Love's So Contagious

Tempted

The situation in Phuket had caught the attention of both the RTP and CID. Gulf was aware that the CID would be offering support from Bang Kruai, as they didn't have enough manpower to send their own people to Phuket. The recent budget cuts from Washington had made it difficult for them. However, they were confident that their state-of-the-art labs would be able to provide the necessary assistance. What gave Gulf peace of mind was knowing that they had one of their own, someone they had personally trained, working on the case.

On the other hand, figuring out the involvement of the RTP was a bit more challenging. There had been a murder, and once the person from Gifford Street, who had already suffered significant injuries, passed away, the case turned into a multiple homicide. Mew believed it was a serial killing due to the two separate acts, but Gulf wasn't concerned with the distinction. All he wanted was for the deaths to stop.

Gulf had expected the RTP to be fully invested in the case. Both the Police's Department and the City police had requested their assistance. However, while the RTP was willing to help from Quantico, they were not able to send agents to Phuket. The current federal government had issued a directive prioritizing the fight against Islamic extremism, resulting in trimmed budgets for all agencies.

That implied there were scarce resources available to allocate to an individual without any clear religious or political motives who was causing harm in the Yala Area.

Some people did take advantage of the situation. The national media swarmed Phuket like a horde of locusts. Gulf supported freedom of the press and appreciated their inquiries into the handling of the meningitis outbreaks, even if they posed uncomfortable questions. He also appreciated their resistance against federal indifference.

However, he wished that the various news outlets hadn't sent so many people. They occupied most of the hotels in the area, making it difficult for grieving and worried relatives who had to deal with intrusive reporters shoving cameras in their faces in the lobby or by the elevators before they even had their morning coffee. The restaurants were crowded, and the reporters criticized the local cuisine for not meeting the standards of Udon Thani, Bang Kruai, or Lampang.

Moreover, not a single one of them knew how to drive in Phuket's challenging weather conditions. This led to more accidents, causing traffic delays as they, along with the necessary rescue teams, tried to clear the way. Sometimes, it resulted in more people in the ER, occupying space needed for meningitis patients. Gulf tried not to hold a grudge, but he couldn't help feeling frustrated. Having lived in the area for a long time, he had adopted some of the local attitudes towards "outsiders" on the roads.

Another outbreak hit Vihokratana Enterprise Nursing Home on Lodi Street. It was surprising that there hadn't been one before, considering the facility's history. Central Udon Thani had many good skilled nursing and rehab centers, but those who couldn't afford them or had behavioral issues ended up at Vihokratana Enterprise. The place was a nightmare, with multiple outbreaks in the past.

Elderly residents weren't typically at high risk for meningitis, but Vihokratana Enterprise had a history of overcrowding and sanitation problems. Finding a glass vial near the "clean" tableware didn't shock Gulf - it was just another issue in a long list.

The latest outbreak was sudden and severe, affecting vulnerable residents who were already battling various infections. They hadn't chosen to be in a skilled nursing facility because they were healthy.

Some individuals had lost their ability to communicate, and due to the overwhelming number of patients in the nursing home, they were neglected. Gulf found himself in a situation where he had to enter Vihokratana Enterprise and conduct meningitis tests on every resident. He was accompanied by a team of nurse practitioners, residents, and interns who offered their assistance.