20
The following morning, a meeting was held at the Texas Center for Infectious Disease. Health officials from multiple agencies were in attendance, as well as members of the media and, unfortunately, a few lawyers. No doubt victims were already gearing up to seek compensation from whoever was determined to be responsible.
First, there would be a general informational session. Right after, each of the Water Circus vendors would have a private interview with the health authorities in charge. Records would be turned over, and a number of questions would be answered. Ultimately, product confiscated on-site would be tested, and one by one, vendors would be ruled out until only one remained.
The man leading the effort stepped to the podium. “Could I have everyone’s attention?” He waited for the room to quiet. “Thank you. I’m Dr. Henry Breslin from the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta. I am the team leader and am charged with coordinating this multidisciplinary effort to identify the source of the E. coli O157:H7 outbreak here in the San Antonio area. I am also working with individuals from the City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health, the Texas Department of Health Services, the Texas Center for Infectious Disease, the US Department of Agriculture Food Safety Inspection Service, and officials from several local universities, hospitals, and public food safety organizations.”
Juliet glanced around the room filled with all the food science heavy hitters. Like physicians, these men and women hoped to never have occasion to use their training. Sadly, the situation in San Antonio warranted every bit of their attention.
“What I’d like to do is brief you all on the new developments since last evening when we announced we’d narrowed the focus to Water Circus. We are fully aware of the economic impact a close order has on an enterprise of this size, and we’re committed to doing everything in our power to isolate the product source and get the park back open.”
He spent the next minutes delineating the process they’d gone through to assemble a list of vendors and revealed their plans in detail. He ended by telling everyone that they hoped to produce a definitive answer within forty-eight hours.
Hands shot up around the room.
“I’m sorry, any time I devote to answering questions takes away from more important tasks. I will keep everyone appropriately updated with any new developments. Thank you.”
Dr. Breslin stepped down.
Juliet felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned to see Dr. Keller Thatcher, director of the North American Food Safety Symposium.
“Dr. Thatcher, this is a surprise.” She stood and they shook hands.
“Good to see you, Dr. Ryan. We enjoyed having you on the panel in Chicago.”
Juliet nodded. “Thank you. It was a treat for me as well. As you know, food safety is a subject I care very much about.” She smiled at the small-framed man. Unfortunately, he’d joined the ranks of men wearing bad toupees. His had slipped, forcing Juliet to look away quickly before she chuckled.
A familiar figure stood across the room. Her father had his back to them and was talking with a small group. He was taking notes in a little pad he held while they spoke.
Juliet’s heart quickened. She refocused on Dr. Thatcher. “I’m sorry. What were you saying?”
“I’m hearing through sources that your name is on the vendor list.”
She reluctantly disclosed that Larimar Springs was indeed a product provider. “But as you know, Dr. Thatcher, water products have the lowest incidence of pathogen-related contamination. That, coupled with the fact our protocols are impeccable and are followed to a tee, and every audit has been clean in the past five years—well, I’m not terribly worried,” she assured him. In the back of her mind, she still didn’t care for the fact someone was leaking names. When this was over, she’d place a call and make her concerns known.
Juliet risked another glance in her father’s direction. He was heading their way.
A voice called out from behind. “Dr. Ryan? You’re up next.”
Juliet let out a sigh of relief. Thank goodness.
She quickly bid Dr. Thatcher goodbye and turned and scurried down the hall, following the woman who had called her name into a room that eerily reminded Juliet of an interrogation room you’d see on some cop show on television.
A small table occupied the center of the windowless room, surrounded by five chairs. A whiteboard was mounted on one wall. Large printed posters with flu warnings and information about vaccinations covered the opposite wall.
The woman didn’t introduce herself when she motioned Juliet to take a seat. “Dr. Breslin and his team will be right in.”
She closed the door, leaving Juliet wishing they’d at least left some water in the room to drink. She glanced at the clock on the wall. Hopefully, this wouldn’t take long.
The door opened. “Hello, Dr. Ryan. Thank you for coming in.”
Juliet squared her shoulders and smiled as the white-coated man, followed by two other similarly clad men, filled the room and made their way to the seats around the table. The inflection of his greeting almost sounded as if she’d been invited to a social event instead of a mandated interview. But then again, perhaps his light tone reflected the reputation she’d tried to build in the food science community—one of working to place food safety as the highest priority. Certainly, her protocols and testing proved that true.
No doubt the team was exhausted and glad this interview would be brief.
“Gentlemen, it’s good to see all of you. On behalf of everyone at Larimar Springs, I’d like to express how grateful we are for your efforts to get to the bottom of this quickly.” She leaned over and unsnapped the closure on her large wheeled document case. “I think you’ll find we have everything you requested and will find our testing in order.”
Dr. Breslin nodded. “We have one other—”
The door opened then, drawing everyone’s attention. Juliet looked up from her open briefcase. Her posture immediately stiffened.
“Sorry I’m late.” Her father marched into the room and pulled out the single empty chair. He nodded in her direction and sat.
Dr. Breslin leaned over the table, his hands folded. “Let me make some introductions.” He prefaced the effort with a weak smile. “I believe you know Dr. Bennett Ryan.”
Juliet pasted on a stiff, close-lipped smile before responding. “Yes.”
Her father gave a more relaxed smile. “We’re—uh, well acquainted. Juliet is my daughter.”
The others looked at each other nervously and nodded. Juliet felt esteem for her position at the table circle the drain. By showing up to this inquest, her father had just scrubbed her confidence and ability to shine.
Dr. Breslin finished the introductions, and over the next thirty minutes the men around the table posed questions and Juliet responded, taking care to highlight the fact that no internal testing revealed a hint of contamination. Further, the lab protocols at Larimar Springs surpassed minimum standards and those employed by most companies.
Her father remained strangely quiet. He focused on scribbling notes and studying the contents of her binders. She hoped he was happy. He’d finally gotten his audit, so to speak.
Dr. Breslin leaned back in his chair. “Well, the information you’ve provided has been very thorough, Dr. Ryan. Again, we appreciate your time.”
Her father pulled his reading glasses from his face. “I have one more question.”
All eyes moved in his direction. A heavy feeling settled in Juliet’s stomach as she masked her apprehension with a broad smile. “Yes?” Her single-word response was as glossy as the porcelain on a toilet bowl. She averted her eyes and reached for one of the binders on the table.
“First, we’ll need copies of some of those test results,” he said in a thinly veiled attempt to put her on the spot.
“Of course.” Juliet smiled again and nodded. “The team is welcome to have anything they need.”
“Second, I didn’t see any source water or transport documentation.”
Juliet’s eyebrows lifted. “Well, I don’t believe the scope of the document requests extended that far. But certainly, if you want them, we’ll provide copies.”
Her father perched his glasses onto his graying hair. “Could we examine originals?”
Tension blanketed the tiny room. Juliet’s jaw stiffened. “Of course.” She glared at him. “Like I’ve said, Larimar Springs fully supports this team’s objectives and welcomes any level of examination.”
Dr. Breslin cleared his throat. He slid his chair from the table and stood. “We appreciate that, Dr. Ryan. People like you make our job much easier.”
Juliet stood. She extended her hand across the small table and shook his hand. “My pleasure.”
The meeting adjourned and Juliet gathered her things. With careful intention, she swiftly positioned herself directly behind Dr. Breslin and followed him out, never bothering to look back at her father. The slight may have raised some eyebrows, given their familial relationship, but her emotions took over. Frankly, he was lucky she didn’t go toe-to-toe with him and take him down a notch or two.
She was crossing the parking lot to her car when she heard his voice calling out. “Juliet, wait.”
She turned as he hurried toward her. “What do you want?” she nearly hissed.
“JuJu, wait a minute. I need to talk to you.”
“What? Wrecking my life wasn’t enough? Now you’re bent on toppling my career?” She turned and opened her car door. “It’s all I have.” The minute the words left her mouth, she regretted saying them. The admission made her sound weak and vulnerable.
He touched her shoulder. “Please listen. I—I’m on your side here.”
She jerked away, hating that tears formed. She blinked quickly so he couldn’t see her anemic attempt to appear strong. “Look, Dad. Take your pom-poms and go home. Shake them for some other team.”
Juliet slid into the seat and shut the door. Holding her ragged breath, she started the engine and pulled away, leaving him standing.