The Dr Annabel Tilson Novels Box Set

by Barbara Ebel

  “Thanks for everything,” Annabel said. “It was a long couple of months and we learned a lot from you three and our patients.”

  Sitting on the couch, Melody crossed her legs and dangled a brown buckled heel off the end of her foot. “Annabel, thanks for being so conscientious. You too, Stuart.”

  “I second that,” Chineka chimed in. “We had the darnedest cases the last few months and you both performed admirably. And Annabel, how is it that you lure in the most difficult, yet provocative cases? You’re like the epicenter of the team with your involvement with Jae Nixon, your entanglement with that Parkinson’s patient and her daughter in the beginning of the rotation, and even the cops that got involved.”

  “Well, I knew them from before.”

  “There you go. See what I mean?”

  “Actually,” she smiled, “I’m dating one of them.”

  “Really?” Melody asked. “Hell if I make time to date.”

  Annabel shrugged. “But it hasn’t been that long.”

  “Yeah. Right.” Melody rolled her eyes.

  Donn rubbed his beard, contemplating the donuts. They heard a familiar sound in the hallway. The tip of Alejandro appeared in the bottom of the doorway and the rest of it followed. Dr. Enno came in. A small silver clip clung to the front of her hair bun and a clump of wispy hair draped over her forehead.

  “I didn’t want to miss saying goodbye to the students.” Shania acknowledged them with a warm smile.

  “Thanks for coming,” Donn said. “We appreciate all you did for us.”

  She stood well-planted next to the table, holding her cane, as Donn relented and picked up a donut.

  “It was wonderful that our star infectious disease patient went home yesterday. Couldn’t have been a better outcome. And now we know to keep our antennae up for patients presenting with more tickborne diseases.”

  Everyone nodded and then Donn pointed to the box … for Shania to help herself.

  “Well, I’m heading out.” Annabel slid off her white jacket and draped it over her forearm and picked up her backpack. Stuart grabbed his things as well and extended his hand to Donn. His handshake was his good-bye.

  Annabel searched Shania’s expression and beamed at her. “It was a pleasure working with you. Thank you.”

  “Likewise. As an attending, sharing a patient’s course with a student from the beginning to the end is beneficial to both. It reminds me of a Native American saying, ‘We have walked together in the shadow of a rainbow.’”

  Annabel’s heart warmed. Medical education was something else. She narrowed her eyes and nodded. In another moment, she and Stuart peeled away.

  -----

  Saturday morning, first Annabel called home to tell them her rotation was officially finished, she passed, and she had something fun on her plate for the day. She explained to her father that one of her patients had harbored an unusual disease. When they finished talking, she told him to say hello to her aunt and uncle and young cousins. She didn’t ask to speak to Nancy. Her sister needed to figure out herself that siblings were important to each other and that Annabel had done nothing wrong when it came to her problems with Jordan.

  She was ecstatic it was a beautiful day. Since her front window with her soulful tree faced east, late mornings in her apartment were the best time of day if the sun was unobstructed by clouds. She caught up with laundry and uncluttered her backpack. She filed away notes and stored medicine books on her shelf.

  Soon enough, she thought, she needed to replace study materials. There were still many rotations to go through, but now she had surgery, psychiatry, and internal medicine behind her.

  She’d lounged around all morning in pajamas and now she showered and changed into a rose flannel shirt and tucked it into a pair of crisp blue jeans. As she brushed her hair in the mirror, she wondered about Bob’s comment. He had something for her.

  She mulled that over as she left and passed Travis’ quiet apartment downstairs. Why not surprise Bob with something as well? Something not expensive, a little humorous, and maybe even useful. She knew exactly what that would be. After hopping into her SUV, she made a stop on the way to Bob’s and armed herself with what she wanted.

  Annabel parked at his apartment complex and sprang over to his door. After ringing twice, the door swung open. He wore jeans like hers and greeted her with a smile.

  “Every time I see you,” she said, “you look more like yourself.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.” He stepped aside and she entered. He walked to the counter. “It’s not wrapped, just camouflaged with a garbage bag over it. A present. For helping me out … a lot.”

  She put down her own bag and slipped off the white trash bag. Underneath was a bulky box - a single-cup coffee maker.

  “This is really thoughtful of you, but you didn’t need to.”

  Bob’s expression turned less cheerful. “But I wanted to.”

  “Yes.” She nodded, realizing his gift meant a lot to him. “Thank you. I appreciate this; it will be used often. Every day! Heck, now it’ll be easier to drink a different flavor every morning like you do as I run out my door.”

  His face glowed. She liked the gift as well as the thought.

  “Oh, and this is for you.” The top of the paper bag she placed on the counter was tightly rolled halfway down. She giggled. “I guess we both don’t make the best gift wrappers.”

  Bob leaned forward, uncurled the bag, and stuck his hand in. He pulled out an orange and green can. After a moment, his head came down into his other hand as he laughed. “Bug spray. A can of DEET. Just what the doctor ordered.”

  “It may be too late for this Ehrliciosis, but some hefty spraying with this should stop the next tick before he takes a bite out of you. In other words, never let a tick get a head start!”

  “Ha!” he said, “especially Powassan!” His eyebrows shot up. “And when we run again, I’m sharing it with you.”

  “Deal.” She picked up the box. “Now let’s proceed. We have a date with a ranger.”

  -----

  Annabel pulled her Nissan into the visitors’ center lot and sprung out of the car, looking around. The American flag blew gently from the front pole on the prominent hilltop where a sign said the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, William Howard Taft National Historic Site. Behind it stood a cream-colored building, the birthplace and boyhood home of the twenty-seventh President and tenth Chief Justice of the United States.

  Bob glanced over the hood of the car. “Where to?”

  “The path on your side leads over to the rangers’ housing. We’re supposed to meet him there.”

  Annabel grabbed a jacket vest from the back seat, slid it on, and they headed over. Cabins nestled before the woods, looking like their own picture postcards. A mostly black, medium-sized dog rushed off one of the porches and greeted them. But another dog bounded from the back, passed his companion, and circled around them with a tail that wouldn’t stop spinning.

  A front door opened and Jae Nixon put his hand on a beam and smiled. “Welcome!”

  Annabel and Bob walked closer and Jae waved them up on the porch. He reached out and shook Bob’s hand.

  “I heard you also had the same unfortunate problem that I did,” Jae said. “An encounter with a bloodsucking arachnid that did more than just bite.”

  “Yes,” Bob nodded. “What fun. Although I got away a lot cheaper than you.”

  “I’ll be all right. Each day is another blessing and I’m most grateful to be back here. I’ll start work again on Monday with a modified schedule.” He glanced at Annabel, who nodded with approval.

  “Today Annabel gave me a can of insect repellant,” Bob said.

  “Consider her a good friend,” Jae said and chuckled.

  The dogs both sat, poised ready to follow Jae anywhere.

  “This is Curley,” Jae pointed, “and this is Twist.” He leaned over and tousled Twist’s hair. “We’re not the only ones who have be
en sick. He was ill from a bacterial infection because of the mouse population around here. He came down with Leptospirosis.”

  Annabel crouched and picked up his paw to say hello. “You poor boy. You had a rough time.”

  “Hey, you all.” Patty Caye half ran across the grass. She wore her uniform and greeted them both. “I’m about to give a guided tour. During the week, we also do ranger programs with the kids. They’re fun to tag along with too.

  “Jae and I were also wondering if you’d like to stay for an early dinner. He can easily grill or pan fry some venison and I’ll add a salad and a side.”

  “The deer meat that cost you a tick bite?” Bob asked.

  Jae laughed. “Most likely.”

  “Expensive venison.”

  “Whaddaya say?” Jae asked. “I won’t make a big fuss, I promise.”

  “I hate to say no,” Annabel responded, “but I have a date tonight. With a bird.”

  Bob leaned against the railing and squinted his eyes. “A bird?”

  “Just kidding. I’m seeing Dustin and he has a funny bird.”

  “We could feed you,” Jae said to Bob.

  “No. Annabel can drive me home and, in any case, this afternoon will be enough activity. My life is so boring these days that I get into bed early at night and dream of continuing to increase my platelet count.” He laughed. “But thanks so much for the invite.”

  “Well, then,” Patty said. “I’ll see you all over there.” She tipped her hat and left.

  “Let’s follow her.” Jae stepped forward a lot slower than his partner.

  “Bye for the time being,” Annabel said to Curley and Twist.

  She strode next to Bob. “Sweet dogs. You know if we’re going to get one, now’s as good a time as any. May if she’s a girl and Oliver if he’s a boy.”

  “So you mentioned. Let’s not rush into anything, but I guess we could start planning the process.”

  They bumped shoulders together and Annabel rolled her eyes. What were they going to get themselves into?

  END

  DOWNRIGHT DEAD: Book Five

  The Dr. Annabel Tilson Novels

  Barbara Ebel, M.D.

  Downright Dead Copyright © 2018 by Barbara Ebel, M.D.

  http://barbaraebel.weebly.com

  If you’d like a release alert for when Barbara Ebel has new books available, sign up here. This is intended only to let you know about new releases as soon as they are out.

  License Notes

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means – whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic – without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

  Paperback ISBN-13: 978-1-7324466-0-1

  eBook ISBN-13: 978-1-7324466-1-8

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, persons, or locations is coincidental.

  *****

  CHAPTER 1

  “I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout birthin’ babies, Miss Scarlett!”

  Sitting on her boyfriend’s couch, Annabel Tilson leaned forward and laughed. The popcorn she was eating practically hurled from her mouth as she hit the pause button of the TV remote. Gone with the Wind stopped.

  “Can you believe it? she asked. “That’s exactly how I feel. Just like Scarlett O’Hara’s otherwise helpful maid, I don’t know squat about obstetrics and gynecology.”

  “Tomorrow that will begin to change,” her boyfriend, Dustin, said. “In four weeks, you’ll be able to deliver a baby better than I can.” He inched closer and rubbed her shoulder.

  She glanced abruptly at him. “I’m only a third-year medical student. The residents will be catching the babies. I’ll be observing, studying, and doing the scut work.”

  “Being privy to some of your prior medical cases that ended up in the police department, you’ve been doing more than that.”

  “Yeah, well, whatever.” She leaned back into the upholstery and gave him a hard stare. “Do you mean you’re one of those policemen who have escorted a pregnant woman in labor, ready to pop, in his patrol car?”

  A sly smile crossed his lips, highlighting the dimple in his chin.

  “Want to hear about it? I can give you the details back there.” He pointed to his bedroom and his grin grew wider.

  “Dustin Lowe! Don’t tempt me. Can I take a rain check? I’d better head home and get ready for my first day on OB.”

  He moved the bowl of popcorn between them to the cocktail table. “I understand. New subject matter to ingest in only four weeks and your normal composure is turning into the jitters. Anything I can do to help?”

  “No. You’re empathetic about my studies already, which may stem from your own nerve-racking career. Actually, it was wonderful having these two days off after finishing my internal medicine rotation on Friday. Thanks for a nice day and a great wrap-up to the weekend.”

  Their knees touched and Dustin put his hand on her leg. The other one went around her neck and they closed the gap for a tender kiss.

  She rose and toyed with her silky long hair. “We’ll finish the movie next time. We have to. Atlanta is in flames and Scarlett’s friend is about to give birth.”

  Dustin’s yellow-naped Amazon parrot, Solar, flicked his head from his perch. “About to give birth,” he quipped.

  Annabel twisted her mouth at him. “Nobody asked for your two cents.”

  “What’s your problem?” he countered.

  She knew that was his favorite line, so Annabel threw up her arms. “Take care of Dustin and I’ll see you next time.”

  She grabbed her purse and car keys while Dustin joined her at the door.

  “Lucky you,” he said. “He didn’t give you any more back talk.” He perched his elbow on the door frame and brought his hand to her hair.

  “Don’t look at me that way.”

  “What way?”

  “You know what way.” She gave him a quick kiss and tapped her finger in his dimple. “See you soon.”

  “Likewise. Go crush your OB/GYN rotation.”

  -----

  Annabel thanked the Uber driver, walked in the hospital entrance, and eyed the coffee stand. She veered right; she had a few extra minutes and couldn’t resist.

  “You’re back,” said one of the baristas.

  Annabel chuckled. “Yes, back at the University Hospital. I’m starting OB/GYN and the VA Hospital doesn’t exactly specialize in that patient population.”

  “I should say not. What can I make for you?”

  She ordered and left with a mocha cappuccino. The team was supposed to meet and gather on the obstetric side of the fourth floor, so she punched the elevator button and rode up while sipping her hot beverage. The doors opened and the signs hanging in the peaceful lounge in front of her designated all of obstetrics to the right and gynecology to the left.

  Annabel took a big sigh as she walked. After rotating in surgery, psychiatry, and internal medicine, she still did not know for sure what specialty she wanted to go into. She wondered if this rotation would pique her curiosity enough to treat more pregnant ladies and gynecology patients in the future.

  Doors to the unoccupied labor and delivery rooms stood open. She poked her head in one of them. They looked more like hotel lodging than typical hospital rooms.

  Annabel proceeded down the squeaky-clean hallway and a door flew open; a long-coated male doctor stuck his head out and looked toward the counter at the end where several people were milling about.

  “I need help in here!” he shouted.

  A female, also wearing a long white coat, dashed down the corridor and disappeared inside.

  Annabel hesitated, wondering if she qualified as “help.” Probably not. Less than twelve
hours ago, she had mimicked the words that she knew “nothin’ ‘bout birthin’ babies.” Besides, medical students were often in the way when a real crisis was taking place.

  The male physician swung the door open again and shouted as a nurse came rushing his way.

  “Call anesthesia.”

  “He’s putting in an epidural right now.”

  “Try and get another anesthesiologist from the main OR.”

  “It may take a while, Dr. Gash.”

  “Fetch another cart. I need more Pitocin and call the blood bank to send us two units of blood.”

  She peeled away and his eyes fell on Annabel.

  “You a new med student on the service?”

  She nodded. “Annabel Tilson.”

  He jerked his head in the direction of the room and she followed.

  “Sir, you need to leave,” Dr. Gash said to a man inside. The man, who Annabel assumed to be the patient’s partner, was near the door and she couldn’t see past him. When he turned, he appeared to be in his twenties and wore casual clothes and sneakers. His face was pasty white, his eyes bulged, and he stuttered something undecipherable. A nurse was behind him in a flash. She manually swept him away, escorting him out the door.

  The sights and sounds in the room hit her like a harsh wake-up call from a dead sleep.

  CHAPTER 2

  A young woman about Annabel’s age was on a labor and delivery bed, which was broken down in the middle and functioned as her birthing bed; she still held on to the handles. Her legs were sprawled open in the lithotomy position, her feet in stirrups. The female doctor stood between them.

  Blood cascaded from between the patient’s legs. A blue drape wasn’t holding the flow adequately and it began spilling on the wooden floor. A newborn was off to the side on a table with a nurse hovering above it as Dr. Gash evaluated its status and looked over at Annabel.