by C. I. Lopez
“I contacted Don Carlos and asked his permission to have tests performed. They proved beyond doubt who the deceased are. A burial service is being planned as we speak. It will be in the next two or three days.”
Yasmin’s heart was breaking at the thought of the young couple and their unborn child being taken as they were. Her grief was eased in the knowledge that the small family would at least now have a proper burial and not the substitution of a memorial service.
*
It was the fifth day of her vigil when Yasmin turned, expecting to see a nurse when the door opened.
“Hello, young lady.” The smartly-dressed woman smiled, but tears rolled down her cheeks as she held her arms out.
“Ofelia.” Yasmin stood and dashed forward. She held her one-time nanny and savior as if she too was life-support. “I’ve wanted to come and see you but—”
The other woman held Yasmin at arm’s length and appraised her. “Federico comes first, and when he wakes up, he’ll be so happy. You’ve become even more beautiful.”
“The money you gave me is safe, I opened a bank account—”
“Calm yourself, Yasmin. The money isn’t important, but that’s how I found out that you were here. A certain bank president called me when he finally found out where I was.”
The two women sat together in the room chatting, both occasionally turning to look at the sleeping Federico. They brought each other up to date on all that had happened in their lives.
Ofelia said that she’d book into the same hotel as Yasmin, and they would meet up in the evening. When she left the room, both women were happy for each other. On their way out, Yasmin asked Maria if she knew a woman named Violeta who worked as a clerk at the police department.
“I know who you mean, Yasmin, but she was fired from her job, although not before she tried to sexually harass one of the married police officers. He reported her behavior. Violeta had no choice but to leave town in shame.
*
“Good morning, Yasmin.”
“Hello, Maria.” Yasmin turned and watched the young nurse go through her routine, copying information from the monitors onto the clipboard. “I know the notes will mean nothing to me, but can you see an improvement?”
Maria looked over her shoulder at the closed door. “We’re not supposed to tell visitors anything because they tend to get over-excited, but … there has been a steady rise in the vital signs. It’s not much, but in the past nine days, the improvements have been minimal, but I see them.”
“How can you be so accurate that you see when it started?” She stood to look at the readings. “What does that say in the margin?”
“Oh, I wouldn’t worry too much about that, it was a bit of an emergency, but he pulled through. Federico’s heartbeat was erratic, and the machines went haywire. When that happens sometimes, the patient will sound as if they’re trying to speak, but we know it’s an effect of the life-support.”
“Yes, I can understand that Maria, but what do those initials mean on that date?”
“They’re not initials … that’s what the attending nurse thought she heard him say. Ursula … which at first we thought might be your name.” Maria stared at her new friend. “Are you okay, Yasmin?”
“I’m fine, really, I’m absolutely fine, Maria.” She glanced at Federico and wiped the tears away. “Are you saying that since that glitch, the readings have never gone down?”
“Yes, it’s a long slow line, but it’s an improvement, although he doesn’t seem to change.”
When Maria left the room, Yasmin lifted the clipboard and studied the lines of the graphs. At first, she thought it was her imagination, but as the lines went from left to right across the page, they made a wavy shape like … a snake.
Epilogue
Chilo and Mache were respectful and grateful to be alive. They ensured the business continued to operate according to the rules laid down by Yasmin, their ‘Boss Lady’. To sever connections to any memory of Chacon, the gang worked out of their newly-acquired headquarters, only half a mile from the original house. All weapons, ammunition, vehicles, and the accoutrements of their trade were moved to the customized compound. Chilo, Mache and Prince were added as partners in the operation so that their earnings depended on how much they brought in.
Sanchez agreed to make regular visits to ensure that Chilo, Mache and their crew would be reminded of how easy it was to monitor cash flow and business etiquette in their line of work. Prince continued to oversee the purchase and sale of the drugs and finesse the business of the guns. He could handle the problematic clients Tomas had dealt with previously to satisfy their demands.
The top man also made appointments to speak privately with the President. An occasional heads-up reminded the man that the top job in the country was maintained only if supported by the right people. All would be good if he was seen to be working for the benefit of all the people. The President was re-elected by a landslide victory for the next five years.
The house and grounds formerly owned by Tomas Chacon were given to Belky and Prince. They assured Yasmin that Belky would be delighted to manage the place as a refuge for abused teenage children. For his part, it gave Prince an ideal cover for his other work.
Yasmin used some of her inherited wealth to fund an orphanage which was managed by Ofelia and her sister Sofia. They hired a full team of staff, and the establishment was in full swing within one week of opening. Within a short time, Sofia had found a child for her to adopt as her very own.
Federico improved steadily, and after two months in a coma, he was disconnected from the machines. He continued in a coma but without support for a further week before one day opening his eyes and saying, “I love you, Yasmin.”
Her response was to give him a broad smile and whisper, “I love you too,” as she embraced him. While she held him close, he whispered something against her hair, and she stood up. “What?”
“Who is Ursula?”
“She was a temporary nurse, my darling.”
One week after that first conversation, Federico was released from the hospital. Though he would spend a month in a wheelchair, he was alive and able to move into the remodeled house with Yasmin.
Three months later, among the guests at Yasmin and Federico’s wedding were Belky and Prince. Also in attendance was Detective Mendoza, who was making enquiries, mainly about an attractive guest called Rebecca, who had supplied Yasmin’s wedding dress.
***The end***
A word from the Author
Beware the Fury is very special to me as my first full-length novel. The idea evolved in conjunction with my move to Central America when I become acquainted with the culture and the beautiful people of these enchanting countries.
I wrote this tale to represent and celebrate all women who have survived a misogynistic world and succeeded.
About the Author
Carmen Lopez prefers to write as C. I. Lopez. She began writing after a career in Microbiology and Chemistry, specializing in water quality, which brought her to live by the Pacific Ocean in Central America.
Carmen has lived in the USA, where she attended the University of Syracuse and worked in the State of Michigan as a Chemist and Microbiologist. She started her own State-Certified analytical water quality laboratory after having worked with the Michigan Department of Environmental Health.
Previously, she’d lived in South Bend, Indiana, where she worked at Notre Dame University with The Mid-West Council of La Raza and The Rainbow Coalition as an advisor, and assistant professor, writing proposals.
She has also worked as an Emergency Room nurse at Centro Asturiano Hospital and as a surgery nurse at Saint Joseph Hospital, both in Tampa, Florida where she first became involved in the field of epidemiology.
Carmen has traveled extensively throughout South America, including the Black River through the Brazilian Amazon, Paraguay, and Bolivia, studying the pathogens in the water of the Black River.
She is the mother of four chil
dren who live in the USA although she now lives in Panama as an ex-pat. Carmen is content as the faithful companion to Bryce, her significant other and they live beside Carmen’s beloved Pacific Ocean in the Azuero Peninsula.
Amazon Author Page:
https://amzn.to/2tdzY4x
Facebook page:
https://bit.ly/2suTNE0
Writing From Eight Degrees North
includes poetry and prose by C.I. Lopez
Also by C.I. Lopez
Alone: and other short stories
A collection of ten stories in a variety of genres,
including tales by Tom Benson.
Lisa: and other short stories
A collection of ten stories in a variety of genres,
including tales by Tom Benson.
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