Read Online Contagion by Robin Cook - Free Book Online

It’s my guess he was traveling recently.” Jack snatched up the phone.
         “Who are you calling?” Chet asked.
         “Bingham, of course,” Jack said as he punched the numbers. “There can’t be any delay. This is a hot potato I want out of my hands.”
         Mrs. Sanford picked up the extension but informed Chet that Dr. Bingham was at City Hall and would be all day. He had left specific instructions he was not to be bothered since he’d be closeted with the mayor.
         “So much for our chief,” Jack said. Without putting down the receiver, he dialed Calvin’s number. He didn’t have any better luck. Calvin’s secretary told him that Calvin had had to leave for the day. There was an illness in the family.
         Jack hung up the phone and drummed his fingers on the surface of the desk.
         “No luck?” Chet asked.
         “The entire general staff is indisposed,” Jack said. “We grunts are on our own.” Jack suddenly pushed back his chair, got up, and started out of the office.
         Chet bounded out of his own chair and followed. “Where are you going?” he asked. He had to run to catch up with Jack.
         “Down to talk to Bart Arnold,” Jack said. He got to the elevator and hit the Down button. “I need more information. Somebody has to figure out where this plague came from or this city’s in for some trouble.”
         “Hadn’t you better wait for Bingham?” Chet asked. ‘”That look in your eye disturbs me.”
         “I didn’t know I was so transparent,” Jack said with a laugh. “I guess this incident has caught my interest. It’s got me excited.”
         The elevator door opened and Jack got on. Chet held the door from closing. “Jack, do me a favor and be careful. I like sharing the office with you. Don’t ruffle too many feathers.”
         “Me?” Jack questioned innocently. “I’m Mister Diplomacy.”
         “And I’m Muammar el Qaddafi,” Chet said. He let the elevator door slide closed.
         Jack hummed a perky tune while the elevator descended. He was definitely keyed up, and he was enjoying himself. He smiled when he remembered telling Laurie that he’d hoped Nodelman turned out to have something with serious institutional consequences like Legionnaires’ disease so he could give AmeriCare some heartburn. Plague was ten times better. And on top of sticking it to AmeriCare, he’d have the pleasure of collecting his ten bucks from Calvin.
         Jack exited on the first floor and went directly to Bart Arnold’s office. Bart was the chief of the PAs, or physician’s assistants. Jack was pleased to catch him at his desk.
         “We’ve got a presumptive diagnosis of plague. I’ve got to talk with Janice Jaeger right away,” Jack said.
         “She’ll be sleeping,” Bart said. “Can’t it wait?”
         “No,” Jack said.
         “Bingham or Calvin know about this?” Bart asked.
         “Both are out, and I don’t know when they’ll be back,” Jack said. Bart hesitated a moment, then opened up the side drawer of his desk. After looking up Janice’s number, he made the call. When she was on the line, he apologized for having awakened her and explained that Dr. Stapleton needed to speak with her. He handed the phone to Jack.
         Jack apologized as well and then told her about the results on Nodelman. Any sign of sleepiness in Janice’s voice disappeared instantly. “What can I do to help?” she asked.
         “Did you find any reference to travel in any of the hospital records?” Jack asked.
         “Not that I recall,” Janice said.
         “Any reference to contact with pets or wild animals?” Jack asked.
         “Negative,” Janice said. “But I can go back there tonight. Those questions were never specifically asked.”
         Jack thanked her and told her that he’d be looking into it himself. He handed the phone back to