Lopez reached for the cell phone clipped to her belt. Keeping one eye on the road lines, which shifted in and out of visibility, she scrolled through the list of previously dialed calls and chose the long distance number. A husky voice answered on the second ring. “Dr. Kilburn’s office. This is Louise.”

“Hello, this is Dr. Lina Lopez calling from Seattle.”

“Seattle! I love that town,” Louise rasped. “Honest to God, that Northgate Mall has the best shopping in all of North America.”

“Okay,” Lopez said, simultaneously amused and bemused by Louise’s digression. “I’m looking for Dr. Kilburn.”

“You and half the doctors on this planet, honey,” Louise said with a laugh. “But he’s not in today.”

Despite the secretary’s unusual phone etiquette, Lopez warmed to her. “I’m with the CDC, Louise. It’s extremely important I speak to him.”

“Listen, Dr. Lopez, you’ve got me convinced,” she sighed. “But I’ve got the who’s who of the medical establishment and the media hounding my doctor day and night. Between you and me, I don’t know how much more he can take.”

Lopez changed tacks. “Sounds like he’s lucky to have you there to protect him.”

“Dr. Lopez, you’re just too sweet,” Louise grunted a cough. “I’ll sit here and listen to your flattery all day long if you want, but I have to warn you, it isn’t going to help your cause.”

“I give up, Louise,” Lopez said. “Truth is we—I—really need Dr. Kilburn’s help. We have an outbreak here similar to the one in Vancouver. And I understand that he has more experience than anyone facing this new superbug.”

“Hmmm,” Louise said. “I’ll give you this. You’re more convincing than that jackass from the local news who keeps calling me. That boy reminds me of my high school prom date. Just won’t take no for an answer.” She chuckled a cough again. “That reporter is heading for the same well-placed kick my prom date got.”

Lopez suddenly slammed on the brakes as a car swerved into her lane without signaling. “Asshole!” she muttered and hit her horn.

“You talking about me or the reporter?” Louise asked.

“Sorry, Louise, I was just cut off,” Lopez said distractedly. “So this bug has hit the news in Vancouver?”

“Oh, yeah,” Louise sighed. “Page three today. No doubt, front page tomorrow. The media can’t get enough of this kind of stuff. Nothing terrifies the public like a new bug.”

Lopez blew out her cheeks. “Great.”

“I’ll tell you what,” Louise said. “I’ll give you Dr. Kilburn’s cell number. That’s the best way to reach him. But I have to warn you, even that’s hit and miss. He misplaces the thing all the time.” She laughed heartily. “I’m thinking about having it surgically attached to him.”

Lopez memorized the phone number. “Okay, Louise, thanks.”