Natural Causes

EPILOGUE

October 30

Radiant in her hospital bed, Annalee held the infant away from her breast long enough for Sarah to see.

"You make a great kid," Sarah said. "I'm honored to be her godmother."

After a beginning that was considerably rockier for mother than daughter, both were now doing fine. As Sarah had predicted, the cesarean section delivery essentially cured Annalee's DIC. First Lisa, now Annalee. Two cases sectioned, two cases cured. At least they had a place to start in dealing with the virus.

"How many women do you suppose are facing this?" Annalee asked, as if reading her mind.

"People are checking on that now. But I can tell you, it's going to be a lot. Blankenship just didn't care. He didn't care at all. I still don't understand it."

"Crazy doesn't require any understanding. It just is."

"I guess. Fortunately, it appears your father kept decent records of who received the powder and vitamins."

"He always was the decent record sort."

"The product's been on the market for almost eight months now. That means the first cases of infected women going into labor could happen any time."

"I can give you the list of people Peter tested the stuff on at the time he gave it to me."

"Great. That will leave only the rest of Singh's group from the clinic here-the original set of guinea pigs. With Singh dead, we have to rely on finding Blankenship's records of his work. I think he must have a list-that's how he knew right away that the first women who got the powder were starting to get into trouble. If we can't find his records, we'll have to rely on publicity to bring them in."

"And all for money."

"All for money," Sarah echoed sadly. "Plus whatever thrill Blankenship got from using his intellect to maneuver and control people."

"Speaking of which-"

Sarah knew what was coming next.

"What's the situation?" she asked.

"Peter's still in jail. His lawyer called a little while ago. There's some sort of hearing scheduled later today. He says that if you came and spoke to the judge, Peter would probably at least be able to post bail and get out. If you don't tell them that Blankenship admitted killing that man on the boat, Peter might have to stay."

"A thought that is not entirely unappealing."

The two women exchanged conspiratorial smiles.

"He's the grandfather of your godchild, remember."

"I know, I know. I just wonder how much of a dent this whole thing has made on his cast-iron ego. Blankenship played him like a violin."

"And Peter went right along with it, no questions asked."

"All for money," Sarah said.

"Xanadu was in trouble. I think it was as much pride and ego as profit."

"Well, I'm going to insist that whatever money we can retrieve from this whole mess be used to find some sort of definitive cure. And that includes whatever Peter has."

"I agree."

"The six-foot four-inch violin. Boy, I'll bet he really loved the publicity of those damned infomercials."

"He did that," Annalee said, lifting Sarah E. West and gently bringing the infant over to her other breast.

"Maybe another week or so in jail might-okay, okay. I'll give his lawyer a call and see what I can do."

"Thanks, Doc."

Sarah stood to go.

"Annalee, do me one favor, though," she said.

"Anything."

Sarah bent down and kissed first mother, then daughter. "Don't ever let him forget it."

• • •