With Senator Marsden next.
A violent tremor rattled through her, starting in her spine and rolling outward. An after shock.
Get a grip, Panzella. You can handle this.
She straightened, smoothed her blouse, shook her hair back, and tried to think of a plan.
She wouldn't say or do anything this morning. Act naturally. Give Duncan no hint that she suspected a thing. She'd do what was expected and maybe a little more, assist on the surgery, sit with the senator through recovery, see him off, then leave. But as soon as she got home she'd call Gerry, tell him about the TPD, the ultrasound and trocar, fax him the newspaper clippings, and let the FBI or the Secret Service or whoever take over.
Act naturally. Right.
She stepped out into the hall and walked back toward Duncan's office, trying to look casual. Barbara's desk was empty. Still too early for her. As before, Gin stepped around and approached the door. This time there was sound from within. The TV was on.
She tapped and called Duncan's name but no one replied. She stepped inside. A quick glance around, still empty, and then her eyes went to the desk.
The desktop was clear except for the computer terminal and the usual papers and journals.
The tray with the TPD, the syringe, the trocar, and the implant was gone.
Another tremor, another wave of dizziness, but short-lived this time
She was in control again.
What did you expect? He's not going to leave that stuff on display all morning. Locked away in the drawer now, ready for use.
She set her jaw. Not today, Duncan. Not on my senator.
"Well! You're early today. ' Gin almost yelped with surprise as Duncan breezed by her and crossed the office to his coffeemaker.
"I got out early, " she managed to say.
"Good. We've got a lot to do today." He filled a cup from the carafe and held it up. "Coffee? " "No, thanks."
"Nonsense. It's genuine pure Kona, shipped directly from a plantation south of Kailua. You must have some. I insist." Maybe she'd better, just to be sociable '"Okay. Just a taste."
"You'll love this, ' he said, pouring and handing her a steaming cup.
He hovered as she sipped, and beamed when she nodded.
"Hmmm. This is great." She watched him fuss with his funnel and filter. He was dressed in gray slacks, a blue oxford button-down shirt, and a maroon crew-neck sweater.
He looked so relaxed, so damn normal. But she knew that was often the way with the paranoid schiz. Perfectly sane and normal in every aspect of their lives except the one delusional facet. She remembered a case study about a successful businessman, ran three companies, an exemplary husband and father, loved by all, one day going berserk when one of his vice presidents tapped a cigarette ash into the urn that housed the little blue man who advised him.
Duncan stopped what he was doing to stare a moment at the TV. C-SPAN was replaying an interview with the Speaker of the House. He grimaced.
"They shouldn't allow this stuff on during the day."
"Why not? " "Children might see it, " he said with a mischievous wink.
"C-SPAN should be limited to late-night broadcasts. Children in their formative years should not be exposed to politicians. People whine about violence on TV, but this is far more corrupting." Gin forced a smile. She could not find him funny now.
He continued to stare at the screen. "Where do they find these people?
" "They were elected, ' Gin said coldly. "It's the American way.
They ran for office and they got the most votes." '"Yes. Tweedledum and Tweedledummer. No one you'd really like to see in public office has the bad taste to run. And if he does, he's not going to win " "I can think of at least one exception, " she said, thinking of Senator Marsden.
"A rara avis, I assure you. Think about it, Gin. On one side you've got a man of intelligence and integrity. Against his better judgment he agrees to run, thinking he might be able to do something meaningful.
But he won't suck up to ward bosses, won't kiss babies or judge hog contests or put on an apron and a white cap for a bake shop photo op.
He insists on being judged by his positions on the issues. On the other side, however, you've got a political hanger-on who'll promise anything to anyone, make deals left and right, and pose any time someone ligts a camera, do anything it takes, anything at all, to get a vote." Duncan turned to her. Suddenly he was fiercely intent. "Tell me, Gin. Who's going to win that election? " Gin couldn't answer.
He had a point, damn him.
"I repeat, " he said, not waiting for an answer. "People who deserve to be elected rarely run. And when they do, they do not win. That's the American way " "I don't know of a better system. Do you? " '"No, " Duncan said with a sigh. "But that doesn't mean it can't be improved. We limit the president to two terms. Why not limit the legislature? " '"Senator Marsden has imposed his own term limits, " she said, getting in a plug. "Two terms and he's out." - "We'll see about that." Gin heard an ominous ring in that remark.
"Speaking of the good senator, " Duncan said, "he's last on the list this morning. And you're assisting, I believe? " "That's right. " '"By your own request, am I right? ' '"Right again."
"Why is that?
You've never before requested to assist on a specific patient." '"I work for the man. ' - He turned and eyed her. "Do you think that's wise? You're not afraid of being emotionally involved? I could call Cassidy, " "This isn't exactly life-and-death surgery And I'm only assisting.
" Why all these questions? He'd never quizzed her like this before.
Then again, aren't paranoids suspicious of everyone?
"Very well. We'll scrub at nine forty-five. Marie will have him under by ten o'clock. We should be done in plenty of time for lunch. " "Under? You're using general? " "Of course."
"Won't local do? " He eyed her. "You've been working here for how long? This is the first instance I can recall you questioning the level of anesthesia. Are you sure you're not too involved with this patient? " General meant Marsden would be groggy after surgery.
Duncan could pop that implant under his skin without the senator ever knowing.
"Quite sure, " she said. "It's just that it seems like such a small lesion, I was just wondering, " "I've got to make a wide enough incision to excise all of that tumor and leave no chance of recurrence. Then I've got to graft and rebuild the top of the auricle so it doesn't look like someone took a shot at his head and barely missed. I don't want him twitching or getting a crick in his neck and jerking his head while I'm in the middle of it.
Don't you think that's justification enough for general anesthesia? " "Of course, " she snapped, the tension getting to her. "I was just asking." A slow smile played around his lips. "A bit edgy this morning, aren't we? " She placed her half-empty cup on his desk and started for the door.
"Too much coffee, I guess. ' Out in the hall she felt her tough facade crumble. Duncan was calling all the shots. She prayed she'd be able to carry this off The surgery went smoothly. Duncan did a beautiful job of excising, grafting, and rebuilding the upper auricle of Senator Marsden's ear. And Gin did what she hoped was an equally skillful job of protecting the rest of the senator.
First, she personally helped Oliver fill a batch of his tiniest implants, one of which would be used in the senator's ear. As soon as the senator arrived, she saw to it that he was never alone with Duncan.
She accomplished that by being constantly at either the senator's or Duncan's side until the surgery.
Strangely enough, Duncan had shown no sign of frustration or agitation.