“Oh my goodness,” Ava said. “This keeps getting worse. I hate to think we’ll become a source of gossip. What did you end up saying?”
“Not much,” Noah admitted. “I denied that I was protecting you, of course, because the implication was that I was doing something underhanded. I’m not doing anything I don’t think is right. You were certainly not to blame in either of these unfortunate cases, and I’m more than happy to say so.”
“Thank you again.”
“You’re welcome,” Noah said. “We need to get busy and plan the next M&M like we did for the last one because the Gibson case will need to be presented, and Dr. Mason most likely will be a bear. On the Vincent case his hands were tied because he was the surgeon. With the Gibson case, there’s no such luck. You’ll have to gird yourself. It might not be pretty, but at least the concurrent-surgery issue is not involved.”
“I’ll help you plan however I can,” Ava said. “Does this mean you’ve forgiven me?”
“Why didn’t you contact me? Why not a simple text saying you were all right?”
“At first I was just too overwrought and knew you wouldn’t be satisfied with a simple text. Then after a day or so I felt embarrassed I’d been so emotional. I thought it best to apologize to you in person. That’s why I’m here. I just got back to Boston and came straight here. I haven’t even been home yet. I’m sure you have been concerned, and I would have been concerned if it had been the other way around.”
“Where were you? It looked like a fancy hotel in your selfie.”
“Oh, good, you saw it. I really posted it for you to show you that I was all right.”
“I saw it,” Noah said. “But I couldn’t tell where you were.”
“Washington, D.C. It was the Ritz.”
“Were you playing tourist or working?”
“I was working,” Ava said. “The trip had been scheduled months ago. Actually, the timing was good. Being busy helped pull me out of an emotional nosedive.”
“What type of consulting do you do, if I can ask?”
Ava regarded Noah for a few beats. He sensed she was debating whether she wanted to tell him, which only fired up his curiosity. Whatever she was doing had to be exceptionally lucrative. Not every consultant stayed at the Ritz.
“I’m hesitating because I think you’re not going to approve,” Ava said.
“If you think telling me that is going to make me less interested, you’re wrong. Why would I not approve of your consulting work?”
“I consult for the NSC.”
“Really,” Noah said. He didn’t know if he was more shocked or impressed. “You consult for the National Security Council?” The National Security Council was the U.S. president’s principal forum for national-security and foreign-policy matters.
Ava had recovered enough from her earlier tears to laugh her usual laugh. “I wish. No, I work for the Nutritional Supplement Council. I’m a combination spokesperson/lobbyist. My NSC is a lobby group lavishly funded by the nutritional-supplement industry.”
“Okay,” Noah said. He nodded. “Now I understand why you questioned if I would approve. As a doctor, I do have strong negative feelings about the industry, which I equate to a bunch of snake-oil manufacturers and salesmen.”
“But on the positive side, they pay well,” Ava said.
“How did you happen to start working for them? I would think as a doctor you’d find it problematic. It’s a little like colluding with the enemy.”
“I started working for them from the day I received my combined M.D. and B.S. nutrition degree,” Ava said. “I’d run up a big debt from college and medical school. I had to pay my own way after my father died of a heart attack in my junior year of high school. The NSC and its deep pockets have been kind of a savior.”
“I suppose I can relate,” Noah said. “I’ve had my share of economic problems, some of which are still going on. As you know, my father also died of a heart attack when I was in high school, and I’ve got a huge debt as well. My mother helped when I was in college, but when I got to medical school, she came down with early-onset Alzheimer’s and lost her job. At that point the tables were turned, and I had to support her.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Ava said. “Sounds like you had it harder than I.”
“I guess your bosses at the NSC were pleased that you had both a B.S. and an M.D.,” Noah said. “Especially now, with you being on the BMH staff.”
“You have no idea,” Ava said. “They love me and treat me like a queen. My life would be totally different if it weren’t for the NSC. At the same time, I do them a big service. I’m probably the main reason the 1994 law that took the FDA off their back hasn’t been amended. That’s the law that absolves the industry from having to prove efficacy or even safety. It’s kind of a joke, really, but who am I to say. Besides, it is fun. I get to dine with senators and congressmen.”
“But you’re a doctor and a committed one. Why doesn’t that keep you awake at night?”
“Believe it or not, it’s what the American public wants. They are convinced they don’t want government bureaucrats messing with their pills, elixirs, and botanicals, whether they are worthless or not or even dangerous. They want to believe in the magic pill to make up for their unhealthy lifestyle. Taking a pill is a lot easier than eating right, exercising, and getting a decent night’s sleep.”
“Do you believe the public is that stupid?” Noah said.
“I do,” Ava said. “Did you ever see the commercial that Mel Gibson did back when the supplement industry was lobbying Congress to pass the 1994 law?”
“I didn’t. Or if I did, I was in the sixth grade, and it probably went over my head.”
“I was in the seventh grade,” Ava said. “I didn’t see it back then, but one of my NSC bosses showed it to me last year. It is a classic. Mel Gibson’s house is raided by armed FDA agents acting like a SWAT team, and he’s arrested for taking vitamin C supplements. It’s hilarious, but it was very effective. The public really thinks the government wants to take away their beloved vitamins. You should watch the video.”
“I’ll have to check it out,” Noah said.
“You didn’t answer when I asked you if I’ve been forgiven for disappearing for a few days,” Ava said. “Was that intentional?”
“I suppose you are forgiven,” Noah said halfheartedly.
“That doesn’t sound so convincing,” Ava said.
“I was really worried about you,” Noah said.
“I understand, but I’m all right. I’ve mostly recovered, except for random episodes like when I first arrived here. But I think I am ready to go back to work tomorrow. And I’m interested in starting to plan for the next M&M whenever you are.”
“Okay,” Noah said, “you’re forgiven. I can appreciate how upset you must have been.”
“Thank you,” Ava said. “Now, what time is it?” She looked at her watch. “Oh, dear. It’s later than I thought. But how about coming back with me to my house? I have a car waiting outside.”