A Life for a Life by Andrew Puckett Page B

her. ‘That’s why I don’t belong there an’ hate going back. And yet, I’m not sure I belong here, either.’
    ‘Yes you do,’ she said, but they both knew what he meant.
    *
    ‘Did you know that Fraser and Frances Templeton are virtually living together?’ Ian watched Connie’s face as he imparted this information.
    ‘I believe I’d heard a rumour,’ Connie said disinterestedly. ‘I’m glad he’s found his level,’ she added, which told Ian what he wanted to know.
    Fraser didn’t care what they thought. He didn’t care about anything else much and it wasn’t until after Frances had moved in with him that he gave Alkovin any more consideration.
    It was another suicide attempt, successful this time; a man of fifty who had relapsed after consolidation.
    ‘I’m sure Fraser’s eyes would have lit up when he heard about it,’ Connie said at the weekly medical meeting, ‘but I think we can agree that this man’s personal life, taken together with the relapse, is explanation enough.’
    ‘My eyes would never light up for anyone’s death,’ Fraser felt impelled to say. ‘Especially a suicide.’
    ‘Of course not, Fraser. I was joking.’
    The meeting moved on, but Fraser noticed that Robert Swann, the junior consultant, had been on the point of saying something and then apparently changed his mind. He was a quiet, almost withdrawn man, younger than Fraser, but they seemed to get on.
    Over the next month, Fraser wrote up every case of psychosis in ALL he could find and compared the number with that in myeloid leukaemia, which wasn’t treated with Alkovin. There was a statistically significant increase with ALL.
    Then, although he knew he was taking a risk, he contacted his opposite number in Birmingham and asked if he could see the data in their Alkovin trial.
    They hadn’t been looking for it in the same way, but there was nevertheless a significantly higher rate of neurological disturbance where Alkovin was used.
    He considered approaching one of the higher managers in the Trust, then thought he’d have a better chance of convincing them if he had someone else on his side. He went to see Robert.
    ‘Forgive me if I’m wrong,’ he fished, ‘but I’ve gained the impression that you might have reservations about the Alkovin situation.’
    After a pause, Robert nibbled carefully. ‘Some of the things you’ve come up with have made me wonder once or twice.’ After a pause, he said, ‘Put it this way, Fraser – I can’t see that it would hurt to take a look at it. Use reverse criteria perhaps, assume there is a neurological effect and look for evidence.’
    To commit himself or not? Fraser wondered…
    ‘Well, the fact is, Robert, I’ve done just that. Looked for and found evidence.’
    ‘ Have you now? Is that it there?’ He nodded at the sheaf of paper in Fraser’s hands.
    ‘I’ve made you a copy.’
    They went through it together and Fraser told him what he had in mind.
    ‘I need to think about it,’ Robert said. ‘Can I keep this?’
    ‘Sure.’
    He didn’t keep Fraser waiting long. Late the next morning, he was summoned to Connie’s room. Connie and Ian were there, Fraser’s results in front of them.
    ‘Robert very sensibly brought this to us,’ she said without preamble. ‘How dare you go behind my back, approach other hospitals without my permission?’ She was shaking with anger, he noticed.
    He looked straight back at her. ‘I dared because I believe, as did John Somersby, that there is something seriously wrong with Alkovin and—’
    ‘And we have repeatedly told you that there isn’t. Are you calling us liars?’
    ‘No,’ he said carefully, ‘I am not, but I believe you to be mistaken.’
    ‘It is you who are mistaken, Fraser. We’ve looked into all the cases you brought to our attention and satisfied ourselves that there was nothing out of the ordinary. We even approached the manufacturers, who have looked into the matter and found nothing. What more do you