. Especially birds but that led us nowhere. We followed all the possible animal trails. Cows, horses, swine, birds, bats, even chimps. Nothing.”
“Is it possible it’s in the seafood?” asked O’Hara. “I mean, this is south Louisiana. Everyone here either eats seafood or catches it.”
“That was one of the first things we looked at. We even tested thousands of pounds of seafood for excessive levels of mercury, just to be sure there wasn’t something happening in the water. Nothing. There have been no environmental spills, no oil, no chemicals, nothing.
“Now, that doesn’t mean that there wasn’t something that got into the water, but whatever it might have been, we’re not finding it. I know you look at us and see this billion-dollar facility, and we are. But we also care about our community and our patients. We’re trying to find an answer as well.
“When you entered I just thought you were someone coming to be angry because you lost a loved one or wanted reparations. My apologies.”
“It’s alright,” smirked Rory. “We can be assholes sometimes so I’m sure we didn’t do our best first impression.” She gave a soft laugh, shaking her head.
“You know, I really do respect the hell out of Suzette and Riley. They’re brilliant and I’ve tried on more than one occasion to lure them here. You’re lucky to have them both.”
“Believe me, I know that first hand,” smiled Max. “We won’t take up anymore of your time. Thank you for speaking with us.”
“Again, I’m sorry about how this started. I do want to help. I’ll send all of our research over to your team and I’m sure they’ll share with us as well.” There was a soft knock on the door before she could even shake their hands.
“I’m sorry, Dr. Bix, but we have an issue that needs your immediate attention.”
“What now?” she frowned.
“We’re not fully staffed. Thirty-nine people called in sick today. Half of those are sitting in our own emergency room. We’re about to be left with no one.”
“Gentlemen, I believe that’s my signal to go. Best of luck to you.”
They watched as she left the room, practically running toward the elevators. They slowly walked out, masks on, looking at the hundreds of patients huddled in the massive lobby waiting area.
“This is going to get worse,” said O’Hara. Rory nodded at his friend.
“I believe it just did.”
CHAPTER SEVEN
