Deadline (23 page)
Authors: Fern Michaels
Chapter 28
“
I
f you don't slow down, you're going to kill us,” Sophie said. “I don't know why you're in such a hurry all of a sudden. You called the hospital, and that freak isn't anywhere to be found.”
I
f you don't slow down, you're going to kill us,” Sophie said. “I don't know why you're in such a hurry all of a sudden. You called the hospital, and that freak isn't anywhere to be found.”
Toots eased off the accelerator. Sophie was absolutely right. The last thing she needed was to be involved in a car accident on the way to the hospital. She'd wind up sharing a hospital room with Bernice. “That they know of. He could be lurking in some ... utility closet for all we know.”
“You've watched too many episodes of
Law & Order,
” Sophie remarked. “A man like Lowery sticks out. He isn't going to be able to wander through Charleston Memorial without being noticed by some horny young nurse.”
Law & Order,
” Sophie remarked. “A man like Lowery sticks out. He isn't going to be able to wander through Charleston Memorial without being noticed by some horny young nurse.”
“You could be on your deathbed, and you'd still find a way to get a sexual dig in.” Toots smiled for the first time since she'd deciphered the initials Sophie had written on the notepad during her trance.
DBL.
Dr. Bruce Lowery.
“I know. I'm good at that. Remember how I used to spend my days struggling to keep my opinions to myself? I guess it's gonna take a while before I'm whole again. All those years with Walter left their mark. I have to say what I think when I think it.”
Toots steered the Range Rover into the parking lot, grateful to find an open space close to the hospital's entrance. She shifted into
PARK
, removed the keys from the ignition, and grabbed her purse. “You coming with me?”
PARK
, removed the keys from the ignition, and grabbed her purse. “You coming with me?”
Sophie hadn't made a move. Still as a stone statue, she held her hand out. “Give me a minute, I'm ... I've got one of those
feelings
again.”
feelings
again.”
Toots closed the driver's side door and ran around to the passenger side. “Are you all right? Is it Bernice?”
“No, no it's not Bernice ... it's that damn doctor! He's”âSophie rubbed her templesâ“involved with Maximillian Jorgenson's death! Yes, that's what I've been trying to put together! Mavis was right. Everybody knows that Evangelista Thackeray and Maximillian Jorgenson were very close friends. They did a lot of work together for AIDS causes. I'm sure you've read about it in one of the tabloids.”
Toots had. “Yes, there's always something about her or him in them. Being such a fan of hers, you would think I'd have paid more attention to the stories, but if truth be told, I was more interested in her clothes and what kind of jewelry she wore.”
Sophie suddenly relaxed like a deflated balloon. She sank into the seat, leaning against the soft leather. She took a deep breath, then grabbed her bag. “Okay, I can do this. Let's see how Bernice is. I think we need to tell Goebel about this ...
vision
. Maybe he can tell me what to do or call someone on the police force. The man has more connections than a longtime pimp.”
vision
. Maybe he can tell me what to do or call someone on the police force. The man has more connections than a longtime pimp.”
Toots helped Sophie out of the car, steering her toward the hospital's entrance. “We can call him as soon as we get an update on Bernice. He said he didn't mind if we woke him up.”
“Okay, let's get this over with.”
Inside, the hospital was relatively quiet. Swishing doors, rubbery-sounding footsteps, and an occasional outbreak of quiet laughter were the only noises that could be heard as they headed toward the bank of elevators. Toots punched the button for the fifth floor and the steel doors opened, emitting a noise sounding like a gush of sucking air.
Both women were silent as they rode to the surgical floor. When the doors opened again, they were greeted with the sounds of machines blipping, the ventilators' precise inhalations and exhalations keeping bodies alive, oxygen to the brain, blood flowing throughout the circulatory systems of those unfortunate souls who lay comatose on the hard rubber mattresses.
Toots and Sophie walked down the long hall past the waiting room they'd left a few short hours ago. Toots looked at her watch. “It's been five hours. Do you suppose she's still in surgery?”
Sophie took her hand. “These kinds of operations can take hours, Toots, you know that. If there were complications, well, you know ... All kinds of nonlife threatening events take place in an operating room.
I remember once during my training in obstetrics, we had this poor woman all prepped for surgeryâshe'd been knocked out, shaved, and sterilizedâthe whole nine yards, and the damn doctor never showed. An intern did his first Caesarean section, and the doctor was fired. I admit it wasn't life threatening, but it could have been. We had to keep that poor girl sedated too long, and that's dangerous.”
“How is it you continue to come up with yet another new story after all these years? Sometimes I think you're fibbing to me, that you make this stuff up just to distract me or make me feel better.”
“Did it work?” Sophie asked, when they reached the recovery room.
Toots laughed. “I suppose it did for a minute. You sure can tell some whoppers, Sophie Manchester. I'll give you that.”
“Who said I was lying?”
Toots rolled her eyes. “Enough, Soph. Okay?”
A high-pitched squeal came from behind the double doors that read
OPERATING ROOM C NO ADMITTANCE.
Two nurses in pale pink scrubs wheeled Bernice from the operating room into the recovery room. Both wore bright smiles, which Toots took as a good sign. Two seconds later, Joe and Dr. Becker exited through the double doors. Toots practically ran toward the pair. Both looked tired, ready to call it a night.
OPERATING ROOM C NO ADMITTANCE.
Two nurses in pale pink scrubs wheeled Bernice from the operating room into the recovery room. Both wore bright smiles, which Toots took as a good sign. Two seconds later, Joe and Dr. Becker exited through the double doors. Toots practically ran toward the pair. Both looked tired, ready to call it a night.
“Toots, how did I know you'd be waiting?” Joe said as he motioned for her and Sophie to follow him.
“Because I called and told you I would be here? I thought you were smarter than that.”
Laughing, he shook his head. “Come on, let's see your friend.”
Bernice was the only patient in the recovery room, surrounded by machines, tubes coming out of her mouth, nose, and chest. When Toots saw her old friend, she burst into tears. She knuckled her eyes, mopping up her tears. “How is she?”
Dr. Becker stood next to the bed. “She is doing fantastic. The harvested vein was as good as it gets. I was able to reroute all five blockages with no problems. And her heart began to pump the second we removed the heart-lung machine. Her oxygen levels are perfect, blood pressure is excellent. If I were to hazard a guess, and this is just a guess, Bernice will be up and around by this time tomorrow.”
Toots would have collapsed had it not been for Sophie's support. “I can't thank you enough. I'm so relieved. So what happens next? Does she have to undergo therapy or anything? I need to know because someone will have to drive her to and from. She doesn't drive. Though Jamie could help out when we need her to, right?” Toots looked at Sophie.
“Yes, we're all going to stick around, however long it takes. It's not like we can't do our jobs from anywhere in the world.”
“Of course I'll stick around. I didn't mean to imply I wouldn't.”
Dr. Becker gave a tired smile. “To answer your question, yes, she'll need physical therapy. I'll want to monitor her, make sure the grafts don't close up. She's going to have some tough times ahead, but I think she'll notice a difference in the way she feels. She's likely to have more energy, her color will be nice and rosy. Things you wouldn't have noticed before you'll notice now. Was Bernice a smoker?”
Toots almost choked. “No, she wasn't. She hated cigarettes.”
Toots realized then that her nasty habit had contributed to Bernice's heart disease. Over a twenty-plus-year period, Toots had thought nothing of smoking in Bernice's presence, had made light of it when Bernice complained about her smoking. Secondhand smoke.
“I have some material I want you to read before Bernice leaves the hospital. It might make you stop and think before you light up around her again.” Dr. Becker's tone was serious, all traces of his earlier humor gone.
It was serious stuff, Toots knew. She and Malcolm Moretti had both had a hand in contributing to Bernice's heart condition.
Maybe it was time to give some serious thought to giving up her habit. She and Sophie could quit together. It was supposed to be easier to quit with a partner. Support each other and all.
“Take these, read them when you can. Now I am going to call it a day. Bernice is in the trusted hands of one of my colleagues for the night, Dr. Clark. If there are any problems, he'll be able to handle them.” Dr. Becker gave Toots a handful of pamphlets.
“Thank you. I mean it. You probably saved her life, and I can't tell you what that means to me.” Toots had already held out her hand to shake the good doctor's when she remembered her earlier reaction. Too late, he took her hand in his. Sparks flew up and down the length of her arm, stopping at her fingertips, where they were still tingling when she pulled her hand away.
Dr. Becker looked at her then. Really looked at her. Not like a doctor views a patient, but the way a man looks at a woman. A woman he was attracted to. “I'll look forward to your thoughts.” He nodded at the literature he gave her, then turned and walked away.
“Of course.” Toots watched him as he pushed the steel doors aside.
All that time, Sophie stood there observing her, a shit-eating grin on her face.
“Are we thinking of a number? Maybe ...
nine?
”
nine?
”
Toots grabbed Sophie's arm and led her down the hall to the waiting room. Inside, she practically dragged her across the floor to the worn beige sofa.
“Now tell me exactly what that meant? Exactly, Sophie.” Toots's eyes flashed with excitement.
“I don't have to tell you anything. That look in your eyes says it all. It's okay to be attracted to Dr. Becker, Toots. He's certainly eyeballing you. Has since the minute he laid those sexy blue eyes on you.”
Flustered, Toots brought her hand up to her chest. “That's a crock. I have no interest in a man. I told you, when I buried Leland, that was it for me. Eight times for Sophie. Eight times I walked the walk, and I swore I would never do it again. I would like to believe I'm a woman of my word. So, there.”
But it seemed clear Toots was trying to convince herself as much as Sophie that she was immune to the handsome doctor's attention. “Besides, I'm over with that half of my life. I have two businesses to run, two houses to care for, a daughter, you, and now Bernice. Where in the world would I ever find time for a ... relationship?”
“You'd make the time, Toots, just like me. I'm going to tell you this, and if you laugh, I swear I'll deny it. It kills me every time I see Goebel because I know it's only for a short time. I'm so worried about the moment he leaves, I can hardly take pleasure in the fact that he's here. Tell me, Toots. Do I have it bad or what?”
Chuckling, Toots took her friend's hand in her own. “If anyone deserves to âhave it bad,' it's you, Sophie Manchester. There's nothing to be ashamed of. So you miss Goebel? Do you tell him? Does he ask you to visit him in New York? Has he said, âHands off, Sophie, I'm taken'?”
“No, he's content. At least I think he is. I care about the old fool. Is that crazy or what? I'm so damn glad he lost all that weight. Oh, I liked him before he lost the weight, but he's healthier now. His energy is twice what it was when we first met. You know we really should think about giving up the cigs. Maybe we could get those new pills that help you quit. I've seen them advertised on TV.”
“I was thinking the same thing when I saw Bernice. I feel partially responsible for her condition. All these years I've huffed and puffed around her. And Abby! What if she's suffered from my bad habit? God, I don't think I could live with myself!”
“Stop it, Toots. You're tired, and you probably need a cigarette,” Sophie grumbled. “If you don't, then I do.”
Toots nodded and glanced at the stack of papers in her lap. “Here, let's look at this stuff, then I won't have to lie when he asks me if I did.”
Toots read from the first pamphlet she opened.
“Exposure to toxins in secondhand smoke can cause asthma, cancer, and other serious problems. Secondhand smoke causes or contributes to various health problems, from cardiovascular disease to cancer. Understand what's in secondhand smoke and consider ways to protect yourself and those you love from secondhand smoke.
“The dangerous particles can linger in the air for hours. Breathing secondhand smoke can irritate your lungs and reduce the amount of oxygen in your blood.
“Secondhand smoke contains thousands of toxic chemicals, including carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, lead, and nickel. Secondhand smoke, also known as environmental tobacco smokeâ
big surprise thereâ
includes the smoke that a smoker exhales and the smoke that comes directly from the burning tobacco productâ”
big surprise thereâ
includes the smoke that a smoker exhales and the smoke that comes directly from the burning tobacco productâ”
Sophie held her hand out. “That's enough. I know all this. I've read it myself a hundred times. Makes all smokers sound like idiots.”
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