Page 37 of Friar
He scanned it, his expression darkening.“Heavy metal poisoning, likely arsenic.High levels.We need to start chelation therapy immediately.”He looked up at me.“This was deliberate, Friar.These levels don’t happen by accident.”
White-hot rage surged through me, a tidal wave that nearly drowned out his next words.Someone had intentionally fed poison to my pregnant woman.Someone had tried to kill her, kill our baby.
“Will she…?”I couldn’t finish the question, the words sticking in my throat.
“We caught it early,” Dr.Cooper said, already preparing another medication for her IV.“That’s in our favor.But the next few hours are critical, especially for the fetus.I know why you didn’t take her to the ER, but it might have been better.”
The ER would have asked too many questions.Which would have meant the police would have gotten involved.I wanted to handle this on my own.
The door opened and Dr.Kestral strode in, bringing with him a sense of calm authority that seemed to lower the temperature in the room.He took in the scene with a practiced eye, nodding to me before turning to Dr.Cooper.
“Arsenic poisoning,” Dr.Cooper reported without preamble.“Sixteen weeks pregnant.Fetal heartbeat present but tachycardic.Patient semiconscious, blood pressure falling.I’ve started dimercaprol.”
Dr.Kestral moved to Cheri’s side, checking the monitors himself.“Let’s add EDTA and switch to continuous cardiac monitoring.Renal function?”
“Holding for now, but I expect it to decline.”
The two doctors fell into a rhythm, speaking a language of medical terminology that washed over me in waves.BAL injections.Chelation therapy.Hemodialysis if necessary.Each term another reminder that Cheri’s life hung in the balance.
I stepped outside to make calls, needing to do something -- anything -- to feel less helpless.The hallway was cool and quiet, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows through distant windows.
Forge answered on the first ring.“How is she?”
“Fighting,” I said, my voice rough.“Arsenic poisoning.Deliberate.”
A sharp intake of breath.“Jesus.”
“Any leads?”
“We’re working on it.Checking everyone who had access to the food.Beast is interrogating the Prospects who helped with setup.”
“And Tasha?”I asked, the name bitter on my tongue.She was the first person I thought of when it came to someone who might harm Cheri.
“No sign of her.Left the compound this morning, according to Hawk.We’ve got people looking.”
I closed my eyes, pressing my forehead against the cool wall.“Find her, Forge.I want her alive.”
“We will.”His voice dropped lower.“Club’s with you on this, brother.All the way.But you can’t condemn her without proof.”
I ended the call and returned to the room, where the frantic energy had settled into something more controlled.Cheri lay still, connected to machines that beeped and hummed, monitoring every aspect of her condition.Her skin looked less gray, her breathing more regular.
“The chelation therapy is working,” Dr.Kestral said, updating a chart.“Her levels are dropping.We’ll need to continue treatment for at least 24 hours, possibly longer.”
“And the baby?”I asked, the question that had been burning in my chest since we arrived.
“Stable for now,” Dr.Cooper replied.“The placenta provides some protection, but not complete.We’ll monitor closely.”
I moved to Cheri’s side, taking her hand in mine.Her fingers were cold, but they curled weakly around mine -- a small sign of life, of fight.I bent close, putting my lips near her ear.
“I’m here,” I whispered.“I’ve got you.Both of you.”
Her eyelids fluttered, then opened.For a moment, confusion clouded her gaze before recognition dawned.“Friar?”Her voice was barely audible, cracked and dry.
“Right here.”I squeezed her hand gently.“Don’t try to talk.You’re gonna be okay.”
“The baby?”Fear sharpened her features as her free hand moved to her stomach.
“Baby’s hanging in there,” I assured her, placing my hand over hers.“You just focus on getting better.”
