Kristen turns to Dr. Martin. "Where can you set me up, Doctor? I would like to use my laptop in the guest house, if that is possible."
“Yes, we can,” the doctor replies. “There’s a DSL port in the master bedroom.”
As the group prepares to leave for the guest house, Decker asks, “Oh yeah, I do have one more question. Do either of you know if Dr. Gold has ever been to Venezuela before this? Could he have prior contacts he made on an earlier trip?”
Slocum shakes his head. “Venezuela, no. He’s made several trips over the years to Costa Rica – he volunteered time at a hospital there when he was a resident, and he’s been back several times on vacation. He also attended a conference in Buenos Ares, five years ago.”
Slocum closes his briefcase and offers his hand to each of team members in turn. “Good luck. Please keep me informed of your progress and don’t hesitate to call if you need assistance. I’ll expect to hear from you in a day or two regarding accommodations or travel arrangements.” He wishes everyone a good evening, puts on his jacket, and lets himself out the front door.
“Shall we? Dr. Martin says, picking up the folder from the coffee table. He leads the group through the kitchen to a back door – next to the door is a stand with large golf umbrella, which he unfurls after opening the door. The rain is falling steadily outside on a flagstone path that leads to the guest house.
The lights are on as you step inside. The main room is furnished with a couch and a recliner. Against one wall is a low entertainment center with a television and a stereo. To one side is a kitchenette with a breakfast bar – there’s a bathroom at the opposite end, visible through a doorway. Another doorway at the back opens on the master bedroom, while a set of stairs leads to a loft overlooking the living area. The décor is nautical, photographs of sailboats on Puget Sound, a wooden model of one of the WSF ferries, another of a fishing boat.
“There’s a queen bed in the master bedroom, two twin beds in the loft, and this couch folds out,” says the doctor. “There are spare linens in the closet and some snacks and drinks in the fridge. Dr. Alexander, there’s a desk in here,” he continues, gesturing to the bedroom, “where we can set up your notebook.”
It takes the researcher a few minutes to log into the system at Martin Pharmacology. “Okay, you’ve got access to all of Rich’s work here. If you find yourself in deep water with any of his research,” he says, glancing at his watch, “give me a call in the morning. I’m catching the first ferry off the island in the morning, but you can reach me on my cell phone.”
Returning to the living room, Dr. Martin hands Hawk a set of keys. “In the garage is a Ford Explorer that belongs to Martin Pharmacology. You’re welcome to use it during your stay here in Seattle. The key to the garage door is on the ring and the remote is in the truck.” He looks around at the team. “Luz will be here all weekend if you need anything. I hope to hear good things from you soon. Good night and good luck.” Opening the door and unfurling the umbrella, he disappears into the rain.
