Danger Calls by Caridad Piñeiro Page B

shuffled them, trying not to tip him off to the fact that she was unsure about him.
    Edward rubbed his hands together, seemingly reassured. “Well, that’s wonderful then. In the meantime, you know where to reach me.”
    Edward had assumed Frederick Danvers’s position as chief of hematology at the hospital. In that capacity, Edward had made a point of trying to help his old colleague’s daughter. In fact, he had become a mentor of sorts, guiding her through the maze of hospital politics and acting as a sounding board on some of her more complicated cases. But with doubt about Edward looming large in her mind, there was nothing her father’s old friend could provide at the moment. “I know where to reach you. I just need to do a few more things so I can get some rest before being on call again.”
    He nodded as he rose from the chair. His movements were stiff and almost a little tenuous. “Am I glad these old bones don’t have to worry about that anymore.” As he turned and walked toward the door, he tossed over his shoulder, “Let me know if you need anything.”
    Wanting to make it seem as if nothing was out of the ordinary between them, she said, “Maybe later this afternoon you can take a look at one of my cases. I could use your help with it.”
    Edward favored her with a small smile. Melissa told herself it was her imagination that made it seem like a snake’s sibilant smirk. “I’ll be back later, then.”
    Â 
    It was unusual for Melissa to leave the hospital for her break, but occasionally she and Sara grabbed a quick lunch together at a nearby restaurant. Sara had actually surprised her today by suggesting they go out for a bite. The outing would give Melissa time to talk with Sara away from prying eyes.
    At lunch they left the hospital together and walked a few blocks to a small Mexican restaurant they both loved. After the waiter left their nachos and promised to return with their meals, Melissa mustered the courage to begin the conversation.
    â€œHow’s your mom?”
    â€œThe same,” Sara replied in a flat tone.
    â€œThe other day you mentioned—”
    â€œThe santero ?” Sara shrugged and grabbed a tortilla chip loaded with cheese from the platter. “I dropped off the blood and he promised me he’d see Mami in a few days.”
    â€œDid you pay him anything?” If Sara had, maybe Diana’s friend could investigate the man for possible fraud charges.
    â€œHe doesn’t ask for any money. If you’re happy with what he does, you’re free to leave what you can. Money. Food. Alcohol.”
    Chewing on a chip thoughtfully, Melissa wondered just what kind of con the santero was running. Or maybe she was being cynical. Maybe he really had some kind of healing ability. Modern science occasionally failed where other kinds of alternative methods succeeded.
    Her father would have tried anything to help her mother. He would have moved the earth and the sky. Although nothing in the journals suggested it, maybe her father had resorted to means as drastic as Sara’s santero .
    â€œYou okay?” Sara laid her hand over Melissa’s as if sensing Melissa’s upset.
    â€œYou said my father was doing experiments. How did you know that?”
    â€œI ran into him in the hallway once. I had a rack filled with blood samples ready to go to the lab.”
    â€œRan into—”
    â€œAs in literally ran into.” Sara made two fists with her hands and banged them together to emphasize what had happened. “My rack hit the floor along with the one your father had in his hands. Luckily none of the tubes broke, but he made a big fuss about having his samples. Said it was something he was working on and couldn’t be mixed in with the patients’ samples.”
    A sick knot formed in Melissa’s stomach. There was a very short list for what might have been in those test