Ken McClure: White death

‘So the Russian Mafia bankrolled the Nichol vaccine?’ said Steven as if almost unwilling to believe what he was saying.

‘And stand to make millions out of it. Funny old world.’

‘The vaccine’s lethal,’ said Steven.

‘What?’ exclaimed Macmillan.

Steven told him what he’d deduced.

‘But if you’re saying this thing is infectious, why couldn’t the lab people grow anything?’ protested Macmillan. ‘They all drew blanks.’

‘I’m trying to find that out,’ said Steven.

‘You’re going to need proof,’ said Macmillan. ‘The government is hailing the Nichol vaccine as a major step forward in protecting our people. On the other hand it would explain why those who’ll benefit from the vaccine hitting the shelves want you dead.’

‘It’s my connection with Scott Haldane, the GP in Edinburgh who was treating Trish Lyons, that’s making them think I’m a threat,’ said Steven. ‘I think Haldane figured out what was going on and that’s why they killed him, but his wife has come up with something that might help find out what it was.’ Steven told Macmillan about the hidden envelope and its contents. ‘I’ll be back in touch when I’ve made progress.’

‘Right, I’ll get to work on preparing a feast of gangland outrage for the newspapers to breakfast on.’

Steven took her gin through to Tally who was luxuriating in a bath filled with Molton Brown bubbles, courtesy of the hotel. She opened her eyes when Steven put the glass down within reach.

‘Life has just taken a turn for the better,’ she purred. ‘Albeit a very temporary one… What did your boss have to say?’

‘The Russian Mafia are behind the Nichol vaccine.’

Tally’s eyes opened like saucers. ‘How on earth did that happen?’

‘The West is awash with dodgy Russian cash looking for respectable outlets to launder it through — property, real estate, football clubs. It turns out that one of them is the venture capital company which backed St Clair Genomics and their development of the Nichol vaccine. Nichol’s “success” means a big return on their investment.’

‘And withdrawal of the vaccine would mean a big loss?’

‘You got it.’

‘At least, it begins to make sense now,’ said Tally. ‘Mind you, I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing.’

‘I think our aim should be to make it a thing of the past,’ said Steven. ‘And to do that, we have to figure out the meaning of the codes on Haldane’s cards.’

Tally looked up at him from the bubbles. ‘Bring them through… and your drink… and get in.’

Steven joined Tally in the bath, letting out a sigh of appreciation as the warm water lapped up over him. Tally smiled and said, ‘Funny where life can take you when you’re least expecting it… Where are we exactly?’

‘Not sure.’

Tally gave a little giggle that told Steven the gin was going straight to her head. ‘Cheers,’ she said.

‘Cheers,’ said Steven, raising his glass in response.

‘Right, I’m ready,’ said Tally, leaning back and closing her eyes again. ‘Let’s have my starter for ten… no conferring.’

Steven smiled and read out the series of letters and numbers from the first card.

Tally tried to interpret. ‘Cole… Nat… colenat… colenate… No, let’s have the second.’

Steven read out the second.

‘N-R-G… Energy?… No.’

‘They both end in the same four numbers,’ said Steven. ‘Two, zero, zero, one.’

‘A date, two thousand and one?’ suggested Tally.

‘Could be… Maybe a reference to something that happened several years ago?’

Tally’s eyes shot open in response to Steven’s use of the word ‘reference’. ‘Read them out again,’ she said.

‘C-O-L-E space N-A-T…’

‘Cole… Nature,’ she said. ‘They’re not codes at all: they’re references. They’re shorthand references to papers in scientific journals! Cole is the author’s name, Nature is the journal. What were the numbers?’

Seeing immediately that she was right, Steven completed the decoding. ‘Volume 409, pages 1007 to 1011. Two thousand and one. Brilliant.’

‘And the other?’ asked Tally.

‘N-R-G. Can’t say it rings a bell…’

Tally gave it a few moments’ thought. ‘ Nature Reviews Genetics,’ she announced. ‘We’re there!’

‘Volume 2, page 37, two thousand and one,’ completed Steven.

‘Now we just have to find out what they say and why they’re relevant,’ said Tally, pulling the plug and stepping out of the bath.

‘We need to find a medical library,’ said Steven.

‘I would suggest going straight to my hospital but that’s probably a bad idea in the circumstances?’

‘It is,’ agreed Steven. ‘Special Branch will be looking for you and they’re possibly not the only ones.’

They dressed hurriedly, snatching mouthfuls of sandwich as they did so. ‘Mmm, they’re good,’ mumbled Tally. ‘Wish we had more time. You know, you could always hand over the references to Sci-Med and let them check it out?’

‘No,’ said Steven. ‘We’ve come this far. Let’s see it through.’

‘If you say so,’ conceded Tally reluctantly. ‘Thinking about where we left the motorway, I reckon the med school at Warwick University in Coventry is probably the nearest.’

‘D’you know it?’ asked Steven.

‘I do,’ said Tally. ‘Leicester and Warwick universities have strong links and my hospital’s a teaching hospital. I know Warwick well. I can take you right to the library.’

‘Just what I wanted to hear,’ said Steven.

Steven paid for one night with his credit card and ignored the looks that passed between staff on the desk.

‘What would my mother say…’ murmured Tally as they left.

‘I reckon we’ll just drive until we pick up a road sign,’ said Steven as they hurried across to the Honda.

‘Keeping well away from the motorway,’ added Tally.

They followed country lanes in a vaguely north-west direction until, with a joint sigh of relief, they came to a junction with the A35, signposted Coventry. This was quickly followed by frustration when they found themselves stuck behind a tractor for what seemed an eternity until it turned off and they picked up speed again.

‘Any guesses what we’re going to find?’ asked Tally.

Steven shook his head. ‘None at all. You?’

‘I can’t imagine,’ said Tally. She gave Steven directions as they entered the Warwick campus with both of them feeling nervous.

The plan was to walk straight into the medical library and head for the reference section but a severe-looking librarian looked up from her desk when they entered and the fact that she didn’t smile or divert her gaze made Tally feel guilty. She walked over to the woman and showed her hospital staff card. Steven followed up with his ID which was examined in detail.

‘How can I help?’ the woman asked.

‘It’s all right,’ replied Tally. ‘I know my way around.’

Steven winked at the woman and got a stony stare for his trouble.

‘I bet New Year at her house is a barrel of laughs,’ he murmured as they walked towards the reference section.

‘Ssh.’

Tally ran her finger lightly over the alphabetic labelling at the end of each row of shelves as they passed, getting ever nearer to the back wall where the atmosphere was heavy with the smell of old books and dust. ‘Here we are, N for Nature.’

‘You get the genetics journal; I’ll get the other one,’ whispered Steven.

A quick search of the shelves to his left and Steven found the bound copies of Nature journals from the year 2001. He removed the one containing volume 409 and took it over to an unoccupied table where he sat and waited for Tally to join him. His mouth was beginning to dry with excitement as he whispered, ‘You read that one and I’ll read this. Then we’ll talk.’