BLACKWATER FEVER

Binelli went into her study and pulled several reference books on malaria and laboratory findings. The second book gave her what she was looking for–DNA recovery in urine sediments”. She read and reread the article. It was conclusive. The DNA fragments were still present up to a week after the red hemoglobin pigment disappeared. She called Krantz at his cell phone line.

“Bergan, I just talked to David Swanson.” She related his comments and Lisa Feldman’s status.

“So what’s the problem?” Krantz had just pulled into the garage at his town house and pulled out a note pad.

“I told you that nosy bitch Nosh is up to something. I think she’s going to try to get DNA evidence that David might have been in Feldman’s hotel room. There could still be red cell membrane fragments in the toilet bowl.”

“That hotel bathroom must have undergone dozens of flushes since then and housekeeping scours the bowl daily.” Krantz began searching his telephone list for two particular numbers.

“Can’t you get on this and make sure any DNA remnants are destroyed. Send someone there with Clorox, formaldehyde and muriatic acid for Christ’s sake.” Binelli was shouting.

“If it’ll make you secure I’ll have it done tonight. Anything else?”

“Bergan, Feldman’s memory is coming back. Swanson told me about this just a while ago. Nosh told him.”

“We have it on good authority that the benzodiazepine we’re using is foolproof. If obliterates recent recall conclusively.”

“Conclusively my ass Bergan. It’s an experimental drug and the data is incomplete on its effects on the frontal lobes and hippocampal memory.” Binelli tried to control her breathing. Her dizziness was increasing from her rapid respirations.

“What about David?”

“David doesn’t remember shit Bergan.”

“Well chances are Feldman, at best, could get disconnected fragments of recall from adrenalin spurts during the heat of her panic with David’s falciparum attack.” Krantz found the number he wanted.

“I don’t want to hear words like ‘chances’ and ‘could’, Bergan.”

“Okay, Okay. Let me make some phone calls about this. Just let me carry the ball on this aspect of our operation. You just focus on the infectious disease part and I’ll take care of the brain physiology of our clients.” Krantz continued along this logic and Binelli finally acquiesced.