Terminal (A Medical Thriller)

May 21

Friday, 1:50 P.M.

The big Delta jet banked, then entered its final approach into Logan Airport. It was landing to the northwest, and Sean, sitting in a window seat, had a good view of Boston out the left side of the plane. Brian was sitting next to him but had his nose buried in a law journal. Below they passed over the Kennedy Library on Columbus Point and then the tip of South Boston with its shorefront of clapboard three-decker houses.

Next Sean was treated to a superb view of the downtown Boston skyline with the Boston inner harbor in the foreground. Just before they touched down, he caught a quick glimpse of Charlestown with the Bunker Hill obelisk jutting up into the afternoon sky.

Sean breathed a sigh of relief. He was home.

Neither of them had checked luggage, so after deplaning they went directly to a cab stand and got a taxi. First they went to Brian’s office in Old City Hall on School Street. Sean told the cabbie to wait and got out with Brian. They hadn’t spoken much since they’d left Miami that morning, mainly because they’d been under such tension and had spoken so much during the prior three days. They had gone to Miami so Sean could testify before a Florida grand jury concerning the case The State of Florida v. The Forbes Cancer Center.

Sean eyed his brother. Despite their differences and their frequent arguments, he felt a rush of love for Brian. He stuck out his hand. Brian grasped it firmly and they shook. But it wasn’t enough. Sean let go of Brian’s hand and embraced him in a strong, sustained hug. When they parted both felt a moment of awkwardness. Rarely did they convey their affection physically. Generally they didn’t touch save for jabs to the shoulder and pats on the back.

“Thanks for all you’ve done,” Sean said.

“It pales in comparison to what you’ve done for a lot of potential Forbes victims,” Brian said.

“But without your legal follow-through,” Sean said, “Forbes would still be in business today.”

“It’s not over yet,” Brian cautioned. “This was merely the first step.”

“Well, whatever,” Sean said. “Let’s get back to putting our efforts into Oncogen. The Forbes matter is in the hands of the Florida State’s Attorney and the U.S. District Attorney. Who do you think will prosecute the case?”

“Maybe they’ll cooperate,” Brian said. “With all the media attention, both obviously see the case as having great political potential.”

Sean nodded. “Well, I’ll be in touch,” he said as he climbed back into the cab.

Brian grabbed the door before Sean had a chance to pull it closed. “I hate to sound captious.” Brian said, “but as your older brother, I feel I should offer some advice. You’d make things so much easier for yourself if you’d only tone down that brazen side of your personality. I’m not talking about a big change, either. If you could just shed some of that townie abrasiveness. You’re holding on to your past way too much.”

“Aw, come on,” Sean said with a wry smile. “Lighten up, Brian.”

“I’m serious,” Brian said. “You make enemies of those people less intelligent than yourself, which unfortunately is most of us.”

“That’s the most backhanded compliment I’ve ever received,” Sean said.

“Well, it’s not meant as a compliment,” Brian said. “You’re like some idiot savant. As smart as you are in some areas, you’re retarded in others, like social skills. Either you’re unaware of what other people are feeling, or you don’t care. But either way, the results are the same.”

“You’re out of control!” Sean said with a laugh.

“Give it some thought, brother,” Brian said. He gave Sean’s shoulder a friendly poke.

Sean told the cabdriver to take him to the Boston Memorial Hospital. It was getting on toward three, and Sean was eager to catch Janet before her shift was over. Sitting back, Sean thought about what Brian had said. He smiled. As likable as his brother was, he could be such a nerd at times.

At the hospital, Sean went straight to Janet’s floor. At the nurses’ station he learned she was down in 503 medicating Mrs. Mervin. Sean headed down the hall toward the patient’s room. He couldn’t wait to give Janet the good news. He found her injecting antibiotic into Mrs. Mervin’s IV.

“Well hello, stranger,” Janet said when she caught sight of Sean. She was pleased to see him although she was obviously preoccupied. She introduced Sean to Mrs. Mervin, telling her that he was one of the Harvard medical students.

“I just love all you boys,” Mrs. Mervin said. She was an elderly white-haired woman with pink cheeks and sparkling eyes. “You can come visit me anytime,” she said with a titter.

Janet winked at Sean. “Mrs. Mervin is on the mend.”

“I can see that,” Sean agreed.

Janet made a notation on a 3×5 card and stuck it into her pocket. After picking up her medication tray, she said goodbye to Mrs. Mervin, advising her to ring if she wanted anything.

In the hall, Sean had to scurry to keep up with Janet’s pace.

“I’m anxious to talk with you,” Sean said, coming alongside. “In case you couldn’t guess.”

“I’d love to chat,” Janet said, “but I’m really busy. Report’s coming up and I’ve got to finish these medications.”

“The indictment against Forbes was handed down by the grand jury,” Sean said.

Janet stopped and gave him a big, warm smile.

“That’s great!” she said. “I’m pleased. And I’m proud of you. You must feel vindicated.”

“As Brian says, it’s an important first step,” Sean said. “The indictment includes Dr. Levy, although she hasn’t been seen or heard from since Mason’s mea culpa news conference. No one knows where the heck she is. The indictment also includes two clinical staff doctors and the director of nursing, Margaret Richmond.”

“It’s still all so hard to believe,” Janet said.

“It is until you realize how thankful the Forbes medulloblastoma patients have been,” Sean said. “Up until we put an end to it all, they’d given over sixty million dollars in essentially unrestricted donations.”

“What’s happened to the hospital?” Janet asked, eyeing her watch.

“The hospital is in receivership,” Sean said. “But the research institute is closed. And in case you’re interested, the Japanese were fooled by the scam as well. They had no part in it. Since the lid blew off they cut their losses and ran.”

“I’m sorry about the hospital,” Janet said. “I personally think it’s a good hospital. I hope they make it.”

“One other piece of news,” Sean said. “You know that crazy guy that caught us on the beach and scared us half to death? His name is Tom Widdicomb, and he’s crazier than the mad hatter. He’d kept his dead mother in a freezer at his house. Seems he thought she was telling him to put all advanced breast cancer patients to sleep with succinylcholine. The mother had had the same disease.”

“My God,” Janet said. “Then that’s what happened to Gloria D’Amataglio.”

“Apparently so,” Sean said. “And a number of others.”

“I even remember Tom Widdicomb,” Janet said. “He was the housekeeper who bugged Marjorie so much.”

“Well, apparently you bugged him,” Sean said. “Somehow in his distorted thinking, he decided that you had been sent to stop him. That’s why he was after you. They think he was the guy in your bathroom at the Forbes residence, and he definitely was the person who followed us into the Miami General morgue.”

“Good Lord!” Janet exclaimed. The idea that a psychotic had been stalking her was terribly unnerving. It reminded her again of how different her trip to Florida had been from what she’d anticipated when she’d decided to go.

“Widdicomb will be tried,” Sean continued. “Of course he’s pleading insanity, and if they bring the mother in the freezer in to testify, he won’t have a problem.” Sean laughed. “Needless to say it’s because of him that the hospital is in receivership. Every family that lost a breast cancer patient under suspicious circumstances is suing.”

“None of the medulloblastoma cases are suing?” Janet asked.

“Not the hospital,” Sean said. “There’d been two entities: the hospital and the research center. The medulloblastoma patients will have to sue the research center. After all, at the hospital, they got cured.”

“All except for Helen Cabot,” Janet said.

“That’s true,” Sean agreed.

Janet glanced at her watch again and shook her head. “Now I’m really behind,” she said. “Sean, I’ve got to go. Can’t we talk about all this tonight, maybe over dinner or something?”

“Not tonight,” Sean said. “It’s Friday.”

“Oh, of course!” Janet said coolly. She thumped her head with the heel of her hand. “How stupid of me to forget. Well then, when you get a chance, give me a call.” Janet started down the hall.

Sean took a few steps and grasped her arm, pulling her to a stop.

“Wait!” he said, surprised at her abrupt end to their conversation. “Aren’t you going to ask me about the charges against you and me?”

“It’s not that I’m not interested,” Janet said. “But you’ve caught me at a bad time, and of course, you’re busy tonight.”

“It’ll only take a second,” he said with exasperation. “Brian and I spent most of last evening bargaining with the State’s Attorney. We got his word that all charges against you will be dropped. As far as I’m concerned, in return for testifying, all I have to do is plead guilty to disturbing the peace and malicious mischief. What do you think?”

“I think that’s great,” Janet said. “Now if you’ll excuse me.” She tried to get her arm free, but Sean wouldn’t let go.

“There’s something else,” Sean said. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking now that this Forbes thing is out of the way.” Sean averted his gaze and shifted his weight uneasily. “I don’t know how to say this, but remember when you said you wanted to talk about our relationship when you came down to Florida, how you wanted to talk about commitment and all that? Well, I think I want to do that. That is, if you’re still thinking about what I think you were.”

Stunned, Janet looked Sean directly in his deep blue eyes. He tried to look away. Janet reached out and, grasping his chin, turned his head back to face her. “Is all this double-talk an attempt to talk about marriage?”

“Well, yeah, sorta,” Sean equivocated. He pulled away from Janet’s hold on his chin to gaze down the hall. It was difficult for him to look at her. He made some gestures with his hands as if he were about to say more, but no words came.

“I don’t understand you,” Janet said, color spreading across her cheeks. “To think of all the times I wanted to talk and you wouldn’t, and now you bring this up here and now! Well, let me tell you something, Sean Murphy. I’m not sure I can deal with a relationship with you unless you’re willing to make some big changes, and frankly I don’t think you’re capable. After that experience down in Florida, I’m not sure you are what I want. It doesn’t mean I don’t love you, because I do. It just means I don’t think I could live with the kind of relationship you’re capable of.”

Sean was shocked. For a moment he was incapable of speech. Janet’s response had been totally unexpected. “What do you mean by change?” he asked finally. “Change what?”

“If you don’t know and if I have to tell you, then it’s futile. Of course, we could talk about it more tonight, but you have to go out with the boys.”

“Don’t get on my case,” Sean said. “I haven’t seen the guys for weeks with all this legal malarkey going on.”

“That’s undeniably true,” Janet said. “And you have fun.” Again she started down the hall. After a few steps she turned to face him. “Something else unexpected came out of my Florida trip,” she said. “I’m seriously thinking of going to medical school. Not that I don’t love nursing, and God only knows what a challenge it is, but all that material you introduced me to concerning molecular biology and the medical revolution it’s spawning has turned me on in a way no other academic subject has been able to do. I think I want to be a part of it.

“Well, don’t be a stranger, Sean,” Janet added as she continued down the hall. “And close your mouth.”

Sean was too stunned to speak.

IT WAS a little after eight when Sean pushed into Old Scully’s Bar. Not having been able to go for many weeks, he was filled with pleasant anticipation. The bar was jammed with friends and acquaintances and was brimming with good cheer. A number of people had been there since five and were feeling no pain. A Red Sox game was on the tube and at the moment Sean looked at it, Roger Clemens was giving the camera the evil eye while waiting for the sign from the catcher. There were a few cheers of encouragement from a knot of diehard fans grouped directly under the TV. The bases were loaded.

Standing just inside the door, Sean paused to take in the scene. He saw Jimmy O’Connor and Brady Flanagan at the dart board laughing to the point of tears. Someone’s dart had missed the board. In fact, it had missed the wall and was embedded in one of the muntin bars of the window. Obviously, the two were smashed.

At the bar, Sean could see Molly and Pete tirelessly going about their business filling mugs of ale and stout, occasionally holding four or five of the frosted, brimming glasses in a single hand. Shots of Irish whiskey dotted the bar. The day’s problems melted into oblivion much faster with these nips between the drafts of beer.

Sean eyed the guys at the bar. He recognized Patrick FitzGerald, or Fitzie, as they called him. He’d been the most popular guy in high school. Sean could remember as if it were yesterday how Fitzie had stolen his girl when they were in ninth grade. Sean had fallen head over heels for Mary O’Higgins only to have her disappear at a party he’d brought her to in order to make out with Fitzie in the back of Frank Kildare’s pickup.

But since his high school triumph, Fitzie had put on considerable weight around his middle and his face had assumed a puffy, pasty look. He worked on the maintenance crew down at the old Navy Yard when he worked, and he was married to Anne Shaughnessy, who’d blown up to two hundred pounds after giving birth to twins.

Sean took a step toward the bar. He wanted to be drawn into his old world. He wanted people to slap him on the back, tease him about his brother becoming a priest. He wanted to remember those days when he thought his future was a limitless road to be traveled along with the whole gang. Fun and meaning were to be had in shared experiences that could be enjoyed over and over through reminiscences. In fact, the experiences became more enjoyable with the inevitable embellishment that accompanied each retelling.

But something held Sean back. With a disturbing, almost tragic sense, he felt apart. The feeling that his life had taken a different track from his old friends came back to him with crushing clarity. He felt more like an observer of his old life; he was no longer a participant. The events at the Forbes clinic were forcing him to look at broader issues beyond the confines of his old friends in Charlestown. He no longer had the insulation that innocence of the world provided. Seeing his former friends all half drunk or worse made him appreciate their limited opportunities. For a confusing combination of social and economic reasons, they were caught in a web of repeated mistakes. They were condemned to repeat the past.

Without having spoken a single word to anyone, Sean abruptly turned and stumbled out of Old Scully’s Bar. He quickened his step when he felt a powerful voice coaxing him back to the warm familiarity of this haven of his youth. But Sean had made up his mind. He would not be like his father. He would look to the future, not to the past.

RESPONDING TO a knock on her apartment door, Janet heaved her feet off the ottoman and struggled out of her deep club chair. She’d been perusing a ponderous book she’d picked up in the medical school bookstore called Molecular Biology of the Cell. At the door she peered through the security port. She was shocked to see Sean making a stupid face at her.

Fumbling with the locks, Janet finally swung the door open wide.

“I hope I’m not disturbing you,” Sean said.

“What happened?” Janet asked. “Did that favorite haunt of yours burn down?”

“Maybe figuratively,” Sean said.

“None of your old friends show up?” Janet asked.

“They were all there,” Sean said. “May I come in?”

“I’m sorry,” Janet said. “Please.” She stepped aside, then closed the door behind him. “I’ve forgotten my manners. I’m just so surprised to see you. Can I get you something? A beer? A glass of wine?”

Sean thanked her but said no. He sat awkwardly on the edge of the couch. “I went as usual to Old Scully’s…” he began.

“Oh, now I know what happened,” Janet interrupted. “They ran out of beer.”

“I’m trying to tell you something,” Sean said with exasperation.

“Okay, I’m sorry,” Janet said. “I’m being sarcastic. What happened?”

“Everybody was there,” Sean said. “Jimmy O’Connor, Brady Flanagan, even Patrick FitzGerald. But I didn’t talk to anyone. I didn’t get much past the door.”

“Why not?”

“I realized by going there I was condemning myself to the past,” Sean said. “All of a sudden I had an idea about what you and even Brian were talking about concerning change. And you know something? I want to change. I’m sure I’ll have occasional relapses, but I certainly don’t want to be a ‘townie’ all my life. And what I’d like to know is whether or not you’d be willing to help me a little.”

Janet had to blink away a sudden rush of tears. She looked into Sean’s blue eyes and said, “I’d love to help you.”