Louise stood so close that Kilburn could smell the remnants of cigarette smoke along with the toothpaste and perfume that she used to conceal her habit. “How’s that Gurdev going to manage alone with his son?” she asked. “He doesn’t sound like much more than a boy himself.”

“I don’t know, Louise. I truly don’t.”

She frowned. “And you?”

“What about me?” he asked, stepping back.

“Not your best week.”

“No,” Kilburn agreed. “I’ve lost two in a row.”

“C’mon, Dr. Kilburn, don’t give me that,” she growled. “You didn’t lose anyone. They had the best. The damn shame is that no one or nothing could help them.”

Kilburn nodded. He had no illusions about being ‘the best,’ but he doubted anyone could have done more for Tom Mallek or Parminder Singh. Who’s next? he wondered again miserably.

As if reading his mind, Louise asked, “How many others are going to go the way of Thomas and Parminder? Or Annie and Gurdev, for that matter.”

Kilburn shrugged. “If this bug spreads into the community …” He left the remark unfinished.

Louise stared at him in rare silence. From her furrowed brow, Kilburn knew she had more to tell him. “What, Louise?”

She limped over to her desk and grabbed two pieces of paper. “I considered hiding this for a while, but you’re going to see it sooner or later.”

He walked over and took the pages from her. He flipped past the fax cover page with CONFIDENTIAL emblazoned across it and scanned the brief letter from the hospital’s medical director. Even before he read the opening “we regret to inform you” clause, he knew that his hospital privileges had been suspended.

“Thanks,” he said, handing the papers back to her.

“That’s it?” Louise said, looking incensed. “Why, Dr. Kilburn? Why would they do that?”

“I broke the rules,” he said with a shrug. “I deserve this.”

Her eyes narrowed. She shook her head vehemently. “Not buying it.”

“You really want to know?”

She sat back in her chair and eyed him expectantly.

Kilburn briefed Louise on his unauthorized access to the trial drug Oraloxin. Then he said: “I can’t blame them, too much. I left them in a delicate position, legally.”

“Screw their legal position! And screw them,” Louise croaked. “You were trying to save a woman’s life. What’s that count for?”

“Not much apparently, if you don’t actually save her,” he said softly.

Without another word, Louise’s head disappeared under her desk. When she emerged, she held a bottle of scotch bourbon in one hand and two plastic cups in the other. She flashed an impish smile. “Good news, Dr. Kilburn. I’m better prepared than last time.” She shook the bottle gently in her hand.

Kilburn laughed affectionately. “Tempting, but I better not,” he said. “I’ve got a long drive ahead of me. You go ahead.”