Bayou Paradox by Robin Caroll Page B

would we do such a thing? Exhaustive bloodwork on both patients has turned up nothing out of the ordinary.”
    â€œYou wouldn’t know unless you looked for it, right?”
    â€œI’m not following, young lady.”
    Tara swallowed back an exasperated sigh. “If you could be told to look for something in particular, even if it was unidentified, could you find it?”
    The doctor shoved his glasses back to the bridge of his nose. “Perhaps. Although we’d have to know at least a partial component.”
    â€œSuch as chemical traces of paraldehyde?” a deep voice asked.
    Tara spun to face the sheriff. Her back stiffened. “It’s not nice to eavesdrop.”
    He ignored her and continued to address the doctor. “Could you run tests on the patients and see if there are any traces of paraldehyde?”
    The doctor rubbed knuckles over his chin. “We could. But why?”
    â€œI want that test run on my grandmother.” Tara shoved her way between the doctor and the sheriff. “Immediately.”
    Bubba continued as if she hadn’t spoken, “Would paraldehyde show up in any of the tests you’ve already run?”
    Tara bit back the sharp retort she had ready to blast at the sheriff. She wanted to hear the doctor’s reply more than she wanted to get back at Bubba.
    â€œNo. The tests we’ve run wouldn’t have detected any paraldehyde. We’d have to order a special test.”
    â€œI want that test on my grandmother.” Tara raised her voice. Both men shifted their focus to her.
    Finally.
    â€œI want you to administer the test to my grandmother.”
    â€œWell—” the doctor began.
    â€œNo. I’m her next of kin and am requesting the test. No, I’m ordering the test.” She popped her hands on her hips. “Do I need to sign a permission form or something?”
    â€œI suppose I can order the test, but I don’t see much point in it.”
    Tara rose to her full height. “I don’t care what you see, Doctor. I want that test given to my grandmother. Now.”
    The doctor’s face flushed, and his glasses slid to the bump on his nose. “I’ll draw up the paperwork now.”
    â€œMerci.”
    The doctor turned and strode down the hall to the nurses’ station. Game, set and match to the little people. Victory made her lips curve into a smile.
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    â€œWhat’re you trying to prove?”
    â€œI’m trying to prove my grandmother was poisoned by whomever visited her that morning.” Tara jabbed a finger in his direction. “And you should have Tanty tested for it, as well.”
    â€œThere’s no evidence of my aunt having been poisoned. Your grandmother, either, for that matter.”
    She let out a groan that could only be described as coming straight from her gut. Flames shot from her eyes, and she flipped her hair over her shoulder. “Aside from them both just falling into a coma for no reason, that para-hyde stuff being found in Grandmere’s cup and them both involved in voodoo, you mean?” She rubbed her hands over the sides of her jeans. “Come on, man, open your eyes.”
    He had to admit when all the circumstantial evidence was laid out like that, it pointed to there being someone behind the women’s illnesses. But circumstantial evidence wasn’t enough. He needed more. The law required it.
    â€œLook, if your grandmother’s test comes back positive for traces of paraldehyde, then I’ll have Aunt Tanty tested.”
    â€œAnd waste precious time?” The muscles in her jaw jumped.
    His tolerance held. Barely. Like he wasn’t doing all he could to figure out what was wrong with his aunt, why she was still in a coma. “Look, that’s really none of your concern.”
    She pressed her lips together as if holding in her opinion. Wouldn’t that be a first?
    â€œLook, I know you’re only trying to help