Kat exited the elevator on the tenth floor Thursday morning, more relaxed despite only a few hours of uninterrupted sleep. Her foot felt much better, and she’d managed to board up the broken window. It had even stopped raining. She had come straight back to the hospital, having decided not to revisit Harry’s house until she talked to Hillary.
She followed the signs to the Elder Care ward. She spotted Harry in a chair by the nurses’ station, busily chatting with two nurses. She smiled as she headed towards them. Already Uncle Harry appeared much better, and his pallor had returned to normal.
“Uncle Harry? I’m back.”
Harry turned and broke into a wide grin as he saw her. “What are you doing here, Kat?”
“I came to visit you. How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine.” Harry lowered his voice. “Can’t you see I’m working? I can’t talk right now.”
“You’re in the hospital, Uncle Harry.”
“The hospital? Don’t be silly.” Harry motioned to a row of chairs across the hall. “Just wait over there, and I’ll talk to you on my coffee break.”
The two nurses studied Kat, but their expressions remained unchanged. The older one said something to the second nurse, then rose and marched over to intercept Kat. “Dr. Konig would like to speak with you. Wait here, please.”
“Okay.” Kat walked towards Harry’s chair just as a slim redhead sped around the corner, almost colliding with Kat and the nurse.
“Uh—Dr. Konig, this is Harry Denton’s niece. She brought him in last night.” The nurse returned to the nurses’ station, leaving Kat face to face with the doctor.
The doctor nodded and studied Kat. She didn’t say anything.
Kat held out her hand, but the doctor ignored it and crossed her arms instead.
“We have the preliminary test results back on your uncle.” The doctor’s eyes bored into hers, watching for a reaction.
“It’s still the flu, isn’t it?” Kat shifted her weight off her sore foot. “He was battling it a couple weeks back, although he seemed to be coming out of it.”
“Not quite. He’s been poisoned.”
Kat almost fell backwards. “Poisoned? That’s impossible. Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” The doctor nodded, her mouth set into a thin, hard line. “That’s what the tests show. Harry said he lives alone—is that true?”
“He does—but I don’t understand. I make all his meals. We usually have breakfast and lunch together. He comes to work with me every day and stays at our house for dinner. Usually, that is. I’ve been away for a few days.”
“You haven’t seen him for a few days? I thought you took care of him?” She snorted. “Just how often do you see him?”
Kat didn’t like the tone in the doctor’s voice. “Like I said—every day. But I was away for work the past few days. It couldn’t be helped. But we eat the same food. Shouldn’t I be sick too?”
The doctor scrutinized her. “In theory.”
Kat felt uncomfortable with the way Dr. Konig was staring at her. “You can’t possibly think that I—No!” Kat stepped back. “You think I poisoned him? That’s crazy.”
“It doesn’t matter what I think, Ms. Carter. I’ve given my medical assessment to the health authorities. They’ll determine the next course of action.”
“What do you mean, the next course of action?”
Dr. Konig glared at Kat and handed her a business card. “Here’s the number. A social worker will call you in the next few days. In the meantime, I hope you’ll understand that we can’t release your uncle to you. Furthermore, all your visits will be supervised.”
Kat glanced at Harry. A security guard had materialized twenty or so feet away, near the entrance. His eyes met Kat’s before he averted his gaze.
“Supervised?” Kat’s voice cracked. “That doesn’t make any sense. You don’t think that I—I poisoned him?”
Dr. Konig pursed her lips but said nothing.
“I would never hurt my uncle. There must be a mistake.”
“I’ve got to take precautions. Now if you’ll please excuse me.” Dr. Konig turned and strode away. Kat’s eyes followed her as she retreated down the hall.
“You don’t understand. I didn’t do anything.” Kat followed after Dr. Konig. She stopped when she noticed the security guard approach. She swallowed the lump in her throat. She felt like a criminal. She yelled after the doctor. “Can’t you check the lab tests again? There must be a mix-up.”
But the doctor kept walking. She disappeared around a corner at the end of the hall.
Kat shuddered. If Harry really was poisoned and she didn’t do it...that left only one other person with twenty-four-hour access to Harry. Hillary. But even she wouldn’t go that far. Would she?
“Kat?” Harry’s voice increased in pitch, agitated. “Take me home.”
The security guard stopped and studied his feet, again avoiding eye contact. He stood near the nurses’ station, only a few feet from Harry. Probably waiting for her to leave.
“I can’t, Uncle Harry.” Kat’s face flushed as she fought back tears. This was not how things were supposed to be. One by one, everyone she cared about was stolen away. She stared down at the card Dr. Konig had given her. The words blurred through her tears; some community health organization with a long name. Why would they believe her? She turned on her heels to leave, feeling ashamed, though she really didn’t know why.
“What do you mean, you can’t?” His face reddened. “Don’t leave me here, Kat. You have to get me out of here.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll be back as soon as I can.” Kat turned away, choked with emotion. Harry wouldn’t understand.
She stopped in her tracks and blinked, sure she was seeing things. Except she wasn’t.
Hillary strutted down the hall, bracelets jangling. She wore a long tailored black coat and designer boots with four-inch heels. No doubt bought on Harry’s credit. Hillary waved in the direction of the nurses’ station, then flashed her veneers at Kat. Kat ignored her.
Hillary rushed up to Dr. Konig. She smirked at Kat before disappearing with Dr. Konig into a small office. She shut the door behind her.
It was then Kat remembered the bitter-tasting orange juice in Harry’s fridge. She had tasted it the same day she had felt ill. She had just assumed it had spoiled.
Harry drank a couple of glasses of the juice daily; much more than Kat’s small sip. How long had it been spiked? She had to get her hands on that orange juice and get it tested. She just hoped she wasn’t too late.