“Why? What did you learn?” Ava asked.
“Lacey said something about Sandra complaining about dust on the tents, and if she had a higher exposure, like the other two, then it would make sense if it was something on the tents, it would also make sense that the rest were exposed, but it is moving so much slower,” Elizabeth said as Lindsey found what she was looking for.
“I think we may be looking in the wrong place, the pathogen isn’t at the campsite, but in Sandra’s storage,” Ava said, her eyes narrowing. “She doesn’t leave things laying around long enough to gather dust.”
Elizabeth narrowed her eyes on Ava before continuing. “Heather is showing some personality differentiation, she’s upset and angry, which is expected, but Lacey says she’s never reacted with rage like that before. She also said that Sandra started yelling at everyone for not having their tents up.”
Ava looked up with furrowed brows.
“I take it that’s unusual?” Elizabeth asked and stepped around the table.
“Quite,” Ava said. “She’s rough and sometimes even brash, but she’s infinitely patient with her students. Never angry.”
“We did CT scans?” Elizabeth asked, but she was pretty certain of the answer Ava had told her already.
“There was nothing unusual on them,” Ava answered, and Elizabeth nodded.
“Did you find the tent swabs?” Elizabeth asked, turning around to Lindsey.
“Yes,” she said as she prepared the slides. Ava and Elizabeth walked around the table, watching as Lindsey deliberately pulled out the swabs and spread them against the glass. They all looked up as the door opened again.
“Doctor Jackson, Doctor Grant?” Doctor Mars called out from the door. “I need you downstairs.” She disappeared from the doorway and the three women turn toward at each other.
Without thinking, Ava placed her hand over Elizabeth’s. Elizabeth looked into her eyes with a fierce determination, and it almost felt as though Elizabeth was pouring it all into Ava. She straightened her shoulders and pressed her lips together as Elizabeth nodded and they both walked toward the door.
“I-I’ve got this,” Lindsey stammered as the doctors walked away.
“I know you do,” Ava said over her shoulder. Elizabeth’s eyes tightened slightly as they pressed the button for the elevator.
“How do you do that?” Elizabeth asked as the doors closed in front of them.
“Do what?” Ava asked, genuinely confused.
“You’re so supportive,” Elizabeth said.
Ava knitted her brows in confusion.
“I guess it’s a culture difference,” Elizabeth said with a chuckle. “If I had said that exact thing to one of my techs in New York, they would have taken it as sarcasm and probably been offended, but Lindsey actually smiled, she felt encouraged by it.”
“I don’t know?” Ava said, still not quite following. “It’s something I’ve always done, they do the same for me when I’m feeling stumped.”
Elizabeth shook her head and smiled. “Medicine is such a competitive sport, and it shouldn’t be. I can see the work you do at this hospital, and I think it has as much to do with how well the staff works together. Your wins are shared, and it seems like your losses are mourned together, also. I can see why you like it here.”
Ava’s cheeks flushed, clearly she wasn’t sure how to take the compliment, especially after their conversation this morning. They stepped off the elevator on the first floor, and they could see that something was very wrong. Doctor Mars’ face was drawn as she waited by her office door.
“Doctor Mars? What’s happened?” Ava asked.
“Have you found anything?” she asked without answering.
“We have a lead, we were following up on it when you came up,” Ava answered.
Doctor Mars gestured toward her office. “Representatives from the CDC are in there, but I wanted to tell you before we went in…” Doctor Mars took a breath and Ava could see she was struggling. “We lost Sandra about ten minutes ago.”
“What?” Ava almost shouted. “Why didn’t anyone page me?”
“There was nothing anyone could do,” Doctor Mars said as she schooled her features. “The stress of the disease and her advanced age caught up with her, her heart couldn’t take anymore.”
Ava blinked away the tears. Even Elizabeth knew that Sandra was a legend in this city. When word spread of this, Elizabeth didn’t even want to think about that. She shook her head to clear it. It was more important than ever that they get to the bottom of what was causing this and how to treat it.
