“Those who are sick are a variety of ages and genders, which rules out something like bacteria in the pond. And as for food poisoning, people usually recover within a day.” She brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “I ran some tests and found shigella.”
David raised an eyebrow. “Shigella?”
“It’s a bacteria. It can be a nasty one.”
“Where’s the source?”
“That’s what I haven’t figured out.”
“Well, what do the patients have in common?”
“Justthat.” Dok rolled a pen back and forth under her hand. “They’re all my patients, and they were all seen in the office this week, but not for stomach problems.”
David scratched his head. “So ... the link is ... your medical office?”
Oh no. Dok’s eyes widened as a thought struck her. “Wait a minute. Annie mentioned a plumbing problem earlier this week.” She went to the door and called Annie’s name.
A moment later, Annie appeared, hovering in the doorway. As soon as her eyes landed on the bishop seated inside, she visibly shrank back.
“Did I do something wrong?” Annie’s voice wavered, her posture already retreating.
“No, no,” Dok said, trying to ease her tension. David was such a kind man, but he often had this kind of effect on others. Especially someone as shy as Annie. “Just a quick question. A few days ago, you mentioned something about the plumbing?”
Annie blinked, looking even more uneasy. “Plumbing?”
“Yes, the plumbing issue. Something about Charlie working in the basement?”
“Oh.” Annie’s hands fidgeted with the hem of her apron. “Charlie was working downstairs and asked me to call a plumber. The water wasn’t working anywhere in the building, so I was going to ... but...”
“But?” Dok said, watching Annie’s gaze drop to the tops of her shoes. Not a good sign. The poor girl looked like she wanted to melt into the floor. She felt a hitch in her gut.
Annie swallowed hard. Her voice lowered a few notches. “Someone in the waiting room volunteered to help.”
Dok and David exchanged a look. “Who?” they said in unison.
“Hank Lapp.” Her voice was small and whispery.
“Oh boy,” David muttered.
Dok dropped her chin to her chest. Of all people! Hank meant well, but disasters followed him.
“Hank said he had experience,” Annie said. “And ... the water came back on before you returned to the office.”
David crossed his arms over his chest. “How long was the water off?”
“Just about an hour.”
He frowned, clearly puzzled. “But why aren’t you sick, Ruth? And you, Annie?”
Dok thought back to that afternoon. She’d returned to the office, expecting to face angry patients who’d been kept waiting. Instead, they were eating doughnuts and drinking coffee. Her eyebrows shot up. “Coffee!”
“Coffee?” David said.
“They all drank coffee. Those are the patients who are now sick. It’s the water.” Dok squeezed her eyes shut. “I wonder if Hank mixed up the pipes.”
“Oh boy,” David said.
“Annie,” Dok said, folding her arms, “why was everyone drinking coffee in the first place?”
