Corrector (18 page)

“Yes,” he’d replied cautiously.

“This is Dave Wolter, Karin’s brother.  We met once before.”

Jake remembered, although he couldn’t put a face on the voice.  Karin had introduced them when they had flown back to visit her hometown for a friend’s wedding.  Dave had been one of dozens of people he’d met over the course of two days and none of the names and faces had stuck.  As Karin’s only surviving family member, he should have, but Jake was horrible with names and faces, and for some reason they had never run across one another again.  Now, for some reason, he was calling and Jake knew immediately that something had happened to Karin.

Dave confirmed Jake’s fears with his next statement.  “Karin’s been hurt.  She’s in the hospital.  I know you and she have had some kind of a disagreement, but I thought you would want to know.”

“Crap!” he said without thinking.  “What happened?  Where is she?  How is she?”

“She’s not good.  Very bad actually.  The doctor doesn’t know if she’ll recover.  She’s in a coma at the moment, and even if she does come out of that, they have serious concerns whether she’ll be mentally normal.   They had to go into her head.  I guess they didn’t like what they found.”

“Noooo.”  Jake couldn’t help the cry that escaped from his lips.  “What happened?”

“Did you see the news the other day about that nut in San Francisco that shot up a bunch of tourists?  Karin and her friend Ellen got caught up in that.  Both were wounded, Karin more seriously, but Ellen’s in the hospital as well.”

Jake knew Ellen, although not well.  He knew that she and Karin had been close for a long time.  He’d also been very much aware of the shooting.  He had been following the news for details, although very little was known as yet.  Other than a count of killed and wounded and the location and time of the event, the news had been extremely thin.  He had been hoping for something that might give him a chance to undo the shootings, but it sounded as if the killer had gotten away and the police had no leads.

The shooter had somehow gained access to the top floor of the tallest structure in the Ghirardelli square complex, and from the roof had randomly emptied three magazines from an Uzi semi-auto into the crowded square below.  Twenty-three people had been killed and more than three dozen were wounded.  In many cases a single round had wounded more than one victim, passing through one individual to strike another in the crowded area.  After shooting, the killer had left behind the Uzi and the spent magazines, and had slipped away unseen.  There were apparently few witnesses, and so far the police hadn’t released even a vague description of the killer.  Unless the police were working leads that hadn’t been broadcast on the news, the man had gotten away clean. 

Jake nodded that he’d been aware of the shootings, then realized he couldn’t be seen.  “I’ve been watching the news he confirmed.  Karin was in San Francisco?”

“She and Ellen had been driving around the last couple of weeks.  They spent some time in Los Angeles and were working their way back home.  I gather they had just arrived in the Bay Area the previous evening.”

“Where is she?  Where are you?”

“She’s at the UCSF Medical Center on Divisadero in San Francisco,” Dave explained.  “I’m in my hotel a few blocks away.  I just came from the hospital.  I was able to get Karin’s cell phone, and found your number on it and thought I should call.  I don’t know what exactly happened between you two.  I have to admit I was surprised.  I thought you were headed a different direction and I’d be getting a wedding invitation.  Whatever, if you want to see her, you might want to fly down here.  I don’t think she has much time left.”

Jake had felt a deep chill at Dave’s warning.  “I’ll drive down.  It will be almost as fast.  I’ll be there this afternoon.  Give me your cell number so I can contact you.”

Dave had done so, but also said that he would keep Karin’s phone with him, so Jake could call her number and reach him as well.  Jake had quickly thrown a few things into the car and set off.

Two hours after passing through Sacramento, Jake found himself trying to navigate the maze of streets in downtown San Francisco.  He had the iPad with Google maps to help, but it was still a nearly impossible task.  Finally he could see the hospital ahead, and followed the signs to the parking structure.  He valet parked and hurried into the building, knowing that a few minutes wouldn’t matter one way or the other but driven to get to Karin’s side as soon as possible.

Dave had given him the room number and directions, so he was able to make his way unerringly to the room where she was assigned.  He had to pass through two sets of nurses and explain who he was and whom he wanted to visit before the way was clear.  As he stepped into the semi-darkened room, he saw a figure wrapped in bandages on the bed.  He wouldn’t have known it was her.  Her face was partially wrapped and her head was encircled with heavy bandages.  One leg was partially exposed and wrapped up as well.  That was where the second bullet had struck, breaking her thigh.  Monitors flashed and beeped quietly and a dozen wires and tubes extended from the equipment toward the silent figure on the bed.  Jake felt his chest clench even as he detected movement from off to his side.

“Jake,” said the voice he’d spoken with earlier.  “I’m glad you made it.”

Jake glanced briefly at the man who had stood up from a chair in the corner.  He’d been reading something on an electronic reader, the screen glowing softly on the chair where he’d set it down.

“My god, she looks horrible,” Jake observed.  “Is she still alive?”

“Barely,” Dave confirmed.  “The doctor was here a little while ago.  Her brain activity has them worried.  It is slowing down.  They think she might be brain dead.  There are more tests they want to run later this afternoon.”

Jake listened but his eyes were focused on the still figure.  He walked slowly over to the bed and looked down at the slack face of the woman he loved.  He’d convinced himself over the past two months that he could go on without her if she wouldn’t accept who he was.  Now he didn’t know if that was true, but under any circumstances he had to know she was alright.  This had to be fixed.  He watched for several minutes trying to detect signs of life.  He could see the barest movement of her chest to indicate she was breathing, but otherwise she was as still as death.

Jake looked over at Dave.  He was tall, a little over six feet and powerfully built.  He had light brown hair and features that clearly revealed the connection between himself and his sister.  “She’s gonna die, isn’t she?” Jake asked.  He could feel his eyes misting up.

Dave nodded solemnly.  “I think so.  The doctors have as much as said so.  There’s a small chance, but she’ll be a vegetable if she pulls through.  It’s probably better if she passes.”

Jake took a long slow breath, rejecting the possibility.  “What do you know about her and Ellen?  When did they get into the city?  Where were they staying?  Where were they before they got to San Francisco?”

Dave shook his head.  “I don’t know.  It doesn’t seem to matter.  They were on vacation.  I’ve been focused on her condition and have spent all my time at the hospital.  Maybe the police have located their hotel, but they’ve been overwhelmed by the situation.  What does it matter?”

“Trust me, it’s important.” Jake said.  “I need to know where she was before this happened.  It’s the only way I can go back and help her.”

“Jake, face it.  There’s nothing you can do,” Dave said sympathetically, not understanding the words Jake had spoken.  “All you can do now is be here for her.  Maybe she will know somehow.”

“No,” Jake objected.  “There is something more, but I can’t explain it to you.  You wouldn’t understand.  What about her friend Ellen?  Where is she and is she awake and able to talk?”

Dave grimaced.  “The policeman that came by this morning indicated she was out of danger and was awake.  She didn’t know anything.  One moment they were coming out of the Chocolate Factory, and the next moment people were dropping all around them.  She saw Karin get hit in the side of the head, and then was struck herself.  Nothing she can tell you will help you.”

“It’s not the shooting I need to know about.  I want to know where they were before the day of the shooting.  Do you know what hospital she’s in?”

“She’s in Saint Francis Memorial, a couple of miles from here.  You aren’t thinking of going there?  Can’t it wait?  You should be here with Karin.”

Jake was already thinking ahead to what he needed to  ask Ellen.  “What’s her last name?  I forgot it, and I’ll need it when I ask for her.”

“Smith.  Her name is Ellen Smith.”

“Jake, you’re acting crazy.  Sit down.  You just got here.  Accept what has happened.”

Jake shook his head and walked over to Karin.  He looked down and gently rested his hand on her shoulder visible through the sheet.

“This won’t happen,” he promised her.  “I’ll make sure it doesn’t.”

He turned and started for the door, stopping just before he left.  He looked back at Dave.  “Stay with her.  I know you don’t understand, but something can be done.  I know how, but I need information.  Thanks for calling me.  I might have missed the window if you hadn’t.”

Jake hurried out of the room and headed down the hall to the elevators.  He had two chances.  He could go back and be waiting in the Square hoping to locate Karin and Ellen before it happened.  He had a clue from what Dave had told him.  They had been in the Chocolate Factory.  He could wait there for them.  But it was a crowded place, and Dave might have been wrong.  Besides, if he was looking for them just before the shooting he couldn’t be doing anything about the shooter.  He also couldn’t alert the police.  If they attempted to follow up, the place would be a madhouse and the disruption might result in a change in Karin’s movements and he might miss her.  Depending on how effective the police were at stopping the tragedy, she might still get hurt.  Better overall if he could get to them before they ever came to the Square.  He could prevent them from being there, and simultaneously try and affect the overall event. 

He stepped off the elevator in the lobby and headed out the front door.  He wasn’t about to do any more driving around the city.  He hailed a cab and told the driver to take him to Saint Francis Hospital.

Ellen wasn’t awake when he arrived, and it took him a while to gain access to her room.  Finally, he was escorted to the room and allowed to go in.  Ellen already had two visitors.  Her mother and father Jake was certain.  He could see some of Ellen in the older woman.

“Yes,” the woman asked as Jake stepped into the room.

“I’m Jake Waters,” he explained.  “I am Karin’s boyfriend, or I was until a short time ago. I wanted to ask Ellen a couple of questions.”  Jake looked over at the silent figure on the bed.  She appeared to be breathing normally at least.  “How is she?”

“She’s sedated,” the older man who had to be her father said.  “They gave her something a short time ago.  We were about to leave.  She’ll be out until visiting hours in the morning.  What kind of questions?”

“I wanted to know where she and Karin were staying before this happened.  You don’t happen to know, do you?”

“Not in the City,” Ellen’s mother said.  “Oakland or Berkeley, I think.  It didn’t seem important.”

That wasn’t going to help.  Jake needed specifics.

“When will she be able to see visitors next?” he asked.

“In the morning.  We’ll be here at nine when they allow family in.”

“Might I come in with you?  I promise you I won’t be long and for reasons I can’t explain easily, it is very important.”

The woman looked at her husband, who nodded after a moment’s thought.  “I guess it would be okay.  But promise you won’t upset her.”

“Thank you.  I’ve got to go back to see Karin again now. I’ll see you first thing in the morning.”

“You’re back,” Dave Wolter noted when Jake stepped back into the room.  “Did you learn whatever it was that was so important?”

Jake shook his head.  “She’s sedated and won’t be awake until morning.  I’ll have to go back then.  Look, what time do they chase you out of here.  I need to check into a hotel, and perhaps we can talk.”

“They’ve given me permission to stay all night,” Dave said.  “I haven’t eaten all day, so we could get you situated, have a bite, and then come back.”

“That’ll work,” Jake agreed.

Dave stood and walked over to the bed.  He let his hands trail across the sheets.  “Hang in there, sis.  I’ll be back soon.”

“That’s the most unbelievable thing I’ve ever heard,” Dave said after Jake finished explaining what he was able to do and what he intended.

“I realize it’s difficult to accept.  I also have no time or an easy way to prove it to you.  But if I can locate where Karin and Ellen were staying, I can go back and stop them from being hurt.”

“And all of this won’t have happened?”

“That’s right.”

“Jake, you’re out of your mind.  No one can do what you say.  Did you ever tell Karin about this?”

“Actually, it’s what came between us.  I proved to her I can do what I say, but she wasn’t comfortable with some of my actions using the information.”

“What kind of actions?”

“In cases like this I try and stop the guy who did it.”