For a moment, Martineau’s aptly articulated reasoning threw Kilburn off. He felt a fleeting moment of foolishness for even asking. But remembering the images of Parminder with her inflamed limb and her desperate husband, he quickly recovered. “From what I understand, Oraloxin has a novel mechanism of action at the cell wall level,” he said. “I hear Oraloxin’s results with MRSA, a similar bacterium to G.A.S., are staggeringly impressive.”

“Yes, but—”

“It stands to reason that there is a chance Oraloxin might work against a sister organism,” Kilburn said adamantly, “and it’s unlikely our patient’s G.A.S. would be resistant to an antibiotic that is a virgin to the bacterial community.”

“You make a convincing argument, Graham, I’ll give you that.” He chuckled, before his voice took on a faraway sound, as if their divide had suddenly widened. “But what you’re proposing is beyond the realm of compassionate release.”

Kilburn clenched his fist. “Why?”

“Because apart from a well-crafted premise, you don’t have a single shred of scientific evidence to back up your proposition,” Martineau said flatly. “Frankly, from Ellen’s description your patient sounds beyond hope for medical therapy even if we knew the bacteria would respond … might respond … to Oraloxin.”

“You don’t know it won’t,” Kilburn said, raising his voice.

“But you haven’t convinced us it will,” Martineau said in a more soothing voice. “Look, Graham, we have FDA approval for Oraloxin hovering over us any day.”

“What’s that got to do with anything?” Kilburn tapped his hand impatiently on the desk.

“Sadly, everything,” Martineau said. “The FDA review panel looks for any opportunity to reject a new drug.”

Kilburn fought the urge to crack the receiver on the desk. “And?”

“Imagine if your patient dies shortly after receiving our drug,” Martineau said. “And let’s be frank, Graham, you know that it is likely she will.”

“Are you seriously worried that some idiot might blame your drug for her death?” Kilburn asked, flabbergasted.

“You have to admit, someone might at least consider the possibility.”

“Fine,” Kilburn said. “I promise you there will be zero paper trail. Unless this drug works, no one will ever know we tried it. Just give me access to the samples of the real drug, and you won’t hear another word of it. Unless it works.”

“Now, Graham,” Martineau said, as if he’d been let down by a close friend. “You know I can’t do that. I would be fired. And I might even go to jail.”

Kilburn took three slow breaths, realizing that his fury wasn’t going to help his case. “Luc, this is off-the-record stuff. I will take one-hundred-percent responsibility. I will tell them I threatened you with a hatchet and a grenade, if you want. Just give me the damn access and let me worry about the fallout.”

Martineau didn’t respond.

“A baby is about to lose his mother.” Kilburn stressed.