“Are you two looking to make a statement?” Rocco asked with a sinister smile across his face.
Mitch just stared at Rocco for the longest time and now regretted getting JoJo involved. Two against these three was not going to end well because he knew Rocco always came out on top. Rocco motioned to Mitch to drop his weapon, which he promptly did and then held up his hands. He knew it was not wise to do that but only hoped he could catch Rocco off guard.
“Your business isn’t going to be tolerated in this neighborhood,” Mitch said as he slowly backed up.
Mitch knew it was not smart to antagonize Rocco. He also knew they were not killers. And killing a cop would only bring more trouble down on them. Mitch whispered to JoJo to leave when he saw an opening behind them, but JoJo just stood firm. The Irish in him would not let him run like a scared rabbit.
“I’m staying,” is all JoJo said, looking over at Mitch. This was as much his fight as Mitch’s.
Mitch turned back to Rocco. “Let the boy go. This is between you and me.”
“He should have thought about that before he got involved.”
Rocco waved his gun and motioned for Mitch and JoJo to move toward the two thugs. They started to comply.
It was footsteps coming from the street in back of them that caused Mitch and JoJo to turn around. To Mitch’s surprise it was Cassandra who hurried around the corner of the alley. She stopped abruptly when seeing Rocco with the gun. She turned and stared at Mitch, who still had his hands up.
“I called the police, they should be here soon.”
Rocco’s anger grew. In that moment his gun was not aimed on Mitch, but Cassandra. Mitch saw his opportunity and quickly jumped Rocco. The gun went off, narrowly missing Cassandra. When Mitch saw she was okay, he knocked Rocco to the ground.
JoJo was already attacking the two thugs, who looked like they were going to take the easy way out and run. They may have had guns but were too scared to use them as JoJo knocked the gun out of the one thug’s hand while the other thug grabbed JoJo around the arms. They were using him like a punching bag as, in the distance, sirens could be heard getting closer.
Cassandra quickly picked up an empty wine bottle lying on the ground. She slowly got closer to JoJo who was being beaten up by the two thugs. Cassandra swung the bottle with all her might. It hit the one thug on the back of the head, sending him sprawling onto the ground. Now that there was only one man to deal with, JoJo was able to get the upper hand and finally had the thug pinned to the ground out of breath, while the thug Cassandra hit with the wine bottle still lay unconscious.
Cassandra turned to Mitch and Rocco in time to see Mitch grab for the gun, but it went off, hitting Mitch in the side. Mitch collapsed to the ground. Rocco looked surprised that the gun when off and just stood there with an open mouth.
JoJo took this opportunity to rush over and hit Rocco with a right to the jaw, knocking him out, while Cassandra rushed to Mitch’s side. All Mitch could do was struggle to breath as blood seeped out of the wound. Cassandra put her hand over the wound and applied pressure.
“I’ll get help,” JoJo said, running off quickly.
Mitch tried to talk, but Cassandra put her fingers to his lips while her other hand still applied pressure.
“Don’t,” she said.
“It hurts.”
“JoJo went for help,” Cassandra said, as hot tears streamed down her cheek.
Lucinda entered the alley to see what the commotion was all about. Spider followed close behind. Upon seeing Mitch on the ground she quickly started mumbling something that was inaudible to Cassandra.
Cassandra continued applying pressure to the wound to stop the bleeding but the blood continued to seep through her fingers. She looked up at Lucinda. “Is the ambulance on the way?” she asked Lucinda.
Lucinda just mumbled something that was inaudible to those around her as she stared at Cassandra and Mitch as if in a trancelike state. Spider wrapped his body around Lucinda’s feet as the cat kept a close watch on the two in front of them.
Sirens could be heard getting closer. Two squad cars pulled up to the alley, quickly coming to a screeching halt. Four cops jumped out when they saw Cassandra with Mitch on the ground. Mitch grabbed hold of Cassandra’s hand tightly.
“Don’t leave me,” he pleaded.
Cassandra just held onto Mitch’s hand, giving him the assurance he needed. Two of the cops walked over to Rocco on the ground. They kicked the gun out of his reach before turning him over and cuffing him from behind. Rocco slowly came to.
The one cop turned to the other. “Where the hell is that ambulance,” he yelled just as it pulled up behind the squad cars.
The paramedics rushed over to Mitch, who was hardly conscious by that time. The two medics pushed Cassandra out of the way as they quickly took Mitch’s vitals and started feverishly working on him.
Lucinda watched what was going on as she continued mumbling something to herself. By that time she had picked Spider up and was quickly stroking the furry animal as if that would help Mitch.
Once the paramedics did what they could for Mitch on the ground, he was put on the cart and wheeled to the ambulance while Cassandra looked on longingly. It took Lucinda shoving her in that direction for her to do what she was too afraid to do on her own.
“Go with him, he needs you.”
Cassandra turned to Lucinda. She appeared both puzzled and confused, but then she snapped out of it and ran to the stretcher. She took hold of Mitch’s free hand and squeezed hard.
“I’m coming with him,” Cassandra said in a pleading way.
“You can’t,” the young paramedic said.
The other paramedic looked at him and motioned. “Let her,” he said and then whispered as he rolled his eyes, “It doesn’t look good.”
Cassandra quickly climbed into the ambulance, the door was shut behind her. The paramedics busied themselves reporting Mitch’s vitals to the hospital. She sat there and watched the beat on the monitor that Mitch was hooked up to. She couldn’t help but feel it appeared to be getting weaker and weaker.
As the ambulance took turns, Cassandra hung onto the side rail. They had only been in the ambulance for a few minutes, but it felt like an eternity as she watched the paramedic working on Mitch with precision despite the chaotic ride. The bleeding was somewhat under control, but Mitch was still weak. He was hooked up to an IV to replenish bodily fluids.
The blaring of the sirens was giving Cassandra a headache. Her heart ached because she feared that Mitch would not make it. It was in the look the paramedic gave his partner.
*
Mitch was standing at a crossroads. He stood there in the mist that seemed to be falling all around him as he searched for what he didn’t know. In one direction there was a bright light beckoning him. In the opposite direction was Cassandra with her arms out to him. She was beautiful in the long, flowing white gown.
“Please, don’t go,” Cassandra begged. She slowly drifted closer to him and he could almost touch her fingertips.
Mitch looked at her for the longest time and then he turned to the bright light. It seemed to be beckoning him to come closer. He felt drawn to the light, but then Cassandra’s hand reached out for him. She pulled him closer, away from the light that was about to encompass him.
“I need you,” Cassandra pleaded.
Mitch hesitated. As much as he wanted so desperately to melt into the light that beckoned, he couldn’t let go of Cassandra.
Chapter 21
As the ambulance quickly entered the emergency entrance to the hospital, Mitch’s weak vitals were almost nonexistent and suddenly stopped. The one paramedic quickly straddled Mitch and started CPR. Cassandra reached over and took hold of Mitch’s hand. With the other hand she reached into her pocket and pulled out the little pouch that Lucinda gave her. She held it tight while she prayed.
The paramedic stopped CPR when Mitch’s heart started beating on its own.
“That was close,” h
e said, looking at Cassandra.
The back door swung open, Mitch’s hand was yanked out of Cassandra’s hand when he was whisked into the awaiting trauma center. As he was wheeled into the room, his heart stopped again. They stopped as the doctor quickly started CPR again. Cassandra rushed up to the gurney. She reached for Mitch’s free hand, put the pouch she had into his palm, and closed his fingers tightly around it, and then put his arm back on the gurney.
Mitch’s heart started beating on its own again. He was somewhat conscious and turned to look at Cassandra. Mitch appeared a little puzzled by what she had just done, and then Cassandra leaned closer to Mitch.
“Hold on to it,” she whispered. “Promise me, please.”
Mitch nodded that he understood as the doctor quickly hopped off the gurney and Mitch was pulled into the waiting emergency room.
“Let’s get him in before he arrests again.”
A nurse poked her head through the closed side door.
“They are ready for him up in OR, hurry,” she ordered.
Mitch was rushed through the doors and they pushed him to the waiting elevator.
Cassandra was left standing outside to just watch them disappear into the waiting elevator. She was fearful that it would be the last time she would ever see him. Cassandra could control herself no longer and wept uncontrollably.
*
JoJo drove through the heavy city traffic with Lucinda. The elderly woman hung on for dear life as the young boy weaved in and out of traffic in his hasty attempt to make it to the hospital. He knew if anyone could save Mitch it was the elderly woman. He had seen her do her magic on stray animals and only hoped that he was right and she would be able to save his friend’s life.
Once they pulled up to the Emergency entrance to the hospital, JoJo quickly parked his car and he and Lucinda made their way to the area where Cassandra had been left waiting. Lucinda hurried to where Cassandra was sitting; all she could do was comfort the young woman and hope for the best. There would be no way that anyone would allow the old woman access to Mitch now.
*
In the operating room, it was a chaotic sight as the surgeon worked feverishly to stop the internal bleeding. The nurse hooked up another pint of blood to the IV. The monitors bleeped loudly, alerting all in the room just how grave the patient’s condition was.
The surgeon had a long tweezerlike instrument in one hand, while the other had another instrument looking for the projectile that caused all the bleeding.
“Suction,” the surgeon ordered.
Before the words were out of his mouth, a suction tube was stuck in the incision. The excess blood was suctioned away. The nurse picked up a cotton swab and dabbed it around the incision to gather up any excess blood. It was her job to keep the wound clean so the surgeon could see what he was doing.
The anesthesiologist glanced at the monitor. The beeps on the machine were all that was heard above all the talk that appeared to look like pandemonium, but everyone had a job to do and they all worked in unison.
Ever so often between heart beeps a long-sounding beep was heard.
“Heart rates dropping,” the anesthesiologist warned.
“I’m trying,” the surgeon snapped, as he took a piece of gauze to wipe away a little excess blood before switching instruments.
A nurse reached over and wiped away the perspiration from the surgeon’s forehead.
The surgeon used an electrocautery devise to cauterize blood vessels that were damaged by the bullet.
The pulse oximeter machine was attached to Mitch’s finger on his right hand with an elastic Band-Aid. It was measuring the amount of oxygen contained in the blood. Unseen by all was the pouch in Mitch’s left hand. For some reason, he was able to hold on to it tightly.
“I got it,” the surgeon said finally as he pulled the bullet out of the incision and plopped it in a plastic cup sitting on the instrument tray.
“Sutures.”
The surgeon turned to the heart monitor; so far all was fine. The heartbeats appeared to be getting stronger.
*
Cassandra paced the waiting room while Mitch’s mother sat and wept, expecting the worse. JoJo sat with Lucinda on the couch. They watched the salt-water tank in front of them, mesmerized by the serene rhythm of the fish swimming to and fro. Lucinda knew JoJo needed the soothing effect the fish tank offered.
When the surgeon walked into the waiting room, Mitch’s mother, along with Cassandra, hurried over to him. Cassandra’s heart almost stopped for an instant as she searched his face for the news she had been dreading for the last two hours. The surgeon just looked at Cassandra and then turned to Mitch’s mother.
“It was touch and go, but he’s still hanging on,” he said shaking his head. “His will to live is strong.”
“Then he will live,” Mitch’s mother said with hope, as tears streamed down her cheek
“He’s not out of the woods yet. But I’d say he has a good chance at a full recovery.”
Cassandra quickly stepped forward. “Can we see him.”
The surgeon glanced at her for a moment. “Right now, only family members.”
Cassandra’s heart sank as Mitch’s mother followed the surgeon out of the waiting room. All she could do was turn to Lucinda, who was standing with JoJo listening to the whole exchange. Lucinda walked over to Cassandra.
“He will be fine.”
“How can you say that. You don’t know.”
“Just trust me.”
Cassandra looked into Lucinda’s eyes. There was a look of assurance that was unmistakable. In that moment Cassandra trusted her aunt and realized that she had powers beyond what she could ever really understand.
*
Days passed, and with every passing day Mitch’s vitals got stronger. Life in the neighborhood in the meantime returned back to normal. The shop owners formed an alliance vowing never to succumb to the threats of hoodlums. It was a pact they all promised to maintain. JoJo made it his goal in life to see to it that his boyhood neighborhood would be off limits to unsavory characters. It was going to be a neighborhood they could all be proud of.
Lucinda’s health improved significantly during those days following the shooting. Cassandra knew her days at The Curiosity Shop were numbered. But as much as she once wanted to get back to her old life, now that old life seemed less important to her. She was going to miss her aunt and working at the shop.
Lucinda was busy stacking the new shipment of material while Cassandra was helping a customer pick out a suncatcher for her mother.
“Here, hold it up to the light,” Cassandra said, as she handed the woman the sun catcher.
Cassandra proceeded to walk over to the front window and held it up to the sun. She then turned to the woman. “See how pretty, it sends beams of light in all directions”
“I’ll take it,” the woman said.
Cassandra quickly walked behind the counter and rang the woman’s purchases up before she changed her mind. Once the woman left the store, Cassandra walked over to Lucinda to help stock shelves.
“Let me do that,” Cassandra said.
“I can manage,” Lucinda replied and then quickly added, “Why don’t you go to the hospital? I’m sure you’d rather be there than helping an old woman.”
“He’s doing fine now. I’m not needed,” was all Cassandra could muster up to say. She didn’t want to appear too anxious.
“It’s not about need,” Lucinda said and then turned and shoved Cassandra to the door.
*
Cassandra took the bus to the hospital. Granted, she came from a small town where she was able to walk to wherever she wanted to go. Now she enjoyed the adventures she took while riding the bus. It might take her longer to get to places but she was enjoying being with her aunt and in the city she chose to call home. Once the hospital was in view Cassandra knew her ride was coming to an end.
Mitch had been taken out of ICU the day before, so she was able to visit with him a little l
onger than before.
Cassandra slowly walked into Mitch’s room. He was still hooked up to monitors. The beeps were a constant reminder of just how close Cassandra came to losing him. She walked up to the bed as Mitch opened his eyes and smiled weakly.
“How are you feeling?” Cassandra asked.
“Like I got run over by a Mack truck,” he said.
“That’s to be expected. The doctors said you’ll be okay over time, though.”
Mitch looked up at Cassandra. “Thanks for being there.”
Cassandra picked up Mitch’s hand. She noticed his fist was still clenched and realized he still had the pouch in his hand.
“You still have it?”
“Yeah for some reason I don’t want to let it go.”
“Lucinda gave it to me.”
“One of her potions?”
Cassandra shook her head, not really knowing what it was. When Mitch got shot she was grasping for anything that would help save him.
“I don’t think that had anything to do with it. Your will to live made the difference.
Mitch just stared at Cassandra, and with his free hand he reached up and touched her on the cheek.
“I couldn’t leave you.”
Cassandra smiled. “I’m glad,” she said, as he took hold of her hand and squeezed it tightly.
“I promised to show you the town. And my mother made me promise to bring you back.”
“I liked her too,” Cassandra said with a smile as she bent down and kissed Mitch on the forehead. Before she could stand up, Mitch put his free hand on the back of her neck and pulled her to him so he could kiss her passionately on the lips.
He was never going to let her go. It was a promise he made to himself when he realized that Rocco’s bullet had not ended his life.
The Curiosity Shop: A comedy of errors about witchcraft Page 13
