by Sofie Hern
“Hello?” I say as Colin and Thomas shake hands.
“Something happened, Adam.” Beth is crying.
“Is Aaron okay?” I ask and the guys look at me.
“No, Adam. He… uh… he's in the hospital”
My heart sinks. “What happened?”
“Someone was here and… Jaycob shot him and—”
“What?” I’m not entirely sure what she’s trying to say.
“You have to come back.”
“Who was there? Who got shot?” I am very nervous now and Thomas and Colin listen attentively.
“Aaron's dad,” she says finally and I freeze.
“You better come. Hurry!”
I am in complete disbelief. “I have to go,” I say and walk to the truck.
“Do you need help?” I hear Thomas shout.
“I'll be fine.”
I get in the truck and drive to the airport. I am so confused right now and nervous and my mind is going at a million miles per hour.
I arrive at the terminal and fear that I may not find any seats available. If that happens then I’m prepared to drive back in the truck. I park the damn thing, get out, take my bag and lock the truck, all seemingly in one motion.
As I walk to the terminal I call Jaycob but get no answer, then I call Howard and again, no answer.
“Fuck!”
I cross the street from the parking lot to the terminal and almost get hit by a taxi. The driver honks but I keep on walking as fast as I can. Once inside, I call Beth and again get no answer. What the hell is going on? I approach the counter and I’m told that the next flight is in forty minutes.
“Okay, book it,” I tell the woman.
I take my boarding pass and go to sit down, but I’m restless. I try calling Jaycob again with the same result. Why don’t they answer?
The minutes feel like hours as I wait in excruciating agony, but finally my phone rings.
“Howard, what the fuck is going on?”
“Levy showed up at the house.
“What the fuck happened?” I am beyond frustrated with his apparent evasion.
“He got away and Jaycob… he, uh… he shot at Levy but hit Aaron instead.”
25
JAYCOB
Jaycob is taken to the police station for questioning. Beth stayed at the hospital and Howard is waiting for Jaycob at the police station. Jaycob is extremely nervous and shivers in the cold interview room. It has two chairs, a monitor in one corner and a camera above the door.
He sinks into the chair with his arms crossed over his chest and sergeant Soriano returns with a cup of water for Jaycob. She sits across from him and a second detective enters the room, holding a notepad.
“This is detective Fisher,” announces the sergeant. “He'll be sitting in with us.”
Jaycob nods. The man is tall and heavy and mostly made of muscle. Sergeant Soriano looks tiny in comparison.
He has a shaved and polished head, which shines under the white light. He’s wearing a suit which seems too small for his big muscular arms. Jaycob figures he must spend hours pumping iron. If he was nervous before, he’s ten times more now in the presence of this giant who eases a hip on the table
Sergeant Soriano speaks first. “Walk us through what happened, Jaycob.”
Jaycob is afraid to speak. Not only because of the intimidating man, but because he doesn’t want to break down crying. The chair is uncomfortable, but he sits up straight, then clears his throat. “I was in the kitchen making lunch when I heard the doorbell. Beth said she’d get it and went to open it.”
“And Beth is,” says the giant.
“She’s my nephew’s nurse.”
Giant nods.
“I heard a thump and went to the living room to see what was going on and that’s when I saw Levy standing at the door and then I saw Beth on the floor. She wasn’t moving and I was scared because I didn’t know if… if she was okay or… hurt,” he shakes his head.
Detective Fisher continues to take notes.
“Was he armed?” asks Soriano.
Jaycob shakes his head. “I… I don’t know. I didn’t see anything,” he says and starts cracking his knuckles. He’s afraid that his anxiety will make him look guilty somehow. “I… told him to leave, but… he ran upstairs where my nephew was and… and… and that’s when I went to try to stop him. I grabbed him by a leg and tried dragging him back down the stairs, but he kicked me in the face,” he says pointing to his broken nose.
“How big would you say the man is?” asks the giant.
“Like six-four and maybe 230, something like that?”
Giant nods and notes. “And then what happened?”
Jaycob takes a deep breath. “I tumbled down and that’s when I decided to go back downstairs, I was scared for my nephew and… I knew where the gun was and went to get it.”
“And where was the gun?” Soriano asks.
“In Howard’s office.”
“And who is Howard?”
“The owner of the house.”
“The house where this happened?”
Jaycob nods.
She makes notes and then asks, “How did you know where the gun was? Did he tell you, did you search for it? What?”
Jaycob swallows hard. “Howard and I work together so… we, uh… we always leave the house together. One morning we… we were in his office ready to go to work and I saw him grab a… a key from under a lamp and he… he unlocked the top drawer to get his wallet and I noticed the gun.”
Soriano notes down everything Jaycob says and he worries that he may be getting Howard in trouble. “Did you notice if he locked the drawer and put the key back under the lamp?”
Jaycob nods.
“Did you ask Howard about it when you first saw it?” Giant wants to know.
Jaycob shakes his head. “I… I don’t see why I would. I mean… a lot of people have guns these days.”
“Have you fired a gun prior to this?” He is asked and wishes the questions would stop.
“Once. About a year ago. I… it was at the shooting range.”
“Okay,” Soriano says. “So you go get the gun from the drawer and then what happened?”
“When I went back upstairs Levy was standing in front of my nephew who was shaking and scared and… and… I told him to go in one of the rooms so that I could call the police and… and…” He is out of breath.
“Hold on. Who did you tell to go in the room?” asks Soriano.
“Levy,” he says and both cops nod indicating that he should go on.
“Beth woke up and I told her to call 911 while I kept Levy in the room, but as he walked to the other room, he ran down the stairs instead and… and… he pulled Aaron and… I thought he was going to get away again and… and I shot. I wasn't thinking… I… I shot the gun… I didn't… I didn't know,” he buries his face in his hands and sobs.
“Take your time,” Soriano tells him and gives him a tissue.
Jaycob takes the tissue and gathers himself.
“You said that you thought he was going to get away, again, what do you mean?” This is from the giant who is now on his feet with his hands in his pockets.
Jaycob wonders why he stopped taking notes, but he wants him to take notes about what Jaycob is about to share. When the man doesn’t sit down, Jaycob continues and tells them about Aaron’s accident in Henderson.
“When you first saw him in the house, why didn't you call 911 right away?” asks giant.
Jaycob shakes his head, “I… I don't know. I… my phone was in the kitchen. If I went to get it, I would have wasted time and he was with Aaron. I don’t know,” he starts to cry again.
“But you had time to go to the desk, grab a key, unlock a drawer and remove the gun?” Giant seems angry and Jaycob starts to shake.
His entire face and head throb and he still knows nothing about Aaron.
“I… I wasn't going to shoot him,” he says, rubbing his face to clear the tears. “I just wan
ted him to go in the room, but he… he didn’t,” he says and exhales, then sinks low into the chair, wishing to disappear.
“Look, Jaycob,” Soriano says. “I can’t imagine what you're going through right now and I know you want to go back to the hospital. We’ll need to talk to Beth and Howard just to get their statements and we'll get it all sorted out, okay?”
Jaycob nods.
Soriano and the giant leave the room and Jaycob crosses his arms on the table and buries his face in them. He’s so worried about Aaron and no one tells him anything. He wonders if Adam already knows. He's gonna hate me, he thinks and sits alone for a long time, simmering in his guilt.
–
He isn't sure how much time has passed when the door opens and he lifts his head.
“You're free to go, Jaycob,” says Soriano, who holds the door open for him.
“Please know that we're still investigating and should we need more information, we’ll call you. And whatever you do, Jaycob, do not, under any circumstances leave the city.”
Jaycob nods.
He is led to the waiting area where Howard is. “Let’s get out of here,” says Howard and they leave the station.
“How is he?” asks Jaycob as they make their way to the car.
The afternoon has turned cold and Jaycob shivers as a cold breeze blows.
“He’s out of surgery. That’s all I know.”
Jaycob isn’t sure he’s being truthful. A few people walk past and look at Jaycob and he stares back. When a jogger runs past, she looks at him and Jaycob flips her the bird. She looks shocked and keeps on running.
–
He is exhausted but mostly scared. He hopes that Aaron is okay and that he’ll be back home in no time. They arrive at the hospital and go straight to the ICU with Jaycob feeling glad that his shadow has disappeared. His heart is pounding as they approach the room and he takes a deep breath.
Dr. Barksdale is in the room as is Beth, who goes to give Jaycob a hug. “How did it go?”
“Beth,” says Howard, who shakes his head and she steps back.
“How are you holding up?” asks the doctor and Jaycob only shakes his head. “I’ll check on him in a few minutes,” she says and leaves the room.
Jaycob slowly approaches the bed. Aaron’s head and face are wrapped in bandages, a breathing tube is coming out of his mouth and Jaycob starts to cry.
“Aaron… I… I'm sorry,” he whispers and stands by the bed for a long time.
“Come on Jake,” says Howard, who places his hands on Jaycob’s shoulders. He turns around and they walk out of the room.
–
Howard takes him to an empty waiting room where Jaycob sits and once again buries his face in his hands.
“I'm sorry…” he cries and Howard kneels in front of him.
“Jake. It was an accident, you know it was.”
Jaycob can’t speak and after a long time, Beth walks in.
“Jake? Adam is with Aaron now. Do you want to go see him?”
26
ADAM
When Howard told me that Aaron was in the same hospital with Dr. Barksdale, I was relieved.
I take a cab to the hospital and feel like I can’t get there fast enough. The weather in LA is no better than the weather back home. The driver says it is the coldest it has been since he can remember and he's been living in California for almost twenty years. By the time the cab pulls up to the hospital my nerves and thoughts are out of control. I take my bag, pay him and run inside.
–
I look around the busy floor in hopes of finding Jaycob or Howard with no luck. I approach the front desk and after answering a few questions I’m told to go to room 202 in ICU. It’s like November all over again, when Aaron was hit by the truck. Only this time I am relieved that Dr. Barksdale is the one in charge. I trust her completely and know she’ll do everything to make sure that Aaron’s okay.
The hospital is still decorated for Christmas with an added banner that reads, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! above the large windows of the entrance.
Once I enter the elevator, my heart starts to pound because I’m unsure of what I’ll find. Howard is unable to tell me exactly where the bullet hit, but he did say somewhere on the face which is not good.
–
The ICU here is more high tech than the one in Las Vegas. The doors to the unit open automatically and the nurse’s station is a bigger as well. There are six rooms in the unit; three on either side of the nurses’ station and behind the station are large windows overlooking the city. All the rooms have glass walls so that the nurses can see their patients. According to the chart on the wall, there are twelve nurses on duty, two for each patient. Right away I see the difference in the dedication to their patients.
Room 202 is on the left.
“Mr. Novak!” I hear Dr. Barksdale calling me and I turn around.
“How is he?” I ask immediately and she invites me into the room.
–
The machines are pretty much the same. I approach the bed and see that his face is wrapped with bandages and a breathing tube has been inserted into his mouth. My heart breaks for him. He had fought so hard to get better and now he’s back at square one. I shake my head and turn to the doctor, crossing my arms over my chest.
“So, how is he?” I ask again.
Dr. Barksdale leads me to an adjacent room which is exclusively for family members. This one is a lot smaller than the lounge in his previous room. It has a sofa and a table with a couple of chairs.
I sit on the sofa and the doctor remains standing. She puts her hands together as in prayer and puts them to her lips.
“What is it?” I ask.
I can see her eyes glistening and she clears her throat. “The bullet caused excessive damage. The trajectory carried significant force, cutting through multiple lobes.”
I swallow hard, too afraid to ask. “Can you tell me where the uh… the bullet… hit?” I am so fucking scared and I can’t even imagine what Jaycob must be going through.
“It entered through the lower left, behind his ear.” She touches behind her ear to show me. “And the exit wound is on the right side, above the forehead.”
My throat swells and I can’t speak for a moment.
“I'm sorry, Mr. Novak.”
“How… how is he now?”
“He's in a coma.”
I feel instant relief. “That… that’s good… right?”
I am basing my hopes on what I learned from Dr. Jian, about the brain turning off to protect itself.
She sighs. “It’s not looking good.”
I don’t want to believe her.
“His brain is… off. Isn't that a good thing?”
“Mr. Novak, there is a lot of damage.”
I don’t know what else to say. I take a deep breath and look to the floor. Moments later, Beth walks in.
“Oh… sorry, I didn’t know you were here.”
The doctor turns to her. “I was just leaving.”
Beth steps inside and gives me a hug. Her eyes are swollen and raw.
“I'm so sorry!” She cries into my shoulder and I hold her close.
My chest feels tight and heavy.
“Not your fault,” I assure her and she pulls away.
“Jaycob is back.”
“Here?” I ask and she nods.
“Should I go get him?”
–
My legs are shaking as I walk over to Aaron's bed and my eyes fill with tears. I cross my arms over my chest as the tears roll down. I place my right hand over my lips, trying not to make a sound but it’s useless. I can’t contain the pain.
I wipe the tears and Jaycob walks in. I had no idea that he too was hurt. He has a bandage over the bridge of his nose and his eyes are purple. I’m not sure if they are swollen because of the injury or the tears.
He leans in and I embrace him. I hold him close and we both start to cry.
“I'm sorry,” he says through sobs. “I fucked up
… I... he…”
“No, Jake…. It… it was not your fault. It’s that fucker’s.”
We pull apart, I wipe the tears and snot from my face and Jaycob approaches the bed where he drops to his knees and buries his face on the bed.
“I'm sorry, Aaron. Please... I’m so sorry,” he cries uncontrollably.
I approach and try to help him stand, but he refuses so I kneel by his side. I wrap my arms around his shoulders, but I have no words. I’m broken and want the nightmare to end. Jaycob is inconsolable and there is nothing I can do to ease his pain.
He pulls away from the bed, his eyes practically swollen shut and he wipes the tears with his arm as he gasps for air between sobs.
I get to my feet and help him stand.
“I'm here, Jake,” I tell him and he nods, but my little brother is absolutely crushed. I help him to the small room to sit down.
–
“I fucked up.” He leans back on the sofa.
I take a cup of water and hand it to him. With shaky hands, he drinks. I pull over a chair and sit in front of him with my elbows on my knees.
“Jake, I need you to be ok.”
He says nothing, just stares blankly across the room. I pat his arm and sit back, taking a deep breath. I’m absolutely lost and have no idea what to do. I take my phone from my pocket and the time is 4:33 p.m. I have a few missed calls from Colin, Charles and Thomas and I decide to call them back.
–
I head out, through Aaron’s room and go into a small waiting room in the unit and call Thomas. I tell him what is happening and he says that he has been talking to Howard and that he’ll put all his resources into finding Levy.
“We’ll find the fucker.”
“Thanks, Thomas and I think we may need a lawyer for my brother.”
He says he will ask his wife to see if she can recommend one.
“We’ll be praying,” he says and then I call Colin, who is shocked by the news as is Charles.
“I swear to you when we find that man we’ll make sure there is no mercy,” he says through tears.
Next, I call Rita, but my call goes straight to her voice mail and I hang up, then go back into the room to find Jaycob sleeping on the sofa.
