Page 38 of About Last Night

Janine peered closer at his face, his red nose, his bloodshot eyes, and a thought struck her. "Derek, do you have allergies?"

His mouth worked side to side. "None that I know of."

She glanced around the room, at the vases of resort wildflowers on the desk, the dresser, the entertainment center. Thanks to her claustrophobia, every window was flung wide to allow a cool breeze to flow through the room. She walked to the balcony door and pushed aside the curtain, then squinted into the sun. Sure enough, tiny particles floated and zipped along on the wind. On the concrete floor of the small balcony, sticky yellow granules had accumulated in the corners.Pollen.

Every flower and tree in Georgia was having sex—visitors' noses beware.

When she looked back to Derek, he was reaching for another tissue. And she was starting to think his symptoms were completely unrelated to those of the guests who were hospitalized. Circling the room, she closed and secured every window and glass door.

"I thought you said the open windows would help prevent your panic attacks," he said.

"Maybe so," she replied. "But we have to get the pollen out of this room, or you'll never feel better."

He scoffed. "I told you, I've never had allergies."

"Have you ever been to Atlanta in June?"

"No."

"Then there could be something seasonal in the air, or a combination of somethings, that might have triggered unknown allergies. Especially if your immunity is down from stress."

"Stress? What's that?"

She smirked and picked up the phone, then called the front desk. "Mr. Oliver, please. This is Janine Murphy." A minute or two passed, during which Derek leaned back in the chair and rubbed his eyes. "You really shouldn't do that," she admonished.

He stopped and frowned in her direction, but he stopped rubbing.

Manny's voice came on the line. "Janine?"

"Manny, hi. I need another favor."

"Anything within my power."

"Would you send someone up with a vacuum cleaner—I'll need all the attachments—and ask them to take away the vases of flowers I set in the hall?"

"Sure thing. What's going on up there?"

"Well, I'm not certain, but I think Derek's symptoms are more related to our resident foliage than our resident bacteria."

"Allergies?"

"Maybe. His blood tests should be back by now and would rule out the bacteria the other guests acquired. Would you ask Dr. Pedro to come back and reexamine him when he gets a chance?"

"Will do."

Janine thanked him and hung up the phone, then turned the air-conditioner fan on high.

Derek folded his hands behind his head and made an amused noise. "So you think I'm not afflicted with the plague after all?"

"Some people with allergies say it's almost as bad." With a vase of flowers in either hand, she headed toward the door.

He stood and crossed to open the door for her. She set the flowers on the floor in the hallway. At a noise behind her, Janine turned to see to see Maureen Jiles setting a food tray on the floor. The woman straightened and beamed in Derek's direction. "We meet again."

Janine observed Maureen with a smirk. The woman's generous curves were barely contained in a red bikini top. A sheer black wrap miniskirt laughingly covered the matching bottoms. Her deeply tanned legs were so long, they appeared to extend down through the carpeted floor. Next to the shapely sun diva, Janine felt like a pale boy.

Beside her, Derek had apparently been struck mute.

"I see you haven't fallen ill," Janine offered.

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