worried about Levi?”
“I’m more concerned about Sarah and their baby. They’ve requested genetic testing, but the results won’t come back for some time.”
“Do you suspect a problem?”
“There’s no way to tell until I hear from the lab.”
“Could the Miller baby have the same condition as the twins?”
Ella nodded. “It’s a possibility.”
Zach started to say something, but her office phone rang. She reached for the receiver.
“Children’s Care Clinic. This is Dr. Jacobsen.”
“It’s Nancy Vaughn, Ella.”
The director of the research center where Quin had worked.
“Is something wrong, Dr. Vaughn?”
“Actually, I’m calling to make sure you’re all right. A reporter from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked for a statement about the medical symposium this Friday. He wanted to know if Dr. Jacobsen’s widow would be attending. I haven’t heard from you and thought there might be a problem.”
“You don’t need me there, Dr. Vaughn.”
“Quin’s death hit us hard, as you know, Ella. We were in the midst of gathering data and coming up with our final determination. Now that the studies have been completed, we want to recognize Quin.”
“I hardly think that’s necessary.”
“Don’t keep us from honoring one of our own, Ella.”
“No, of course I wouldn’t do that.”
“Then it’s settled. You’ll come to Atlanta and be with us this Friday. Freemont is only two hours from the city. There’s no reason to stay away.”
Ella picked up the embossed invitation. “Perhaps I’ll come for the symposium...”
“And the dinner following,” the director insisted. “I want you there. It’s a black-tie event, so that’s a good excuse to get a new dress. I’ll look forward to seeing you.”
“I’m not sure.”
“I won’t take no for an answer.”
Nancy Vaughn was like that.
Before the director could hang up, Ella quickly added, “Did you review Quin’s data on the Amish Project? I’ve looked through most of his notes, but I can’t find any discrepancies.”
“Discrepancies? Why are you questioning his work?”
“I’m not, but something bothered him, as I told you when we last talked. He was concerned about the response of twin patients who were given the treatment.”
“There were no problems, as I already told you.”
“But—”
“No buts. We’ll see you Friday.”
The director disconnected before Ella could say anything else.
She sighed as she hung up the phone, and then looked up to see Zach staring at her.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, nothing’s wrong. My husband’s research center is discussing their findings on CED.”
“The disease the twins have?”
Ella nodded. “I called the director when Mary Kate first brought the girls to the clinic.”
“It sounded as if you were concerned about something your husband found.”
“Quin was intense, especially when he was working toward a breakthrough. He became more and more upset about some results that he couldn’t understand. He kept saying the Amish twins held the answer.”
“You’re not talking about Shelly and Stacey.”
“No, there were other cases. Three sets of twins that hadn’t responded the way he had hoped.”
“You mentioned his notes on the Amish Project?”
“That’s what the CED study was called. The director, Dr. Nancy Vaughn, never wanted work taken home. There’s always a worry that some other clinic will get access to the data and use it as their own.”
“Stealing data for scientific gain or for financial compensation?” he asked.
“Probably both, although I don’t think Quin ever worried about his work being stolen. He was more concerned about why the treatment he had developed wasn’t effective.”
“The director couldn’t offer any answers?” Zach pressed.
“She has a lot on her mind and seemed surprised the last time we talked about Quin taking his notes home. I assured her he was careful to keep his
“I’m more concerned about Sarah and their baby. They’ve requested genetic testing, but the results won’t come back for some time.”
“Do you suspect a problem?”
“There’s no way to tell until I hear from the lab.”
“Could the Miller baby have the same condition as the twins?”
Ella nodded. “It’s a possibility.”
Zach started to say something, but her office phone rang. She reached for the receiver.
“Children’s Care Clinic. This is Dr. Jacobsen.”
“It’s Nancy Vaughn, Ella.”
The director of the research center where Quin had worked.
“Is something wrong, Dr. Vaughn?”
“Actually, I’m calling to make sure you’re all right. A reporter from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution asked for a statement about the medical symposium this Friday. He wanted to know if Dr. Jacobsen’s widow would be attending. I haven’t heard from you and thought there might be a problem.”
“You don’t need me there, Dr. Vaughn.”
“Quin’s death hit us hard, as you know, Ella. We were in the midst of gathering data and coming up with our final determination. Now that the studies have been completed, we want to recognize Quin.”
“I hardly think that’s necessary.”
“Don’t keep us from honoring one of our own, Ella.”
“No, of course I wouldn’t do that.”
“Then it’s settled. You’ll come to Atlanta and be with us this Friday. Freemont is only two hours from the city. There’s no reason to stay away.”
Ella picked up the embossed invitation. “Perhaps I’ll come for the symposium...”
“And the dinner following,” the director insisted. “I want you there. It’s a black-tie event, so that’s a good excuse to get a new dress. I’ll look forward to seeing you.”
“I’m not sure.”
“I won’t take no for an answer.”
Nancy Vaughn was like that.
Before the director could hang up, Ella quickly added, “Did you review Quin’s data on the Amish Project? I’ve looked through most of his notes, but I can’t find any discrepancies.”
“Discrepancies? Why are you questioning his work?”
“I’m not, but something bothered him, as I told you when we last talked. He was concerned about the response of twin patients who were given the treatment.”
“There were no problems, as I already told you.”
“But—”
“No buts. We’ll see you Friday.”
The director disconnected before Ella could say anything else.
She sighed as she hung up the phone, and then looked up to see Zach staring at her.
“Is something wrong?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No, nothing’s wrong. My husband’s research center is discussing their findings on CED.”
“The disease the twins have?”
Ella nodded. “I called the director when Mary Kate first brought the girls to the clinic.”
“It sounded as if you were concerned about something your husband found.”
“Quin was intense, especially when he was working toward a breakthrough. He became more and more upset about some results that he couldn’t understand. He kept saying the Amish twins held the answer.”
“You’re not talking about Shelly and Stacey.”
“No, there were other cases. Three sets of twins that hadn’t responded the way he had hoped.”
“You mentioned his notes on the Amish Project?”
“That’s what the CED study was called. The director, Dr. Nancy Vaughn, never wanted work taken home. There’s always a worry that some other clinic will get access to the data and use it as their own.”
“Stealing data for scientific gain or for financial compensation?” he asked.
“Probably both, although I don’t think Quin ever worried about his work being stolen. He was more concerned about why the treatment he had developed wasn’t effective.”
“The director couldn’t offer any answers?” Zach pressed.
“She has a lot on her mind and seemed surprised the last time we talked about Quin taking his notes home. I assured her he was careful to keep his
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