“A Rottweiler and some kind of large shepherd mix. Two of them. I know dogs and these two meant business. They weren’t some hunter’s bird dogs.” He opened his eyes and looked around the room again. “Haley? Where’d she go?”
“A staff member’s taking good care of her, Cam. Your wife is on her way. Try telling me more about the dogs and what section of the forest you were in.”
Cam gave precise directions and the forest trail number then laid his head back against the pillow. “I’d seen dog tracks earlier but I didn’t think much about it. I’ve been all over the state and never had problems with mean dogs before. I couldn’t let them get to Haley.”
“What did you do?”
“I plowed a new trail through the brush for about a hundred feet, then rerouted to the real trail and raced back through the creek. We’d have been okay except for that creek. I hit the water so hard we fishtailed sideways and got stuck in sand. I had to get off to push. The dogs caught up with us just as I got the tires clear. I yelled at Haley to drive back to the truck as fast as she could and not to look back.”
“And the dogs attacked you then?”
“They did until Haley charged at ‘em with the four-wheeler.” There was a hint of parental pride in his voice. “She wouldn’t leave me with them dogs. Stinkin’ monsters.”
“I’m surprised you got away with no more injury than this, even with the leather jacket.”
Cam blinked up at him. “Hear what I said, Doc? Stinkin’. Wasn’t skunk. They smelled almost like they’d been rolling in a rotten carcass but it was different...sharper. Chemical. That scent lingered with me halfway to town.”
Grant turned and gestured to the secretary again. “Vivian, get Sergeant Dalton on the phone for me.” He leaned toward Cam. “It doesn’t sound like rabies to me.”
Tragically, it could be something much more dangerous and difficult to destroy.
Chapter 9
Grant Sheldon stepped into William’s exam room and laid a chart on the counter. He looked frustrated.
“Let me guess.” William knew the answer before Grant could say a word. “The results were all normal.”
“No change from last time.” Grant pulled the exam stool to the bed and sat down. “When’s the last time you took a vacation?”
“This spring.”
“How long were you out of the hospital then?”
“Three days.”
“That isn’t a vacation, it’s a weekend. Some people get those several times a month.” Grant took the stethoscope from around his neck and positioned the bell on William’s chest. It was cold.
William waited, watching Grant’s friendly gray eyes as they narrowed.
“Sounds healthy, doesn’t it?” William asked as Lauren entered the room.
“It sounds normal,” Grant said.
“That’s great,” Lauren said.
“Then you aren’t going to convince me to take time off,” William said. “Not now.”
“Not even if I threaten to call Jade?” Grant asked.
“You wouldn’t.”
“What kind of a vacation could you possibly take in three days?”
“I went turkey hunting with my nephew in Ohio.”
“Did you enjoy it?” Lauren asked.
“Most of it. We didn’t get a turkey and the creeping critters were bad, especially for early May.”
“Take some time off,” Grant said. “Doctor’s orders.”
“There isn’t any time to take,” William said. “This fight with the insurance companies is heating up.”
“That fight can go on without you for a week.”
William held Grant’s gaze. “How important do you think this is?”
“Could mean the difference between winning that fight and saving your health,” Grant said. “There’s a problem, Will. Just because we haven’t found it doesn’t mean it isn’t there. I want other studies done, other specialists consulted.”
“So you don’t think it’s heart but it’s something.”
Grant nodded.
“I might consider it if I knew I had qualified help to keep things running while I’m gone. I would need someone with good administrative abilities who can handle hardheaded troublemakers.”
Grant frowned. “I’m not sure I like where this discussion is headed. I’m not asking you to take a month, Will, just a week or so.”
William called up all powers of persuasion he possessed. “As I said, I’m needed here now. If I knew someone was here….”
Grant sighed. “I’ll take care of things while you’re gone.”
“You’re serious?”
“Maybe I should have asked what I’d be getting myself into.”
“The question to ask is what you’d be preventing. I need to appoint you as acting administrator to keep a certain chief of staff from causing mayhem in the hospital while I’m gone.”
Grant nodded his understanding. “Dr. Caine.”
“As acting administrator you’d have authority over him. You could keep him in line.”
“Hold it.” Lauren looked up suddenly from her chart. “William, what did you say about creeping critters a few moments ago? Are you talking about ticks?”
“That’s right. No hunter can avoid them.”
“And you were in the state of Ohio?”
A frown marred the handsome evenly lined features of Grant’s face. “You didn’t get a bite did you, Will?”
“How am I supposed to remember that? It’s nothing unusual. I do recall that they were all over the place and it was an irritation. I find it ironic that we were hunting for a tick predator. Turkeys dine on—”
“You don’t remember if you received a bite?” Grant asked.
“In our family you aren’t considered to be a hunter unless you’ve been—”
“Did any ticks become embedded in the skin?” Grant spoke a little more sharply this time.
“I grew up on a farm. We always had ticks and—”
“Will.”
“I know what you’re getting at but I don’t remember any bull’s-eye rash. I didn’t develop flu symptoms or any irritation around a site.”
“That only happens about two-thirds of the time—some experts say even less. You didn’t take anything to prevent Lyme disease after you came out of the woods?”
“If I did that I would be gulping antibiotics every few weeks. I like to get out into the woods here when I can.” William thought for a moment. “I do remember one particularly irritating place when I was in Ohio. But it didn’t get infected.”
“So you did get a bite?” Grant asked.
“I don’t know. It was in...an unreachable area where I couldn’t get a good look.” Now that my wife is gone there’s nobody to...well...”
“Ever heard of a hand mirror?” Lauren asked. “I use one every time I go fishing.”
“My friend,” Grant said, “what if you’re experiencing an advanced stage of Lyme disease? You of all people should know that if it’s allowed to invade the body without a fight it can mimic stroke and cardiac symptoms, fibromyalgia, MS…a huge number of illnesses. Even though those symptoms aren’t the real thing they can be dangerous if allowed to continue.”
William slumped back against his pillow feeling a strange mixture of relief and consternation. And embarrassment. “Okay.” He let the idea soak in. “Test me for it.” He held his arm out. “Draw another vial if you have to. If that’s what this is, do whatever it takes to get me back on my feet and behind my desk.”
“This could take some significant time to clear up.”
William closed his eyes and moaned. After years of healthy service his body was most definitely letting him down.
“Don’t worry,” Grant assured him, “I’ll be here to help with the load.”
There was a knock at the door and at Grant’s word of permission, Vivian stepped in. “Dr. Sheldon, there’s a private call for you in your office.”
“Would you take a message for me
? I’ll return the call in a few minutes.”
“I think this might be one you’ll want to take.”
Something about her voice drew Will’s attention. He looked at her, then at Grant. “Go on, Grant. Take Lauren with you. I’m probably not in much danger for a while.”
***
Jessica stepped into Archer’s office as he was pulling on his jacket to go out looking for her. Her wavy golden brown hair fell in tangles over her shoulders, her cheeks were flushed from wind and exertion, and her hazel eyes danced with some unnamed excitement. She peeled off her jacket and draped it across two branches of the brass hall tree in the corner of the large room.
“Did you have a good walk?” Archer asked.
“It was very enlightening. I think I’m going to enjoy this business more than I expected.” Her long-legged stride carried her across the room with casual grace. She wrapped her arms around him and kissed him soundly on the lips.
For a moment he forgot everything else and enjoyed the impact of her loving presence, the softness of her arms, the unique fragrance of her lilac perfume combined with the fresh scent of physical exertion from her energetic movements during her afternoon show.
He frowned, however, with one uncomfortable term still ringing in his mind. “Business?”
She released him with obvious reluctance. “Hmm?”
“What business are you referring to?”
“Oh that. Oops, I should have said ministry. Slip of the tongue. You know, music business, counseling business. At any rate, I think I’m actually going to enjoy this aspect of being a pastor’s wife.”
“Oh. That’s good. I’m... glad.” He turned away and reached up to adjust a book in the shelf beside his desk. What counseling business was she talking about?
Jessica stood in the middle of the office in silence for a few seconds. When he continue to peruse the books she stepped up behind him. “Why do I get the feeling that you aren’t as thrilled about this as I am?”
He knew that if he hesitated to reassure her this was going to become an issue. Still, he would not lie to her. “I guess it’s something I’m going to have to think through because I honestly don’t know, Jess.” He turned to face her. “I didn’t realize you were going to be meeting with people as a counselor. I thought we’d agreed that the demands of the church weren’t going to swallow you alive the way it does some spouses. What kind of counseling are you doing?”
The light in her eyes lost some of its sheen. “Oh Archer. I’m sorry. Maybe we should have talked about it before I did this. Of course you’d be upset. Why didn’t I think? I mean, you attended school, you studied long hours, disciplined yourself to earn the privilege to listen to the troubles of your church members, and here I am talking about it as if it’s just an easy career adjustment for me.”
He frowned. “You were actually counseling Lucy about a problem she has?”
“Of course not as a professional counselor but she asked me last week when we met if I would be willing to talk to her about... something.”
He waited. She didn’t explain further.
“I hope I didn’t hurt your feelings when I went walking away with her like that,” she said. “I know this was supposed to be a day for us but I came early just to meet with her.”
“I understand that.” The curiosity was becoming uncomfortable. Did he have a right to ask for more information? Didn’t married couples share everything together? Yet they wouldn’t be married for two more weeks.
“So Lucy has a...personal problem and asked to talk with you about it?”
Jessica nibbled on her lower lip and studied his face in silence for a moment. “Yes. I’m sorry, I don’t think she would want me to betray a confidence.”
Ouch. “Of course not.” Especially not to him, the enemy in Lucy’s opinion. There was his answer. Jessica was right but it still rankled and for a moment and he couldn’t figure out why. Jealousy?
Could be. Easily.
Or maybe it was something else. “I wouldn’t want to see anyone take advantage of your relationship with me.”
“Take advantage? In what way?”
“I couldn’t miss the sudden change in Lucy’s behavior when she realized who you were the other day.”
“I get that all the time. I can handle it. What’s the problem?” Jessica asked.
He sighed. He wasn’t wording this very well. “Other than the fact that I’m bungling this badly, I just worry that, as one of your more enthusiastic fans, she might have used the opportunity of meeting you in the hospital to take advantage of—”
“Oh, that.” She grinned and waved her hand in dismissal. “I just think she’s star struck. If she is she’ll get over it. Meanwhile maybe she’ll listen to what I have to say.”
That didn’t comfort him.
She reached up and gently laid her hand across his jawline. “When I’m your wife, I intend to shoulder some of the responsibilities that come with the territory. I know you feel it would be a burden to me but I can’t help feeling just as strongly that it will be more of a blessing. Don’t sell me short, Archer. I can do more than sing, you know.”
There was a knock at the door and Mrs. Boucher stuck her head inside. “Do you mind if I go home or would you prefer I stay and play chaperone so Netz doesn’t drive by and see your cars alone in the parking lot and jump to another stupid conclusion? Gary’s still vacuuming in the basement. He’ll lock up.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Boucher, you can leave,” Archer said. Bless her, she was protective of him since that last uncomfortable misunderstanding with the deacons. “We’re leaving too. I can hear Jessica’s stomach growling.”
“Correction,” Jessica said, “that growling is coming from your stomach. Thanks for the reminder, Shirley. We’re on our way out right now.”
The secretary said good night and left the door open.
“Archer.” Jessica turned back to him. “Honey, I know you’re not accustomed to sharing the pastorate with someone else. You’ve struggled for years to be taken seriously in this church because people keep comparing you to your father.”
He gave her a reluctant smile. “I’m sure that’s one of my reasons but there’s more to it than that. I don’t want the more dependent members of our congregation to manipulate your life so you will resemble their own personal idol of grace. They can’t force you to mold yourself to their expectations.”
“Lucy isn’t a member of this church.”
“No, she’s an ardent fan from Springfield who might taking advantage of your kindness.”
She took his arm and walked with him out of the office. “I promise I won’t meddle in your job but I think I can help with this one.”
“I don’t think you’re meddling.” He didn’t know exactly what she was doing but Jessica wasn’t a meddler. He stepped with her out into the brisk November air. “How do you plan to help Lucy?” He knew he was being shameless in his quest for information.
“I need to get to know her better but I think she needs to understand what Evan’s going through, how he feels. I’ve heard him remark a couple of times that his mom and stepfather are glad he isn’t living with them. I don’t know where he gets that idea.”
“They’re newlyweds. It’s natural for them to want to have some time alone.”
“She loves her son very much but I don’t think she has any idea about how to show that love.”
“Maybe she could start by telling him how she feels.”
“I think she needs to identify those feelings for herself before she can help him.”
“I take it you told her that already.”
Jessica slanted him one of her “Do you have to ask?” looks.
“Of course you did. Silly of me.”
She grinned at him. “I’m starved. When do we eat?”
He kissed her again. For now, those tidbits of information would have to satisfy his curiosity.
***
Lauren was completing the last of her charts when Grant
stepped out of his office and then leaned against the doorframe. He looked as if he’d just been punched in the stomach. His gaze roved the department until it focused on her.
She dropped her chart on the desk and went to him. “What is it?”
He motioned for her to follow him into his office then closed the door. “That phone call for me was an attorney with General.”
“The hospital where you worked in St. Louis?”
He nodded. “A patient died in my emergency room two years ago, though not on my watch. Six months ago I was served interrogatories for a malpractice lawsuit. The document named three physicians and the hospital.”
“And you’re one of those physicians.”
“Don’t look so shocked,” he said. “It happens to doctors all the time. When the sheriff served the papers last spring I filled them out and sent them back, made a call to the hospital’s attorneys and I didn’t think any more about it. I knew from intensive follow-up research that I had met standard of care.”
She watched the play of frustration across his face. “I take it someone disagrees.”
He pulled a chair out for her and sat beside her. “Apparently. I never expected it to go this far. The patient had myasthenia gravis.”
She grimaced as she leaned forward in her seat. Those cases could be deadly. “So her muscles wore out and she became too tired to breathe?”
“That’s right.”
“Should you be telling me this? I mean, don’t the attorneys warn you not to talk to anyone about the case?”
“Who would call you to testify?”
“The plaintiff’s attorney could send someone here to do some mole work.” She glanced at the door, then at the vent to her right. “Hold it a minute. I need to check one thing.” She walked out of the office and checked the supply room next door. No one was there. She pulled the door shut behind her so they would hear if anyone opened it, then rejoined Grant in his office.
“Sorry,” she returned to her seat. “You know how voices carry through that vent. We don’t want to take chances. So tell me.”
“Let’s just say there was a bed shortage in ICU and we had to hold her in the department until something opened up. She was still in ER when we had shift change, and my replacement, Dr. Teschlow, blew off my report and my diagnosis. After I left he gave her a drug that killed her. He stated later that I had not properly reported her condition. My documentation showed that I told him about it twice.”
NECESSARY MEASURES Page 9