“A toughie,” shrugged MacSween. “I was pretty sure with Melanie but with Jane Lees I’m in a bit of a quandary. There’s no doubt that she did respond to immuno-suppression with the steroids but on the other hand there are still definite signs of viral pneumonia.”
“So what side of the fence are you going to come down on?” asked Neef.
“Neither,” said MacSween.
“Neither?”
“I’m going to have to go for both. The girl’s lung condition was caused by both viral pneumonia and cancer.”
“You’re an obstinate old bugger, aren’t you?” said Neef. “You’re determined to stay with viral pneumonia.”
“I’m just saying what I see,” retorted MacSween. “That’s what you have to do if you’re a pathologist. Cold hard facts are what you get. If it’s bullshit you’re after, ask a psychiatrist.”
“But both these girls have been exposed to a powerful carcinogen. Everyone agrees about that, right?”
“Agreed,” said MacSween.
“It must have been something they inhaled because the condition is confined to the lungs and there are no signs of radiation burns on the skin.”
“Agreed.”
“Then surely it’s reasonable to accept that the inflammation of the lungs is caused by an immune response to the cancer rather than viral pneumonia,” said Neef.
“Perfectly reasonable,” agreed MacSween.
“Then why persist with the viral pneumonia angle?” asked a puzzled Neef.
“Because that’s what I see. Logic or reason doesn’t come into it. It’s simply my observation.”
“You know what troubles me about that?” asked Neef.
“What?”
“It’s not logical and it’s not reasonable but it’s the opinion of the best pathologist I know.”
“Well, thank you for that,” said MacSween.
“Until the virology Lab report comes in and they don’t find any viruses,” added Neef with a smile.
“The report for Melanie Simpson came in this morning,” said MacSween.
“And?”
“They found evidence of three or four viruses, just as we thought they would. The usual everyday sort of stuff. Rhinovirus, Adenovirus and the like. Nothing unusual. No big killer bug.”
“So?”
“Nothing changes,” said MacSween. “I see what I see.”
“What would you say if I told you I thought Charlie Morse is going to be case number three?” said Neef.
MacSween looked up from the table, the wrinkles prominent round his eyes as he screwed them up. “You’re not serious?”
“There are just too many similarities to be coincidence. I suggested to his doctor this morning that he might like to try Charlie on steroids.”
“My God,” said MacSween. “Does Kate know what you think?”
“Not yet. I’m waiting to see if he responds. I’m hoping I’m wrong.”
“I hope you are too,” said MacSween. “Have you mentioned this to Lennon?”
“Not yet, and for the same reason.”
“I think maybe you should. These guys need all the help they can get. They’re still getting nowhere.”
“If Charlie is going to respond to steroids we should see an improvement by this afternoon. If that happens, they should be able to get some decent pictures of his lungs. If he really has bronchial carcinoma I’ll call Lennon immediately. I’ll check with Uni College around four and give you a call at home if you like?”
“I won’t be there,” said MacSween. “I’m spending the week-end with my daughter and son-in-law up in Yorkshire. We weren’t due to go up until next month but young Nigel hasn’t been too well this week and Betty thought she’d like to go.”
“I’ll catch you on Monday then. Enjoy your week-end if you can.”
“I think your suspicions about Charlie have put paid to that,” said MacSween. “Maybe if I gave you my daughter’s phone number, you might call me if there’s any news?”
“Of course,” said Neef.
Neef walked slowly back to the Oncology Unit. He was just about to go in through the door when David Farro-Jones pulled up in his car and got out.
“I was just coming to see you,” smiled Farro-Jones. “I wanted to ask you how your trial patients are getting along.”
“Come on in. Let’s get some coffee,” said Neef.
“You sound as if you need it,” said Farro-Jones. “One of these days when nothing goes right?”
“They all seem to be, one of these days,” replied Neef. “It’s just one damned thing after another.”
“Sounds like I’ve picked a bad time to call,” said Farro-Jones. “Maybe I should...”
“No,” insisted Neef. “It’s OK. The trial patients are all on Gancyclovir now so, according to Max, we should start to see an improvement any day now.”
“I tried calling Max yesterday,” said Farro-Jones. “He wasn’t around.”
“He went back to working in the lab,” said Neef. “As he said, there wasn’t much for him to do around here until we start to see results. Apart from that things have been a bit difficult between us since I had to ask you to check out his virus preps.”
Farro-Jones made a face and said, “I thought that might be the case but I’m sure you did the right thing. You just can’t be too careful. Don’t worry about Max, he’ll come round. His sort always do. Maybe you’d let me take a look at the trial patients before I go?”
“Of course,” said Neef. His look must have betrayed puzzlement because Farro-Jones smiled and said, “As a molecular biologist, I have a personal interest in seeing my field come into its own, even if I’m not personally involved!”
Neef accompanied Farro-Jones on an impromptu tour of the unit and introduced him to the Gene Therapy children. This was a big success. The kids took immediately to the tall blonde man who looked like the Prince from a fairy tale. He also had a personal charm which coaxed smiles from children who were otherwise low in spirit. Neef exchanged smiles with the nurse who had been attending Thomas Downy when he saw Thomas break into a fit of giggles at something Farro-Jones had whispered to him.
“We’ll have to have you along more often,” said Neef when the time came for Farro-Jones to leave. “You’re good for morale.”
“I have a similar affinity for dogs and drunks,” smiled Farro-Jones. “But I would like to come back and see how they’re getting on if that’s all right?”
“Of course. Any time.”
“Give Max my regards when you see him. Jane and I would love to have him to dinner if he can find the time.”
“I’ll pass on the message,” said Neef. “But he seems to work all the time.”
Neef was about to tell Kate Morse that Eve would be taking Neil Benson out for a picnic on Sunday when he saw she was in conversation with Lawrence Fielding. He couldn’t hear what was being said but he sensed that something was wrong. Both of them looked in his direction and stopped talking. Kate walked towards him. “Could I have a word?” she asked. “In private.”
“Of course.”
Neef glanced at Fielding as he turned to follow Kate back to his office. He thought he looked apologetic about something.
“I just called Uni College. Charlie has been put on steroids,” said Kate. Her eyes were full of accusation. “I mentioned this to Lawrence and he said that was probably your idea. Is that true?”
“I’m afraid it was, Kate,” said Neef softly.
“You think Charlie has the same thing as the two girls, don’t you?”
“I don’t know, Kate,” said Neef apologetically. “That’s why I didn’t say anything to you earlier. I was waiting to see what effect the steroids would have. I didn’t want to upset you unnecessarily.”
“I was right,” said Kate. “There are similarities to Jane Lees, and the other girl, aren’t there?”