now, as a freelancer and sometimes off-book CIA contractor, he sought out members of the network for help on his own.
Dr. Kaya said, “Soon after you left, three thousand euros appeared in my bank account.”
Court said, “I was surprised that someone like you would work in the network.”
The young Turkish woman with the wet hair said, “I’ll take that for a compliment.” She looked him over. “You need medical assistance. But . . .” she repeated, “I did not receive a text.”
“I’m working outside the organization that retains you to treat patients in the area. But I am here in town, and I needed your help, so I came.” He added, “I can pay you. Cash, right now. Will you help me?”
“Come, sit.”
Court moved to a small settee in her simple living room and sat down roughly, his knees almost giving out completely as he bent. She steadied him, then hurried to her bag on the kitchen island to get her stethoscope.
Court said, “I have an infection in my shoulder. In the bone. I think it’s pretty bad.”
“When did you contract it?”
“A month ago.”
“How?”
He hesitated, and then said, “You know how it is. Broken glass.”
She knelt on the floor in front of him. “Whatever you say.” He took his shirt off and she looked at his bandages for the first time.
“Who dressed this wound? A monkey?”
He coughed again. “The monkey wasn’t available, so I did it myself.”
She laughed a little, and gently removed the dirty bandaging. Looking the surgical wound over, she put her hand on the skin near the cut and then on his forehead.
“A good surgeon.” She held her hand on his forehead. “But you have a fever. How have you been treating it?”
“IV antibiotics. Three weeks or so. I stopped a few days ago, but am taking pills.”
“You just ended your IVs?” She seemed surprised. “You need an infusion of Cipro for eight weeks, at a minimum. This is very serious.” She looked around her flat a moment. “I can rebandage you for now, but I’ll have to get the antibiotics, saline, and an IV pole and tubing. I’ll need you to come back every night and I will administer—”
“I don’t think I can do that.”
She looked at him. “Right. I understand. That’s a lot of coming and going. You can stay here. I have a guest room. It’s a mess, but there is a bed. I can bring the medicine and saline when I get off shift and rig up—”
“I can’t do that, either. I am here in town to work. Not to lie on a sofa.”
“But you—”
“Pills. I need more pills. A lot of them.”
“Oral antibiotics aren’t strong enough to defeat a bone infection.”
“They don’t have to win the war; they only have to keep me in the fight.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I need to keep going. A week would be my guess, but it could be longer. Once I’m done here, I have a place I can go and get IV antibiotics, as long as I need them. I just have to hang on until I’m done.”
She put her head in her hands, a show of frustration. “What is it that you people do that makes you so . . .”
She seemed to be searching for the word, so Court tried to help. “Crazy?”
“I was going to say ‘relentless.’”
“Yeah, well. I get myself into situations. Sometimes I need help getting out of them.”
“I’ll give you the pills, but you have to let me see you when you can. The infection can grow even with the Cipro. As long as you are in town, you’ll need to try to come back regularly, and I will give you an infusion.”
Court nodded. “Deal. I also need some other drugs.”
“What other drugs?”
“Adderall to keep me on my feet. Something to help me sleep when I have time for rest. Klonopin works. And something for pain, for my shoulder, and for anything new that comes along.”
“Anything new?”
“There is no shortage of broken glass here in Berlin.”
Dr. Kaya looked him over again, and for the first time, he felt judged by her.
She said, “So, what you are telling me is you are falling apart and need drugs to keep it together.”
Court shrugged. “I’ve got to keep moving. Whatever tools I can employ to stay in the fight are the tools I’m going to use.”
The young resident nodded after a time. “I can get what I need at the clinic. I will secure IV equipment, as well. Will you return tomorrow night?”
“I think