Burn to Ashes

by Brynn O'Connor

  “I’m sorry Mike but-”

  “Say no more Kari, I get it. You still got that bad boy complex going on and I can’t compete with that. I’ll never be a killer like Adam is.”

  “He’s not… Okay, maybe he is, but that’s not who he is. You have no idea what kind of person he is. You’ve never even spent any time in his company.”

  “Now you’re completely wrong about that.”

  “How do you mean?”

  “Didn’t you ever wonder how it came to be that we both show up to rescue you?”

  “Oh right,” I begin. “And you were together when I called. So what did you two talk about then?”

  Doctor Mike pauses for a moment, and then with remarkable memory he relates to me their chat, almost word for word. Here’s what happened.

  Chapter 9

  Testosterone for Lunch

  “Mind if I sit?”

  “Take a load off,” Adam replies.

  Doctor Mike sets his tray down on the small cafeteria table and takes a seat. He picks up his fork with his left hand and offers his right.

  “I’m Doctor Shan-”

  He freezes. The last person he expected to sit down with is none other than his rival, outlaw biker and former Sons VP Adam.

  “Well this is awkward.” Adam exclaims.

  “I didn’t recognize you in your get up. You practicing for Halloween or something?”

  “Or something…” Adam replies. “You lost? I thought St. Josephs was your usual haunt.”

  “I fill in here occasionally.” Doctor Mike replies. “You’re here to check in on Anna aren’t you?”

  “Kari is up visiting her sister.” Adam says. “I’m just here to provide taxi service.”

  “And smuggling services too no doubt. “Doctor mike replies. “I seriously doubt Kari would have been able to just waltz in her sister’s room unnoticed.”

  Adam points to his own lab coat. “It’s amazing what a simple white smock can do for you.”

  Doctor Mike points to the ID badge on the lapel of the coat. “I’ll bet Dr. Keslowski is wandering around here somewhere in a black leather motorcycle jacket.”

  “I wouldn’t take that bet doc, a biker never gives up his cut on pain of excommunication and/or death. We’re not completely void of honor we outlaw bikers.”

  “You know, I just don’t see it.” Doctor Mike says.

  “Don’t see what?”

  “I don’t understand what Kari sees in you.”

  “You mean aside from the obvious rugged good looks, charisma, well- muscled body, and the ability to keep Kari safe? Yeah I guess there’s not much left to drool over; yet she does.”

  “Really, because all I see is a sad little boy playing grownup with his bikes and patches and silly little codes of honor. Looks like somebody took his Cub Scout troop to a whole new level.”

  “Apparently,” Adam retorts. “You still can get your license out of a Cracker Jack box!”

  Adam narrows his eyes as his adrenaline begins to soar. “What’s that you’ve got in your hand?” He asks.

  “It’s my fork. We civilized people use it to eat with.”

  Abruptly with blinding speed Adam reaches out with his left hand, grabbing the outside of the doctor’s hand in a vice-like grip. Without so much as a fraction of a second’s pause Adam twists the doctor’s left wrist counter clockwise, turning the man’s left arm to where his elbow is now pointing straight up. Adam finishes the move by pulling on the other man’s captive arm straightening it out while his right forearm applies pressure just behind the doctors upturned elbow. With a sudden downward jerking motion, Adam can separate the doctor’s humorous from his ulnar and radial bones, causing extreme pain and permanent damage!

  The sudden violence of the move and no small amount of pain is not lost on Doctor Mike. He knows all too well what would happen if Adam applied just a little more pressure to his elbow joint.

  “And now it’s my fork!” Adam says as he snatches it from the doctor’s hand as he’s about to drop it. “Us Cub Scouts grow up and wind up being the people who protect the freedom of pretentious assholes like you. Yeah I’m a war vet of Afghanistan and Iraq and my father was in the battle for Hue in Vietnam and his father fought and froze for your father’s freedom on the Chosen Reservoir in North Korea.

  Adam takes the other man’s utensil and spears the cut of beef on the doctor’s tray and takes an enormous, carnivorous bite out of it before returning to the man’s tray.

  “Damn I was hungry!” Adam exclaims. “Not bad for hospital food either.”

  Doctor Mike stops rubbing his elbow long enough to push his tray across the table to Adam. His appetite is long gone but the fire in his belly still burns.

  “Before your little display of testosterone I’d thought not all bikers were leather clad bumbling Neanderthals but you’ve just proved me wrong. Thank you for correcting me before I made my incorrect assumptions public knowledge.”

  “You know…If you’re going to try to beat me in a battle of wits Adam, I’m going to need a Tiger Woods sized handicap placed on me because there’s no way in hell you’re going to be able to keep up.”

  Adam starts to retort then pauses, not sure he understands the handicap bit.

  “Let me put that in way you can understand,” Dr. Mike says. “Imagine me driving my Ferrari and you on one of your little motorcycles. You’ll still be shifting out of first by the time I cross the finish. We’re just not in the same league, no make that the same dimension Adam.”

  By the time Dr. Mike has finished his rendition of their lunch sparring Adam has returned with a gurney.

  Chapter 10

  The Great Escape

  “What took so long?” I ask, looking at my watch.

  “Apparently this wing is also the repository for broken down gurneys and other hospital castoffs.”

  “Well at least you got one.”

  “Yeah…just keep in mind this one has a tendency to veer to the left.” Adam replies, looking at Dr. Mike, making sure the message is being received.

  Mike nods his head.

  I climb up on the gurney and my two men proceed to pile on the blankets. The one issue we have here is that since I am pregnant I can’t lie on my stomach covering my face. We decide to just have me put my forearm across my eyes and hopefully that will hide my face sufficiently. If we pretend to be in a hurry to make an appointment or something people will probably not even give us a second look.

  Adam is at the head of the gurney and Mike takes my feet. If I slide my arm off my eyes I can look right into Adam’s handsome face and his expansive nostrils. Oh well, I’ll take what I can get. This whole mess is all because I decided I had to see my sister today. When, I wonder, am I going to stop making bad decisions? Seems like every move I make someone gets hurt; if not physically, emotionally. When this is all said and done I have to wonder if anyone will still be speaking to me; assuming we all live to be not speaking to each other that is.

  At the end of the hall we have to wait for the elevator to come up to the fifth floor to the first. I use the time to study Adam’s face. The fact that he is even here with me now speaks volumes. He is either still in love with me or he’s just about the world’s most honorable guy and wouldn’t dream of leaving anyone in the lurch. There really is no way I would be able to survive this whole mess that’s my life without Adam’s direct intervention. Dr. Mike has the right attitude and the willingness to put his ass on the line for me but that won’t stop bullets or razor sharp knives. Another thought occurs to me. It may just be that I need them both. Maybe I can’t survive on Adam’s muscle alone and do need whatever Mike brings to the table.

  The ding announcing the arrival of our elevator tells me it’s time to cover my face again. The doors open and we’re moving again. We go down for a short distance then come to a halt, probably on the fourth floor, but I don’t dare take a peek. Sure enough, the doors open and I hear at least one person come in. Adam and Mike exchange typic
al greetings then someone asks the dreaded question.

  “So I’ve been working Maternity for quite some time but I don’t recall your face doctor…?

  “Keslawski,” Adam replies. Adrian Keslawski. I’m actually the Ketterfield family’s personal physician so I don’t get out much. I don’t recall seeing you either but then I don’t get to the maternity wing too often.”

  He’s talking too much.

  “And you’re…”

  The nosey doctor must be addressing Mike. I’m not too worried about him. He’ll know what to say in a pinch.

  “Doctor Shanahan”

  “Ahh, thought I recognized you. But aren’t you chief of surgery over at St. Joseph’s?”

  “That’s correct. You’ve got a good memory for faces and names. I also consult at Providence on occasion.”

  “Sure, I’m aware that you are called in for surgical consults, but in the Maternity wing?”

  “Pregnant women do require surgical procedures on occasion if I’m not mistaken.” Dr. Mike replies with a hint of anger.

  “How are you feeling Ms. Ketterfield?” Asks the unknown doctor.

  I wish this guy would just shut up so we can get on with our escape!

  Someone nudges my arm, and then gives me a little pinch.

  “Ms. Ketterfield, are you okay?” The doctor asks.

  Suddenly I realize he’s been speaking to me and I’ve been off in la la land. It doesn’t look good when you fail to respond to your own name.

  “Sorry,” I moan for effect. “Having a rough evening.”

  “It’d have to be… not recognizing your own name and all…”

  I open my mouth to reply when he starts in again.

  “Where are you taking this patient doctors?” The nosey doctor asks. “You know we just passed our surgery unit do you not?”

  Shit! He’s far too suspicious. My heart begins to pound. This guy is on to us, or will soon be if we don’t think of something quick. Maybe I should really play it up, really act like a pregnant woman suffering. I’m just about to get into the act when the elevator stops and the doors open and in walks trouble. It’s the unmistakable sound of motorcycle boots tromping in, followed by two hundred twenty pounds of outlaw biker attitude! This is not going to end well. This time I have to look. I look and I immediately wish I hadn’t. A huge icy knot of fear settles into my stomach twisting and coiling around like a snake. Evil incarnate is standing over me, and his name is Ripper! What the hell is the president of the Sons of Ash doing in an elevator in Providence hospital?

  The unknown doctor speaks up first. “Excuse me Sir; can I help you find someone?” He asks.

  “I believe I already have.” He growls back looking straight at Adam.

  “What could you possibly want with Doctor Keslowski?” The doctor asks.

  “Is…is that what he calls himself these days?” Ripper asks.

  “Is this who you’re looking for Sir?” the doctor asks. “Doctor Keslowski?”

  Ripper turns to Adam. “Let’s you and I get off at the next stop. I believe the cafeteria is on the next floor. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.”

  “Why not.” Adam replies.

  I’m just about to object when I realize why Adam agreed. It’s the only way to separate Ripper from me. As soon as Ripper recognizes me he’ll stay with me until he’s killed me. Then a chilling thought strikes me like a bullet between the eyes. Did he just come from my sister’s room? I can’t think straight. We’re on the way down and he hopped on at the…second or third floor. Does that mean he’s already visited her and killed her? I take a peek at him looking for signs of something…blood, I don’t know what? I can’t tell. Maybe a sadistic look of satisfaction? No…he’s always wearing that look.

  The elevator makes its last stop. I feel the gurney start to move then stops.

  “Wait a second,” the unknown doctor says. “How long you been in the hospital?” He asks me.

  “Just a couple days.” I reply before thinking.

  Unfortunately at the exact same moment Dr. Mike says one day and Adam says, “She came in this morning.”

  Shit! Shit…shit…shit…

  My turn to fuck it up even more. “What are you talking about?” I ask the unknown doctor.

  “It’s your shoes.” He replies.

  “What about my shoes?” I ask, not following his line of questioning.

  “You’re wearing them.”

  Fuck! I look down the gurney and the blankets have slipped away revealing my shoes and the cuffs of my jeans. Fuck!

  “What’s going…?” The unknown doctor stops mid-sentence. He knows exactly what’s going on.

  Suddenly the gurney jerks forward and Mike is pulling me out of the elevator.

  “Wait!” I shout. “I can walk.”

  I roll off the gurney and onto the floor with a soft landing on my pregnancy belly. I roll over and struggle to sit up so I can unstrap the thing. No way can I walk, much less run or fight with this thing still strapped to me. I look up and the unknown doctor is standing at a nurse’s station talking rapidly to whoever is on the end of the line; probably security or the police. I realize with a shock that Ripper is looking down at me with recognition dawning on his ugly visage.

  “No fucking way!” He snarls. “No fucking way? It must be fucking Christmas. What the fuck are you…your sister. You were visiting your sister. She’s in this hospital!”

  He reaches in his jacket and brings out a cell phone. He starts to taps some numbers when his head jerks to the side and his eyes glaze over. Standing above him is Adam holding an IV pole that he has just brained Ripper with. The big biker pitches to his left side, rolls over and staggers to his feet.

  I finally manage to yank the straps off and the 18 pound belly falls to the floor. To my left, at the nurse’s station, Dr. Mike is in an epic tug of war with the unknown doctor for the phone. Finally, to my surprise Doctor Mike clocks him with his left fist and the other man slumps backwards and falls to the floor. Mike hangs up the phone but I’m afraid it’s too late. The hospital, if not already done so is about to be on lockdown. That means the elevators will return to the bottom floor and won’t move from there. No one is allowed in or out of the hospital until further notice. Ambulances will be directed to other area hospitals unless there is a dire emergency. Security will be beefed up and everyone will be required to present hospital ID’s wherever they go. Nurses will not go anywhere by themselves and will be accompanied by a male if possible. This is going to look like Fort Knox.

  “Get her out of here!” Adam shouts to Doctor Mike.

  Mike grabs my arm and propels me through a set of double doors leading to the hospital’s research labs. I have no idea where this leads but he seems to have some idea where we should go so I don’t protest his manhandling; well, not now at least. We sprint down a long hall and by stunned looking geek types in white lab coats. They have no idea that the person the hospital is trying to corral is flying right by them. We round a corner and run headlong into two security guards deep in conversation. Their mouths drop open comically as they are literally bowled over. Just as I’m claiming a minor victory in my mind I feel a vise like grip around my ankle and I go down even harder than they did. Reflexively I put my hands out in front of me breaking my fall. I’m pretty sure I’m gonna pay for that as soon as my adrenaline leaves my system. I roll over and reach for my pepper spray I had tucked in my front pocket before we began our little hospital adventure.

  Legs, arms, heads, torsos are everywhere as four panicking people struggle to disentangle themselves. I hold out my canister and immediately a strong male hand grabs my wrist. Thinking it’s a guard I twist my hand around and let loose a spray in the general direction of the hand’s owner. From the immediate sounds of sputtering, coughing, and choking I assume I pretty much got a direct hit; or direct enough at least. Without thinking I aim in another direction and let loose another volley in the general direction of a grey uniform clad guard and thanks to my
fine aim he’s taken out of the action immediately. I scramble to my feet with the help of the railing along the walls and start off in the same direction we were going when I realize I’m the only one on my feet. Three other bodies are thrashing around on the floor, their faces covered with the white foamy liquid from my pepper canister. Shit! I got Doctor Mike.

  I run back to help him, grabbing a towel off a linen car along the wall and start to kneel down to assist him.

  “Go!” He croaks. “Get…the fuck… out…of here! Catch…up!”

  I freeze for a second. I do not want to finish this rescue mission on my own. I press the towel in his outstretched hands and he croaks at me again.

  “Go!”

  I stand frozen with indecision until I see one of the guards finally get to his feet. Not good! I have to leave. I turn and sprint towards the door at the end of the hall. If that’s not an exit I’m in real trouble. I can’t believe I’m escaping and leaving both Michael and Adam fighting for their lives and it’s all because of me! I had to see my sister today and they’re paying the price for it. When this is all said and done I don’t know how I’m going to live with myself. I am constantly making the wrong choices and making others pay the price.

  I hit the door at the end of the hall at a dead run. Just before I do it suddenly occurs to me that I might just break my arms; fortunately I don’t. The doors fly open and I run right into a group of men and women wearing blue scrubs. I take three of them to the ground while two others stumble backwards barely keeping their feet. It’s an orgy of limbs heads and overfed bodies. As skinny as I am I’m surprised I laid them out like a linebacker!

  I am so freaking scared I don’t even look back and just keep running. I have no idea what’s happening to Dr. Mike and Adam but I have to trust that not only will they be able to extricate themselves from their current situations, but they’ll find me eventually and hopefully before the police or Ripper and his cronies do. The thought barely occurs to me that they just may not want to find me. Another thought occurs to me as I’m rounding 58th and Harding still at a dead run. If Doctor Mike and Adam are going to wash their hands of me, so to speak, there is no one else I can turn to. Ripper and Marco have managed to isolate me; well thinks also to my poor choices of late.