Chapter Eighty-One

“Are you sure?” Arnold snapped from behind his desk.

“The test results aren’t back yet, but I’m pretty sure it’s botulism,” said Trapper, trying to sound calm. There was no point in Arnold seeing him aggravated. It would only set him off worse than he already was. “The husband was eating kimchi when he collapsed. From the looks of it, homemade.”

“What the devil is kimchi?”

“It’s cabbage and hot spices that’s allowed to ferment. It’s a Korean staple. Most of the time, it’s not cooked, so without careful preparation, it can easily breed bacteria.”

Arnold grimaced. “Have we confirmed it was homemade? I’d hate to think it’s been served to the public.”

Taking a deep breath, Trapper rubbed his forehead. “No, neither patient is conscious. We’ve had to intubate the woman.” At that moment, Trapper’s pager went off. “May I?” he asked, motioning toward the phone.

“Of course,” Arnold said, flipping through a rolodex on his desk. “I’ll call myself. I don’t want the entire staff to know the CDC might be coming here. This could destroy our budget if it gets out.”

“This is Dr. McIntyre,” said Trapper into the phone. “Budget? I’d think that would be the least of your worries. Yes, I’ll hold. They’re transferring me to Stanley.”

“If the public gets wind of a contagion here, even if it’s food borne, they won’t come here for care until the CDC pronounces the condition is clear.”

“Stanley, Trapper.”

“John, Gloria told me you ordered some tests for botulism. I think we have two cases in emergency. They present with the correct symptoms.”

“Are either conscious?”

“Yes, but I don’t know that they’ll be for long. If you want to talk to them, you’d better get down here now.”

“I’m on my way. Arnold,” said Trapper, hanging up the phone and heading for the door. “We’ve got two more possible cases in emergency. I’ll let you know.”

***

Leah was so engrossed in her schematics that she didn’t look up when someone knocked on her door and stepped in until she heard them clear their throat. “Speak,” she said without looking up.

“You really haven’t changed, have you?”

“No, not really. Not when it comes to work. What can I do for you, Frieda?”

Frieda chuckled nervously. “I think I might have a little problem that I thought…maybe…you could help with.”

“What kind of problem?” asked Leah, taking a ruler and drawing a set of lines on the diagram.

She didn’t see, but Frieda was wringing her hands as she stepped forward. “Do you mind if I sit down?”

Twisting her mouth, Leah stopped drawing, carefully set the ruler to the side, and then looked up. “Whatever this problem is, it isn’t good, is it?”

“No. But it has nothing to do with work…per se.”

Bringing her fist up to her mouth, Leah looked at Frieda sideways. “Spill it.”

“I’ve tested positive for…gonorrhea.”

Leah folded one hand over the other and dropped her chin on them. “How many partners have you had?”

“Oh, eight, nine…twelve.”

“All here?” asked Leah angrily.

“Where else? I don’t know anyone in this city but the people in this hospital.”

“You realize that because I’m a member of the board here, I have to report this, don’t you.”

“I was hoping we could keep this between ourselves…and of course, the men involved.”

“Have you told them yet?”

“Well, no. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. You see, it might go easier if you asked Trapper, and then Trapper could tell them. They respect him, and coming from a man, maybe it wouldn’t be so embarrassing. Anyway, one of them gave it to me, so it’s better to catch the real culprit that way, isn’t it?”

Leah was already shaking her head. “That one man isn’t the one who spread it to eleven other men. Oh no. Gonzo, too. And then whoever he’s been with. Frieda, do you realize how big your little problem could be? Did any of these men have wives?”

“I’ll understand if you want my resignation. I’m sure it would be awkward for everyone if I stayed. But then, you made me sign a contract.”

“Frieda, I expect all my people to act professionally in this hospital…at all times.” She took a deep, calming breath that didn’t see to calm her much. “Yes, I would like your resignation. I’ll let you out of your contract. Under the circumstances, I don’t think it’s fair that you stay given the men you slept with have probably been here longer than you have. Can you, at least, give me their names?”

“Yes. Here’s a list. That’s all but two.”

“What do you mean ‘all but two’”? Leah asked angrily.

“I…I didn’t get their names.”

“That does me no good. If we don’t know who all of them are, every male in this hospital will have to be notified to get checked, and everyone they’ve been in contact with will have to be notified as well. And it goes on and on. Do you have any idea just how bad this can get? I don’t think you’ll want to stay here anyway. All the men in this hospital will think you’re a nasty…”

“Okay, I get it,” said Frieda defensively, holding her hands up. Can you give me an hour? I need to collect my things. I’ll call you with a forwarding address to send my last check.” She rose to leave, but turned back. “I hope I haven’t disappointed you too much.”

Glaring at her, Leah measured her delivery. “You have no idea. No i-dea. I was counting on you.”

Bowing her head, she muttered, “I’m sorry,” before she left the office.

Leah exhaled, turning her chair around and facing the wall with her arms crossed and her eyes closed. This was all going to fall in her lap. She’s the one that brought Frieda in. Taking one more breath, she said, “Well Leah, just get it over with,” as she stood, leaving her office and heading for the elevator. When she stepped out, she head directly for Trapper’s office, but Ernie stopped her.

“He’s not there.”

“Oh. Where is he?”

“Emergency. Seems there’s an epidemic going on at the moment.”

“Huh?” said Leah, apprehensively.

“Mm hm. We have two people up here, and now there’s two more in emergency.”

Creasing her brow, she said faintly, “Oh no.”

“Don’t worry,” said Ernie, chuckling. “There’s no way you could be infected.”

Leah snorted, “Yeah, right. Uh…I’ll just go down to emergency.”

When she boarded the elevator, she leaned against the back wall and closed her eyes. “This can’t be happening.” Outside the elevator, things looked normal. Gloria was at the nurse’s station doing paperwork, and Jackpot was reviewing some charts. “Gloria, can you tell me where Trapper is? Ernie said he’s down here.”

“He’s with a patient at the moment.”

“Okay. I’ll wait,” said Leah with a worried look.

“Is everything alright?” asked Gloria.

“There’s an epidemic, isn’t there?”

“Well yes, but don’t worry about Trapper. He’s not at any risk.”

“No, I’d think not. I’ll just wait over here,” she said, pointing across the hallway.

***

Stanley handed Trapper a chart. “This is Mr. Liang. As you can see, his blood pressure is elevated. He’s complaining of severe nausea and tightening in his throat. I’ve already ordered a complete blood count.”

Trapper finished reading the chart. “Have the lab check his fluids for botulism as well.” Stepping to the side of the bed, he said, “Mr. Liang, I’m Dr. McIntyre. We’re going to be doing some further tests to find out what’s going on. Have you by chance eaten anywhere you don’t normally eat recently?”

With his eyes closed, Mr. Liang said, “Namkoong’s Kitchen.”

“Is that a restaurant?” The man nodded. “Stanley, let me know when the test results are back, and find out if the other patient you have down here ate at Namkoong’s Kitchen.”

As he rounded the corner at the nurse’s station, Gloria stopped him. “Trapper?” she said, pointing to Leah leaning against the wall further down the hall.

“Thanks, Gloria. Leah?”

“Trapper, what happened to your patient?”

“He’ll be fine, but we apparently do have an epidemic on our hands.”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”

“Trapper,” called Dr. Riverside. “Just as you suspected. They ate at the same restaurant,” said Stanley on his way down the hall.”

“Restaurant?” asked Leah.

“Yes, seems the four we know about got it in a restaurant.”

Leah’s grimaced. “In a restaurant. That’s just… It’s worse than I thought.”

“Me, too. I thought it was limited to just the two people upstairs, but this thing could be widespread.”

“We have to call the CDC.”

“Arnold’s already aware of the problem. He’s probably on the phone with them now.”

“Arnold? H-how does Arnold know?”

“Well, I told him, of course. Let’s get out of this hall,” he said, taking her arm and guiding her to the elevator.

Once in the elevator, she asked. “How did you find out?”

“Gonzo has two patients upstairs he asked me to look at. They presented with neurological signs.”

“Oh. I didn’t know it could get that bad.”

“Those are the standard symptoms…lethargy, problems swallowing, muscle weakness.”

“Really. I had no idea,” she said as they stepped out of the elevator toward his office.

“Yes, and now we know the source.”

“You do?” Leah looked away with wide eyes wondering how he could possibly know. “Did Frieda say something on her way out?”

“Frieda?” Trapper asked, looking confused.

“Yes, well, she’s the one that spread it.”

Trapper narrowed his eyes as he closed his door behind her and walked over to his desk. “How could Frieda have started it?”

“Come on, Trapper,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Gonzo told you she was too prolific for even him.”

He laughed. “What does Frieda’s promiscuity have to do with a botulism epidemic?”

“Botulism? Oh. I thought…oh,” she repeated, wincing. “Maybe you’d better sit down.”