Coffee (23 page)

“Are
they on their way?” McKinsey asked.

“Yes
Sir, should be here in a few minutes.”

“What’s
this about female problems? Your report described catching her and
taking her back to her apartment, just as I ordered. Was there
more?”

Etty
heard nothing for a moment, and then, “She spent some time
naked in the sub-zero freezer, Sir - that could have messed up her
system. That’s how I found her.”

McKinsey
crumpled some papers, and shuffled around before starting again.
“Found her naked. She’d been knocked out, right? You
took her back to the apartment that way?”

“I
wheeled her on a gurney, covered.”

“Then?”

“Put
her back in her bed.”

“Still
naked?”

“Well,
yes.”

“So,
you and Miss Bishop were alone in her bedroom, and she was naked and
unconscious.”

“Yes.”

“And
nothing else happened? Look at me and answer, Maslow.” A
painful silence followed. And finally, “I see.”
Footsteps, more sounds of movement. ”You’re job is to
keep her here, that’s it. The happier she is, the harder
she’ll work and the less you’ll have to run after her.
Simple for me, but maybe too complicated for your idiot brain. You
keep to what you are told, and leave your pants on, Mr. Maslow. I
will not tolerate any further indiscretions. I’ll come down
harder than you can even imagine.”

“Yes
Sir.”

With
her eyes shut and body still, Etty afforded herself a broad smile
upon hearing Bart’s meek voice. Soon a commotion started in
McKinsey’s office. More voices and metal clinking sounds from
the stretcher. When the door banged open, Etty used the opportunity
to be shaken awake, and quickly sat up, feigning complete confusion.
“What? ...”

McKinsey’s
face peered around the corner. “Hi there! You had a little
fainting spell. How are you?”

“I
fainted? How humiliating!” She stood up quickly and
straightened the creases in her skirt and blouse. She handed
McKinsey his jacket and smiled girlishly in a sign of admiration for
the man who came to her rescue. McKinsey bought it, and puffed up
slightly.

“Don’t
be embarrassed, really. Your presentation was the best I’ve
heard in years. But, to be safe, we’re getting you over to
the hospital for a checkup.”

“Oh
no, please, I’m fine. I just need to eat.”

“Not
a chance. You just sit yourself back down and let these men carry
you over to the hospital. And then we’ll make sure you get a
hearty meal.”

Bart
appeared in the doorway. “I’m going along.”
Addressing McKinsey, “They might need some help getting you
through the hallways.” He looked down suspiciously at Etty,
trying to get her to reveal a clue - darting eyes or a misplaced
twitch. But Etty held strong, even surprising herself at her well
acted woman-in-distress demeanor. Through her protests, the
orderlies helped her onto the wheeled stretcher, and pushed her head
down to the hard pillow. They hurried out the door. Bart stayed
alongside, and radioed ahead some orders to the security gate
personnel.

McKinsey
caught Bart just before he pulled the office door behind him. “I’m
dead serious.”

Bart
left with no response.

They
brought Etty through the hallways beneath the Rotunda and finally to
a freight elevator which delivered them to the center of the
hospital facility. After a few more hallways, they entered an
examination room and placed her on the table. A doctor stood
waiting, a mid forties woman in a white lab coat wearing a
stethoscope over her shoulders. Etty noticed the name, Joyce
Jenkins, MD, Gynecologist.

Bart
became immediately uneasy. “Wait a minute, where’s Dr.
Frederickson?”

The
Doctor approached Etty, ignoring Bart. “You had a little
faint, did you?” She bent down and pulled Etty’s
eyelids up high, and with her penlight almost touching her cornea,
she peered through Etty’s pupils. She stood and walked toward
Bart to show him out the door. “I’m doing his rounds
today. He’s not available.”

“I’m
sorry, she has to see Frederickson. We’ll come back. Com’on
Etty...”

Dr.
Jenkins blocked his route back to Etty. “I will do the
examination. I would appreciate you leaving so we can get to it.”

“Look
lady, I’m from Global Security. You know damn well Global
employees see only certain doctors, and in this case it’s
essential. Move out of my way.”

Dr.
Jenkins remained. “If you are worried about the fee, I am
working under the Global employee program. It will be covered the
same as always. Now please, let us alone.”

“You
don’t understand. She is to see a specific doctor, no one
else. Now move out of the way.”

Two
male nurses emerged from the hall. “Dr. Jenkins, you having a
problem here?”

“This
man was just leaving.”

Bart
looked back at the two, not intimidated. “We’re fine,
we don’t need your help.” Then turning to the Doctor.
“All right then, I’m staying for the examination.“

Jenkins
asked Etty knowing well the answer, “Do you want him here
during the exam?”

“Heavens no.”

“That’s
not an option,” Bart said with authority, “This employee
has been classified as a security risk. I can’t explain
further, but you will have to allow me to stay.”

Jenkins
pulled her stethoscope from around her neck and hung it on a wall
hook. Without turning around, she spoke firmly to Bart. “This
is a public hospital. I am this patient’s doctor. If you are
concerned about security, you are welcome to wait outside, but I
have to ask you to leave this room immediately, or I will be forced
to have you removed.” The two nurses remained at the door.

Bart’s
voice increased in tone. “I don’t really give a flying
fuck what you think. I am head of security, and if you recall, we
own you. We pay you. We can do anything we want with you. Now get
on with your little examination here, or I am going to call it all
off and take this faking little woman back to where she belongs.”

She
faced him. “I see no reason to talk to me like that, no
matter who you are. And yes, I do recall our relationship. We are
open to the public, and independent. I have the authority to use
local police to remove anyone I feel is threatening our operation.
And if you think I’ll hesitate, you’re wrong. Now, step
out of this examination room!” She pointed to the door with
a slender finger. With the other hand, she picked up the phone,
ready to call.

Bart
huffed. He lingered while fingering his radio. “Ok, but I’ll
be right on the other side of this door.” He tugged Etty close
to him by the wrist. “If I hear any strange comments, I’ll
be right in.” He threw down her hand, and pushed aside the
nurses to exit.

Dr.
Jenkins shook her head. Etty rubbed her wrist.

“What’s
this all about? Are you in a special security situation?”

“Can
he hear us?”

“Not
if we talk softly. Go on.”

“Yes,
I am.” Etty threw her legs over the table and sat up.
“You’re not one of the Global designated Doctors? What
does that mean?”

Jenkins showed impatience. “I usually only see the outside
public visitors, not Global employees. I’m asking the
questions right now, ok?”

Etty
had little choice but to trust her, and she hoped her non-Global
status meant she was safe. “Dr. Jenkins, I don’t have
much time. You have to believe me when I tell you I’m in
serious trouble. My life is in danger.”

Dr.
Jenkins stood back, noticing a change in composure. “You’re
not sick, are you.”

“No.
I know this looks bad, but it’s true, I faked it. I had to.
I needed to talk to someone on the outside, and this was my only
chance. Listen carefully.” Etty leaned across to the counter
and pulled a pad of paper and a pen to her lap. While she
explained, she wrote words on the paper in bold capital letters.
Writing and speaking at the same time, she continued. “My
name is Harriet Bishop. I’m from New Hampshire, a Dartmouth
doctoral student. It’s a long story I can’t begin to
explain, but they drugged me and forced me down here. They even
staged a bogus accident at the college to make it look like I died.
Check for yourself. These guys are professional and serious.”

The
Doctor continued to back off, and avoided eye contact. “I
can’t help you. I’m a Doctor. You need to call the
police. Don’t get me involved.”

“I’ve
been raped, and injected with deadly diseases. They’ve
threatened to kill me, and they’ll probably succeed if I don’t
get out of here.”

“You’ve
been raped? When?”

“Last
Saturday night.”

“Why
didn’t you come earlier? We could have taken a semen
specimen, and easily filed... .”

“I
can’t explain. Believe it or not, right now the rape is the
least of my problems. I was unconscious, and I highly doubt I’m
pregnant. I’ll get all the tests as soon as I get out of
here. But now I need you to send this note.” She kept
writing.

“You
have to understand, Miss, in the last five minutes I’ve been
told you are a security risk by a member of our sponsor’s
guards, that you’ve faked a medical problem, and that you’ve
been raped. It’s a bit hard to fathom.”

Etty
put the pen aside and pulled up her blouse. “Here, look at
these bumps on my back. There are more on my legs. They’ve
injected me with some kind of dormant deadly bacteria, which they
can unleash at will. I know it’s a lot to fathom, but they’ve
used their fertilizer release technology, so they can set if off
through radio waves.” The Doctor’s disbelieving face
increased Etty’s concern. “He’ll be coming back
any minute! Please try to believe me. All I ask are two simple
requests. Send this message by fax to the name on the top, at
Dartmouth College. And I need you to set up another appointment for
me early tomorrow morning.”

The
Doctor took the page and read the hastily written note. “You
want me to send this to people who will come and get you out of
here? An escape?”

“Exactly.
They’ll get help, lots of it. Official help. Don’t
worry, they’ll be Police involved. In fact, call the Police
in Hanover if you don’t believe me. They’ll tell you I
died in a car accident.”

“I
can’t set up a Doctor’s appointment under false
pretenses. That’s very improper, and a risk to me.”

Etty
imagined Bart trying to hear through the door. “Then check
me. Maybe there are signs of the rape. You can have me back for
more tests. Please!” She pulled the panty hose off her legs
in a quick flowing movement.

Bart
pounded loudly on the door. His voice carried through the thick
wood. “What’s going on in there?”

A
twinge of compassion passed over the Doctor’s face. “Ohh.
That man!” She handed Etty a robe. “I’ll
inspect you, but Harriet, sending the note would violate everything
I stand for, and most likely get me fired. I am a single mother
myself, I can’t risk my career on this. You’ll have to
call the police yourself.”

The
door burst open. Etty had already unbuttoned the top of her skirt
and unzipped down to her hips. She yanked up the robe to cover
herself. The shock made the Doctor drop the note, which landed face
up on the floor at her feet. Bart spoke with new aggressiveness.
“I see. Still chatting. That’s it, let’s go
girl.” Bart grabbed Etty’s forearm and pulled her to
him. “Go ahead Doctor, call who you want. I’m not
losing this one again, not ever.” He jerked Etty to the
ground. She lost hold of the robe and with her free hand, fumbled
with the loose skirt to keep it from falling. Bart wrenched her
callously toward the door. Then he noticed the paper on the floor.
“What’s this? You writing secret notes?”

It
all happened so fast, it took Dr. Jenkins a moment to react. The
indignity of rudely entering a gynecological exam boiled her blood.
Bart leaned down, but the Doctor intervened. “Those are my
notes!” she yelled. “You can’t barge in here like
this!” She pushed his shoulders, knocking Bart momentarily
off balance. While he regained his footing, she crumpled the note
into a ball and stuffed it in her pocket.

Jenkins
made a split decision. “She can go, but I want this woman
back here tomorrow, promptly at 6:30am. The pelvic exam, which you
almost interrupted, showed the potential of an ovarian tumor. We
need a better look with ultra-sound. Is that clear? I am calling
your President, William McKinsey right now to update him on her
condition, and believe me, I’ll give him the full story of how
you treated her, and me, today. And let go of her!” Jenkins
lurched forward and wrestled Bart’s hand from Etty.

The
two male nurses again heard a ruckus and returned to block the
doorway.

“Still
a problem here, Doctor?” one asked.

“Yes.
My patient was just leaving, but I believe she could use some help
getting back to her apartment. What was your apartment number
again, Miss Bishop?” the Doctor asked, making it clear with
her tone of voice that she appreciated the intervention by the two
nurses.

Etty
re-clasped her skirt. “424, thank you. I’d love some
help.”

“Be
glad to.” The nurses and Dr. Jenkins exchanged wide eyeballs,
and the four marched off. Bart looked back at the Doctor for a
final frown.

Dr.
Jenkins stood in the doorway and watched them round the corner out
of sight. She pulled the balled up note out of her pocket and
flattened it on her knee.

TO
KNUT OLAFSON,

DARTMOUTH
COLLEGE, HANOVER NH

FROM
HARRIET BISHOP

GET
HELP! I’M AT THE GLOBAL GROWERS HOSPITAL IN DALLAS. COME AT
THE TIME AND PLACE BELOW. CALL THE POLICE, ARMY, WHATEVER - ALL THE
HELP YOU CAN GET. HAVE THEM PREPARE FOR TROUBLE.