Chapter 41

Two uniformed security guards stood at the doorway of John Lee’s newly reopened office, waiting to escort him from the building while Annabelle helped him fill the cardboard boxes that had been provided for packing his personal possessions.

This was so humiliating. Annabelle winced as she took Lee’s medical school diploma from the wall. One day you’re waltzing through the lobby, flashing your ID to enter the heady world of broadcast journalism, the next you’re persona non grata, the enemy, forbidden inside. She had heard stories of others who had been hurried out the door like this, given the literal bum’s rush, but she had never actually seen it happen. She hoped she never would again. Annabelle couldn’t stand John Lee, but she wouldn’t wish this on anyone.

“I can’t carry all this stuff with me, Annabelle.”

“I know. I’ll have the attendants come, and we’ll send the cartons of books and things to your apartment. In fact, if you want to get out of here, I’ll finish packing up.”

“Okay, but I want to clean out my desk myself.”

As he cleared the Rolodex and clock from the desktop, the phone rang. Annabelle pretended to be preoccupied with taking books from the shelves as she overheard Lee’s angry half of the conversation.

“It’s about time you returned my call.” The doctor’s voice cracked. “How the hell could you do this to me, telling me it was anthrax when it wasn’t?

“Don’t give me that crap. There was no anthrax in there. It was powdered sugar.

“No, it’s not impossible. The lab tests were conclusive.

“Well, if you swear that what you gave me was anthrax, then where the hell is it?”