Robin Cook - Vector

“Tell us about your case today,” Laurie said to Jack. “I heard it was another interesting one.”

Jack had to clear his throat. “Surprising yes, interesting... somewhat. It was a case of inhalation anthrax.”

“Anthrax?” Lou questioned with obvious interest. “That’s a potential bioweapon.”

“It is indeed,” Jack agreed. “But fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your point of view, this case has a more prosaic origin. The victim had just imported a bunch of rugs from Turkey, where the disease is endemic. He’s apparently the only victim and the rugs are safely locked up in a warehouse in Queens. End of story. I couldn’t even get a rise out of the city epidemiologist.”

“Thank the Lord for small favors,” Laurie said.

“Amen,” Lou added.

The entrées arrived, and while the foursome ate their dinners the conversation stayed on neutral ground. The delay in addressing the real issue, whatever it was, only made Jack’s curiosity and anxiety mount. Adding to his anxiety was the subtle and, he couldn’t help but feel, inappropriate familiarity between Laurie and Paul. He noticed it in the way she touched his arm or the way he dabbed at the corner of her mouth with his napkin. In Jack’s mind these small intimacies were inappropriate because he knew she couldn’t have known the man long.

Finally, over coffee, Laurie cleared her throat and tapped her water glass gently with her fork. Paul assumed a self-satisfied smile and leaned back. It was obvious that from his point of view this was Laurie’s party.

“I guess you guys must wonder why I invited you here tonight,” Laurie began.

No, the thought has never entered my mind, Jack said to himself while his pulse quickened.

“I don’t quite know how to tell you this but...” Laurie looked at Paul, who shrugged his shoulders as if to say he didn’t know either.

Out with it before I barf, Jack said silently.

“First of all, I owe you both an apology,” Laurie said. She looked alternately at Jack and Lou. “I’m sorry I had to call you so early in the morning. At least early for your time.”

Jack blinked. Laurie had lost him. Why was their time different from her time?

“The explanation is that I was calling from Paris, France,” Laurie said. “Paul and I had gone there for the weekend, and we were waiting to board the Concorde to come back to New York.”

Paul nodded, confirming this startling story.

“Paul had business in Paris,” Laurie continued. “He was nice enough to invite me to go along. It was quite a weekend.” She looked over at Paul and extended her right hand. He took it lovingly.

Jack smiled over gritted teeth. He suddenly saw Paul as a snake-in the-grass who’d managed to win Laurie with this grand, gallant gesture: a weekend in Paris.

“One of the things that happened was quite unexpected,” Laurie continued. “At least for me.”

Laurie took her left hand out from under the table where she’d kept it discreetly for the entire dinner. It was balled in a fist as she extended it out over the tablecloth. When her arm was fully extended she dramatically opened her hand and spread her fingers.

Both Jack and Lou blinked. They found themselves looking down at a diamond that seemed to be the size of a golf ball on Laurie’s ring finger. It caught all the light from the room and threw it back with blinding intensity.

“You guys are getting married,” Lou said as if he were describing an upcoming cataclysm.

The couple interpreted his tone as one of awe, not dread.

“It seems that way,” Laurie said with a smile. “I haven’t unconditionally agreed yet, but as you can see Paul has convinced me to take the ring. We haven’t even told our parents. You two are the first to know.”

“We’re flattered,” Jack managed to say while his mind churned for an explanation for this unexpected turn of events. He’d thought of Laurie as being much too mature for what he considered adolescent behavior.

“It’s been a whirlwind,” Laurie said. She looked at Paul for confirmation.

“I’d describe it more as a tempest,” Paul said with a lascivious wink.

Laurie and Paul then launched into an animated description of all the romantic things they’d been able to squeeze into the previous month. Jack and Lou found themselves reduced to nodding at appropriate moments while maintaining forced smiles.

When the stories drew to a close, Paul stood and excused himself. Laurie looked after him as he headed toward the rest rooms. Turning back to her two old friends, she sighed.

“He’s really wonderful, isn’t he?” she asked.

Jack and Lou looked at each other, hoping the other would respond.

“Well?” Laurie questioned.

Both Jack and Lou started speaking at the same time then hastily deferred to the other.

“What is this, a comedy routine?” Laurie demanded. Her beatific smile faded. “What’s the matter with you two?”

“This situation has caught us off guard,” Jack finally admitted. “We’d both guessed you’d gotten a job offer and were going to move out on us. We never thought you’d be getting married.”

“And why not!” Laurie demanded. “That’s almost insulting. What am I, too old?”

“I don’t mean it that way,” Jack said meekly.

“How long have you known this man?” Lou asked.

“A couple of months,” Laurie said defensively. “I know that’s not a lot of time, but I don’t think that’s so important. He’s intelligent, warm, generous, confident, and willing and able to make a commitment. And all those are important characteristics as far as I’m concerned. Particularly the confidence and the ability to make a commitment.”

Both Jack and Lou couldn’t help but feel indicted.

“I don’t believe this,” Laurie said. “You two, of all people I know, I thought would-d be happy for me.”

“What kind of business is he in?” Jack asked.

“What kind of a question is that?” Laurie demanded.

“Just a simple question,” Jack said timidly.

“To tell you the truth, I don’t know,” Laurie said. “And I don’t really care. It’s him I’m interested in, not what he does for a living. You men are impossible.”

“Have your parents met him?” Lou asked.

“Of course,” Laurie said. “I met him through my parents.”

“That’s nice,” Lou said.

Laurie let out a mirthless laugh. “This is not how I expected this evening to go.”

Neither Jack nor Lou knew quite what to say. Luckily they were rescued by Paul’s return. He was in an ebullient mood, totally unaware of what had transpired during his brief absence. He started to reclaim his seat, but Laurie stood up.

“I think it’s time we go,” Laurie said.

“No after-dinner drinks at the bar?” Paul asked.

“I think we’ve all had enough,” Laurie said. “And as Jack is wont to say, it is a school night.”

Jack smiled weakly. Sensing that he’d let Laurie down only made him feel worse. He got to his feet. “Congratulations, you guys,” he said with manufactured enthusiasm. “In the spirit of the occasion, Lou and I will take care of the tab.”

“It’s all taken care of already,” Paul said with an air of superiority. “It’s our treat.”

“I’d prefer to pay,” Jack said. “It’s only fair.”

“Hogwash,” Paul said. He reached over and shook Jack’s and Lou’s hand. “I’ve really enjoyed meeting Laurie’s two closest friends. I can’t tell you how highly she talks of you two and how often. It’s enough to make a guy jealous.” He laughed.

“See you tomorrow at the office,” Laurie said. She turned and started across the crowded dining room. Paul gave a final wave and hurried after her.