Natural Causes

DEAR LISA,

The man who delivered this is not with Federal Express. I hired him in hopes that he might find a way to get this letter to you. My name is Rosa Suarez. Perhaps you remember me. I am the epidemiologist assigned by the Centers for Disease Control to study the three cases of DIC at the Medical Center of Boston. I need your help, but have been unable to reach you by phone or mail. After leaving several phone messages for you, I called to find that your home phone number has been changed, and that the new number is unavailable-at least to me. Two certified letters from me were reported as delivered and signed for by you. It is possible you received them, but I have my doubts. I do not believe your lawyer or your father want you to hear what I have to say-and what I must ask of you…

• • •

"Mr. Daniels?"

"Yes."

"Phelps here, Roger Phelps. I'm glad I caught you in."

I'm not, Matt thought. The claims adjuster for the MMPO may have been responsible for assigning him to Sarah's case, but there was something about the little man-something in his speech, perhaps, or in his eyes-that made Matt uncomfortable.

"Yes, Mr. Phelps. What can I do for you?"

Matt's desk was piled high with research volumes, law tomes, and Xeroxed hospital records. In the next two weeks, he would be taking depositions from two of Mallon's expert witnesses, as well as from Lisa Grayson herself. On the plaintiff's side, Mallon would be getting a crack at Sarah and at Kwong Tian-Wen. There had been no feedback from the man following the intense ending to Peter Ettinger's deposition. Not one word. Matt had half hoped that his opponent might at least suggest putting things on hold until the allegations about Ettinger's weight loss product could be evaluated. But nothing. It appeared that regardless of what facts and revelations cropped up, Mallon was not intimidated.

"Mr. Daniels," Phelps said, "first of all, I want to thank you for keeping me abreast of the developments in the Baldwin case. It's made it a good deal easier for us to evaluate things and come up with a decision of how to proceed."

"Decision?"

"Yes, Mr. Daniels. After carefully weighing all the aspects and prospects of this case, we've decided to settle."

"What?"

"You've done an excellent job, and I can assure you that in the future you'll be called upon many-"

"Mr. Phelps, excuse me, but I don't understand."

"Don't understand what, Mr. Daniels? We looked at the costs of continuing, the potential magnitude of a jury award, and the possibility of losing. Then we made the decision to try to settle, came up with a figure, presented it to Mallon, and on behalf of his client, he accepted. Of course, the settlement will include no admission of any guilt on Dr. Baldwin's part."

Matt stared in disbelief at the phone.

"Mr. Phelps," he said as evenly as he could manage, "Sarah Baldwin is not guilty of any malpractice. There have been developments-significant developments. We are going to win the case."

"Ah, the Chinese tong story. I'm sorry, Mr. Daniels, but we considered that, too. As things stand, all a jury has to listen to is that poor old man and-"

"How much did you settle for?"

"Mr. Daniels, there's no need to get testy about this."

"How much?"

"Two hundred thousand."

"And Willis Grayson accepted that?"

"Apparently."

"Mr. Phelps, Willis Grayson keeps that kind of money in his cookie jar. He wanted Dr. Baldwin behind bars. Her hide, that's what he's after. Why in the hell would he agree to settle if he thought they had a case?"

"Mr. Daniels, please. I did not call to start an argument. The decision has been made."

"And the other two women? What happens when their families get wind of this?"

"We'll deal with that when it happens. Now, if you have no further questions-"

"Dr. Baldwin can refuse to drop the case."

"She would then be personally responsible for all legal fees and any jury award. Why on earth would she want to do that?"

"Because she's innocent, that's why, dammit."

"Mr. Daniels, I know about your relationship with Dr. Baldwin. If you talk her into continuing with this case and collect any legal fees at all, I would consider that a serious breach of ethics."

"What do you know about legal ethics?"

"I'm an attorney and a member of the bar, sir. That's what. Now, I hope I have made our position clear. As far as the Mutual Medical Protective Organization is concerned, this case is closed."

• • •

Over her twenty-three years as a government epidemiologist, Rosa had met cabinet secretaries, governors, and two vice presidents. She had faced up to a boss who wanted to crucify her and stared down the barrel of the congressional subcommittee investigating her BART allegations. But never had she felt quite as intimidated, measured her words quite as carefully, as tonight with Willis Grayson.

The WNG Corporation helicopter had picked her up on the roof of the surgical building of the Medical Center of Boston and had then made one gratuitous sweep over the glittering downtown area before heading southwest toward Long Island. The aircraft was more opulent and far quieter than Rosa had imagined it would be. The pilot and a second man were separated from the rear cabin by a glass slider that was essentially soundproof. The only other passenger in the plush compartment beside Rosa was Grayson. His chilly manner and persistent glower made it quite clear that flying her from Boston to New York and back merely to draw his daughter's blood was not his idea. He had nodded a greeting to her as his man assisted her into the cabin, and then had motioned for her to fasten her seat belt. But they were over Providence before he actually spoke to her.

"I don't understand why you insisted on drawing Lisa's blood yourself when we have any number of people who could have done it," he said after some small talk.

"In situations that are critical to my work, I have learned that nothing can be completely trusted unless I have done it myself."

Grayson's smile was ironic. "That understanding puts you well ahead of ninety percent of my executives. You don't seem very comfortable. Are you afraid of flying?"

"No."

"Of me?"

She shrugged. "You're very wealthy, and very powerful, and not at all a reassuring person."

"I'm not accustomed to being told what to do, Mrs. Suarez. Now, because of your letter and that stunt with that bogus Federal Express man, my daughter is issuing me orders like a five-star general. I have no choice but to do what she asks, or I risk losing her again."

"Mr. Grayson, your actions left me no choice. You signed for mail addressed to Lisa. You had your phone number changed to keep me from reaching her."

"Well, now I have given you the new number, as well as my promise to cooperate with you in any way you ask."

"I'm sure Lisa appreciates the significance of those actions."

"I hope so. Do you have children, Mrs. Suarez?"

"Three daughters."

"If someone hurt one of those girls, you would punish them if you could, yes?"

"I would do what I could through legal channels to see they were appropriately punished, if that's what you mean."

"Sometimes my methods are more direct," Grayson said. "Today my attorney called and recommended that I accept an offer from the insurance company to settle our case against Dr. Baldwin without a finding. In view of the revelations regarding Lisa and this diet product, my lawyer feels we might not be able to convince a jury of Dr. Baldwin's guilt. I, however, remain convinced she is responsible for the maiming of my daughter and the death of my grandson."

"You are certainly entitled to that opinion, sir."

"My daughter is not as certain as I am."

"Based on what we know to this point, I don't believe she should be-or you either, for that matter."

"Mrs. Suarez, exactly what do you know?"

It was Rosa's turn to smile. She gazed down at the lights gliding past two thousand feet below.

"Mr. Grayson," she said, "I have learned from bitter experience that it is unwise to discuss the findings of an ongoing investigation with anyone unless it is absolutely unavoidable."

"Ah yes, your debacle in San Francisco."

Rosa spun to face him. "You, sir, are exactly the sort of person from whom I have learned to protect myself. I don't like being checked up on, Mr. Grayson. The mere fact of your doing so could already have jeopardized my work."

"I assure you, my people excel at keeping their inquiries discreet. They've had a good deal of practice."

"I'm sure they have. Well, if they are that good, you must understand me well enough to know that there is no point in pursuing this discussion."

"What I know is that your department chief would be upset to learn you had recovered from your ruptured disk so miraculously but had neglected to inform him."

Rosa glared at him, her cheeks burning.

"Mr. Grayson," she said, "I can see that your reputation has been earned. Well, sir, if you want to bring the force of your massive corporate empire crashing down on the head of a sixty-year-old lady, go right ahead. I assure you, there is precious little trouble you could cause me that others have not already. But just remember, there are some problems I can cause you as well."

Willis Grayson studied her for a time. Then suddenly he laughed roundly, reached across, and patted her on the arm.

"Perhaps, Mrs. Suarez," he said, "after you complete this investigation and retire from government service, you'll consider coming to work for me."