"So we need two cases of the 20x150 glass test tubes and 10 packs of the 90 ml centrifuge tubes," Carly said. "We also are running low on pipettes."
Kayla wrote all of that down. "That shouldn't be a problem. I'll place the order this afternoon and you should have the new supplies by the end of next week. . . . Oh, wait, probably the week after. Thanksgiving will probably delay their shipping schedule."
"That's okay," Carly said. "We should be okay for a few weeks."
Kayla nodded. She had been pretty good at making sure the lab had ample supplies. "Good. . . . Speaking of Thanksgiving, you are joining us, aren't you?"
"I don't think Bo would let me miss it," Carly replied. "He's already worrying about your folks' plan to invite John and Isabella."
Kayla knew what Carly meant. Caroline had called Kayla the day before to discuss her idea of bringing the entire family - including John - together for the holiday. "The holiday is a day to be thankful for what we have," Caroline had said. "And we have Roman back, but also John as well."
But while Kayla understood that her mother thought Roman would soften toward John because of the holiday, she had doubts. Roman had been at odds with the entire family over John, and it had also affected Roman's view of Steve. Thanksgiving was Roman's first chance to see Steve as a father and member of the family, and Kayla had hoped it might make Roman see the good sides of Steve that he refused to acknowledge. But Kayla doubted that would happen if John were there. She did not think Roman could look past his anger.
"You don't seem too enthusiastic," Carly said.
Kayla sighed. "I don't know. I love John, but I just don't want any conflict; we've had so much already. And I want it to be nice for my folks. Last year, none of us was here for Thanksgiving."
"That means this year's already an improvement," Carly pointed out. Last year, we were trapped under Lawrence Alamain's house for Thanksgiving."
"Good point," Kayla said with a grin. And last year, I was a widow. This year, I have Steve. It was a sobering thought.
She was about to say something else, but there was a knock on Carly's door. Kayla turned around to see that Dr. Bishop had not even waited for Carly to say "come in," but had opened the door and was now standing in the doorway.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," he said. "I need Kayla to come with me to my office. . . . It's . . . um, rather important."
Dr. Bishop's tone indicated something was wrong. Kayla turned back to Carly, who had a "don't ask me what this is all about?" look on her face. Kayla suspected her expression was similar, but she stood up from her chair and followed Dr. Bishop across the hall to his office.
Stepping inside, Kayla realized that they were not alone. Neil Curtis and Julie Williams were standing on the far side of the room.
"Kayla. . . ." Julie said, a rueful look on her face. "We have a bit of a problem."
"A problem?" Neil blurted out angrily. "This is more than a problem. This is an outrage."
Julie put a hand on his arm. "Neil, we don't have a choice."
Dr. Bishop, who had crossed behind his desk, nodded. "I don't like this any more than you do, Neil, but the ISA could shut us down."
"I don't like it either," Julie said.
"Don't like what?" Kayla was confused. "Would one of you please tell me what's going on?"
Julie looked at Neil, who looked at Dr. Bishop and then back at Kayla. "You are being removed from the immunology lab, effective immediately."
"What?" Kayla could not believe her ears. "Why? I've done nothing wrong." Except tell my husband about a top secret project, she thought guiltily. But they couldn't know that, could they?
"Of course, you haven't done anything wrong," Julie said. "It's just the ISA. . . ."
"The ISA?" Kayla scowled. "What do they have to do with this?"
Julie looked down. "It's like with Shane. The ISA thinks you're a security risk and has ordered that you be removed from the lab."
"And if you don't, they'll cut off your virus supplies." Kayla knew the score. The ISA had ultimate control when it came to the lab.
"I wish there was more we could do," Neil said. "Julie and I argued for more than an hour with Chief Tarrington, but he refused to back down. He wouldn't even tell us why you're suddenly considered a risk when you've been running the lab since day one."
He didn't have to tell you, Kayla thought. I already know.
Somehow, the ISA had found out Steve had broken into the lab. That was the only possible explanation. She wondered how. The day after the break-in, they had reviewed the hospital surveillance tapes and seen nothing. Kayla suspected that there were cameras and other surveillance equipment around the lab that hospital security knew nothing about.
"I'm sorry," Neil said.
"So I guess I'm out of a job again," Kayla muttered, feeling the stirring of anger inside her. "It doesn't matter how much work I've put into this place, I'm just out," she said angrily. She took a deep breath to control her emotions. It was not Neil's fault. More calmly she said, "I'll collect my things."
"Wait," Neil said. "You're suspended from the lab, Kayla, not the hospital. The ISA doesn't control staffing there."
She felt momentarily grateful, but had to point out, "The hospital is fully staffed. I mean I've only been working nurse's shifts because I asked to. It's not like you really needed me."
"We've got the trauma center now," Neil said. "There's nobody better to work there. With your experience down at the riverfront, it would be crazy not to have you work with Marcus in running the trauma center."
"You did tell me not so long ago that you wanted to work more with patients," Julie added.
Julie was right, but that was not the point. The point was that Kayla should be making her own choice about where to work, not being stripped of her choice because . . . well she didn't really want to think about why right now.
"Kayla?" Neil was waiting for her to respond.
"Okay," she said. "I just wish I could tell the ISA where they could shove their security risk. . . ."
"Better you don't - not that I don't agree with you." Neil sighed. "I wish there was something we could do, but the ISA has us over a barrel."
With a sigh, Kayla nodded. "I know." She turned and headed for the door. "I'll get my things out of my office immediately."
As she walked out of the room, her anger began to rise anew. She had spent the better part of a year building this lab, and now, just like that, she was no longer part of it. She was no longer even allowed to enter it.
All because she'd been foolish enough to trust her husband.