Chapter 7
Tiffany arrived over an hour late to work. Normally, that would never happen, but she hadn’t been able to bring herself to leave Christian. He’d been so angry and despondent. His patient losses were affecting her far more deeply than she could have ever imagined. It killed her to see Christian hurting and to imagine the pain of those poor parents. When he finally excused himself to take a shower, she’d reluctantly left to do the same.
She dropped her backpack in her office, then headed for the coffee maker. When she entered the break room Blake stood in front of the microwave which hummed as it heated something. “Morning,” she greeted then walked passed him toward the coffee pot.
“Good morning to you. Just getting in?” He flashed her a friendly smile, edged with a little curiosity.
Man, working in an office situation again was going to take some getting used to, Tiffany thought as she poured herself a cup. She didn’t mind punching a clock proverbially speaking, but she’d always found the whole office socializing thing tedious back before she’d had her own store. “Yeah. I decided to start at home because ya’ll don’t have wifi yet.”
That was a bit of a fib, but she had checked emails for some of the places she’d contacted yesterday for software.
He nodded and gave her an exasperated roll of his eyes. “I know. It’s crazy that it’s taken the doctors this long to do this. Strangely, there isn’t a medical device or machine in the building they can’t use, and all of them have cell phones, but for some reason none of them give much thought to the benefit of communication technology for the clinic.”
Tiffany chuckled. “So I’ve seen. I think Christian can use a computer and isn’t ignorant on how to look up information on the internet. Noah seems to be a different story.” She’d only been in his office that one time, but she had noticed every wall had bookshelves packed to the ceiling with books and medical journals. She couldn’t imagine that man’s number of medical degrees or his chronological age.
“You’re right on both accounts.” The microwave dinged and he pulled out a cup with the tail of a tea bag hanging over the edge.
Obviously, not all vampires rolled with the times, but Christian did. Funny, she knew Christian was a hundred and twelve, knew how slowly vampires aged, but he just didn’t act like a guy who was over a hundred years old. He looked and acted like a guy in his mid thirties who smelled incredible. Waking up in his bed this morning had been totally hot. Partially because his yummy scent had been all over the bedding, but also because she’d imagined him lying in it next to her all spooned up to her backside.
She groaned. Thoughts like that were counter-productive to her stance and she seriously needed to curtail them. Christian’s flirtations were close to undoing her resolve to keep things on a friendship basis. She didn’t need her own wayward thoughts clouding matters.
“You seem a little distracted. Did you have another date with Dr. La Mond last night?”
Tiffany felt her eyes bulge and choked on her sip of coffee. The nurse wore a knowing grin. Apparently, Katie had been blabbing about the bite marks on her neck, which today were hardly visible. Tiffany didn’t want to imagine what he and others thought. Respectable vampires didn’t go around biting their employees and certainly not one as moral and ethical as Christian. So naturally, everyone would assume they were sexually involved.
“I’m sorry. I guess that was a bit nosy.” He sat the cup on the counter, then dumped in a couple of sweetener packets.
It was nosy, but there was no reason to get all up in his shit about it. She had to work with the guy. “It’s like I told both you and Katie, Christian and I are just good friends. We aren’t dating.”
“Then why did you let him bite you?” He glanced toward her neck with a very pointed look.
Oh really now? Talking about family, friends even dating was within the realm of employee chit chat, but that there just crossed the line and Tiffany’s cork popped.
She sat her coffee cup on the counter and approached him with a face off attitude, her hand cutting through the air as she spoke. “That ain’t none of your fucking business, dude. Whatever goes on between me and Christian is personal. If I catch you or anyone else making up shit they know nothing about, I’m going to yank their tongue out and tie it in a knot. Got that?”
The emotions she’d sought to obtain from him instantly filtered into his features--shock and embarrassment. He backed up and had the good sense to stamper for an apology.
“Y-you’re right. I was curious, but it wasn’t any of my business.”
Tiffany was still too pissed to let up. “For the record I’m here to do a job not to hook up with Christian or anyone else. You can take your wagging tongue and let anyone you want know I said that.”
He stepped back and lifted his hands in a defensive gesture. “You can’t blame me or anyone else for being curious. You’re brand new. No one knows you yet. Plus our two species mate all the time. It’s not unusual.”
Something in his tone told Tiffany he was not cool with that fact. “Sounds like you got a problem with human/vampire relationships.”
“Not at all, Tiffany. I’ve been trained, all of us have been trained to understand the physical, phycological and social ways of their species. I realize they need to use our blood to survive, that it’s a genetic defect. Quite often they take our women as life mates and not all of them turn. Many of our patients or their life mates are human.”
“What? Some of the patients have human life mates?”
“Or visa versa, yes. But it’s the exception not the rule of course.”
“Wow, I hadn’t known that,” she muttered, steeped in thought. But it explained a lot. If Christian was determined to pursue her, he might be willing to be with her status quo. The notion troubled her because a relationship like that would be a grave unfairness to him. They could never have biological children. Knowing Christian, he’d want some. Tiffany certainly didn’t because marriage wasn’t even on her radar. Still the option should be there. This news made her more determined than ever to make Christian see friendship was their only logical choice.
“It’s true and so is the fact there are far fewer born female vampires than males. If the males couldn’t turn human women, their species would soon become extinct.”
Tiffany blinked at him and grit her teeth. Oh she’d just bet he didn’t have a problem with vampires turning humans. “Why the hell are you working here? Really? Because despite what you say, you come across like you have a problem with vampires turning their life mates.”
“You’re misinterpreting my meaning, Tiffany. I have no problem with human/vampire relationships. I was simply relaying facts. I’m completely dedicated to this practice. I chose vampire obstetrics because I have a cousin who turned and life mated with a vampire. She’s always wanted kids and couldn’t until she discovered this place and started fertility treatments. She has twin three-year-old boys thanks to Dr. La Mond.”
“Well good for her. I mean that.”
He ducked his head for a second. “But I did cross the line by asking about your personal relationship with Dr. La Mond. I’m very sorry. I hope you’ll accept my apology.”
He appeared sincere, but Tiffany rarely trusted people on mere face value and not at all when they raised her hackles. She’d be keeping an eye on this guy. He had however, revealed an interesting matter she’d not known. “You said some of the V clinic patients are human/vampire couples. Why would they need a vampire OB?”
“For in-vitro. A mixed couple can’t conceive naturally, but one of them can still have a biological child. Depending on their choice they use either human or vampire eggs or sperm.”
She swiped a palm over her mouth. “Wow. I didn’t even know there were married human/vampire couples. I just assumed one or the other had to turn. I wonder why they’d choose not to?” She asked the question softly, more to herself, but Blake answered.
“Many reasons, religion, ethics, but primarily health issues. A doctor won’t agree to conduct a turning if the human has health problems that make them a poor candidate for the procedure.”
Blake’s information was such a shocker, she almost forgot she’d been hopping mad at him for poking his nose into her personal affairs. She forced a smile. “Look, I have a short fuse. I’m sorry I got all up in your face. What do you say we start over?” She extended her hand.
He smiled and shook it. “That would be great. Tiffany, I’m glad you’re here, a part of our team. All of us are. The last thing I meant to do was make you uncomfortable. I just assumed you were dating Dr. La Mond. Yes, partly because of the bite marks on your neck but also because he spoke of you so highly and said he’d known you for years. No one here would judge you if you were. Vampires and humans mate all the time.”
Well, she hadn’t known that last fact and right now didn’t care. She’d allowed herself to get way out of control with Blake, but she wasn’t used to people watching her. They were going to and she had to accept that fact. She’d traded privacy for a six-figure income, which meant she would have to put up with people asking her personal questions. Christian questions.
She picked up her coffee cup and forced a crow-eating smile. “Apology accepted and I’m sorry I got heated. I’m a very private person. I don’t talk about my personal life to people I don’t know well.” This was true and then some. She hadn’t even shared what had happened between her and Christian with her sister Chelsie yet and Tiffany could talk to her about anything. “Understood.” He flashed an apologetic smile, turned and reached into a cabinet over the microwave. He fished out a small paper plate, then extracted some brownies from a foil covered container on the counter next to the microwave. “Well, I have to get these to a patient. Don’t work too hard.”
“Yeah. You either.” After he left the room, she walked over to the plate with the day old homemade brownies someone had brought in. She snagged one.
Damn it. She did not want people thinking she and Christian had a thing. It would put her in a very awkward position and being brand new, she didn’t need that kind of stigma. She popped the brownie in her mouth and chewed, pondering a solution, but knew at this point there wasn’t one. Thanks to his handy work on her neck, everyone suspected they were involved.
Somehow she’d just have to prove she was here because of what she could do, not who she was to Christian or what they did behind closed doors. Or in empty hallways. The thought of that encounter slammed into her feminine core with the weight of a twelve pound bowling ball barreling down a slick, recently buffed lane.
Lord help me. Tiffany wanted a real romp with that man more than she’d ever wanted anything. Common sense be damned. If she let her hormones have their way at some point she was bound to fall in love with him. That couldn’t happen.
As far as Blake, Rome hadn’t been built in a day. Relationships weren’t either and honestly she sucked at them, but she intended to get along with her co-workers if it killed her. That meant no matter how mad she got, she couldn’t threaten to kick anyone else’s ass.
She glanced at the doorway Blake just exited.
“That might take some serious effort.”
Tiffany was waiting for some call backs from software companies she’d scouted out on line with systems designed for medical practices. A couple seemed to fit the bill, but now she was in price negotiation mode and waiting to gain more detailed information from sales representatives.
She decided it would be a good time to break for lunch. Apparently, so had the many of the staff. When she entered the cafeteria she noticed quite a few occupied tables. Two older ladies wearing street clothes shared one, two men about her age another. Nursing staff she deduced since they wore blue scrubs. Noah sat in the corner eating by himself, pouring over some old book, big and thick enough to be used as a deadly weapon. Katie and Blake sat at a table near the entrance, laughing about something, but they quickly spotted her and Katie waved her over.
“How was your morning?” Katie asked.
Blake smiled and gestured at an empty chair. “You can join us if you want.”
“Pretty uneventful. Just hunting down sources for software.” The scene with Blake earlier she’d put behind her and judging from his friendly expression he had too. She might not like the guy’s big fat nose in her business but she intended to get along with him or die trying.
Tiffany glanced between their plates and licked her lips. “Oooh. Burritos? What kind?”
Katie chuckled. “Veggie, bean and rice with lots of avocado, tomato and cilantro. They’re the special of the day and the cheese sauce is amazing. Go get one. We’ll wait for you.”
Tiffany didn’t have to be asked twice. Due to time she’d traded a decent breakfast for an energy bar. A few minutes later she returned with fat, steaming burrito, settled into a chair between them, then dug in.
“So how are you faring? Can you tell us anything yet about the program you have in mind for nursing?” Katie asked, her bright blue eyes curious and excited.
Tiffany swallowed her bite, then grinned at the woman. “Making a little headway. Of course this will be a universal hologram system meaning files can be accessed anywhere, here or at future offices, but as I said, it will take some time.”
Katie nodded and glanced at Blake. “This is the first place we’ve worked that didn’t have such a system. The one we have is workable but tedious.”
“I’ll say.” Blake raised a hand and made a fist. “I think I’m developing carpal tunnel from excessive charting.”
Further small talk was put on hold as her cell began to ring. She pulled it out of her back pocket, pleased to see it was one of the calls she’d been waiting on. “I have to take this.” She answered it while she hurried back to her office to write down information.
* * *
Christian stood outside the exam room of his last patient, reviewing the chart. He tried to concentrate, but his mind slipped back to troubles.
With Asa in Denver, Christian’s patient load had been back to back appointments for weeks with few breaks. Today had been no exception. He’d used his lunch hour to consult with Noah further about this crisis. The blood work on all three cases were on the way to the VCDC. Unfortunately answers beyond what they’d discovered would take time. Time other pregnant patients might not be able to afford if, God forbid, others became victim. The thought sent chills up his spine.
For now he and Noah were on their own until Asa returned day after tomorrow. He’d been in touch with Asa numerous times to update him on their findings. Luckily, all blood samples drawn on patients today came back negative for what he and Noah now termed, the Vampire Hemolysis Syndrome. So, if he and Noah were right about someone intentionally poisoning patients, at least today they’d chosen to lay low. A good thing. If he caught someone tampering with food, blood, anything, needless to say they’d be deadly sorry.
When a human or vampire committed a crime such as this against one of their kind the law and human penal system couldn’t be involved because it could put the practice at risk. When the person responsible for this mayhem was caught, they’d go before a vampire court of law with the penalty most likely being death. Vampires had very strict codes of conduct, basic laws of right or wrong with no gray areas. Most humans weren’t aware of this, but when humans sought to kill their kind no mercy would be afforded them. The V clinic needed this person caught and brought to justice. That day couldn’t come soon enough for Christian.
A short while later, Christian left the exam room of his last patient, so very glad to be at a point he could soon snatch a few hours of sleep, a transfusion and some food. He’d pushed his physical limits for nearly twenty-four hours and his body suffered miserably from all of those punishments.
He stopped at the nurses’ station to drop off the chart from his final appointment and found Katie and Blake with their heads together whispering. Their expressions appeared intense. When he laid the chart on the counter, their gazes shot his way. “Everything okay?”
Katie forced a strained smile and glanced at Blake. “We were talking about Tiffany. She went home sick a little while ago. She said her stomach was really bothering her. We thought it might be a flu bug. I hope it’s nothing serious.”
“Why the hell didn’t someone inform me?” He had a pretty good idea why she hadn’t. Tiffany wasn’t a whiner and wouldn’t want him worrying.
“We haven’t had a chance yet. You’ve been with patients.” Blake explained.
Katie added with a chagrined frown, “She’s only been gone about an hour. Blake’s right. We’d planned to tell you the minute you were free. We considered informing Dr. Langston, but he’s resting in the doctor’s quarters. We didn’t want to disturb him either. He’s put in so many hours over the last several days. Both of you have in Dr. Bradley’s absence.”
Christian was concerned about Tiffany but he was also concerned about the guilty expression both nurses wore. Something else was going on and common sense told him it also involved Tiffany.
“That’s all you know about her condition?” he asked Katie.”
“Yes. She really didn’t say anymore. Promise.”
He pinned Blake with a steely look. “Is there something else either of you might want to share?”
Blake looked down for a second, then met his gaze with a bit of rancor. “I really don’t want to bring this up, but for the welfare of patients, I know I should. Earlier today Tiffany and I had words. It was my fault. I was asking her some personal questions. She got really angry and used quite a bit of loud, foul language. We worked it out, but with the way your kind hears, I suspect the entire waiting room and north end of the building heard what she said. Sorry. I don’t want to get her into trouble. Everyone here likes her.”
“And we’re so glad to have her here,” Katie chimed in, offering him a rather odd forced smile.
“It’s just that she has a very volatile temper and well, her voice carries when she’s mad,” Blake added.
Christian tightened his lips into a hard line to keep from laughing. He would have loved to see her unload on Blake. Knowing the nosy nurse he probably deserved it. However, that didn’t excuse her cussing which could have very well disturbed a patient. “I’ll have a talk with her and hear her side of things. I won’t tolerate rude or inappropriate behavior from anyone in this clinic. Is that understood?”
“Of course,” Katie said.
Blake just nodded appearing chagrined as he should have, Christian thought. “Until Tiffany settles in around her I’d appreciate it if you two would refrain from asking her too many personal questions. Thanks for letting me know, though.”
Christian pulled his cell out of the pocket of his lab coat and stalked off, calling Tiffany as he went. It rang five times and he thought she was going to let it go to voicemail, but finally on the sixth ring she answered with a weak ‘hello’. “What’s going on, Tiffany? Katie and Blake said you’re sick.”
He heard her huff, then say, “It’s no big deal, just a stomach thing. I can work from the house, and I need to anyway. I have better wifi access here.”
He’d just bet it was no big deal. He knew her too well. She would never go home without telling him just because she was feeling a little under the weather. She could have texted or left him a voice mail. “What kind of stomach thing? Cramps? Are you throwing up?”
“Yes, both. It’s a flu bug most likely. I just need to rest and ride it out.”
“How many times have you thrown up?”
“I don’t know, Christian. I lost count. I’ve got to go. I’m about to lose it again.”
She sounded irritated, but something felt wrong in his gut. Very wrong. “I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” He hung up, ignoring her vehement protests prior to disconnection.
When he arrived a little over thirty minutes later due to rush hour traffic, she greeted him at the door wearing a reproving frown and a pair of black sweats and a matching hoody. The clothing seemed a bit much for May, then she shivered and clutched her stomach. A quick perusal of her features solidified the fact she was ill. Her face was flushed, her eyes droopy and glassy.
This morning she’d been fine. One way or another he intended to find out what nasty thing had her in its’ clutches and strode inside.
She shut the door and faced him. “Look, Christian, no offense, but I really don’t want you here right now. It’s a full-blown flu thing if you get my drift.”
Indeed he did. “Are you still throwing up?”
She groaned and rolled her eyes. “Yes and what difference does it make? There’s nothing you can do.”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Sit.” He gestured toward the couch, then took a seat himself. “I want to ask you some questions.”
She plopped down on the couch and glowered at him. “I’m in no mood for twenty questions, Christian. Make it quick.”
He ignored her caustic response intent on answers. “When did this start?”
She glanced up and blinked slowly a couple of times. “Around two or two thirty maybe.”
“And you felt fine before that?”
“I started feeling a little queazy after lunch around one, one thirty but I’m pretty sure I just caught something nasty. I ate the same thing Katie and Blake had for lunch and neither of them were sick, so I doubt it’s food poisoning.” She paused there and curled her lip in a surly fashion. “Yesterday morning I stopped for a latte on the way to work and this gross dude in line behind me began coughing up a lung all over my backside. Pissed me off. I just about shoved my fist down his throat to give him a hand.”
Christian could easily imagine her doing that. “Tell me everything you ate and drank today and yesterday.”
She let out a lengthy sigh. “You are so wearing me thin.”
He took her hand and gave it a gentle squeeze. “I care about you and I’m just trying to get to the root of this thing. So help me out and answer my questions.”
“Ow.” She pulled her hand away and rubbed it. “Sorry. My skin hurts and so do my joints and back. I have a mother of a headache and probably a fever. I’m sure that’s why I’m so achy. I took some cold and flu medicines, but I didn’t keep them down.”
So far her symptoms did sound like a virus, but he wasn’t about to leave whatever attacked her body to mere guesswork. “Tell me everything you ate and drank today and yesterday. And have you had any sort of flu symptoms or discomfort prior to this afternoon?”
She exhaled sharply. “No. Nothing. Alright, if it will get you out of here any faster, yesterday I had pizza for lunch as did the majority of the staff. Lot’s of coffee. Starbucks in the morning and several cups from the break room. Then there was some brownies from the break room, the Mexican food last night.” She hunched a shoulder. “Really, it’s no big deal, Christian. I know vampires don’t get colds and flues, but I’ve ridden out such bugs many times. I’ll be fine. Really.”
Hopefully what afflicted Tiffany was just a human virus, but he wasn’t yet convinced. “What about this morning? What did you eat for breakfast?”
“Just an energy bar. I was running late. Other than the cafeteria’s burrito of the day, some more brownies and a couple cups of coffee. That’s it.”
He blinked at her and scratched his jaw as his mind flipped through possible diagnosis’s. “Any other symptoms?”
Her lips thinned and her eyes narrowed with irritation. “Stomach stuff, Christian. Suffice it to say I feel like I swallowed a stick of dynamite.”
He understood what she meant. Diarrhea and cramping. “What else have you been feeling? Dizziness? Fatigue?”
She sighed. “Yeah. Normal, nasty flu symptoms. Now do you mind getting out of here so I can go back to bed?”
“Have you been coughing or spitting up sputum?”
“Ooh, yuck. No. You’re grossing me out, Christian. Please just go.”
He stared at her, worried as hell. Flu viruses generally came on a bit more gradual. He’d been with her last night and this morning. She’d displayed no signs of illness. Without observing her for awhile, he wasn’t comfortable just brushing this off as a bug. Food poisoning came to mind due to the severity of her stomach issues and the quick onset. With the exception of the Starbucks, other humans had eaten the exact same things over the last two days and no one else had fallen ill at the clinic. Yet.
Finally he said, “All right. Go to bed, but I’m not leaving, Darlin’. Not until I’m sure you’re okay.”
“Whatever.” She stood, wobbled on her feet for a second, then plopped on the couch and clutched her stomach with a pitiful moan. “Please, Christian, go away and let me rest. I’m exhausted.”
Not a chance in hell. He’d treated as many humans as vampires in his career. Instinct told him this was not a mere human flu bug. Added to that was this disaster going on at the clinic.
Christian had a really bad feeling and only hoped what ailed her was either a virus or food poisoning. A treacherous alternative scratched at the back of his brain. “Tiffany, Darlin’, I hate to ask this, but it’s important. Have you thrown up any blood or had dark or bloody stools.”
She glared at him with horror.
“Tiffany I need you to answer honestly. It’s important.”
She sighed. “Yes on both.”
“Fuck.” He snatched her into his arms intent on getting her to the clinic pronto.
“Let go of me.” She wiggled, trying to get him to set her down, but her struggles were frighteningly weak. “What do you think you’re doing, Christian?”
“I’m taking you to the clinic hospital. Just to be on the safe side.” He needed answers and he needed to run some blood tests to get them.
She groaned again, then nodded.
The fact she’d agreed caused another wave of fear to course through his system. Obviously she felt far worse than she let on.
Once he had her situated in the back seat of his truck, he hauled ass for the clinic. On the way he called Noah and filled him in. By the time he arrived, Tiffany was unconscious. He shook as he carried her the rest of the way to an ICU suite Noah had ready and waiting for her.
Once they had her hooked up to a vitals’ monitor, blood drawn and a throat culture collected, he glanced at Noah and frowned. “I have a really bad feeling, Noah.”
“I can see why. She’s unconscious. Her stomach is distended indicating internal bleeding. Her vitals are pitiful. Whatever you plan to do, it needs to be done quickly.”
Noah was right. Whatever vile thing had befallen Tiffany, gained ground with frightening speed and decisions needed to be made fast. “With the insanity going on here, I suspect poisoning.”
Noah’s eyes widened with shock. “Dear God. I understand you care for her, Christian. I’m so very sorry.”
Christian handed him the two vials of blood he’d drawn, a urine sample from her catheter and throat culture. “Can you run these fast? I don’t want to leave her.”
Noah took them and nodded. “Is there anything specific you want me to look for?”
Christian swallowed hard, afraid to think it, afraid to say it, but had no choice. “Test for the same chemicals found in our patients’ blood. If the results are negative, test for food poisoning and a flu virus.”
His partner’s eyes rounded with shock. Christian knew if his suspicions were correct, someone had attempted to murder Tiffany.
“Testing for cyanide takes time.
“I know. Test for the arsenic first.”
He nodded. “I won’t be long.”
His partner hadn’t even made it out the door when Tiffany’s body went rigid and began to shake violently. Seconds later she flat lined.