by Hunt, Jack
He nodded feeling another wave of pain. “Just cast it,” he said.
“Landon. I’ll need to put you on antibiotics and give you some stronger painkillers but…”
“Just do it. Please.”
He didn’t want to go under the surgeon’s knife. He figured he would take his chances. He said a bone would heal eventually. In his mind not having his leg cut into had to lead to a faster recovery. As for the rest — disability? Discomfort? How much worse could it be than what he’d been through?
“Landon, I don’t recommend it.”
“Having a rod inserted into the bone with screws is invasive, and doesn’t surgery of that nature require power tools to drill, cut or screw in? We don’t have power and there is still the chance of me getting an infection. The skin isn’t broken, doc. It’s not a compound fracture. I’ll take my chances as long as you think it’s in alignment.”
He could see it went against what Gregory thought was best but the thought of having him carve into the leg and put in a rod, or use plates and screws… it made him want to vomit. No, if people in ancient civilizations could recover from fractures using nothing more than splints, a cast and time in bed, he would do the same.
Gregory tried a few more times to persuade him, saying he had portable tools that were powered up before the electricity went out, but eventually he gave up and said he would have to maneuver the leg some more and then he would put it in a long cast.
Landon thanked him while Beth went off to make some tea from herbs that were supposed to assist with pain. The thought of being stranded here for the next two or three months killed him inside but what other option did he have?
16
Jake heard the wailing from the truck.
At first it sounded like a cat in pain then the cry became human. He shut off the engine to determine where it was coming from and that’s when he was able to pinpoint it. Not wasting a second, he burst out of his vehicle leaving the door wide open as he dashed into the house. “Sara? Sara!” She didn’t reply but continued to cry hard. He hurried up the stairs and only came to a halt once he entered the bedroom and saw her sprawled out on top of her mother. It was the most pitiful thing he’d ever seen. There were moments in his life when he was at a loss for words and didn’t know what to do; funerals, and someone telling him a loved one had died, this was right up there with that.
He inched forward and placed a hand on her. It was like he’d touched her with a red-hot poker. She wailed louder and gripped her mother as if he was going to pull her away. “Sara,” he said multiple times trying to get through to her as anyone might do when they saw someone in pain. Knowing it was better to not interfere, he backed out and went downstairs to wait.
After locking the Scout, he returned to the house and took a seat in a recliner chair looking at the wall. An hour passed in the blink of an eye. His eyes drifted over the family photos on the mantelpiece above the fireplace. One caught his eye, a picture of Sara when she was in her teens. From what he could remember of their school years, sports had been a large part of her life and she’d excelled in track and field. He remembered that’s where she’d first caught his eye. Her strong, toned physique, that smile that had by that point in her life broken many a young guy’s heart.
Jake got up and browsed. Sara, like many attractive women in high schools, was always out of his reach. It wasn’t that he didn’t think he could have got a date with her but he’d never been able to summon the nerve to go over and speak with her. She’d surrounded herself with a large group of friends, none of whom were in his circle.
After high school, he went about his life, and she went about hers. Missed opportunities became the norm and eventually he graduated college and assumed she would fly the nest and head off to Bangor or one of the many big cities nearby but she’d stuck around and worked a variety of local jobs. For a while he thought he might stand a chance with her as their paths crossed and he got a sense she was interested.
That all changed with the arrival of Landon.
From there on, it was like he was all she saw.
A shuffle behind him and he cast a glance over his shoulder to see Sara amble into the room, somber with red eyes. He wanted to say something, anything that might offer comfort but he just stood there at a loss for words.
“I took her to see a doctor about her memory. They said she had the signs of early Alzheimer’s,” Sara muttered looking absently out the window at the snow coming down. “She kept leaving the stove on after cooking dinner. It nearly started a fire. I wanted her at the inn but she wouldn’t go. I was supposed to speak with the doctors to see if care might be a solution.” Sara wrapped her arms around herself and shook her head as if somehow responsible. She inhaled deeply. “Those windows over there were open. She must have opened and forgot to close them last night. I should have been here. I should have…”
“Sara, you couldn’t have known.”
“I knew she was struggling.”
“And you were seeking help,” he said making his way over. He wanted to hold her but knew that could be taken the wrong way.
The sad reality was the elderly would be some of the first to die. Nursing home employees wouldn’t show up for work so no one would be there to watch over them and with temperatures dropping, no electricity to keep them warm, and machines not working, it wouldn’t take long before people died.
It only brought home the need to prepare. Sure, he was cutting it short and had only taken care of the vehicle side of things but they still had time.
“What now?” he asked, posing the question to her instead of suggesting they leave her mother. It wasn’t like they could bury her in the backyard. The fact was as people died, the dead would stink up the neighborhood if families didn’t hurry to bury them. The days of going to a funeral home and making preparations, picking out a casket and compiling a long speech were over. Now it would be a matter of practicality and sanitation to bury the dead as soon as possible. No casket, just a hole in the ground and covering them with soil.
“I don’t know,” she replied. “I wish Landon was here.”
Jake nodded. “Can I make a suggestion?”
She looked at him. He knew he was going out on a limb but he figured it couldn’t get any worse than this. “The nearest funeral home is in Bucksport. I can drive you there or…” He swallowed hoping she wouldn’t take offense. “We leave your mother here.”
“Leave her here?”
And there it was, the frown, the moment she would snap. He had to be tactful.
“If we travel to Bucksport, she’d only be lying there going unattended. At least here it’s her home. You can visit until you decide how you want to deal with burial.”
The frown faded and inwardly he breathed a sigh of relief. “Yeah, I guess there is no point traveling.” She brought a hand to her face and covered her eyes. No more tears fell, though, she just looked as if she was in shock, numb even.
“Do you want to stay or go home?”
“I can’t stay here,” she said shaking her head. “And anyway I need to get back to Max. Oh Max,” she said realizing he would be devastated. “What am I gonna say?”
“Don’t say anything,” he said.
“What?”
“Look, Sara,” Jake took a deep breath. “I’m sorry you’ve lost your mom, I really am, but there is a time for everything and right now with Landon and Ellie having not returned, the event, and it being Christmas. Word that his grandmother has passed might not be the best thing to share.”
“But he’ll want to know.”
Jake got closer, wanting to reach out and reassure her that everything was going to be okay but he didn’t. There were too many variables, and unknowns.
“And he will,” he said. “But it’s Christmas.” He knew what it sounded like before he even said it but after everything that happened so far, he figured the kid could wait a day before being told.
She turned away looking outside where the wind was howling,
taunting her almost with the reminder of what it had stolen. “I’m not sure I can do that.”
“It’s just for one day. Listen, we’ll go get some supplies from the grocery store, then I’ll drop you home. If you really must tell him, wait until tomorrow. At least that way he can have some semblance of normality before all hell breaks loose.” In his mind he was beginning to wonder if Landon and her daughter were even alive. If they weren’t, that news alone would destroy them. What harm could waiting one day do?
“No I mean, I don’t think I can pretend.”
“Of course you can. We all do it every day. We wear masks and hold back saying what we really feel because maybe… maybe we just don’t want to destroy what little good we have.” Sara looked at him as if trying to decode the double meaning.
17
“I’m sorry I can’t help you,” the nurse said. “The doctor never came in for his shift today.”
“But doesn’t that strike you as odd?”
The nurse was rifling through folders in a steel cabinet and talking at the same time. “In light of what’s happening. No. They’re lucky I showed up,” the oversized nurse said from behind the counter. Ryerson’s Medical Clinic handled a broad range of medical services from pediatrics to geriatrics, gynecology and minor surgery, but anything of significance was referred to Cannon Memorial Hospital which on a good day was thirty minutes away. With roads clogged, dangerous weather and zero power they were looking at an hour or much longer, and that was if they didn’t get stopped by someone shooting at them. Okay, the country hadn’t exactly gone to hell in a handbasket but it was on its way. Desperation would kick in, and those without would soon prey upon those with too much.
Upon arrival at the clinic, Russ had tried to get information on Dustin. It could be argued that they were grasping at straws in the grand hope that the plane had gone down in their region, he’d survived the crash and managed to make it to the clinic. Russ figured at least if they showed up at the clinic, found out that Dustin wasn’t there, they might be open to the idea of leaving. It was either that or return to Cayden and end up being strangled to death. The man had no qualms about killing. They’d already witnessed a few murders that made headlines. He was never linked to them but Russ knew the truth.
“And so you only have the one doctor… what kind of place is this?” he asked because he hadn’t grown up in Ryerson nor was he sick often. On the few occasions he’d needed medical attention, like a broken toe or nearly overdosing, he was taken to Cannon Hospital, so this was all new to him.
“Sir, we have a number of physicians but for anyone requiring minor surgery, that is the responsibility of Dr. Banks. He didn’t come in for work. I’ve already told you that. Now if you don’t mind, I’m a little busy.”
Russ threw up a hand and turned to the other two who were eavesdropping.
“There you go, boys. Dustin is not here.”
“But neither is the doc,” Tommy said.
Russ shrugged. “And? Who cares? I say we get out of town now because the odds of us locating that plane are slim to none.”
“You heard Cayden,” Morgan said.
“Do you really want to trudge through thousands of acres of forest?” He waited for a response but got none. “Exactly. Now even if we did find it, do you honestly think the coke will be in one piece? It’s probably scattered from here to Maggie Valley. There’s probably cougars and bears getting high right about now. No,” he said shaking his head. “I’ve entertained your ludicrous idea to stop by the clinic but…”
“What if Dustin didn’t make it here but the doc went to him?” Tommy said.
Both of them looked at him with a frown.
“What I mean is, the clinic had multiple physicians, right?” Tommy pointed to a gold plate on the wall that had names of doctors, the floor number they were on and where their office was located. “That nurse only mentioned one doctor not showing up. Think about it. Everyone else is here trying to help except the one man that would be required to perform minor surgery. Doesn’t that strike you as a little odd?”
“No. No it doesn’t,” Russ said. “In fact you don’t know he’s the only one.”
“Well let’s find out, shall we?” Tommy turned and headed for the counter where the nurse was still busy rifling through paperwork.
“Tommy. C’mon. This is a waste of time.”
“Maybe he’s on to something,” Morgan said.
“Morgan, what’s it smell like up there?”
“Where?”
“Up Cayden’s ass because you sure seem to spend a lot of time there.”
Morgan squared up to him but before he could do anything, Tommy came jogging back. “I was right. The other eight physicians are here except him.”
“Well that’s great news,” Russ said. “Let’s throw a fucking party and invite him. Oh hold on a minute. That’s right. We don’t know where he lives and who gives a shit!?”
Tommy shook his finger in front of Russ’ nose. “I sometimes wonder about your mental state. It’s not rocket science,” he said crossing the lobby. They followed him to two dilapidated phones. Why they still existed was beyond him. They were the last of a dying era. Tommy opened a phone book beneath one and thumbed through it. He flipped a few thin pages and then ran his finger down, mumbling under his breath.
Morgan wasn’t done with Russ. He jabbed his arm with a fist. “What were you saying about Cayden?”
Before Russ could say anything, Tommy turned and held up the book. “See.” He was pointing to the name Gregory Banks. “Ryerson might be a small, shitty, insignificant town to you but it means finding people isn’t hard.” Right beside his name was an address. Tommy ripped the page out and made a beeline for the exit. Morgan followed, glaring at him.
Russ remained there contemplating leaving by himself. But where would he go? “Damn it,” he said before taking off after them.
18
Exhausted from the hike home, Gregory tossed his keys on the kitchen counter and kicked his boots off. His dark Siamese cat slalomed around his legs as he called out to his wife. “Nancy. I’m home.” Years in medicine as an affluent doctor had paid off allowing him to purchase a home nestled away in the forest. It had also given him the choice of working for the hospital or a slow-paced clinic. After reaching the age of fifty he opted for the latter.
He’d been devastated when he’d heard the news of Sierra Sullivan’s passing. A close friend and colleague, she had bonded with him over their love of medicine and if he’d been twenty years younger, he probably would have dated her.
That’s why when Beth showed up on his doorstep he couldn’t refuse to help. He was meant to go into the clinic that morning and under any other circumstances he would have been there but with the weather the way it was and her showing up, he figured they could manage for one day.
“Nancy. You there, hon?” he said scooping up unopened mail and thumbing it open as he walked into the living room. He lifted his eyes to find her sitting on a sofa, a rag in her mouth, her wrists and feet bound and two men either side of her; one with a gun stuck into her rib cage. “Who the…?”
The fist blindsided him from the right, knocking him to the ground.
A second of seeing stars and a meaty paw grabbed him and dragged him to his feet, tossing him into his recliner chair. “Take a seat, doctor.” A third man came into view. He was brash, and had wild hair that looked as if it hadn’t been washed in weeks.
“You want money. I can give it to you. Just don’t hurt her.”
The man stood a few feet in front of him. “Money isn’t much use to us now.”
“Then food. Take whatever you want.”
“Oh we plan on doing that but first things first.” He crossed the room and opened a cabinet. Took out a bottle of expensive scotch and twisted the cap off. He poured out two fingers and downed it before tossing the bottle to the Chinese-looking fella on the couch. “Nancy said you were in the mountains today. Is that right?”
&n
bsp; “What’s that to you?”
“Answer the question.”
When he hesitated, the large muscular one squeezed Nancy’s knee hard making her squeal.
“Yes. Yes. Okay. I was there. Leave her alone.”
“Very good, Gregory. Now for ten points can you tell me why? You see, Nancy here didn’t know; you seemed to have glossed over that part unless of course she was telling a lie. Were you, Nancy?” The guy shifted his weight from one foot to the next.
“I was doing a favor for a friend of mine,” Gregory said.
“Ooh, getting warmer but I’m gonna need a few more details.”
Gregory sighed. “There was a patient. What do you want to know?”
“That patient wouldn’t go by the name Dustin, would he?”
“No, that was the pilot. He didn’t survive.”
“Ah, now we are getting somewhere.” He walked behind Gregory and placed his hands on his shoulders and began squeezing them like he was attempting to give him a massage. “Then who the hell was on that plane? You see, because Dustin flies alone.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
The man patted him and walked around to look him in the eye.
“Come on, keep up, Gregory. Who was the patient?”
