“The package has been delivered,” Shoo said.
“Barry Hayes?” Nick asked.
“We wait,” answered Shoo. “We had to dilute the dosage so the intensity of the vibrations we saw in the lab wouldn’t be repeated here and affect the patient. Too dangerous at this point.”
“Coffee, anyone?” asked Dr. Keith.
“I could use some,” said Barry. “What about you, Shel?” “Sure, I guess,” she said.
“You all go ahead,” Shoo said. “I will call you when something happens.”
The team slouched in their hospital-issue chairs, which Shelly thought were suited better for junior high students than grown adults. They hunched over the table in the cafeteria, cupping their coffee. Mrs. Howard didn’t want to leave her husband’s side and returned to his hospital room.
Shelly looked at Nick, touched his forearm, and gave him a big smile.
“Strange to think, we didn’t have much to go on until about six
days ago.”
“Really?” asked Keith. “What did you guys find out to get so far so fast?”
“We can’t say much right now,” said Nick, “but someday one of us will write a book about it.”
“Well, this is no doubt the most exciting day of my career,” he answered. “And to top it off, we’re trying it on Dr. Howard.”
“Dr. Howard?” asked Shelly.
“Sure, Manny Howard. He’s a legend in Salt Lake.”
Barry leaned over to join the conversation. “This guy’s a doctor?
What kind of doctor is he?”
“Pediatrics, OB-GYN,” said Dr. Keith. “He delivered me. He’s
been delivering kids all over this city for forty-five years.”
“Right when you think things couldn’t have gotten any weirder,” Shelly said to Nick, just as the PA crackled with an incoming announcement.
“Dr. Keith, Dr. Keith. Report to floor seven, STAT.” “Manny!” he blurted out and jumped up. “C’mon!”
They rushed from the hospital café like children playing tag, trying to keep a sense of decorum as they moved swiftly down the