At this point a member of the House of Commons IT staff stepped forward and addressed Dr. Parker in a hushed tone.
‘Doctor, you can put the CD in the ‘Player’ if you so wish just to the right-hand side of you on the table.’
‘Wonderful! Now the entire world can see at first-hand this amazing discovery.’
Soon the entire world was staring at never seen before video images of the inside of a living tissue infected with MRSA.
‘Professor Lehman with the help of Dr. Martin Philips, developed iDrug using state of the art Nano Technology and state of the art imagery that we can see here today. The patient in this video, who had no hope of survival and is close to death here, was treated with iDrug combined with anti-inflammatory medication. The patient miraculously recovered in less than two days and in this slide, he can be seen sitting up in bed. At last the control of superbugs has been caught on camera. The process of neutralizing harmful pathogens by iDrug, while leaving surrounding healthy tissue unharmed, has been captured on this CD for all to see. Holding up the small vial in his left hand, Parker continued, ‘Dr. Martin Philips and Prof. Lehman developed iDrug before both men were murdered by an evil organization hell bent on depriving the human race of this great discovery. People around the world can now take great comfort from this development.’
With that, a spontaneous round of applause rippled around the large room while members of the media, the journalists and Peers of the Realm, not to mention some MP’s from the House of Commons who steadily drifted in after Parker started to speak, all applauded this good news.
‘I will take just a handful of questions from the media now. A more extensive press conference will follow when the full report has been published in approximately two weeks’ time.’
102
After ten minutes, Meyer finally held up his hand declaring Nicole Lehman and Dr. Parker could not answer any more questions at this stage and the press conference came to an end. Parker now seated beside Nicole stood up and whispered in her ear.
‘Raoul texted me. He knows a quick way out of here. Follow me. ‘
The couple quickly found Durand and followed him out of the conference room before taking the second door on the right in the main hall. They walked down a series of corridors and came to a fire-door exit. All three left the building and hurried along a narrow passageway arriving out onto a side street. No sooner had they spotted their driver and limousine discretely parked a short distance away, when a large group of paparazzi quickly made their way towards them with cameras flashing. They were promptly joined by journalists and TV reporters, all jostling with each other before they engulfed the trio.
‘We’ve been caught, ‘laughed Nicole smiling up at Parker while she raised her arms in a gesture of complete resignation and care-free abandon. She slowly pirouetted with her arms out stretched. Parker grabbed on to her and gave her a huge bear-hug in return. Durand just looked on and smiled. He could see the relief slowly sinking-in for both of them. The running has stopped. Their work has been completed. Lehman’s good news has been circulated around the world, which in time will change many people’s lives for the better. Now it was time to reflect and take stock of their achievements.
‘Ms. Lehman, it must be a great relief now this is all over. What are you going to do now you're a free woman?’
‘Oh, I expect I’ll go back to my home in Zurich and try to pick up the pieces of my life as best I can without Karl.’
‘What's the most immediate thing you want to do now?’
‘Get far away from here!’
Parker and Nicole embraced each other in front of the paparazzi, making their day while the cameras clicked and flashed in a frenzy of activity.
‘Steady on Dr. Parker’ whispered Nicole in his ear while she stood in his close embrace staring into his eyes. ‘Is this only for the cameras?’
As the TV cameras continued to roll, the pair turned around and waved farewell to Durand before climbing into the waiting limousine. Nicole rolled down the window and smiled for the media before turning around and speaking softly to Parker.
‘I can finally go home now, Harry. It’s over.’
‘Everything?’
‘We won’t forget. We have our memories Harry. It’s all we’re left with.’
‘And last night?’
‘It happened. It had to. It will live forever in my memory.’
‘I thought we could have got together?’
‘It’s much too soon for us Harry. Karl is….’
‘Perhaps later, in the spring time maybe, we can.…’Parker leaned across and gently kissed her on the cheek.
‘Perhaps!’
The large black car slowly turned around and gracefully departed the scene. It gradually gathered speed before it travelled down the street, eventually moving out of sight leaving Durand and the large group of paparazzi with certain unanswered questions.
-End-
The Karl Lehman Affair Page 32