Luke was upset but tried to hide his concern with a poker face. Samantha wasn’t sure what Dr. Hartman was saying.
“Sam, your liver is not working right.”
“You can fix it, right, Dr. Hartman?”
“Probably, Sam, but I need to ask you some questions. Have you used any street drugs?”
That got Samantha’s attention, and she sat up in her chair. “Absolutely not.”
“How about alcohol? Do you drink much?”
“I used to drink about as much as most college students, but I quit last summer. My boyfriend didn’t like to see me drunk.”
The doctor thought for a minute. “How about any prescription drugs?”
“No, sir. I haven’t been sick in two years.”
“Herbs? Sometimes college students experiment with exotic herbs.”
“Not me. Can we go back to the prescription drugs? I forgot something. See, there was this ad on the bulletin board in the English Building. This doctor was looking for volunteers for some drug study. He paid me a hundred and fifty dollars, and I took some pills for a few days.”
“You never told me about that,” Luke interjected.
“Sorry, Dad. It didn’t seem like a big deal. He said that it was perfectly safe.”
“What’s this doctor’s name?” Luke asked, his voice becoming louder.
“I don’t know, Dad. He was in that little strip center across from campus. He has an office between the liquor store and a stop-and-rob.”
“I know him, Luke. His name is Challa. He’s from India originally. He’s not much of a doctor. Sam, did he tell you the name of the drug or what it was for?”
Samantha thought for a minute. “He wouldn’t tell me the name of the drug. He did say it was an antibiotic. He asked me if I had a sinus infection. I told him no, but he gave me the pills anyway.”
“When was that, Sam?” Dr. Hartman asked.
“I don’t know. Probably four or five months ago.”
That rang a bell with Dr. Hartman. “Ah, yes. I think I remember getting something from one of the drug companies, inviting me to participate in a clinical trial. I threw it in the trash. I refuse to take anything from them, not even prescription pads or pens. We need their products, but like most giant companies, they’re really in it for the money.”
He turned to Luke. “As I recall, Sam’s right. That trial was about some new antibiotic. Luke, one of the very rare but known risks of antibiotics is that they can cause problems with the liver. My best guess is she’s got a reaction to whatever Dr. Challa gave her.”
Luke stood and looked at the books on the shelves behind Dr. Hartman as if he were expecting to find a cure. “What do we do now?”
“Luke, I wish there was a magic potion, but there’s not. You need to keep her home on bed rest as much as possible. Keep plenty of fluids in her. No alcohol and no pain killer with acetaminophen—Tylenol, for example—understand? Both can cause problems with the liver.”
“But what about school?” Samantha asked.
“Sorry, Sam. You’re out of classes for a while, hopefully only a couple of weeks. Your dad can probably arrange with your professors to get your assignments, only right now rest is the most important thing. Luke, I want to see her again in two weeks, sooner if you think she’s getting worse.”
Luke helped Samantha up the stairs and into her bed. Then he went to the kitchen and got her two bottles of cold water and a bowl of cereal with milk.
“Sam, I know you’re not hungry, but I want you to eat as much of this cereal as you can. You’ve got to get some nourishment. Then I want you to drink this water, again as much as you can.”
“Can I call Brad?”
“Sure. He can even come over. You’re not contagious. I don’t want him staying long, though. I’m going out for a little while. I should be back in an hour. Call me on my cell if you need something.”
“You going to see a client?”
“No, Sam. I’m going to pay a call on Dr. Challa. I’m going to find out what he gave you.”
Luke turned into the strip center and parked in front of Dr. Challa’s office. He sized up the surroundings and couldn’t imagine anyone walking through that door hoping to be made well. He got out of the car and walked to the door only to find it locked. He knocked loudly and waited. When nothing happened, he knocked again, this time even louder. Still nothing. Then he shouted Dr. Challa’s name. A sound came from within, like a door opening and shutting. Then a small, dark-skinned man in a white coat opened the front door.
“Dr. Challa!”
“I am Dr. Challa,” the man spoke in a quiet voice. “Please come in. How can I help you?”
“Doctor, my name is Luke Vaughan. Were you involved in a clinical trial for a new drug a few months ago?”
“That is correct. It was all very legal.”
Luke looked around the shabby reception room, which was deserted, as usual. “My daughter is Samantha Vaughan. She says she was one of the patients in your trial.”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Vaughan, but I don’t remember her. I didn’t really know most of the participants in that trial. Most of them were not my regular patients. And would you mind keeping your voice down?”
“Yes, I damn sure do mind, Dr. Challa. Do you have a list of the people who were in the trial?”
“Of course, but I’m a confidential investigator. I’m not at liberty to disclose anything about the trial. I signed a contract with the drug company.”
Luke backed Challa up against the wall and grabbed the lapels of his coat, lifting him off the ground. “Look, you little pill pusher, either you get that list or I’ll go back to your office and find it myself.”
“Mr. Vaughan, let me down or I’m calling the police.”
Luke took a deep breath and backed away. His tone changed. “Dr. Challa, my daughter, Samantha, has hepatitis, which probably came from that drug. I need your help.”
Dr. Challa stared at Luke. “I don’t believe that any drug I prescribed would do that. Still, let me check.”
Challa went to the back and returned with a list. “Yes, your daughter was one of the subjects.”
“What’s the name of the drug?”
“I’m sorry, Mr. Vaughan, I signed a confidentiality agreement. I refuse to tell you the name of the drug or the name of the pharmaceutical company. Besides, the drugs were not marked. So even if I told you the name of the drug being evaluated, we wouldn’t know if she got it or the benchmark drug.”
“Damn it, she’s got drug-induced hepatitis. I need to know the name of the drug!”
“I’ve told you all that I can, sir. Now you must leave.”
“I’ll leave, but you damn well better hope that Samantha recovers. Otherwise, you’ll wish you never met me!”
45
Luke heard the sound of the Harley before he saw it. Then Whizmo turned into the driveway and parked in front of his apartment. The back door opened and closed, and Whizmo appeared at the office with a backpack.
“I’ve got Sam’s assignments for the next two weeks, and I went by her apartment to pick up her computer and textbooks. Her roommates are worried.”
Luke looked up from his desk with dark circles under his eyes. “They’re not alone.”
“Yeah, I can tell you haven’t been sleeping much. I thought people usually got over hepatitis.”
“I would have thought so, too. I’ve been researching on the Internet. If this were type A, I’d feel a lot better, but she got this from some pill that damn doctor gave her. She spends most of her time in her room asleep. I go up there every couple of hours to check on her. If I find her water bottle full, I wake her and make her drink at least half of it. I’m trying to keep soups in her and even made spaghetti last night, probably her favorite food in the world. She picked at a few bites and said she wasn’t hungry.”
“Can I go up to say hello?”
“Of course. Try to get her to drink some water.”
Whizmo climbed the stairs
and knocked quietly before he entered. Cocoa barked a greeting. Samantha opened her eyes, expecting to see Luke. When she saw Whizmo, she pushed herself up to a sitting position. “Hi there, Professor Whizmo. Sorry I’m having to miss your class.”
Whizmo walked over to the bed and sat on the side of it. “No problem, sweetie. Here, drink some of this water.” He opened an untouched bottle on her nightstand and handed it to her.
“You must have been talking to my dad. Every time he comes in here he does the same thing.”
“I confess,” Whizmo said, smiling. “It’s important that you drink lots of water, even if you don’t want to.”
Samantha nodded and took a few sips. “Hey, Whizmo, how much longer are you going to live behind us?”
“I don’t know, kid. You trying to get rid of me?”
“You know better than that. I just figured you’d stay a year or so and then buy another house.”
Whizmo stood to look out on the apartment. “I’ve thought about it, sweetie. Only, you know, I like it here. It’s all the space I need. By now you and Luke have become like family. I’ll probably just stick around until you throw me out.”
Samantha managed a grin. “I’d like that.” Then her eyes shut and she was asleep.
46
Two weeks later Luke and Samantha were back in Dr. Hartman’s office. He checked her over and shook his head as he did so. “Samantha, we’ll draw some more blood. Sorry I have to be a vampire. Then I’ll call your dad in a couple of days.”
“Next time I come back I’m going to bring you a set of those fake vampire teeth. If you’re going to act like one, you might as well look like one,” Samantha joked.
Two days later Luke was at his desk when he got the call from Dr. Hartman. “Luke, this a good time to talk?”
“Any time is a good time for you, Clyde.”
“She’s not any better, Luke. In fact, her liver function tests and enzymes are climbing. Sorry to tell you, Luke, but that’s not what we were hoping for.”
Luke rubbed his eyes as he replied. “Actually, Clyde, I knew you were going to say that. I’ve gotten to know my daughter pretty well and haven’t seen any improvement. What do you suggest?”
Clyde ran his hand through his hair as he replied. “I’ve been thinking about that. One of my good friends from medical school is a hepatologist in San Antonio, a professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center there. I’ve got a call in to him. I should hear back this afternoon or in the morning. He’d normally want to see her himself, but he knows that he won’t find anything more on a physical exam than I would, and I’ve already e-mailed him Samantha’s lab work.”
“Thanks, Clyde. I’ll be here. Otherwise, you’ve got my cell.”
Luke stared at the phone and then gazed out the window for five minutes before he got to his feet and walked toward the back. He stopped in the downstairs kitchen and took two beers from the refrigerator before going out back to find Whizmo in his shop. Whizmo was measuring a top for a coffee table when Luke handed him a bottle.
Whizmo nodded his thanks, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and gulped half the beer. “So, how’s Sam?”
“Just talked to Clyde. Not any better. In fact, she’s worse.”
“What’s he recommend?”
“He’s calling a specialist in San Antonio and will get back to me tomorrow. Whiz, I’m thinking about suing that Indian doctor.”
Whizmo walked out to sit on the steps. “Have a seat. I saved one step for you. Exactly what do you expect to accomplish by suing Dr. Challa? That’s not going to make Sam well.”
“You’re right. It won’t, but I need some answers. Maybe I’ll only find out what drug she took. Maybe there’s an antidote. It may all be a waste of time. Something tells me I’ve got to do something. If I fail, at least I tried.”
“How’s your stomach going to react to all of this?”
“That’s the amazing thing. Ever since Sam and I quit having problems, I quit having the stomach cramps. As to this lawsuit, it shouldn’t be very complicated. I handled a lot of medical cases back in Houston. I’m just suing one doctor, looking for information. I might get a little money out of him for Sam, depending on what I find. Judging from the looks of his office, he wouldn’t be able to pay a big judgment. On the other hand, he may have a little malpractice insurance. I can probably get my hands on that. Still, if I get the name of the drug, we’ll see where it goes from there.”
Whizmo downed his beer and belched. “Sounds okay to me. Let me know how I can help. And you better talk to your client upstairs. Make sure she’s okay with it.”
Luke nodded and returned to his house. When he got upstairs he found Samantha sitting in the breakfast nook, watching two squirrels chasing each other in the oak trees.
“Hey, Sam. Glad to see you’re up. You feeling any better?”
Samantha turned to look at her dad, who tried to hide his dismay at seeing the yellow in her eyes. “Maybe just a little. At least I’m trying to convince myself that I am. I’m pretending that I’m a squirrel, running along an oak limb and flying through the air to land on the limb of another tree. That must be a great feeling. Not exactly a bird, but kinda like it.”
Luke sat beside her and joined her in watching the squirrels. “I’ve got something to talk about.”
“I know. I heard you talking to Dr. Hartman. My blood work still sucks, doesn’t it?”
Luke nodded his head. “That’s as good a word as any. He’s talking to a friend of his in San Antonio to see what we do next.”
Samantha nodded and returned to watching the squirrels.
“Sam, I want to sue Dr. Challa. You have any problem with that?”
Never turning away from the squirrels, she shrugged her shoulders. “Okay with me. Why?”
“Shorthand summary, Sam, is I’m looking for answers. All I’ve got is questions right now. I may find some and I may not. Think of it as a baseball game. If I go to the plate and take a swing, I may hit a home run or I may strike out. If I don’t at least step up to the plate, we’ll never know what will happen. I’ve got to sue in your name, but otherwise you probably won’t have to be involved. He’s a local doctor. I’ll file suit in our courthouse right up the street. Shouldn’t interfere in anything that Clyde and his friend decide to do to get you well.”
“Go for it, Dad.” Samantha managed a wan smile. “Only if you’re going back to being a trial lawyer, swing for the fences.”
Luke leaned over and hugged his daughter. “Don’t worry, Sam. I intend to hit it out of the park.”
“Hey, are you guys talking baseball up there?” a voice called from downstairs.
“Brad, come on up,” Luke hollered.
“Dad, I don’t have any makeup on,” Samantha objected.
“Too late now,” Brad said as he rounded the top of the stairs. “Besides, I love you with or without makeup. Makeup hides those cute little freckles on your nose.”
Brad bent over to give her a peck on the lips before he sat down. Luke got up to excuse himself. “Brad, you know there are Cokes in the fridge. I’m going downstairs to finish a project.”
After Luke was gone Brad asked, “How’re you doing, baby?”
Tears welled up in Samantha’s eyes. Brad handed her a napkin from the table. As she wiped her eyes, she said, “I’m sorry, hon, only I’m scared.”
Brad scooted his chair around beside Samantha, put his arm around her, and pulled her toward him. Samantha laid her head on his chest and started crying quietly.
Brad didn’t know what to say. All he could think of was to give her encouragement. “Hey, look, I knew a guy that got hepatitis when I was in high school. He was out of classes for a few weeks and then was fine. That’s probably what’s going to happen with you.”
Samantha pushed away and looked at him. “You think so?”
“I’m not the doctor, but I’ll bet it is. Besides, I’m here for you whatever happens.”
Samantha put her ar
ms around Brad’s neck and hugged him. “Thanks. Just having you here makes me feel better.”
Luke was sitting at his desk when Brad stuck his head in the door. “I’m heading out, Luke. I’ll be by a couple of times a day if that’s okay.”
“Sure,” Luke said, nodding. “You’ll need to be Sam’s personal spirit coach.”
After Brad had gone, the phone rang. “Luke, Clyde here. I’ve talked to my friend in San Antonio. He wants to put Sam on alpha interferon. It’s a subcutaneous injection. It’s usually used for hepatitis B, but he is willing to give it a try with Sam’s drug-induced hepatitis. He wants to try her on it for twenty-four weeks with an injection once a week. I’ve arranged for a home health nurse to come by every week to give her the shot. Tell Sam I’m sorry to have to put her through this. Let’s hope it works.”
Luke thanked Clyde and turned to his computer to begin drafting a petition in the case of Samantha Vaughan v. Vijay Challa, M.D. It was something that he had done so many times in his prior life as a trial lawyer that he could do it from memory. As he was running a spell check before he printed the document, the doorbell rang.
A gray-haired, heavyset woman carrying a small black bag stood on the porch. “Mr. Vaughan, I’m Mary Sanchez. Dr. Hartman has arranged for me to come by here once a week to administer your daughter’s medication. Is now okay?”
“Good for me. Come in. I’ll check on Samantha. Have a seat here in the foyer and I’ll be back down in a minute.”
Luke woke Samantha and explained what was about to happen.
“Dad, you mean I have to be stuck in the butt every week for twenty-four weeks? No way. Tell her to come back next year, or maybe in two years.”
“Sam, come on,” Luke pleaded.
“All right,” Samantha said as she resigned herself to her fate. “Let’s get it over.”
47
The deputy stopped in front of Dr. Challa’s office and knocked on the door. When there was no answer, he walked over to the liquor store. Dr. Challa, minus white coat, was behind the counter. “Afternoon, Deputy.”
The Trial Page 12
