The Collectibles (21 page)

J
oe picked up the phone on the first ring. “Hi, Cap,” Red said. “You must be pushing the java, picking up the phone so fast. How the hell are you?”

“Hi, Red. Thanks for getting back to me so soon. How're you doing?”

“You want me to give you the details of how lousy my golf game is and how bored I am at work? Come on, what's up?”

“I'm not exactly sure. I went fishing yesterday, and while I was out there, impressing Buck with my ability to catch king mackerel in rapid time, I blacked out. Because I'm a genius, I was able to bring my vessel back to port without knowing it. I guess I woke up when my bow hit the sea buoy at the end of the Charleston inlet. I brought her back to the slip from there.”

“I hope you were at least drinking Guinness or Bass Ale,” Red said, “instead of Coors Light. I don't get the part about how you brought her in. Tell me about that.”

“The best that I can reconstruct it, smart ass, was that I had set my autopilot for a reverse path home with my waypoint at the buoy and had the engines forward at full slow. Then I passed out and somehow managed to fall on the gear, pressing the electronic fuel and transmission controls full ahead. The autopilot took my vessel to the buoy, and the impact woke me up.”

“Buck with you?”

“Yeah.”

“He probably drove. Is he okay?”

“He's fine. Would you like to hear about me, shit head?”

“Not unless you're dying to tell me. If you're going to tell me you're injured and can't walk or whatever, then I have to drive down to that small-ass southern town of yours, stay over in your house, which hasn't been cleaned since you know when, and then I'll have to stock the refrigerator with some good beer and listen to all your stories again. Who would want to do that?”

“I don't know,” Joe said. “Some asshole who is bored with his job and plays a lousy game of golf. Somebody like that.”

“When are you gonna tell me what you really want me to do, Joe? The reason you called?”

“Okay, I've been to the doctor here in Braydon. He's an internist, a good guy. I told him about the blackout, seeing a flash of light, then black, hammering headache, being out for what I figure was probably an hour, at least. He says it could be anything, something, or nothing. He wants me to be admitted to the medical center down here this afternoon for a series of tests. Not just blood and urine analysis, but MRI, possibly CAT scan of my brain, full neurological and cardiology workups.

“That all sounds fairly heavy to me. I think he's worried, but he doesn't want me to be worried. He asked me for a family member for consents and to follow my progress, that sort of thing. I gave him your name and contact details. I told him you were my exec on the
Trader
 – I just said we served together on a submarine during my Navy days – and that you, but only you, should receive any information you want. Is that okay?”

“Quit busting my balls. The consent part's fine, and I get the fact that this is on a need-to-know basis, and that unless I hear to the contrary from you, I will be the only one who needs to know. Understood. But I don't like hearing about the symptoms. Also, if I may speak frankly, I don't think you should screw around with the medical center down there.”

“What's your recommendation?”

“Skipper, I think you should get your ass up to Bethesda Naval Hospital. You're a former commander, you may recall, and you can go in there in a heartbeat. They'll handle it all, and they've got great medical teams, as you know from the work they did with some of our guys. You're not going to like these tests, and you're going to be impatient as hell waiting for the results. And then you're going to want straight answers, whatever it is. With due respect to your family doctor, Joe, I'd feel a lot better, and so will you, if you go up there now and get squared away. I'll meet you there.”

“Thanks Red, good advice. I'll do it. See you there.”

Joe hung up and called Alice. “Hi, Alice. How're you doing?”

“Good, Joe. How's the fishing going? Are you ever coming back to work?”

“Caught a couple of nice kings and some big bill fish, Alice. Weather was great, and it felt really good to get out there.”

“Joe, you got a call from Mr. Gallagher at the bank.” She gave him Tom's numbers.

“How did he sound?”

“Like he was anxious to talk to you, just as we all are,” Alice said with a laugh. “I told him you were out of the office and that I would get the message to you. I didn't tell him you smelled like fish.”

“Alice, I need to impose upon you again,” Joe said.

“It's never an imposition. You know that. What can I do?”

“I would appreciate your looking after Buck for a few days, starting this afternoon. I've got to go to Bethesda, Maryland, for some routine medical tests. Apparently the Navy thinks I'm getting old and needs to look me over. When they see what great shape I'm in, I'm sure they'll be sorry they wasted their time. But, orders are orders. Would you please check around, call the airlines and get me on the earliest flight you can – Dulles, Reagan, as close as you can get me to Bethesda – and arrange for a rental car I can drive from there.”

“I understand; you mean this afternoon?” Alice asked.

“Yes, I have to go as soon as possible, so figure it all out and let me know where I'm leaving from and when.”

“Are you going to call Mr. Gallagher, or how would you like that handled?”

“I'll try to reach him now,” Joe said, “and I'll keep in touch with you by phone. And Alice, thank you for all that you do for me. I don't know how I would get along without you.”

“Thanks, Joe. I'll take care of everything here,” Alice said and hung up.

 

“How y'all doin', Joe?” Tom asked. “Good to hear from you.”

“Doing fine, Tom. How are you and Terry?”

“Terry's his old, miserable self. Still trying to get me on the golf course with him so he can teach me another lesson.

“Joe, I got an answer for you. We're going to do it. We've made a few changes in the plan, nothing serious, just cutting back a little on the amount we loan. But we're going to enter into a forbearance agreement now and essentially follow your plan. I'm assuming your boy, Alex, is still in the picture and will be available and active, just as we discussed.”

“Alex is in, Casey is rejuvenated, and Preston is focused and committed.”

“Good. Then we need to get together and approve all the paperwork and get it done.”

“You don't need me for the paperwork, Tom, as long as you keep your lawyers honest and don't let them screw up our deal. Have your lawyers do the paperwork, and Alex and Casey can be immediately available to get you what you need. The rest is transactional and will take some time. Alex can hire local lawyers where required to do that part of the paperwork for Wilson. Preston will sign what he needs to sign. I think the bank made a good decision, Tom, and I don't think Preston and the others will let you down.”

“I hope not, too. I'd feel a lot better if you'd stay involved in all of this. I really enjoyed working with you. We could use someone like you at our bank, you know. Teach us how to do this better.”

“Thanks, Tom, but I figure you and Terry can do the work and are doing the teaching very well. As I told you in Charlotte, my job is over. Besides, I've got some serious fishing to do. I'll call Preston, Casey, and Alex and tell them of your decision and ask them to be in touch with the bank immediately. Who would you like to be the point man for them?”

“Have them call Bobby. He'll take it from there. I wish I were going fishing with you, Joe. Have a good trip, and thanks again for all your help.”

“Thank you, Tom, and Terry and the bank. Now we've created the opportunity, let's hope the bank and Wilson work together and take advantage of it. By the way, I enjoyed getting to know you and working with you, too. So long, Tom.”

“So long, Joe.”

Joe next looked up Preston's cell phone number and punched the call.

“Hey, Joe,” Preston said, unmistakable eagerness in his voice. “Any news?”

“Yes, that's why I called. I've heard from the bank. They're going to do the deal. A few changes in the amounts being loaned, but essentially, they're following our plan right down the line.”

Silence on Preston's end. Joe waited. Finally, Preston spoke in a barely audible voice. “That's really good, Joe. Really good. Unbelievable. You did it. You actually did it. Once again, you saved my ass. My life. What do we do now?”

“Gallagher asked that you contact Robert Bower. He's going to act as the lead man.”

“I'll call Casey and Alex immediately,” Preston said. “Also, I don't know if this is the time to discuss this, but I got a legal bill from your office, and it can't be right. It's way too low and there was no charge for any of your time. I assume you'll send Wilson another one with all your time on it.”

“Negative. I'm not billing you for my time, Preston, because Wilson needs all the money it can get its hands on right now. It is important, however, that the bill we did send you gets paid immediately, because my secretary worked long and hard on this matter, as did the interns. There are out-of-pocket disbursements to be covered, and I want to make sure that Alex gets paid right away.”

“Thanks. I'll see to it that the bill is paid today. When will I see you again?”

“We'll get together, Preston. I'm going to take some time off, spend time on my boat, and catch up with friends. I'll be in touch with Alice, but I expect it will be difficult to reach me for a while. How are things going on your other workout?”

“Marcia is visiting her mother at the moment. Then she's going to visit her college roommate. I've got a lot of work to do on that score, Joe, but I'm taking a chapter out of your book, you know, thinking of a plan and taking it step by step.”

“I hope it works out, Preston. Good luck.”

“Thanks, Joe. Have a great time on your trip. You certainly deserve a vacation. And Joe, once again, thank you for all you've done for me and especially thank you for believing in me. That means more to me than you can ever know.”

Joe's next call was to Worthington.

“Hi, Joe. When are you coming in?”

“Bob, I'm not coming in. I've reviewed my health insurance program and talked with Red Barnes. Red's pretty good at sorting this kind of thing out, and he recommended that in view of my status as a former commander in the Navy, I should go to Bethesda for the workups and have their team of medical experts make the diagnosis. Red tells me this will end up being cost-effective for me, as well. I trust Red implicitly, and I'd ask that you cooperate with him fully. I realize this may be overkill, and that whatever is going on with me may be nothing at all and not serious, but by training and inclination, I am taking it seriously. I hope you'll understand and accept my decision.”

For a moment, Bob was silent. And then, he said, “Of course I do. I hadn't thought of Bethesda, but, given your naval background, it probably makes sense for you to go there. While I believe our university medical center is quite capable, there's no question that the Bethesda Medical Center enjoys an excellent reputation. I'll cooperate with them fully, of course, and provide them with all the records I have here.”

“I appreciate that,” Joe said. “And I will ask those folks to be in touch with you and keep you advised. I know that you care about what's happening to me, and I am grateful for that. Thank you for all of your help. I'm leaving for Maryland now. I'll be in touch.”

“You're welcome. My prayers will be with you.”

Joe packed his bag and dropped Buck off with Alice, who never ceased to amaze him. Not being able to make any satisfactory commercial arrangements within the time frame Joe had asked, Alice arranged for a small private plane to fly him from Charleston Airport directly to a private airfield in Bethesda.

J
oe had dozed off and was gently awakened by a physician's assistant in a green gown who advised him that a doctor would be in shortly. Upon the doctor's arrival, Joe was surprised that he was such a young man, probably in his early-thirties, obviously fit, and with military bearing. Dr. Burns, addressing him as “Commander,” explained that he was going to ask a few questions and examine him. The doctor had a thick chart with Joe's name and identification number on it.

“The last thing you remember was a bright light and then blackness?”

“Correct.”

“And just prior to that, your head felt like it was being hammered, you had a severe headache?”

“Yes, sir.”

“And do you have a headache now?”

“No, sir. But I'm a bit tired.”

“I can understand that, Commander. Anyone would be tired, going through all the procedures we have here. Sorry about that. How did you feel in the days prior to the event? Have you been having any headaches, any trouble with vision, any change in strength on one side of the body as compared with the other?”

That last one surprised Joe. “No.”

“Numbness, pain, heaviness or clumsiness in an arm or leg? Any trouble with handwriting?” Actually, Joe was doing less and less handwriting these days, anyway, preferring to dictate to Alice.

“No, sir. I really have not, other than waking up once in a while with a minor headache, which goes away after my shower or if I take an aspirin. Those other symptoms you asked about have not been a problem.”

“How much alcohol have you been drinking lately?”

Joe looked at the doctor for a moment and replied, “Not much, really. In fact, I can't remember the last time I had a drink. Maybe two weeks ago.”

Looking at the file, the doctor asked, “And you don't smoke cigarettes, never have, but do occasionally smoke a cigar?”

“Correct, no cigarettes, a cigar once in a while when called for, and I don't inhale.”

“When you wake up, do you ever find that you have bitten your tongue?”

He answered no, thinking,
There are a few times when I wish I had bitten my tongue.

Then the doctor asked Joe whether he had ever had a seizure. Joe wanted to know precisely what he meant. “Well, have you ever blacked out before? Have you ever lost consciousness before?”

“No, sir.” Joe told him he was not aware of any seizure history but that his parents both died when he was ten years old, and he really didn't know. The questions went on. Irregular heartbeats or murmurs? Unusual back pain? Incidents of constipation?

“Let's take a look at your eyes, Commander.” Then he asked Joe to stand and face the wall. As Joe did, it occurred to him that there was nothing on the walls in the examining room. As he thought about that, the doctor asked Joe to close his eyes, open them, and take two steps backward and then forward, before he had him lie on the table while he used the handle end of his steel and rubber tomahawk to stroke the sole of each of Joe's feet upward from his bare heel. As Dr. Burns did so, beginning with the right foot, Joe, with his head propped up on the pillow, observed his great toe pointing upward.

“Is there any room in this examination for questions, or should I just keep quiet?” Joe asked.

“You may ask anything you like, sir. I'm just not sure how much we will be able to tell you until we have the entire picture. There are a lot of pieces to the puzzle. At the moment, I'm assessing whether there are any electrical problems. I'm focusing on the passing out. Passing out can be the result of some potentially serious conditions, although not necessarily. I am a little concerned about your waking up with headaches, and I am finding, on the physical side, a little weakness in your right hand.”

“Where did you pick up weakness in my right hand?”

“From your handshake, for starters, and watching you climb up on the table. I want to see the results of your MRI and CAT scan. That'll tell us a lot more.”

“Do you have an idea of what you may be looking for?” Joe asked.

“There are a fair number of possibilities. Some unusual infections can do this, or it could be a blood vessel abnormality, such as an aneurysm, or even a growth or tumor.”

Joe hated all this testing. He missed Buck. And he missed Alice. He was eager to see Red. Most of all, he missed Ashley. She would be at his side, quietly reading, waiting, smiling at him. She would know just what to say, what not to say, and when. Joe felt more loneliness than he had at any time since Ashley's death. He wondered if something were to happen to him, what would become of Alice, although he had already provided her with life insurance and a well-funded retirement. Who would keep her from being bored, keep her keen mind and wit engaged? Who would make her feel needed? And who would take care of Johnny, Missy, Tommy, Harry, and Corey, that group of his friends whom Ashley had – hopefully in jest – referred to as his ‘collectibles?'

Joe's thoughts were interrupted when another doctor came into the room. This one was in his mid-forties, stern, on the tall side, with short, black hair.

“I'm Dr. Gordon,” he said. “Chief of neurology, and I've been looking over your file to see if I could lend a hand. It's nice to meet you, Commander.” He shook Joe's hand. “I've read your file, not just medical, but some of your service file as well, trying to get a full picture of your background. You had an impressive career, Commander. Very interesting, especially the part that was declassified for me to take a look at your history. I won't discuss it further, except to say you'd be my first choice to get the job done and keep it secret in the bargain.”

“Thank you, sir. What, if anything, can you tell me so far?”

“The purpose for all this testing is to assist in reaching a differential diagnosis. Your loss of consciousness is known as syncope. Syncope can have many diverse possible causes, both innocent as well as serious. Generally, the vast majority of causes will involve conditions of either the brain or nervous system, cardiovascular conditions, and metabolic conditions. While there are some other very unusual conditions, 98 percent of people presenting with syncope will have a cause that falls into one of these three categories.

“I want to have a chat with Dr. Burns here to get his input. Subject to that, I have preliminarily ruled out cardiovascular and metabolic causes. That leaves the brain and nervous system. You did not indicate any symptoms relating to your spinal cord. No back pain, no urinary retention, and no new onset of constipation. Your Babinski reflex was positive. You may have noticed your right toe pointing up instead of down. For these reasons, and some weakness on your right side and right hand, we are interested in the MRI and CAT scan results. We should have them in the morning. In the meantime, I'm sure you'll be glad to get back to a more comfortable room, have a good meal, and get some sleep. I'm sorry we had to put you through so much in such a short period of time. Tomorrow morning, after breakfast, I'd like to meet you in my office at 1100 and we'll go over the results of all of the tests and hopefully be able to tell you, with reasonable medical certainty, a definitive diagnosis.”

“Thank you, doctor,” Joe said, “and thank you, Dr. Burns.”

Shortly thereafter, a male nurse brought in a wheelchair and transported Joe to a private room. He climbed in bed, with the nurse standing by. Another came in and asked him what he would like to eat and drink, and he asked for a large cheeseburger with onions and a Coke. She smiled and said, “I'll come as close to that as we can.”

Just before he fell asleep, he noticed a man with short red hair over in the corner, reading a boating magazine. “How the hell did you get in here, Red? How did you find me?”

“I used to work in intelligence, Skipper. Back when you had a memory, you would have known that. Go to sleep.”