“A few personal problems,” Marissa said. “I’ll be all right. Thank you for your concern.”

Undeterred, Dr. Houser stepped into the room. Marissa could see that someone was with him. With some surprise, she immediately recognized Cyrill Dubchek.

“I hope I’m not intruding,” Cyrill said.

Flustered, Marissa stood up, straightening her hair.

“Dr. Dubchek told me you and he worked together at the CDC,” Dr. Houser said. “When the receptionist called me to say that you weren’t seeing visitors, I thought it was time for me to intervene. I hope I’ve done the right thing.”

“Oh, of course!” Marissa said. “I had no idea it was Dr. Dubchek. Cyrill, I’m so sorry. Come in, sit down.” Marissa gestured toward an empty chair. She hadn’t seen Cyrill for several years, but he’d not changed one iota. As usual he was impeccably dressed and was still as handsome as ever.

Thinking of her own appearance, Marissa became acutely self-conscious. She knew she looked as terrible as she felt, especially with all her recent bouts of tears.

“I think I’ll let you two have some privacy,” Dr. Houser said tactfully. With that, he quickly left and closed the door.

“He told me you’ve been having quite a time with this infertility treatment,” Cyrill told her.

“It has been a strain,” Marissa admitted. She collapsed into her desk chair. “Only moments ago I learned that the last embryo transfer was not successful. So I’m afraid I’ve been crying—again. I’ve been doing more than my share of crying over the last few months.”

“I’m so sorry,” Cyrill said. “I wish there was some way I could help. But you look fine.”

“Please!” Marissa said. “Don’t look at me. I can’t bear to imagine what I look like.”

“It’s a bit hard to have a conversation without looking at you,” Cyrill said with a sympathetic smile. “Although it is true you look as if you’ve been crying, you still look as pretty as ever to me.”

“Let’s change the subject,” Marissa said.

“Then I’ll tell you why I stopped by,” Cyrill said. “I had to fly up here on other business, but early this morning one of the people over in bacteriology came to my office with the news that there has been one other concentrated area of TB salpingitis cases like the ones you are interested in.”

“Oh?”

“The location surprised me,” Cyrill said. “Would you care to guess?”

“I don’t think I have the mental strength,” Marissa said.

“Brisbane,” Cyrill said.

“Australia?”

“Yup, Brisbane, Australia. It’s part of what they call over there the Gold Coast.”

“I’m not even sure where on the Australian continent Brisbane is,” Marissa confessed.