Track down any blood chemistry results.

Gabe made a mental note and filed it with what seemed like an infinite number of other mental notes.

"Well, Doc? How'd I do?"

"You seem fine."

"I feel fine."

"If you go to Baltimore, I go."

"I wouldn't have it any other way. You're my shaman . . . my healer. Gabe, I know you want to treat me very conservatively until you know what's going on, but I have this sort of demanding job and—"

"I know, pal. I know. I'm doing my best to work around that demanding job, although I'll grant you, it is a bit like redecorating the bathroom with an elephant in the tub."

"Nice image. I like it. Although we really should think in terms of donkeys rather than elephants."

"From now on, donkeys in the tub. Drew, there was a message waiting for me in the office. The consultant I sent for—the psychologist—is going to be here this evening. I want him to do an interview and complete battery of what we call neuropsychiatric testing on you—intelligence—probably beginning tomorrow."

"What did you say his name was?"

"Blackthorn. Dr. Kyle Blackthorn. He's a little . . . um . . . eccentric, but he's also incredibly insightful."

"I revere eccentric and insightful. Bring him on."

"I will." Gabe fixed his gaze on the president. "Drew, do you remember the tubes of blood I took from you the other night?"

"Not really."

"Well, I did. Three of them."

"For what?"

"For whatever tests I decided I wanted."

"Fine with me."

"Except that they're gone."

"What?"

"Gone. Missing. They disappeared from the medical clinic refrigerator sometime during the day after I drew them. Any ideas?"

The president looked genuinely nonplussed.

"I have no clue what could have happened, but I'll get Treat and my staff on it right away. It would seem that quite a few people have access to that office—the doctors, the nurses, the PAs."

"Plus a couple of paramedics and one admiral," Gabe added.

"Ah, yes, Admiral Ramrod. Well, I think if taking tubes of blood isn't in the Officer's Manual of Right and Proper Things to Do, Ellis didn't take them."

"Okay," Gabe said, virtually convinced from his patient's reaction that the man had no knowledge the tubes had vanished, let alone any responsibility for the theft, "for the time being, why don't you just let me keep my eyes and ears open. I don't think there's anything to be gained by making a big deal about it—at least not yet."

"Maybe they got thrown out by accident."

"Anything's possible. So, when and where for today's deal?"

"I think ten thirty. Someone will come by your office to get you. Admiral Wright and whoever's covering today have put together the medical team. From now on, when we're going on the road, I'll have you do it. Either way, they'll all know that so long as you're around, you're in charge."

"I like the way that sounds, Drew."