By eight o’clock both Juliette and Camila were up, and while Juliette watched cartoons, Brian and Camila had coffee in the breakfast nook. He told her what a bad night he had had, and she wasn’t surprised.
“I think it would be best if you try to keep yourself as occupied today as possible,” Camila said in response. “Make that call to Calvin Foster. It would be terrific for multiple reasons if you could secure us a major security engagement. It would keep Personal Protection moving in the right direction.”
“That’s the understatement of the year,” Brian said. “Good suggestion. I’ll make the call for sure. How about you?”
“I think I’ll concentrate on keeping Juliette happy and calm,” Camila said. “She is going to miss Emma terribly. I know because my mother was hospitalized with pneumonia when I was about Juliette’s age, and I still remember how devastated and abandoned I felt.”
“She is suffering,” he agreed, glancing over at Juliette. “I can tell. I didn’t know four-year-olds could get depressed, but she’s acting that way. Usually she wakes up a ball of energy. This morning I found her in her bed awake, just lying there and staring into the distance. Let’s be more lenient than usual with the cartoons.” Under normal circumstances Juliette’s screen time was sharply limited, but they needed something to keep her distracted.
“I agree,” Camila said. “Since there’s nothing for me to do in the office and since it’s a nice summer day, I’ll take her out to Isham Park this morning to let her get some exercise. She loves climbing on the rocks.”
“Great idea to get her out and active,” Brian agreed. “I’ll make an effort to take her to the Emerson Playground after lunch, which she also likes, particularly the swings.”
By nine o’clock, with Camila and Juliette out of the house, he parked himself at his desk in the home office. The first thing he did was google Calvin Foster and Priority Capital. He was duly impressed. It was one of the larger New York private equity firms and had a stellar record, and Calvin Foster was considered a particularly sharp financier and shrewd investor. Just when he was about to try to call him, Brian’s phone rang. It was Dr. Gail Garner, one of the MMH intensivist physicians.
“Mrs. Murphy is doing well. Although she has a low-grade fever, her other vital signs are normal and stable. The problem is that she is still not entirely oriented to time, place, or person, although that seems to be slowly improving. We are pleased that her respiratory status is entirely normal without the need for ventilatory support and, as I believe you already know, her coronavirus test was negative.”
“Has a diagnosis been confirmed?” he prodded.
“Yes, it has. As predicted, she’s positive for eastern equine encephalitis, or EEE.”
Brian swallowed as his throat had suddenly gone dry. After what he’d read on Wikipedia the night before, he’d hoped for a different diagnosis, and the terrifying feeling of serious impending consequences came back in a rush. The fact that she was having neurological symptoms was not a good sign. It seemed unbelievable to him that apparently due to climate change his wife had come down with a serious viral illness he’d never even heard of.
“As required, we have reported this case to the New York State Health Department,” Dr. Garner continued. “You might hear from them for more information, although we were able to tell them that the patient had recently been on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and had reportedly been exposed to mosquitoes. Do you have any questions for me?”
“Can I visit her?”
“I’m afraid that with the Covid-19 situation, visitation in the ICU has been restricted.”
“I assumed as much,” Brian said. “How long do you think she will be kept in the ICU?”
“Perhaps another twenty-four hours. If she stays stable, we will send her to a normal hospital room. She’ll be having a neurology consult today, which might influence timing depending on what they find.”
“Will I be kept up to date on her progress?”
“If there are any changes, absolutely,” Dr. Garner said. “And I can call again in the morning if you would like.”
“I’d appreciate it,” Brian said.
After hanging up, he found himself literally shaking at what he’d just found out. He didn’t even want to contemplate what could be in store for Emma.
Feeling obligated and with trembling fingers, Brian put in calls to his mother, Aimée, and Emma’s mother, Hannah, to tell them what the hospitalist had told him. Both had more questions than he could answer, and he promised he’d let them know as soon as he heard any updates.
After taking a deep breath to try to calm himself, he placed a call to Calvin Foster, desperate to think about something else besides Emma’s situation. Luckily it turned out that not only was Calvin Foster seemingly a first-class financier, he was also personable, easy to talk to, and informed. What was particularly helpful was that Brian didn’t have to sell himself. After only a few minutes of conversation it was apparent that Calvin knew a great deal about Brian’s NYPD background, including his time in the Emergency Service Unit’s elite A team.
“How do you know Deputy Chief Comstock?” Brian asked. As the conversation progressed, it became apparent he and Calvin were more than acquaintances.
“I’ve known Michael since high school,” Calvin said jovially. “He’s the one who recommended your security firm. I must say, he was full of praise. He said you’d gotten a few awards for exemplary service as a policeman.”
“A lot of officers get awards,” Brian replied. He was never one to brag or boast, mainly because he always thought he could do better no matter what others thought of him.
“I even heard you won a sniper award when you were an ESU cadet,” Calvin commented.
“Luckily that’s a skill that doesn’t have a high demand.”
Calvin laughed. “No, I suppose that’s true. Nonetheless, I’m impressed.”
“So, how can I help you?” Brian asked, eager to get down to business.
“I’d like to know if your company could cover my daughter’s wedding that we’ve scheduled for the middle of October despite the pandemic. It’s kind of a ‘hurry-up’ affair that we’re throwing together but still trying to keep safe. It’s going to be outside under an open tent. Kids today live in a different universe than you and I occupied, if you know what I’m saying.”
“And it’s only getting more different every day. I understand the affair will be at your Southampton summer home?”
“That’s the plan. I’ve been told there will be about fifty guests with about half flying in private, some with their own security. Do you have adequate personnel to handle a job like this?”
“Our business plan is to utilize off-duty NYPD Emergency Service Unit officers, of which there are always a sizable and eager number. I’m certain we could provide the required security.”
“Wonderful. What I would like beforehand is a security evaluation and an estimated budget. How soon might you be able to provide that?”
“First, I’d need a guest list with contact information, and I’d have to make a site visit to your Southampton home to view the venue. I can do that in the next few days.” Brian welcomed the idea of the diversion, yet he wasn’t entirely sure he’d feel comfortable leaving town with Emma in the hospital, even though Southampton was only two hours from the city.
“I’ll have one of my secretaries email the Southampton address and guest list to you today, and I’ll let my wife know to expect you. She’s been living out there along with one college-aged daughter full-time since March, and I’ve been going back and forth.”