“Not at all,” the doctor said firmly.“If you must know, the evidence suggests he likely had a stroke.His platelet count and clotting factors were elevated.It looks like he most likely threw a clot and fell into the pool when he died.”
My stomach twisted.That didn’t align with what I heard and saw in my vision.Someone had pushed Sebastian into the pool.But if he was already dead, maybe they hadn’t killed him.So why make it look like a drowning?
The cuff hissed as it deflated, releasing my arm with a sharp ache.I glanced at the monitor.My oxygen level was ninety-two percent, and my pulse was ninety-two...way higher than normal for me.
“Could he have ingested something that caused the elevated platelet count?”I asked, grasping at straws.
Dr.Patel gave me a long, disapproving look.“Why are you so determined to make this more than it is?”
“Because there was someone else on the deck with Sebastian,” I said, my voice rising.“Ezra and I heard them.”I threw up my arm in frustration, forgetting about the leads stuck to my chest.They tugged uncomfortably at my skin.“Why is everyone so determined to call it an accident or natural causes?”
“I follow the science, Mrs.Black.No more, no less.”
He glanced back at the machine, studying the results.“Your blood pressure is elevated, but not dangerously high.Your pulse is fast, but your EKG shows a normal sinus rhythm at this time.”
“And that means…?”I prompted.My mind flashed to the last time I’d died — twenty-seven seconds of no heartbeat, no breathing, and a vivid trip to the afterlife.When they brought me back, I came back different, with a psychic gift.A blessing and a curse, depending on the day.I didn’t want to experience death again to see what else I might wake up with.
“With your elevated heart rate, blood pressure, and slightly low oxygen levels,” he explained, “I think you’re experiencing angina, a temporary reduction of blood flow to the heart.”
He unlocked a cabinet, took out a small bottle of pills, and handed one to me.“This is sublingual nitroglycerin.Put it under your tongue.If the pain eases quickly, it’s a good indication that my diagnosis is correct.”
I popped the pill under my tongue.“Now-ah wahaat?”I mumbled, trying to talk around it.
“We wait.”
Gilly and Pippa hovered nearby, their faces drawn tight with worry.The fact that neither of them was talking only made me more anxious.But within minutes, the pressure in my chest started to ease.My breathing came easier, and the tension in my neck faded.
I frowned at Dr.Patel.“It worked.”
“That’s good news, Mrs.Black.”
“No, it means I have angina.”
“And it’s manageable,” he said calmly.“I’ll prescribe you some nitroglycerin to keep on hand during the cruise, and I want you to start taking a daily aspirin.It’ll help prevent another attack.”
I nodded numbly, trying to process it all.Angina wasn’t a death sentence, but it sure wasn’t something I wanted to add to my already complicated life.
“What about the cruise this week?Is there anything I should or shouldn’t do?”I asked him.
If he saidleave the investigating to the investigators, I was going to punch him.
“You should be fine,” he said instead.“Relax when you can, and if you can’t, stay vigilant about any signs of another attack.If you feel chest pain or pressure, take a nitroglycerin pill immediately.If you’re having pain before starting an activity, don’t do it.And when you get home after the cruise, make sure to follow up with a cardiologist.”
Fantastic.Getting older was so much fun.Not.
Still, it was better than the alternative.
“Also, I’d like you to come back for a check-up in a few days so I can recheck your blood pressure and see how you’re feeling.”
“I was really hoping this was just indigestion,” I muttered.
“Well, it’s not,” Gilly said, finally speaking again.“We’ll make sure she’s here for that check-up, Doc.”
“Avoid alcohol and smoking,” he said.“They can aggravate the condition.”
“Well, I’d hate to aggravate the angina,” I said a bit sarcastically.“That might piss it off.”I knew I was acting like a brat, so I course-corrected myself.“I’m sorry, Doctor Patel.I appreciate your advice and your help.I feel much better because of your expertise, and I won’t take that for granted.”
He looked mildly surprised at my apology, then genuinely pleased.“Thank you, Mrs.Black.People come to me sick and worried, and that can cause them to act like regular?—”
