Cell by Robin Cook Page B

Claudine had missed. “Uh-oh! That doesn’t look so good. It seems that there is some definite retroperitoneal thickening. Can you guys see it?”
    â€œI think so, now that you’ve pointed it out,” Claudine said. She took a laser pointer from her pocket and outlined what she thought George was referring to.
    â€œThat’s it. Let’s review some of the previous slices,” George suggested.
    Mark pulled them up. George studied them closely, then pointed at a portion of the small intestine. “There’s thickening of the bowel wall as well.” George used his finger to trace along the problem segment.
    Again Claudine and the technician could see the condition after George pointed it out.
    George shuddered inwardly. This case was as bad as Greg Tarkington’s in terms of its implications for the patient, but George’s thoughts were interrupted. Suddenly the door opened and Clayton Hanson poked his head in.
    â€œCan I have a word, George?”
    â€œSure,” George replied as he felt a quickening of his pulse. He could only guess that Clayton had seen him at the presentation after all. As George headed for the door he tried to think of a plausible excuse for having left the hospital without getting permission and without formally signing out. Nothing came to mind. He knew he was considered one of the best radiology residents. Clayton himself had said so. Was he ever going to grow up about facing authority figures? After all it had been a medically oriented event, he had covered his responsibilities, and Clayton had been there himself.
    â€œI noticed you over at the Amalgamated event,” the older doctor said sotto voce as George joined him in the hall. There were a number of passersby.
    â€œYeah. I saw you, too,” George said. At least Clayton wasn’t saying it in a confrontational manner. That was a surprise. And a relief.
    â€œWhat did you think?”
    â€œWell, it’s quite a bit to digest.” George searched his mind for a diplomatic response since he hadn’t decided exactly what his feelings were. And he had no idea why Clayton would ask him such an open-ended question.
    As George hesitated Clayton went on. “Well, let me tell you what I think. Amalgamated wouldn’t be a bad stock for a young man to invest in, if that was why you were there.”
    Rather than respond, since Clayton knew full well that George had no money, George said, “What’s your involvement?”
    Clayton studied George a moment before answering. “I have a sizable investment position in Amalgamated. I was involved with an earlier generation of iDoc, helping them look at it from the imaging perspective.”
    â€œThat got you onstage?” It was a bold question. Clayton could easily take offense. But the question was nagging at George.
    Clayton paused before answering, as if measuring his response. “Thorn and I have come to know each other well over the years. Actually, he’s my brother-in-law. He’s married to my younger sister. After all the family time spent together and the inevitable health-care-related discussions, he’s come to trust my medical instincts.” Clayton studied George’s face for a reaction. George gave none. He wasn’t going to intimate, even with his expression, that nepotism was the reason that Clayton had such a prestigious seat at the event. George was a realist. The guy could seriously impair George’s radiology career if he chose to do so.
    â€œWhat’s your relationship with Paula Stonebrenner?” Clayton asked. He was looking at George with raised eyebrows. “It looked like she made a beeline for you at the reception. You banging her?”
    George took a step back. Clayton was known for blunt, even vulgar, comments but they were usually unintentionally inappropriate. This one seemed deliberate. George assumed Clayton was taking a shot at him for forcing him to reveal the