Virus assassino

Medical Examiner: When they brought him in here I was sure he was another mule who OD'd, we got a bunch of them slit open like pigs for slaughter. Now usually I don't get people starting my work for me, but whoever did him made such a mess looking for the drugs I just naturally looked there first.

Dr. Hannah Cole: You sure cocaine was the cause of death?

Medical Examiner: Oh yeah yeah, the blood levels were through the roof, the stuff must've been almost pure. Listen, I know you don't get to look at ODs much, but I do and this one looked really strange.

Dr. Hannah Cole: You prepare a culture in a smear?

Medical Examiner: Mm-hmm.

Dr. Hannah Cole: Where's it set up?

Medical Examiner: Right here.

Dr. Hannah Cole: [takes a look] It's cholera. You ever seen vibrios?

Medical Examiner: No.

[looks through microscope]

Medical Examiner: Nasty looking, aren't they?

Dr. Hannah Cole: Who's this man?

Medical Examiner: Oh, who knows? He's a John Doe found on Canyon Road but you know nobody swallows balloons of coke unless they're smuggling, right?

Dr. Hannah Cole: Yeah but from where, and when? I mean we need to know everyone this man came in contact with. Now *you're* gonna have to be tracked for the next five days.

[dials phone]

Dr. Hannah Cole: It's Hannah, the body at the coroner's has cholera... yeah, I'm gonna have him send you samples to be cultured, meanwhile we need to alert every county emergency room right now. Mm-hmm, okay, thanks, bye.

[hangs up]

Dr. Hannah Cole: Police brought this man in?

Medical Examiner: Uh, yeah. You think it's more than just this one guy?

Dr. Hannah Cole: I sure as hell hope not. I need to know if you find anyone else like this. Okay?

Medical Examiner: Yeah.