A nurse entered the room of a comatose patient. She hung a unit of blood on the IV pole attached to the bed frame. After checking the normal paper work, she ran tubing from the unit to the IV tubing in the patient's hand. As the blood dripped down the chamber, she took the patient's vital signs and indicated the readings on the chart. Then she left the area.
She didn't see a gloved hand injecting a fluid into the unit of blood.
Moments later, the comatose patient gasped and jerked in the bed. The cardiac monitor next to the bed went flat-line and the alarms sounded. The emergency resuscitation team rushed in and tried to revive the patient.
They did not succeed.

Dr. Taft and Mr. Hailey were reclining on Red Cross beds each donating a unit of blood. Dan was already at the recovery table, drinking juice and eating a cookie. His shirtsleeve was pushed up, his arm taped where the needle had been.
"How are you doing, Sir?" The volunteer asked Dan. "Would you like more juice?"
     "I'm fine," said Dan. "Do you mind if I wait for my friends?"
"That would be fine," said the volunteer.
"You have done this before, haven't you Michael?" asked Dr. Taft.
"A couple times," said Hailey nervously. "Never took this long before..."
The Red Cross nurse was at his side immediately. "It will be over soon, sir," she said. "You're almost done. Just relax."
She turned to Dr. Taft, and checked the unit. "You're already finished." She secured the unit, and skillfully removed the needle and covered the site with sterile gauze. "Just lay here a minute, OK? I have to check your friend."
"Sir?" she said when Hailey did not respond.
"Michael?" called Taft, concerned.
The nurse called a colleague over. "He's fainted," she said securing the almost complete unit and removing the needle.
"What's the problem?" said Dan rushing over. "I'm a doctor."
"He's fainted," said the nurse.
A second nurse, a large burly man, put his hand on Taft's chest as he started to sit up. "Please don't sit up yet, sir," he said.
A moment later, Hailey was roused. "What-?" he mumbled seeing all of the people around him.
"Can I get up yet?" asked Taft irritably.
"Yes, but slowly," said the male nurse. "Are you OK?"
"I'm fine," said Taft. "Dan how's Michael?"
"He'll be OK," said Dan as his special beeper went off. He looked at the message. "Code red. In Baltimore. When will Mr. Hailey be able to leave?"
"He'll need to lay still for at least another 15 minutes," said the nurse. "Then we can re-evaluate his condition."
"I'll give you 15 minutes, but after that he's my problem," said Dan pulling out his phone. "Yes, have the car come to the Red Cross center in Bethesda. 15 minutes? Excellent."
"What's going on?" asked Taft.
"Three unexplained deaths from grossly hemolytic blood transfusions," said Dan. "In a hospital in downtown Baltimore. We can be there within an hour."
"I don't think I want to hear the word, blood, right now," said Mr. Hailey.
"Don't get your corpuscles in a dither," said Taft smiling as the nurse checked Hailey's vital signs again. "Looks like you've recovered completely…though you look 'a pint' low."
Taft, Dan, and Hailey met with Dr. Brown and Dr. Williams, the pathologists at Baltimore General Hospital.
"So, the autopsies showed that the blood was hemolyzed before it entered the patient," said Dan.
"We cultured the units," said Dr. Brown "but there was no evidence of bacterial contamination."
"I'd like to see all of the records of blood storage," said Taft.
The Blood Bank supervisor was called to the meeting. She appeared promptly, with the records in her hand. Taft and Dan looked over the bank temperature charts, and the procedures for transfusing blood.
"Hmm…" said Taft. "Three different patients… with three different diagnoses…being transfused by three different nurses."
"All procedures were followed exactly," said the supervisor.
"I'd like to interview those three nurses," said Dan.
"And we need to talk to the blood bank techs," said Taft.
"The tech that worked on these cases is in the lab now," said the supervisor. "I'll see when the three nurses will be available."
"MAKE them available," said Dan. "Now."
     Taft, Dan and Hailey and Dr. Brown went into the Blood Bank where Mary Fields was working.
Mary had known the three deaths would be investigated, and she tried to calm her nerves as these three official -looking strangers entered the room.
"Mary, these are the government investigators," said Dr. Brown. "They want to ask you a few questions."
"Hello," said Dan. "I'm Dr. Cassian, this is Dr. Taft and Mr. Hailey."
"Hello, I'm Mary Fields," she answered, removing her gloves and standing up to shake Dr. Cassian's hand.
"Ms. Fields," said Dan. "Could you just tell us what you know about these cases?"
"Please call me Mary," she said sitting back down. She typed in a name. It was only seconds before information appeared. "Ok, this was our first patient," she said, pointing to the screen.
Taft grabbed a chair, and moved it beside Mary. She seemed intimidated by the men towering over her, and he thought if he could gain her confidence, she might provide information that would help him decipher what happened to cause these violent reactions in these patients.
"She was 32, and diagnosed with pneumonia...this means she has a marker," said Mary indicating an abbreviation on the computer screen. "Let me change to a different menu…She was HIV positive. Ok, let's go back to her other laboratory tests. She had a 'crit of 18 on the 22nd. She received two units of blood without any adverse reaction. Then on the 24th, she received a third unit of blood…and died," she said.
"What was that test?" said Taft as Mary moved from screen to screen.
"A drug screen," said Mary calling up the results he wanted. "She tested positive for cocaine on the 22nd." She tried to ignore his knee as it brushed against hers. He was a very attractive man, and she felt her face get warm every time she looked at him.
"AIDS…cocaine user," said Taft looking into Mary's eyes. He was surprised at the lovely shade of green that met him. He became aware of his knee touching hers, and pulled away. She was not his type at all. He went for tall slender women with long hair and longer legs. Mary was short, and chubby. Normally he would never even glance at her twice. But he was very aware of her now.
"Mr. Hailey," said Dan. "Go with Dr. Brown and check the autopsy reports for evidence of IV drug abuse. In fact, check all three cases."
Dr. Brown and Mr. Hailey left.
"Show us the other two cases," said Dan.
Mary complied.
"How long have you worked here?" asked Dan.
"Over 15 years," replied Mary.
"You seem competent. What is your opinion of the blood storage here?" he asked.
"We follow all of the regulations set forth by A.A.B.B.," said Mary. "I cannot explain these reactions at all. We keep segments from the units, and they were not hemolyzed. The patients received the correct units. I…"
"What?" asked Taft moving closer again. "You have a theory on this. I can tell."
Mary blushed as he knee brushed hers again. "Years ago, we had a patient that would have hemolytic reactions off and on…no serological explanation was ever found. Some conjectured that someone gave this woman an injection of a street drug or something. Nothing was ever proven though. She always recovered, and was finally discharged."
"Do you know that patient's name?" asked Dan.
"No, it was years ago…but a part-time tech was fired for ignoring the 'do not transfuse' memo left by the supervisor. We had a different supervisor then…I…don't remember the tech's name either," she said.
"Well, it's probably unrelated, but maybe the employee files will mention the incident," said Dan. "I'll get Hailey to check on that next.
"Dr. Taft, maybe we should check those blood units for drugs…chemicals…any outside agent."
"I'll take care of it," said Dr. Taft.
"Here's my card," said Dan handing it to Mary. "If you think of anything else…please call."
"What's the number here?" asked Taft.
Mary wrote the number on a piece of paper and handed it to Taft.
"Well, thank you Ms. Fields," said Dan. "We'll be in touch."
Dan and Taft stepped out of the room.
A moment later, Taft returned. "Mary," he said. "Can I have your home phone number too?"
Mary felt herself turn red again. She took the paper and added her home phone number. She smiled at him, but said, "I hope you can find out what's causing this."
Taft put his hand on her shoulder. "Try not to worry. I think your theory is the only answer, and we will find out who's behind this. I just hope we can succeed before it happens again," he said.

Taft and Dan set up their testing in the chemistry lab.
"I thought you only went for tall women," said Dan.
"What?" asked Taft, concentrating on testing his samples.
"You seem to have a type. Tall and lean, with very long legs," said Dan.
"What are you talking about?" asked Taft.
"I saw the way you moved in on our blood banker," said Dan. "You were all over her."
"I may have knocked knees," said Taft. "My legs are long, and the area was cramped."
"Ok," said Dan. "But that doesn't explain the way you caressed her shoulder after I left."
"A friendly touch," said Taft. "But, I like her. Why should I limit myself to one type…'so many women…so little time'…"
"So, you didn't get her phone number just to aid the case," said Dan.
"Maybe you should have been a spy," laughed Taft.
Hailey entered the lab.
"Find anything?" asked Dan.
"All three cases were IV drug abusers," said Hailey. "We were able to locate the name of the patient that had recurring hemolytic reactions years ago, but she died earlier this year…at another hospital …from a hemolytic transfusion reaction."
"What!" cried Taft.
"Mr. Hailey and I will investigate this," said Dan. "Call me with anything you find," he said to Taft.

Taft stepped into Blood Bank. Mary was at her station working intently.
"Hi, Mary," said Taft. "Are you always the only one working in Blood Bank?"
"Hi, well…there's a part timer who works in the morning," she said. "And another lady who's on vacation."
"A pretty highly stressed area…for such a small staff," said Taft.
Mary looked down, wondering if he was accusing her of gross negligence.
"I follow our procedures exactly," replied Mary quietly.
"Mary," he said stepping closer. "I wasn't suggesting that you didn't. I was just...making an observation. What time do you get off?"
"Five o'clock," she said.
"I'm not very familiar with Baltimore," said Taft. "Can I take you to dinner tonight? Get a guided tour?"
Mary looked surprised, but then realized she wore casual attire under her lab coat.
"I have a few more tests to run, but I can be ready by seven...if that's not too late," he said.
"Yes, I'd like that," said Mary.
Mary met Dr. Taft in the lobby at the Sheraton hotel.
"Mary," said Dr. Taft as he walked up to her. "I hope you weren't waiting long."
"Only a few minutes," she said.
"I've made reservations at Phillips," he said. "I hope you like seafood."
Mary cut off a piece of the flounder and took a bite.
"This crab cake is excellent," said Taft. "Baltimore sure knows how to prepare crabs. So, Mary, tell me about yourself."
"Well, I've lived in Maryland all of my life. I have two teenage kids, and my husband and I are legally separated," she said. "I like rock and alternative music...my favorite band is Pearl Jam. I've worked in the blood bank for years. I enjoy movies and occasionally I write stories."
"Any published?" asked Taft.
"No," said Mary. "I write them mainly for my own pleasure. What about you? Is there a Mrs. Taft?"
"No," laughed Taft. "I'm immune to marriage," he said wondering if those green eyes were wearing away his immunities. "I'm from Chicago originally. I live in L.A. now. Mostly I work on private research, but one day Cassian walked into my life, and I've been a consult for these medical mysteries ever since."

At the hospital, a fourth patient coded. The E.R.T. team tried to revive the 37-year-old man, but the patient was pronounced dead at seven. Dr. Brown contacted Dr. Cassian immediately.
"Have the patient prepped for autopsy in the morning," said Cassian. "We've been working around the clock. We'll be in at eight a.m."

Mary and Brian Taft strolled along the waterfront at the inner harbor.
"This place is beautiful," said Taft. He pulled Mary into his arms. "Beautiful like you," he said as he bent to kiss her.
Mary was surprised at the way Brian's warm seductive kiss affected her. She had not been with a man since her husband had left. She had not planned to become so attracted to a man who was investigating a case in which she was involved, but she could not help but respond to his experienced technique.
Brian smiled as he kissed Mary. Her lips were as soft as they looked. After a moment, he forgot his tried and true techniques, and simply enjoyed her kiss.
"Would you like to come up to my room?" asked Brian. "There's a lovely view there too."
Mary smiled. "OK," she said. "But I doubt if we'll be checking out the view."
Brian laughed. "Am I that transparent?"
"I won't know until you are naked!" teased Mary.
"Wench!" teased Brian.
Inside the room, Brian plopped onto the bed fully dressed. He turned to Mary. "A lovely view! Come and see!" he called.
Mary began unbuttoning her shirt, and walking slowly and seductively towards the bed.

In the morning, Taft, Cassian and Hailey met inside the Lab.
"The common denominator is our friendly blood banker--Mary Fields," said Dan.
"What's the motive?" asked Hailey.
"Don't know, yet, but I plan to confront her...right now," said Dan.
"Wait a minute. You can't be serious! She had nothing to do with these deaths!" said Taft.
"You shouldn't date our suspects," said Dan. "She has everything to do with these cases. There was a fourth death last night--while you were 'wining and dining' the lady."
"Well, see! That proves she's not involved!" said Taft. "She was with me! And you never said she was a suspect!"
"She issued the unit in question before she left work," said Dan calmly.
"You went out with Mary Fields?" asked Hailey frowning. "She's not your type at all."
"What's this with me and my 'type'!" said Taft. "I like her. She's a great lady, with lovely eyes…and a great smile..."
"And soft lips…" continued Hailey.
Taft just grimaced. "Well I find her very attractive; but she's totally innocent of causing these deaths!"
"We'll see," said Dan walking towards the Blood Bank.
"Dan! You can't just accuse her! The evidence is totally circumstantial!" said Taft, grabbing Cassian's arm.
"Mr. Hailey," said Dr. Cassian pulling his arm out of Taft's grasp. "Tell Dr. Taft what you found out about Mary Fields."
Hailey pulled out a small notebook. "She's worked here for about 15 years. She's on anti-depressant medication. Her husband recently moved out…they're legally separated, and she's in counseling," he read.
"That proves nothing!" said Taft scrunching up his face.
"Are you ready to base your reputation on that judgment?" asked Cassian.
"Well…yes!" said Taft. "I know she's innocent!"
"Well, Dr. Taft, I'll leave it up to you to prove it," said Dan Cassian. "But until these cases are resolved, Mary Fields will not be working in any Blood Bank."

"Ms. Fields," said Dr. Cassian entering the Blood Bank with Taft, Hailey, Dr. Williams, and the Blood Bank supervisor.
"Oh...hello," she said.
"Mary, these men want you to go with them," said her supervisor.
Mary saw the worried look on her supervisor's face and noticed the way Dr. Williams avoided looking at her.
"Why? What's going on?" asked Mary.
Hailey took her arm and pulled out some handcuffs.
"Ms. Fields, you've been implicated in four deaths. We're putting you under arrest," said Dan Cassian.
Hailey started reading the Miranda rights as Mary's face went white and she looked at Taft.
Taft said nothing. He stood behind the others. He was frowning, but did not hesitate to let his eyes meet hers.
"But…I didn't do anything wrong…" said Mary softly as tears flowed down her face.
Hailey led her from the room.
Taft started to follow, but Dan called him. "Dr. Taft, our fourth patient has been prepped for autopsy. Coming?"
Taft hesitated, but decided he could help Mary best by finding the real killer. He followed Dan to the autopsy room.

Brian tested the units of blood for every chemical he knew. Then he tested the unit for a myriad of drugs. The bodies all showed traces of cocaine, but all four victims had been crack addicts, so that finding was not considered significant. While he was busy testing, he kept calling the City Jail to see if Mary's bail had been set.

Once Mary's bail was set, Taft drove to the City Jail and paid it. Then he waited outside the jail until she was released. Mary stepped into the bright sunlight. Her eyes were swollen from crying.
"Mary!" called Brian.
She looked over at him.
"Let me take you home," he said.
Mary walked over to him. "They told me you paid my bail," she said. "Why?"
"I believe you are innocent," said Brian. "Dr. Cassian wouldn't listen to me."
"I am innocent," said Mary. "Thank you for getting me out…of there."
"Hungry?" asked Brian.
"I'll pay you back…as soon as I can…" said Mary, ignoring his question and walking past his car. "Can I take you to lunch," asked Brian. "Mary? Mary!"
He rushed up to her and took her arm. "Look, I'm sorry I couldn't stop Dan from having you arrested. He's in charge of this investigation, but I'm on your side. Come on…join me for lunch."
"Brian, I'll never be able to work in a blood bank again," she said. "In the space of three months, I've lost my husband and my job. Maybe you couldn't stop my arrest…but…I feel very…manipulated." Her tears started again.
Brian pulled her against his chest. "I'm taking you home now. Then I'll return to the lab and clear your name."
Mary was too upset to answer. He led her to his car.

"Taft," said Cassian. "Where have you been?"
"I took a break," said Taft. "Why?"
"I've heard through the wire service that you bailed out Mary Fields. The media is making accusations and complicating this entire situation."
"I told you not to arrest her," said Taft.
"Seems like your loyalties are a little misguided," said Cassian. "You've been led 'a field'."
"She is innocent," said Taft ignoring Cassian's poor attempt at a joke. "Now, if you'll excuse me," he said angrily, "I'm going to find our killer."

Taft called Mary from the lab.
"Hi, Mary, Brian here…No, I haven't found the causative agent…OK…OK…see you tonight," said Brian. "Bye."
"Who was that?" asked Cassian hearing only the end of the conversation as he entered the lab. "Mary," replied Brian.
"Are you insane! You can't see her tonight or any night until this case is solved!" cried Cassian. "You've made the front page." He shoved the newspaper he was carrying in front of Taft. "Some clever photographer captured you two in an embrace outside the jail. Read the caption," said Dan.
"'Government agent works best under cover'," read Taft. "That's ridiculous. I was comforting her." "Yeah, women fall into my arms all the time," said Cassian sarcastically.
"Well, they might if you weren't such a hard-line jerk," said Taft. "I don't consider Mary a suspect. I'm seeing her tonight. You can't stop me."
"I could arrest you too," said Dan.
"Yeah…that's the only way you could stop me," said Taft leaving.

Later at Mary's house, Brian and Mary were in bed, cuddling under the sheets.
"I'm glad your estranged husband took the kids," said Taft. "This is nice."
"Hmmm…yes," she answered.
"If only I could figure out what caused these deaths," said Taft.
"You say you believe I'm innocent," said Mary. "But you aren't working from that viewpoint. Maybe if you assume the problem happened after the nurse hung the blood and left the patient's room…"
"But, how?" asked Brian.
"What chemicals or drugs were found at autopsy?" said Mary. "Work backwards. Or--what chemical or drug would not be detectable…or if present, would not be suspect…but in fact could hemolyze blood cells."
Brian kissed her again, and jumped out of bed. "You're a genius!" he said.
"What are you doing?" she asked.
"It's so obvious! I can't believe I didn't pursue it!" said Taft. "All four patients were cocaine users. So, when cocaine was found in their systems...at autopsy...I just assumed it was from past misuse. But what if cocaine was injected in the blood unit! The adenine in the unit would leave the cells rapidly to react with the cocaine--causing lysis of the cells, and if transfused, kill the patient! I don't know the "why"; but I know the "how"--or will know once I do a few more tests!"
Baltimore General Hospital had a number of addicts as patients. Brian called Hailey as a unit of blood left the Blood Bank for a patient fitting the profile.
     Hailey situated himself outside the patient's room, across the hall and inside a storage room. He saw the nurse enter the room with the blood. Moments later, she left.
Sometime later, a middle-aged woman entered the room. Hailey waited a moment, but then burst into the room. The woman stood by the bed, injecting something into the blood unit.
"Get back!" said Hailey aiming his gun at her.
"Cassian," Hailey said into his phone. "I've apprehended a woman injecting something into the unit of blood."
"Stop the blood now!" yelled Cassian into the phone. "We'll be right there."

Cassian and Taft entered the room with two security guards. The woman was taken into custody and the patient evaluated. Cassian and Taft watched, as the bag of blood turned black due to gross hemolysis.
     "I owe Mary Fields an apology," said Cassian. He looked up at Taft. "I owe you one too."
"I'm going to see Mary," said Taft leaving.

Sunlight hit Dan in the face as he walked up the steps in Brian Taft's loft in Los Angeles. He saw Brian standing near the kitchen.
     "Brian, it's good to see you," said Dan.
"Hello, Dan," he said. "You remember Mary Fields?" he said indicating the woman on the couch.
"Hello Ms. Fields," said Dan. "I never got to apologize in person for my…error in judgment. I'm sorry about your arrest."
Mary stood up and looked at Dr. Cassian. She started to say something, but instead turned and walked out on the balcony. She closed the door behind her.
"That arrest almost destroyed her," said Taft. "She still has nightmares about it. She'll never work in a blood bank again."
"I explained everything to her superiors. I thought they had asked her to return to work," said Dan.
"They did," said Brian. "But I gave her some real options. She chose to relocate."
"She lives with you?" asked Dan.
"No…but that may change in the near future," said Taft.
"What about her kids?" Cassian asked. "Somehow I don't see you as a father figure."
"I do OK," he said. "But they still don't understand about the separation and the arrest. Whatever happened to the woman Hailey apprehended?"
"She's been committed to a mental hospital," said Dan. "Her only son had died of AIDS contracted through IV drug abuse. She thought if she killed addicts, she could prevent them from spreading the disease to others. She worked as a nurse's aide and had access to the patient's charts. Oh…she worked at a different hospital a year ago."
"Let me guess," said Taft. "The hospital where the patient Mary first mentioned died."
"Yes," said Dan. "I really am sorry about the arrest."
"She's forgiven you," said Brian. "It will just take some time before she can forget it."
"Well, I'm also here about a case," said Dan.
"No more, Dan," said Brian. He did not hear Mary enter the room behind him. "I don't like the way you play with people's lives."
"People are dying, Taft," said Dan. "We need you."
Mary walked up beside Brian and took his arm. She looked up at Cassian. "Dr. Cassian," she said softly. "You made a horrible mistake by arresting me, but I know you only had the best of interests…saving my patients. I'm doing OK now, thanks to Brian."
"I'm glad," said Dan.
"Brian, people are dying," she said. "If you can help..."
"I'll be away for who knows how long," said Brian.
"Mary," said Dan. "Where are you working right now?"
"I…uh…haven't secured a position yet," said Mary. "I need to take a special licensed test to work in a lab in California."
"Oh, yes," said Dan. "I'd forgotten about that. Why don't you join our team? With your lab skills, you would be a great asset."
"I don't know," said Mary.
"Great idea!" said Taft. "We can be together, and Mary really solved that last case. Her help will be invaluable!"
"Please say yes," said Cassian. "But we have to hurry. A plane is waiting to take us to Dallas."
"OK, yes," said Mary as Brian hugged her.
"Let's go then," said Cassian.