46

Evan raised his head as Jack slumped into the plastic chair beside him. “How is she?”

“Not good.” Jack’s eyes were red, and he appeared to be as tired as Evan felt. “I’ve sent for her mom. She’s flying over. How are you?”

“They’ve started antibiotics, and it’s a seven day course, so too early to tell. How about you?”

“The same.”

Evan rubbed the back of his neck. “They won’t let me see her. They say it’s family only.”

“I’ll tell them you’re her boyfriend.” Jack shot him a smile. “It’s the truth; you are courting her.”

He sighed. “I never had a chance to ask her. Things got rather fraught this morning and stuff happened really quickly.”

Jack agreed. “Is anyone else sick?”

“Ira, Varian, and Zach. A couple of the underwater search and rescue divers are running a fever. Charlie Brampton and Jasper Steele were found dead in their home this morning. They house share and have both been up at the dam a lot. My team is on antibiotics the same as everyone else.”

“Mr. Close?”

Evan glanced up. “Yes?”

The tall man sat beside him. “Peter Dorchester from Porton Down. I thought you’d like to know before the press gets hold of it. It is pneumonic plague, but not a genetically modified version. It’s still highly contagious but treatable. As yet, we don’t know the source of the outbreak, but we’ll keep searching. Could you let Dr. Fitzgerald know?”

“She’s in intensive care. She’s really sick, but yeah, I’ll tell her.”

Jack’s phone rang. “Fitzgerald. Hey, honey.” He stood and walked to the window, talking quietly.

Evan gazed out of the window, and then pushed upright. He headed down the hallway to the chapel. Inside, it was dark and quiet. A stained glass window lit the area behind the altar, a huge cross set on a table at the front.

Evan sank into one of the chairs and buried his head in his hands. He wasn’t sure how long he lingered before he became aware of someone beside him. “I never told her how I felt.” Guilt tied his insides in knots. “I mean, she knows, because I’ve kissed her often enough, but I never said it out loud. I even asked her father for permission to court her, but I never told her. And now, it’s too late. Well, probably too late.”

“It’s never too late. While there’s life and breath, there is always hope. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.”

Evan glanced sideways. The man beside him wore a suit and dog collar. “You reckon?”

The green eyes twinkled. “I know so. Things always seem darker just before dawn.”

“Dawn’s a long way off, Padre. It may never come.” His nails dug into the palms of his hands.

“All the more reason to tell her. She’ll hear you. Would it help to pray or light a candle?”

“No, but thank you.” He paused. “Not really a praying kind of a bloke, haven’t been for a while. But being here, it’s peaceful. Comforting.”

The man nodded. “You may have forgotten God, but He hasn’t forgotten you. I’ll add your friend to my prayer list. What’s her name?”

“Lou, and thank you. She’d like that.” He stood. “I’d better get back to ICU.”

Evan picked up two coffees from the vending machine on his way and held one out to Jack, who sat in the waiting area. “Here.”

“Thanks.” Jack sipped the hot liquid. “I told the nursing staff you’re family. You can see her when you want.”

Evan set his cup on the table. “Thank you. I might go see her now. There’s something I need to tell her.” He headed over to the ward and rang the bell.

The nurse opened the door.

“Evan Close. I’m here to see Lou Fitzgerald.”

The nurse smiled. “You’re her boyfriend, right? Pop on the mask and suit. Then wash your hands before you put the gloves on. She’s in the side room with two beds. There are specific instructions on the door you’ll need to follow as she’s in quarantine.”

Evan did as requested and then crossed over to the occupied bed. Shock flooded him, almost knocking him backwards. She lay there, wired up to monitors and on a ventilator.

The nurse at the end of her bed, also wearing a suit, mask, and gloves, smiled. “It’s not as bad as it looks. You must be Evan.”

“Her boyfriend, yeah. I hadn’t realised she’d be…no one said.” He sat beside the bed. “Can I hold her hand?”

“Sure.”

He gripped her hand tightly, blinking hard, unprepared for the onslaught of emotions that charged through him. “What are all these machines for?”

“Right now she’s in a medical coma, to give her body a chance to rest and fight the infection. This machine here records her heartrate, blood pressure, and oxygen levels. This one is breathing for her.”

Evan raised Lou’s hand and kissed her fingers through his mask. “How sick is she? I know they’ve sent for her mum from the States, so it’s not good.”

“She’s critical. Probably won’t know anything for at least the next seventy-two hours. If she makes it that far, then she might have a chance.”

Evan’s eyes burned, and he was grateful the mask hid his trembling lips. He squeezed her hand tightly. “Don’t you die on me. You hear me? There is so much I want to tell you about how I feel, but I’d rather you were awake to listen. I …I love you. There I said it.”

He took a deep breath. “Your headache is contagious.” His vision blurred, and he dropped her hand.

The nurse tilted her head. “Are you all right?”

“Headache. I think I might go home. Sleep it off.” He stood, and his legs gave way. He slid to the floor, gripping onto the bed as he fell.

An alarm rang somewhere, echoing. A door slammed open.

“I need some help in here.” Gloved hands caught him. “Let’s get you onto a bed.”

“I’m fine,” he protested. Someone lifted him onto a bed. He assumed the empty one beside Lou. The cool pillow under his head felt good.

“Doctor, this is Evan Close. He’s Lou Fitzgerald’s boyfriend.”

“Evan, I’m Dr. Halstead. I’ll just check you over.”

Evan shook his head, instantly regretting it as the world spun. “I need to rest for a few. Then I’ll go home. Probably allergic to those antibiotics someone gave me.”

“Humour me, OK? I need a full set of bloods run. FBCs, U and E’s, LFTs…”

Evan groaned. “Sounds like I’m in an episode of Casualty.” He closed his eyes. “Lou, honey, if you’ve given me the dreaded lurgy, I shall have to marry you and make you regret it forever.”