absorb odor. There’s also a masking agent.”
“What agent?”
“I’d need the product sheet.”
“Get it.”
Thomas nodded.
Then I asked:
“When were those cartridges installed?”
He checked.
“Twenty-one months ago.”
My stomach tightened.
Nathan looked at me.
“That’s when the boys started getting sick.”
“Close?”
“Within a month.”
Dr. Reeves stepped forward.
“That proves nothing.”
“I know.”
I looked at him.
“But it’s worth testing.”
He folded his arms.
“Their symptoms are systemic.”
“So are inhaled exposures.”
“Some.”
“Yes.”
“Have you ever diagnosed one?”
“No.”
That gave him a brief look of satisfaction.
I continued.
“But I’ve worked with children whose asthma worsened because adults kept changing medication instead of changing the environment.”
Nathan looked at Reeves.
“Were environmental causes ruled out?”
The doctor answered immediately.
“Mold panels. Heavy-metal screens. Standard toxicology.”
“Air system?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“There was no indication.”
I pointed at the vent.
“There is now.”
Thomas
