Free Bad Nerd Rising by D.R. Grady Page B

reason
for his death?”
    “No. There were many theories, but no true
diagnosis was ever made.”
    “It wasn’t murder?” O’Riley’s voice turned
sharp.
    Aleksi started. “I don’t know how it could
have been. No one had a solid motive.”
    The admiral’s right eyebrow lifted.
    Aleksi’s lip curled to the side. “None that
I would deem a good motive. My father was very popular and while
I’m certain he had enemies, I can’t think of anyone who would want
to actually kill him. I had so much to learn from him, it was hard
for me when he died so suddenly.”
    “He was sick for a few weeks, months?”
    “Eight months from start to finish.” Eight
agonizing months of despair and pain.
    “That’s not long.”
    “No,” Aleksi answered, his mouth grim.
Although it had seemed terribly long since they had to watch his
beloved father wither away. He still hated thinking of those months
watching Aleksandr deteriorate and weaken and knowing they couldn’t
do anything to help ease his suffering.
    “Did your people grow sick after he
did?”
    Aleksi frowned. “We asked that same question
to his doctors. They saw a few cases of people who shared some of
his symptoms, but none like his. The true problems started this
fall.”
    “You’ve had the most outbreaks
recently?”
    “Yes.”
    Tia rose from her chair and distracted him
as she ambled over to where he and her uncle sat. He watched with
hungry eyes as she seated herself, amazed by her cat-like
movements. Never had he seen such sinuous grace on a human being.
Normally one also associated grace and elegance with a cat, except
that Tia had tripped on her way to the chair. He smiled to himself.
This woman would never bore him.
    “I couldn’t help but overhear your
conversation, so I thought I’d invite myself over,” she said and
smiled at both of them. Her smiles were impartial. That hurt. He
wanted her to smile at him like he was her world. His mother would
tell him that meant he was extra arrogant.
    Probably true.
    O’Riley smiled at her. “You’re welcome to
comment.”
    “I was at the hospital today and spoke with
the patients.”
    “And?” Aleksi wondered if she had discovered
anything the doctors hadn’t.
    “I was particularly interested in learning
their various symptoms.”
    “Don’t symptoms usually mimic each other?”
O’Riley asked.
    Aleksi frowned. “I don’t understand?”
    “Most illnesses start with
a headache, irritability, malaise, and can
include such things as insomnia, fever,
vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, and a metallic taste in the
mouth. Some more severe symptoms are memory problems, personality changes, ataxia, coma, respiratory
problems, and renal failure,” Tia said.
    “Aren’t you Miss Sunshine,”
his mother muttered as she and Emma took seats near them. He shot
her a repressive look which he hoped would keep her in line. If
anyone had undergone a personality change of late, it’d be her.
There were days he didn’t believe he knew her, and she had birthed
him.
    Fortunately, Tia ignored
her. “The problem most doctors have to deal with is those
indicators are so general. Many illnesses begin with those very
symptoms. The challenge is to narrow down what is causing the
problem.”
    “So it could be bacterial,
but it could be something else?” He didn’t like the way this
conversation was heading. But then again, if she couldn’t narrow
down the cause, Tia would have to stay longer. That exact same
dilemma rose up in a stranglehold. More time with Tia vs more
suffering for his people.
    Sometimes being the prince stank.
     
    Tia thought about Aleksi’s
question and nodded. “That’s correct. In this case, you’ve already
narrowed the most likely source. Your wells. And by boiling the
water, you’ve managed to prevent more people from falling sick. Now
we have to figure out exactly what’s in the water that’s making
everyone sick.”
    She cocked her head at
him, wishing she didn’t find him so