Chapter 26 Religion Changes The Game #3
“Pain?” she said softly. “You are thanking me for the pain?”
“Because after talking with Billy last night,” he paused, “I’ve come to realize that pain helped to mold and shape me.
” He looked around the room. “Without it, there’s no way I’d be strong enough to handle this.
It seems everything I’ve ever been through has been God’s way of preparing me for what comes next.
If you hadn’t given me that pain, I’d never have met Carry or Veronica. ”
“Then I’m going to thank you for helping me get past my pain and seeing that Keith was there waiting for me the whole time. He’s a really good man.”
“He is indeed, Erica. If you go to see Veronica, would you let her know I said hello and I’m thinking about her too.”
“You’ve got it. Eat your breakfast you big lug. Girls, keep this man in line,” she said as she spun and left the room.
“WE WILL!” Frieda and Carry replied in unison.
“Now, Greg, we’ve got a special breakfast for you today.”
“Really Frieda?” Greg asked with reservation.
“A group of young girls came to staff our kitchen this morning, and they made this one just for you.” Frieda lifted the cover to reveal French Toast, an omelet, three slices of turkey bacon, fresh squeezed orange juice and a small side of salsa-roja.
“Genevieve?” he asked slowly and Frieda just nodded. “All four of them?”
“They wouldn’t take no for an answer and even made our kitchen staff sit back so they could make this. Those girls love you Greg.”
“And so do I,” Carry said as she leaned down and kissed him. He looked at her for a long second after. “Yes, Greg. I do love you.”
“But,” he stammered out. “What about Billy?”
“I’m trying to figure that out myself. I think I finally understand you. Veronica brings things that I don’t. Billy brings things that you don’t. And now, I’m having to choose whom to give my heart to.” She smiled softly. “Don’t worry about me.”
“Well, doc, how is she?” Billy asked while he sat there waiting for Steven to finish his examination.
“Tilde,” he said slowly. “I want this wound cleaned again. I don’t like this discoloration,” he said softly. “It shouldn’t look like this.”
“I agree doctor. I am at a loss myself. I’ve cleaned this wound four times on my shift.”
“Four?” Steven said puzzled. “And it’s still looking like this?”
“Concerned, Steven?” Erica said as she entered the room.
“Yes. Come look at this Erica. I don’t like this discoloration. Tilde asked me to pop in and check on this.” He pointed at the wound on Veronica’s left shoulder where the bullet had passed through the muscle tissue just above the bones. “Could it have chipped the bone and we missed it?”
“She’s had an MRI since,” Erica confirmed and looked down at the coloring. “Why is that a greenish yellow?” She froze in place, eyes going wide. Steven noticed and looked up trying to see what Erica was seeing.
“Slightly frothy,,,” he added and suddenly froze. Erica slowly looked down again. Steven lifted his gaze. “Heptamoliphinalaizen?” slipped out in a whisper.
“No,” she let out in a slow breath. “That’d mean the bullets were laced with poison from that Japanese eel.”
“Tilde, I need a fresh blood sample from her and Greg. We need the lab Erica.”
“My lab?” Mary said as she stopped in.
“Yes Mary, thank God you’re here. The bullets might have been laced with poison.”
“Then let’s get some samples going,” she said. Tilde was already getting the kit out. “Steven, I’ve got this, go get the samples from Greg.”
“Yes!” he said and sprinted out of the room.
“What’s wrong?” Veronica said as she saw the activity change.
“Veronica,” Erica said in a calm voice. "We believe that’s a reaction to poison.”
“Alright. And if it is a poison?” she asked, nervously.
“Then we’ve got an uphill battle in front of us. Mary, I’m going to call the Research Center. Gina will get everything ready for us.”
“I can get the analysis done here,” she said firmly.
“And I’ll have Gina patch our systems together,” Erica said. “We’ll use all the resources daddy built into Stamson Med. I’m not letting that little asshole reach out from the grave to use my research against me again.” Her face started to go red as she began to grit her teeth, almost fuming.
“Relax, Erica. If it’s what we think, you have the facilities to fight this. We just need to isolate the peptides so we know how to counteract this.”
“You’re right Mary. Thank you.”
“No Erica. Thank you for catching this.”
“I didn’t,” she replied humbly. “Tilde did,” she pointed over. “She deserves the credit for this catch.”
“Great job, Tilde. You Williamson sisters are pretty amazing nurses.”
“Thanks, Dr. Michaels. I’m just doing my job.”
“Exceptionally well,” Mary replied. “Please find Darren and update him.
“Right away, doctor,” Tilde said spinning around and jogging out the door.
“I’ve got the draw.” She turned toward Billy and waved him over. “I want you to watch Veronica closely. If there’s any hint of bluing around her lips, get someone in here ASAP. Understood?”
“Yes, Doctor Michaels.”
“Good.” She turned toward Veronica. “We are going to be extra cautious here, and I don’t want you to get alarmed, but if this is the poison we think, we are up against the clock.
We’re bringing all our resources to bear on this, and thanks to Tilde, we’ve got time to treat this before it crosses the point of no return. ”
“Very good, doctor. Thank you for explaining this to me. Will you do the same for Greg?” she asked. “I couldn’t stand to lose him now.”
“Knock, Knock,” Billy called as he leaned in from the doorframe to Veronica’s hospital room.
“Good morning, Billy. I thought you would be going to Synagogue already?”
“Come on, V. You know I can’t let you miss out on fellowship and worship after all that time we’ve spent on the tour attending together.”
“What about Carry?” she asked.
“She and Cassie are heading to Greg’s room. We’re supposed to meet them there.”
“Oh?” Veronica said. “So, how are things going between you three?”
“Look, V. Operation K1 is over, and I don’t have to pretend to be her boyfriend anymore.”
“That wasn’t what I was seeing, Billy. She actually is falling in love with you also. I can see that you love her the way I love Greg.” She gave him a stern look. “I know you are as willing to walk away as I am, but you should still fight for her if you truly love her.”
“I think I do,” he replied sheepishly. “I just don’t want it built on the lies and deceptions we did to protect everyone and draw out the killer.”
“It finally worked,” she admitted. “I’ve got the wounds to prove it.”
“Yeah, I know. And that poison thing,” he said with a tip of his Stetson. “You two really gave us a scare a few days ago.”
“Gave who a scare?” Erica asked from the doorway.
“Us!” Billy said. “All of us who love these two people.”
“Erica,” Veronica began softly. “I owe you an apology. I was so angry about what you’d done to Greg’s heart I never considered what was being done to yours.”
“Relax, Veronica. I’m only here to check your progress after four days of treatments, not rehash old wounds. I’ll never stop loving Greg, but it’s different now. He’s always going to be my first love, but I have to tell you that Keith Dankard has really surprised me.” Erica beamed with joy.
“So, you two are hitting it off?” Veronica asked with curiosity showing across her face, propping herself up on the bed a little.
“You could say that.” Erica moved over. “Billy, can you hold Veronica upright so I can check both sides of that shoulder wound?”
“Sure,” he said as he moved over and braced Veronica forward. “Can I ask you something, doc?”
“Sure,” Erica replied as she closely inspected the wound.
“Why was Veronica affected more than Greg? I mean this wound you’re looking at was the worst one.”
“Oh, well that’s fairly simple, Billy. This was the only wound that didn’t go through clothing.
It got the full dosage of the hybrid eel poison mixed with the opioid and heroin.
She got less in the ones that passed through Greg because the clothing and his body pulled poison off the projectile as it passed through each layer, then it went through another layer of her clothing.
She was a lucky woman that Nurse Tilde was so diligent in checking her wounds. ”
“You mean that the bullets were all laced with poison?” Billy said in surprise, noticing that Veronica also seemed a little shocked.
“Yes, and fortunately for us, they were using the same base. We knew what to use to slow it down while we found the correct antidote.” Erica straightened up. “I need to check your ribs, Veronica, and the other one.”
“Would you mind turning around Billy?”
“No problem, V,” he replied and pulled his Stetson down over his face as he turned away. “This good enough?”
“Yes, Billy. That’s fine. Now, while Erica is checking, tell me why you are feeling so reticent to try to win Carry?”
“Yeah,” Erica fired off. “I’d like to hear this too.
Please lift up, Veronica.” Veronica exposed her left breast so Erica could check the wound then.
“It’s looking better than I expected. Let me look at this bruising on your ribs here,” she said as she gently touched the slightly purplish skin.
Veronica winced a little. “Not bad. I’d say you can head home to convalesce tomorrow if everything checks out. ”
“Well, thank you doctor. Will Doctor Sanderson be by today?”
“He comes on after four, and Darren relieves him in the morning.” Erica straightened up and looked at Billy. “We’re waiting for your explanation.”
“I didn’t want to interrupt,” he started. “Can I turn around now?” Veronica covered back up, and nodded to Erica.
“Yes, Billy. It’s safe now,” she said. “What’s the problem with pursuing Carry Mitchelson?”
“Because I owe Greg. I can’t betray him like that. I hated this whole cloak and dagger thing these last several weeks.”
“You know she told him that she’s not sure of her heart,” Erica suggested.
“How do you know?” Billy said, stunned.