Like I wouldn’t notice?
He knew they’d have a good cover story, but that didn’t change the fact that if he couldn’t get at least one patient care tech to help him, he was a dead man ... or would certainly feel like one at the end of the shift.
His eyes wandered across the unit. At the moment, none of the alarms were going off and the morning report was fairly benign. It was way too quiet, which could only mean it was probably the calm before the storm.
ICUs were growing, growing in size all across the country. He wondered where they were going to find enough trained people to staff these enlarged facilities. Even Ridgewood’s ICU census was supposed to climb to a capacity of twenty when they finish adding the extra private patient rooms currently under construction.
Two of his six were post surgical: one a troublesome laparoscopic gall bladder, the other a bariatric bleed.
I guess we’ll be seeing more and more of these stomach procedures with obesity running rampant.
Thankfully, both of the post-surgicals were stable.
Two of the other four were post automotive accidents. He read their telemetry along with the notes he’d jotted down during report. Both were stable, still drugged, and asleep.
He moved to the bedside of a woman who’d had a severe GI bleed. He checked the patency of the unit of blood – half of it was gone and it was running smoothly. This was her second pint, but after reading through her diagnostic radiology and lab work he could see she, too, was stable. If things didn’t go south, she might be ready for step-down later in the day.
The last patient was the one he was the most concerned about, mainly because he was a kid. Harry had a soft spot for any kid in trouble. This one had gotten into a whole pile of it.
The fourteen-year-old had taken a small caliber gunshot wound to the thigh. Apparently there was a gang dispute, and even though he was only an outsider passing by, a stray bullet nailed him. At least that’s the story the police got out of him.
The lightning bolt tats along the side of his neck told a story of its own. He was a member of some street gang. Regardless, the kid was damned lucky to be alive – the bullet just missed the femoral artery and exited on the other side of the thigh, missing all the major vessels. The exit wound was small and closed and they’d located it quickly by the hole in his jeans.
The kid was sitting up, staring at Harry, eyes fixed and glassy. His crit had been down and he’d just finished a unit of blood an hour ago, but his IV was open and running for whatever else the docs decided he needed.
The phone started buzzing. Harry snatched it up: “Lucke here.”
“Hey, Harry. This is Jeff in ER. We’re sending up another post TAB. Temp’s102 and climbing, bleeding like a stuck pig, and yeah, stat blood work is in and she’s being hydrated and hit hard with antibiotics.”
“When was the TAB?”
“Yesterday.”
* * *
Gina finally reached Harry on his cell again towards the end of the shift. Earlier, he’d told her Elyse was critical, but they were still hoping to save her.
When he answered the phone this time, she knew. “She didn’t make it, did she?”
“No, babe, she didn’t.”
“Oh, my God!”
“Yeah, we were hoping the antibiotics would do something, but whatever bug it was, it really got to her. Nothing we tried even began to work.”
“Harry, this is so hard.” Gina couldn’t stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks. “I told her everything would be all right. I promised her ... and it was a lie.”
Chapter 26
Dominick stood in the entryway of a rundown apartment building across from where Gina had parked that dumb Fiat of hers. God, he hated that car. He saw her coming down the street, keys in hand.
He could hardly stand still. What he really wanted to do was grab her, smash her in the face, and choke the life out of her.
This would have to do. He’d have to settle for getting it done and making it look like an accident.
Usually, she had a fast pace because he knew she didn’t like walking alone on deserted streets in bad neighborhoods. Today, though, she was walking slowly.
Something’s bothering the bitch. Wonder what’s going on in that devil’s brain.
He got antsy when she got to her car and walked around it. She seemed to be checking the tires before she scooted inside.
He never could understand why she loved that dumb heap. It wasn’t sexy or racy like a Corvette. It was just a stupid pile of foreign junk.
Well, after today you won’t have to worry about it, Gina, baby ... or anything else. I made damn sure of that.
He watched her unlock the driver’s door, look up and down the street.
Dominick took a quick step back from the doorway. Last thing he needed was for her to see him, know that he was in Frisco.
He was ready and waiting to laugh his ass off when the Fiat, as usual, wouldn’t start.
It started right away.
Well, that’s got to be a fuckin’ first. Always came home with more black on her hands and face than a fuckin’ grease monkey.
Couldn’t help himself – he admired the way she pulled out of the tight parking space without stalling. The bitch really knew how to drive, even if she didn’t know how to buy a real car ... a good American-built car.
When she was out of sight, he stepped out and walked up the hill in the direction she’d taken. It took longer than he thought it would.
By the time he reached the crest and looked down, her car was far in the distance – just a red dot parked at the side of the street, at least ten blocks below.
He started really hoofing it, wanting to see Gina crushed and dead in her smashed up car. His muscles cramped and tightened from the exertion. Shin splints hit first, then a stitch jabbed at his side. He wished now that he hadn’t turned in the crummy rental.
Man, if I threw a ball now I’d probably fall on my ass. Well, my baseball days are over anyway, so who gives a fuck?
He couldn’t help it. He did.
In the slammer, all he’d thought about was getting rid of Gina. Now that she would really be gone, out of his life forever, he’d have to think about his future. For sure, breaking parole put New York out of the picture – no way was he going back to prison.
Arizona would be his next stop. That’s where he’d go. And it would have to be soon. He barely had enough money left to pay his room rent. Maybe he’d take his small stash and have one big blowout. Hit the bars, find a good poker game -- he might even win a few bucks -- and end up by blowing town.
Fuckin’ Frisco costs a fortune to live in anyway.
* * *
Gina was sluggish, like she’d worked a double shift. Every muscle ached, and her feet burned. Usually, she walked with a quick step and seldom failed to study her surroundings, a left over habit from living in rundown neighborhoods.
Not today.
Today she was moving with a slow uneven pace; not only that, she’d had to park farther away from the hospital than usual.
When she arrived at the vacant lot where she’d parked the Fiat at the curb, she saw a sign announcing the construction of new housing on the site. It was to start in about three months.
Great! Less parking for everyone.
If she’d been working nights, she never would have parked in this particular spot. Even in daylight the streets in this area were deserted. Gang territory, she’d heard.
Couldn’t be any worse than the Bronx thugs I grew up with.
She circled the car. Saw everything was intact, no slashed tires or rips in the vinyl top to accompany the patched pair of tears that were souvenirs from when she lived in New York.
Maybe Californians are more civilized. Three years here and no problems ... yet.
She threw her backpack into the passenger seat and got settled. At least it would be a nice drive back to the apartment at this time of day. She wanted to take the top down, but the threat of rain s
at right above her in the form of heavy black clouds that were very low and ominous.
The engine kicked in without its usual sputter or protest. It was tricky getting out of the tight parking spot heading uphill, all while harmoniously controlling the clutch, gears, and accelerator. Too many memories of the car dying.
Today, everything was working the way it should; maybe this would be the best part of a miserable day. She crested the hill and started on the downside.
Gina smiled as the car picked up speed and flew. When it was time to downshift and brake hard for an upcoming stop sign, the Fiat didn’t slow.
Frantic, she hit the brake again. Nothing. The pedal crashed to the floorboard and she flew through the intersection, barely missing a car coming at her on the right.
“No!” she yelled.
The hill kept falling away, the brake pedal remained flat on the floor, and the car kept picking up speed.
“Help!” she screamed, stomping the useless pedal.
“Stop! Stop! Stop!” The next intersection, a major boulevard, was coming up fast. She couldn’t risk sailing through this stop sign ... someone would be hurt, or killed.
She grabbed the grip of the fly-off emergency brake and pulled back with all her strength. The car lost some of its momentum, but it wasn’t going to be enough.
She held her breath, spun the steering wheel hard to the right, and headed for a lineup of large plastic garbage cans.
With a loud whack, she plowed into them. Her visible world turned into a smear of flying debris. Garbage flew up and scattered everywhere. A ghastly roar filled her ears and she was blinded by trash flying into her windshield.
The car stopped with a hard jerk.
Disoriented, dizzy, she heard people all around her yelling, screaming. Someone grabbed her hand, held on tight, but the harder he or she squeezed the faster her head spun. Then her chest started to collapse; she couldn’t breathe. It got darker and darker as she dropped through space, plunging into a deep, black pit.
* * *
It seemed to take forever before Dominick got close enough to see Gina’s Fiat. When it was a block away, he caught sight of an emergency vehicle coming from one direction and a tow truck coming from another, both arriving at the same time.
The street was a mess. There were vegetable peelings, smashed fruit, and paper trash everywhere; several people were collecting it and shoving it into battered containers. The car didn’t look all that damaged. Close up, he saw the front bumper was creamed, and the windshield was cracked, but the rest was intact.
He went up to the tow truck driver. “Hey, man, what happened?”
“Don’t know, buddy. I hear this woman lost control and plowed through the garbage cans. She sure as hell made a big friggin’ mess.”
“So what happened to the woman?”
“Hell, I don’t know. I just got here. You’ll need to check with the EMTs ... they’re loading her in right now.”
“Yeah, I see … I mean was she dead, or something.”
“Nah. EMTs reported on the radio that she was okay, but they’re takin’ her to the ER ... just in case. Besides, they said she’s a nurse, so everyone will treat her real good, you know?”
Shit.
Chapter 27
A roller coaster jerked her up, down, slammed her into a steering wheel. Steering wheel? A thunderous roar blasted the air all around her, getting louder … louder...
G-i-i-i-ina, G-i-i-i-ina. Can you hear me?
Harry?
G-i-i-i-ina, it’s me!
Vinnie?
Her eyes fluttered open. Everything was a blur of color until her focus returned. Harry, Vinnie, and Helen were staring down at her, their eyes large with concern.
She tried to sit up. “No,” Harry said softly, a hand on each of her shoulders.
“Hey, sis. You had us worried.”
Helen held Gina’s hand. “How are you feeling?”
“Where am I?”
“You’re in the ER at Ridgewood, doll. You were still wearing your ID, so they brought you here after the accident.”
“I remember. The brakes went out. The car … Harry … it wouldn’t stop … the hill—”
“We’ve got you now. You’re okay, sis.” Vinnie gave her a big smile. “Thought I taught you how to stay out of trouble.”
Gina gave him a digital salute even though it felt like her fingers were moving in slow motion.
“Stop being such a bad boy,” Helen said to Vinnie. “How are you feeling, sweetie?”
“Right now I feel kind of silly.” She gave them a smile. “But safe.”
“You’re lucky to be alive, doll. They want you to stay for a couple of hours, probably in Internal Meds. The ER is hopping, so you can’t stay here.
“The seat belt helped,” Harry said and squeezed her hand. “But you’ve got a mess of cuts, and you banged your head pretty hard against the steering wheel. Your scan is fine, though. Just to be sure, you’ll need to be observed for the next twenty-four hours.”
“I know the procedure, Harry, but can’t you check me at home? I don’t want to stay here.”
“You can be such a pain, Gina Mazzio,” Vinnie said, laughing. Helen jabbed him in the ribs.
Gina looked at her brother. “Look who’s talking.”
“Hey, I can take care of you at home when I finally get away from here,” Harry said. “But they snagged me for a few more hours, or until another nurse can make it in. So, why not let the nurses on Internal Meds watch you, unless you want to go home with Helen and Vinnie.”
“Please come,” Helen said.
“No, I’d rather wait. I really want to go home with Harry.” Gina reached out and took Helen’s hand in hers. “But thank you.”
“How’s my little Fiat?” Gina asked Harry She held her breath, hoping for the best.
“You and that car,” Vinnie said.
“The car isn’t too bad,” Harry said. “Considering what could have happened.”
“Where is it?”
“Don’t worry, doll.” He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “I had them tow it to a garage in our neighborhood. They’ll check it out for you.”
Gina grabbed onto Harry’s arm. “Did I hit anyone? I couldn’t see … the garbage—”
“It’s all right. No one got hurt. “Harry kissed her on the forehead again. “Pretty smart of you to plow into the garbage. That apartment complex had about fifteen huge containers out front, and from what I hear, one of them fell in front of the Fiat, debris spilled out and jammed under the suspension brought the car to a halt.
“Is that what stopped me?”
“That’s what the EMT who brought you in said. Look, now that you’re awake I’ve got to go. I don’t want the nurse covering me to start complaining. But I’ll see you in a little bit.” He bent over and this time gave her a lingering kiss on the lips. He waved goodbye at the door.
“Hey, sis, if you need me. I’m here for you.” Vinnie kissed her cheek. “Anywhere … anytime.”
Tears welled in her eyes. “Thanks, Vinnie.”
“Me, too. Always,” Helen said.
“Hey, you two go on. I’m fine.”
* * *
They stashed Gina in one of the empty private rooms in Internal Medicine. After getting settled, she asked the nurses to turn down the lights until she was in gray shadowy darkness.
She closed her eyes and let her mind, her thoughts hang in suspension, floating through the in-between – not really awake, not really asleep.
She had no sense of time or reality; flashes of places she’d been to scrolled through her thoughts like a silent movie.
She knew, or sensed, that someone was close by but her eyes couldn’t focus on any one thing. She thought she was dreaming until she heard someone edge around the bed, becoming an undulating ink spot floating around her.
Was it real?
“Who are you?” She heard her voice as a quavering echo.
“Go back to sleep.
Everything is fine.”
That voice – female – sounded familiar.
“But who are you?”
“No one important. I’m just going to examine your arms. You have some pretty deep cuts here. Why don’t I take a culture and bandage them.”
That voice belonged to someone Gina knew. Who? She started to slide, began drifting, but then she awoke with a start.
“Who are you?”
“No one important.”
“Get out!” Gina half rose to a sitting position. “Get out of here!” she screamed before falling back.
A nurse came running into the room, turned on a bedside light. “Gina, what’s the matter?”
“Who was just in here? Someone said they were going to take a culture from one of my cuts.”
The nurse flipped on a computer at the foot of the bed. Gina could hear her fingers racing over the keys. “There’s no culture order here for you ... why would they? Are you sure someone was in the room? Maybe you were dreaming?”
“That was no dream!”
“Whatever. Anyway, as long as I’m in here, I should tell you that the ER doc thinks we should keep you overnight for observation.”
“Oh, great!”
Chapter 28
Jodie hadn’t planned to cut school today.
Like yesterday, she’d forced herself out of bed, got dressed, and skipped breakfast, getting a familiar scowl from her mother when she grabbed the lunch bag and took off.
The same routine as every other school day, other than not eating any breakfast and having a morning chat with her mother.
She’d planned on going to all of her classes today, told herself over and over that she had to do it. But the second her high school was in sight, her heart started pounding faster and faster until she could barely breathe.
She drove on past the school and again headed for the beach. When she couldn’t see the school in her rear view mirror, she was able to breathe again.
How was she going to cope with this mess? How was she going to make it work? All she’d asked for was a little more time to hang onto her secret. Just a little while longer.
Bone of Contention: A Medical Thriller With Heart (The Gina Mazzio Series Book 4) Page 11
