Drake Sisters 04 - Dangerous Tides

his body close to Libby, his posture protective, his fingers threaded through hers. "If you're not involved in anything, Ed, why does Sam owe you money?"

    "Because I have a great deal and he asked me for it. He's always paid me back. And there's always you if he doesn't. You've spent your entire life bailing him out. Everyone knows you're good for the money."
    Ed switched his attention to Libby. "I had to find a way to talk to you. Ty told me how stupid John was in approaching you. I have no excuses, but I hope you'll at least hear what I have to say without prejudice."

    "I'm here, Mr. Martinelli," Libby pointed out.

    "I heard you were able to heal people." His gaze shifted, obviously embarrassed. "I've never believed in that sort of thing, but I'm so desperate at this point I'd take my wife and son to a tent in the woods if I thought it would help."

    "I take it they're ill?"

    He nodded, rubbing his hand over his face. "For the last few years, my wife has had an autoimmune disease. At least that's what the doctors tell me. She gets so tired sometimes she can hardly function. It started up about three years ago and they diagnosed her with everything from Lyme disease to chronic fatigue syndrome. When Robbie first started showing signs about a month ago, I thought it was the same thing, or maybe mono. But the doctors thought I was overreacting. Since then he's gotten so much worse, but no one seems to be able to figure out what's wrong with him. I find doctors so frustrating.
    They know they're sick but they have no idea with what so they've given us ten diagnoses, none correct.

    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html
    But he's going to die. I see him slipping away from us every day. My wife is beside herself and so am I."

    "Have you taken them to a place like the Mayo clinic for a diagnosis?"

    He shook his head. "I gave up on doctors. I just feel so damned helpless. Can you just look at him?"

    "He's here?" Libby asked incredulously. "Not in a hospital?"

    "I've hired a full-time nurse for him, but after his doctor and two others diagnosed him as autoimmune, I brought him home. I have his records."

    "I'd like to see those before I see him."

    Edward immediately picked up a large envelope from his coffee table and handed it to her. Libby began a methodical read through the thick file. "He has bouts of fever, itching, headache and joint pain that moves around." She read aloud, her voice thoughtful, lines appearing between her eyebrows as she frowned. "I see here that you've never been to Africa. I know you travel extensively."

    "Why does everyone keep asking us that? No, I've never been near Africa and neither has my wife."

    "Has anyone checked your wife's heart?"

    "This is about our son. My wife isn't nearly as bad."

    "Chances are whatever is wrong with your wife is also what's wrong with your son. Give me another couple of minutes and I'd like to examine him as well as your wife if she's available."

    "She's with Robbie. She hardly leaves his side." Ed rubbed his hands over his face and peered through his fingers at Tyson.

    Generated by ABC Amber LIT Conv erter, http://www.processtext.com/abclit.html

    "I don't have a lot of time to devote to threatening people. I don't know why someone might be after Sam, but the only conversation we had was when I begged him to talk to Dr. Drake. I put in numerous calls to you and never got through. With Eva and Robbie sick, I just don't think about much else."

    "I don't check the messages."

    "Can she heal people?"

    Tyson winced at the plea in Edward's voice. He glanced at Libby. There was no question she was feeling his pain and frustration—his desperation. He had always been able to read Libby's expressions, her face was so transparent to him, and she was definitely forming an opinion. Libby had worked for Doctors Without Borders as well as WHO. She'd worked for the Centers for Disease Control and she'd seen both domestic and exotic illnesses, far more than most doctors. He wondered if her healing ability aided her in diagnosing, but had no chance to ask her.

    "Mr. Martinelli," Libby began, an edge of desperation in her voice.

    "Libby," Tyson interrupted decisively, interjecting a note of warning.

    Tyson found himself responding to the pain and weariness so evident in Edward. And he could see how it would be so difficult for Libby to walk away from a situation like this one, but she wasn't recovered from healing