The Fifth Vial
Page 38
Gabe smiled. If, over the years, he had suffered from too little father, Drew Stoddard had suffered from too much. From his days in diapers, Stoddard had been molded by the charismatic, wildly successful industrialist. The heartache Buzz Singleton had endured when Gabe was drummed out of the Naval Academy had to pale next to LeMar Stoddard’s having to explain to his pals at the hunt club or the polo pitch or wherever, that Drew had become a Democrat—and one of the shining stars of the party at that.
Did Drew’s remarkable transformation from elitist Republican to populist Democrat have its roots in the accident at Fairhaven all those years ago? Gabe often wondered. In such an inestimable tragedy, not even the bystanders and innocents like Drew Stoddard escaped unchanged.
He set a pot of Earl Grey tea and some shortbread on the table. There was a time before the last presidential election when the two of them had gotten together once or twice a year to hike and fish in the Smokies or Laramies, and exchange news and stories, but now, despite their long-standing friendship, Gabe felt strangely edgy about taking up the time of the most powerful man in the solar system with small talk. Still, this last-minute trip to Tyler was Stoddard’s doing, so it seemed right to let him set the agenda.
Gabe didn’t have long to wait.
“Did you know that in addition to the comprehensive medical facility on the first floor of the Eisenhower Office Building, we have our own medical clinic right in the White House?” Stoddard began.
“You said something about it in one of our conversations, yes.”
“It’s run by the White House Medical Unit. Which, for reasons lost in antiquity, is actually a division of the White House Military Office. Pretty nice set-up, too—recently renovated; state-of-the-art equipment; top-notch nurses and paramedics; and the best doctors from all the branches of the service. Twenty-five or thirty staff altogether. They take care of me and Carol and the boys when they’re home from school, as well as Vice President Cooper and his family, and anyone else who happens to need medical care while they’re at the White House.”
“The boys—they doing well?”
“Terrific. Andrew’s going into eleventh, Rick’ll be in ninth. Both are at school in Connecticut. Right now they’re at soccer camp. Andrew’s an all-star goalie. Rick plays because he thinks he should. He wants to go to the Academy and be an astronaut.”
“Think you can get him in?”
“I think he can get in on his own, but I may keep an eye on his application.”
“Eleventh and ninth—that’s amazing.”
“They’re happy and healthy. That’s all that really matters.”
“Speaking of healthy, you had your doc from North Carolina come up to D.C. to care for you, yes?”
“Jim Ferendelli. He’s been a great doctor for me and the family. The best. Kind, knowledgeable, empathetic.”
“I’m really glad to hear that, Drew. Having a doctor one can trust is a huge weight off of anyone’s shoulders.”
“I agree, but I’m glad to hear you verbalize it just the same.”
“Well, that’s how I feel, although when it comes to caring for the president of the United States, I assume you know I’m just stating the obvious. Your well-being and good health has an effect, one way or another, on every person on the planet.”
Stoddard laughed with no great glee.
“I understand what you’re saying, but I still get the willies thinking about things that way.”
“It’s a hell of a job you signed on for. I don’t envy that responsibility in the least.”
“But I still have your support?”
“Of course.”
“In that case, it should come as no surprise that I didn’t break away to fly here in the midst of a heated campaign just because I missed your smiling face. I need something from you, Gabe. Something important.”
“Name it.”
“I need you to come to Washington and be my doctor.”
Gabe sank back in his chair and stared at his onetime roommate in utter disbelief.
“But…you said this Jim Ferendelli is a terrific doctor.”
“He is…was.”
Gabe felt as if a band were tightening around his chest.
“I don’t understand,” he finally managed.
“Gabe,” Stoddard said. “Jim Ferendelli’s gone…. Vanished.”
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Grateful acknowledgment is made for permission to reprint from the following: “Fish and Whistle,” written by John Prine. © 1978 Big Ears Music (ASCAP) and Bruised Oranges Music (ASCAP) administered by Bug. All Rights Reserved. Used by Permission.
THE FIFTH VIAL
Copyright © 2007 by Michael Palmer.
Excerpt from The First Patient copyright © 2007 by Michael Palmer.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 2006050971
ISBN: 978-0-312-93774-4
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