Shadowed by a Spy

by Marilyn Turk

  Attendants and nurses were running down the hall to the ward when Lexie stepped off the elevator.

  “What’s going on?” she asked the person closest to her as she scrambled to catch up with the others.

  “One of the patients just had a violent outburst and started knocking things over.”

  Who could it be? Claude Graham, who’d had the shock treatments? Or a new patient?

  She entered the ward and joined the throng of medical personnel clustered near one of the beds. Not being able to see for the people in front of her, she tapped one of the other nurses on the shoulder. “Which patient is it?”

  “John Doe, you know, the wounded soldier with the broken arm.”

  Lexie’s mouth dropped open. It couldn’t be. Not him. He was too nice, and he was always calm. There must be a mistake, and the nurse was talking about another patient. Edging her way closer, she managed to get a look as attendants strapped down the angry, yelling man. Head Nurse Addams held up the glass syringe, forced out the air, then inserted the needle into the man’s arm, held still by an attendant. Seconds dragged by until the man calmed, and those holding him released their grip.

  “Thank you. You may leave now. The medicine will keep him sedated.” The nurse directed her comment to the others who had helped restrain the patient. As they left the room, Lexie moved closer to the bed until she was on the opposite side from the nurse. John Doe gazed at her with eyes beginning to fade as the drug took effect.

  “What happened?” Lexie whispered to the head nurse.

  “He had an outburst like a temper tantrum. This often happens with head injuries.” They both gazed at the patient. “Apparently, when his head was struck, it created an injury that has delayed effects.”

  Lexie shook her head in disbelief and touched John Doe’s arm. “He was so quiet and relaxed the last time I saw him.”

  John Doe glanced back and forth between the two nurses. He looked sad and apologetic.

  Nurse Addams patted him on the shoulder. “You’ll be feeling better now, Mr. Doe.”

  As the other nurse walked away from the bed, Lexie remained standing near it, still gazing at the patient. He tried to lift his hand, but the restraints held it down. She touched it gently, wishing she could remove the straps but knew she shouldn’t.

  “I’m thirsty,” he whispered.

  Lexie glanced around his bed and noticed that the water pitcher had been knocked to the floor, spilling water out on the tiles. She walked over and picked it up.

  “I’ll go get you some water.”

  She hurried outside to the faucet, filled the pitcher, then found a paper cup. She grabbed a towel out of the utility room before returning to John Doe’s bedside.

  “I’ll have to hold the cup for you.” She poured some water into the cup and brought it to the man’s mouth, lifting his head slightly with the other hand. He drank thirstily, then his head fell back on the pillow.

  “Thank you,” he said, his words slurring as the medicine worked through his system.

  “You’re welcome.” Lexie managed a smile, her heart reaching out to the man she thought she had begun to understand.

  “I was thirsty.”

  “Yes, I can see that. Do you want more?”

  He shook his head. “Before. Couldn’t lift pitcher.”

  His meaning dawned on her. “You tried to get the water and you couldn’t?”

  He gave a slight nod. “Made me mad. Sorry,” he mumbled before his eyes closed.

  So that was why he was angry. He was frustrated when he couldn’t get to the water. But why such an outburst? Surely, it was the head wound. Sadness weighed her down as she knelt and mopped up the water on the floor with the towel. Would this kind of outburst happen again?

  Lexie left the room and found Nurse Addams.

  “I found out what happened,” she told the nurse.

  The nurse’s brows puckered. “What happened?”

  “John Doe. The reason for his outburst. He had tried to get water, but he couldn’t lift the pitcher, so he got angry. I believe he reacted out of frustration.”

  “He told you this?” The nurse crossed her arms, tilting her head.

  “Yes.” Lexie told her about the man’s request for water and what he’d said. “Do you think his overreaction is from the head wound?”

  “More than likely. I’ve seen this kind of thing happen before. But I think we might see more of it as we get more men injured in battle.”

  “Does it go away?”

  “Who knows? Maybe it will, and maybe it won’t.”

  “So what can we do about it? Do we have to keep him restrained?”

  “For now, we do. And we’ll have to observe him. If he settles down when the drug wears off, we’ll remove the restraints.”

  “But what about his cast? Shouldn’t that be coming off soon?”

  “The doctor talked about removing it by the end of the week. But he could hurt himself if he goes into another rage and hits something with the arm.”

  “And what if these outbursts continue? What will we do then? Keep him in restraints and continue to sedate him?”

  “We’d probably administer electric shock therapy. That procedure might take care of his problem.”

  Lexie’s heart sank, hearing what she’d expected to hear but dreading the direction the treatment could take. He’d been making progress, and she hoped to see it continue. But now, she wondered if it would. Tonight was going to be a long night.

  Russell tossed his leather bag on the mattress of the metal cot in the base barracks of Middle Wallop, a Royal Air Force base joint-operated with the US Army Air Corps. He glanced around the long room where identical metal beds lined up in facing rows. Each bed was draped with an olive-drab wool blanket covering white sheets and a pillow. A succession of windows spaced ten feet apart ran the length of the room, though curtains covered them, allowing minimal daylight to seep in. Well, it certainly isn’t the Hotel Martinique. He rubbed his hands together against the chill of the sparsely furnished space.

  The other band members drifted in, scanning the room before selecting their own beds.

  “Well, here we are in Middle Wallop, wherever the heck that is! I have to admit, I’ve stayed in worse places.” Harry, one of the trombone players, put his instrument case beside his chosen bed. “At least this place is clean.”

  “Hey, this isn’t bad for army barracks. Some of them have bunk beds.” Artie ambled in and leaned against the wall. “It’ll do for the short time we’re here. Be thankful we’re not in a war zone.”

  Russell studied the layout of the room, trying to see it through a soldier’s eyes. This is where he’d be sent before going into combat. These cots would probably be quite welcoming after a hard day of training.

  “Is there a heater in this room?” One of the band members sneezed. “Man, it’s cold in here.”

  “There’s a little stove down at the end. Can’t imagine it’ll warm the whole building, though.”

  Artie laughed. “Hey, guys. Remember, this is June. We’re not supposed to need a heater.”

  “Yeah, well, I don’t think England has a summer. Looks like winter out there to me—gray and damp.” Harry nodded toward the outside.

  “I hear it’s like this all the time,” said Artie. “If you want to complain, you should go see the king and see if he can do something about it.”

  “Think he’d like to come hear us play?”

  Artie chuckled and said, “Sure, why not?”

  “Hey, maybe we can rustle up some coffee,” Louie, a sax player, commented from across the room.

  Artie crossed his arms and shook his head. “I think you’re going to have to acquire a taste for tea. Coffee’s not too popular around here.” Artie pulled out a pamphlet from his inside jacket pocket. “According to this Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain, ‘The British don’t know how to make a good cup of coffee. You don’t know how to make a good cup of tea. It’s an even swap.’”
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  Harry groaned. “Don’t think I’ll survive without my morning coffee.” He lay down on his cot, putting his hands under his head. “The bed’s not bad, long as you don’t roll over.”

  “Say, let me see that. Where’d you get it?” Louie asked, reaching for the booklet.

  “The sergeant who picked us up at the plane gave it to me. I guess he thinks we need to read it.” Artie handed it to Louie.

  “Hey, guys, listen to this,” said Louie. “’While in Great Britain, your slogan should be, ‘It is always impolite to criticize your hosts; it is militarily stupid to criticize your allies.’ Hear that, Harry? Don’t be impolite or stupid, okay?”

  “Sure thing, Louie. You remember that too.”

  Sal, one of the trumpet players, strolled up from his cot at the other end of the room. “I saw a pub on the way here. What say we go get a good beer and some food? I’m starving.”

  “We’re invited to eat in the mess hall with the soldiers,” Artie said, grinning. “You don’t want to be rude, do you?”

  “Aw, c’mon, Artie! We don’t have to eat in the mess hall, do we?”

  “No, I guess not. Well, not for every meal anyway. We’ll check it out for breakfast tomorrow.”

  “You getting up that early? What time is our gig tonight?”

  “Seven. We’ll be finished by nine so the boys can get their sleep. Remember to look your best for the Stars and Stripes photographer that’s here taking pictures of the base and the soldiers.”

  “You think they’ll get a shot of us?” Louie struck a pose like a model, and the rest of the guys laughed.

  “Some of us, Louie—the handsome ones!”

  Russell sat down on his cot, taking in the banter between the guys. He smiled as they joked with each other, chuckling at some of the comments.

  “Say, Russ, you sure are quiet. What’s so funny?”

  “Oh, I was just reminiscing about my college days when I lived in a dorm. You guys sound like my college roommates.”

  “That so?” said Nick, the drummer. “Because we’re so smart?”

  The guys all laughed. “Yeah, Nick, that’s it. You’re so smart.”

  “So, Russell, think you can stand being around us all the time? Aren’t you gonna miss that pretty young thing we saw you with at the Martinique?”

  Russell nodded. “Of course I will.” He looked around at the men. “Didn’t any of you leave someone behind?”

  Heads bobbed in agreement. “Sure did,” said Harry. “I got a girl back home too. But she’s okay with me coming over here, you know, doing my part in the war.”

  Artie spoke up. “That’s why we’re here. Probably every guy in the army left somebody behind—sweetheart, mother, sister. If they can do it, we can too.”

  Russell wondered how Artie’s marriage stayed together with all his traveling. “Artie, you have a wife and kids, don’t you?”

  “Sure do. Jean and I have been married fifteen years. We’ve got two children, both girls.”

  “So what’s your secret? You travel all over the country. How do you keep your marriage together?”

  “Guess you could say we just know each other, understand each other. I’ve been playing music all my life—was in a band when Jean and I met in high school. In fact, she sang with my band for a few years before we settled down to raise a family. This is the life of a band, and she knows what to expect. Sure, it’s hard when I have to miss some special occasion. But I try to make it up when I can.”

  “He’s a lucky man,” said Nick. “Some women don’t like our kind of life. At least I haven’t found one that does yet.”

  “You’re not as good-looking as Artie, though,” joked Harry.

  “Maybe you just haven’t found the right girl.” Russell tried to offer encouragement. Not everyone was as fortunate as Artie. Or as he was to have found Lexie. But he wasn’t about to credit luck as the reason for him and Lexie getting together. Only God could have put someone like her in his life. And the funny thing was, they’d known each other since they were kids. They certainly knew each other well. Didn’t they? Was she happy he was doing this—happy for him like she said she was? Or was she just saying that to make him feel good? He didn’t know if she’d be as understanding as Artie’s wife over the long haul. But then again, how long was he planning to do this?

  Chapter Twenty

  With Russell gone, Lexie spent the whole next day at the hospital. After classes, she went to lunch in the cafeteria with the other girls.

  “So you decided to join the underclassmen, Lexie.” Penny set her tray down on the table next to Lexie. “I can tell Russell is gone.”

  Lexie shrugged. “This isn’t the first time I’ve eaten in the cafeteria. I ate here before he left, too, you know.”

  “Not every day, like the rest of us, though. Guess you don’t have a better offer now.”

  “Oh, Penny, stop. I like hanging out with you and the other girls. I just never seem to have time to socialize with my night schedule.”

  “Yeah, I know. I’m just kidding you.” Penny took a bite of mashed potatoes and scanned the room. She nudged Lexie with her elbow and nodded to her right. “Get a load of that new intern. Not bad on the eyes.”

  Lexie’s gaze followed Penny’s to where a young man in a starched white physician’s coat stood talking to a couple of other doctors. Black-framed glasses accented his olive skin and matched his wavy dark hair, creating a mature persona that overshadowed his obvious youth. “Do you know who he is?”

  Penny nodded. “His name is Dr. Dimitri Kappas. He’s from Greece, and he’s interning over here.”

  “That’s interesting. I wonder what field of medicine he’s going into?”

  Penny shrugged and smiled. “Who cares? Isn’t he dreamy? And I like the way his name rolls off the tongue—Di-mi-tri-Kap-pas.”

  Lexie bumped her shoulder into Penny. “Have you met him yet? Wonder if he speaks English?”

  “Hmmm. I don’t know. Maybe he needs me to tutor him.”

  “In English?”

  Penny smiled wryly. “And a few other things, too, maybe.”

  “Penny! Watch out, or Nurse Harper will get you. You know we’re not supposed to fraternize with the doctors.”

  “Oh, I have no intention of fraternizing. I just want to assist him like a good nurse.”

  Lexie shook her head at her roommate. “You’re impossible.”

  “Hey, who said we couldn’t have some fun in this job? You’ve managed to squeeze Russell into your schedule.”

  The mention of Russell’s name reminded her where he was, and the feeling of abandonment returned. True, she had an advantage the other girls didn’t have, with a boyfriend so near. Most of the nursing students were from someplace other than New York City—upstate or Jersey or Massachusetts—too far away to see their boyfriends very often. Lexie felt guilty being the only one with her fiancé so close. But that advantage was over now, and she was just like the others.

  Penny searched her face. “Gee, sorry, Lex. Guess you miss Russell. Have you heard from him yet?”

  Lexie shook her head. “No, but he hasn’t been gone that long. Besides, remember the time difference? Who knows when he’d have a chance to call?”

  “So I guess you won’t be going to the diner anymore.”

  Lexie didn’t dare tell her she had gone there the day before, much less talked to Cal Miller. She wouldn’t understand. Lexie was sure of it.

  “Who knows? I might get a craving for one of Mac’s shakes.”

  “Well if you do, take me with you.”

  “So, are you going anywhere this weekend?” Lexie pushed the food around on her plate.

  “No, hadn’t planned on it. Guess I’ll just stay here. Oh! I forgot! You got a phone call last night when you were on duty.”

  Lexie’s heart rippled. “I did? Who called?”

  “One of those old ladies that lives in East Hampton, you know, the ones you stayed with before. She asked you to call her back.”


  “I wonder if anything happened. They invited me and Russell to come out for the Fourth, but … they don’t even know he’s gone.” Lexie glanced at her watch. “Hey, I’ve got time to call them, so I’ll go do that now.” Lexie stood, picked up her tray, then leaned over and whispered to Penny, “You take care of Dr. Kappas, you hear?”

  A grin spread across Penny’s face, and she scanned the room to see where the doctor had gone. When she spotted him, she nodded. “Oh, yes, ma’am, I will be happy to do that. Yes, I will.”

  Lexie hurried to drop off her used tray before leaving the cafeteria. She rushed across the street to the nurses’ residence and found another student on the phone. Lexie tried to wait patiently while the other girl chatted on with meaningless conversation, or so it seemed to Lexie, who couldn’t help but overhear. Why did they only have one phone in the whole building? Even if it was a dormitory, the nursing students weren’t children, although to tell the truth, some were straight out of high school.

  Finally, the other girl noticed Lexie waiting and hung up. The phone at the Maurice sisters’ house rang several times before anyone answered.

  “Maurice residence,” said Jane, the housekeeper.

  “Hello, Jane. This is Lexie Smithfield. I’m returning a call from one of the sisters last night. Is everything all right? Are Peg and Marian well?”

  “Yes, ma’am, they’re just fine. I’ll get them for you.”

  A few seconds passed before Peg’s voice was heard on the other end. “Lexie? Is that you?”

  “Yes, Peg, it’s me. I understand you called last night. Did you need something?”

  “Oh no, dear. Marian and I were just talking about you. We haven’t heard from you since you left a couple of weeks ago and wanted to see how you were. Did you see any of the parade? We heard it was huge. Too big for my taste, with all those crowds, but I’m sure it was very impressive.”

  “No, I missed the parade because I had to go straight to the hospital. I heard about it, though.”

  “So, how is Russell? He left here early too. I think he missed you.”

  “Russell’s fine,” she hoped. “He’s in England now with the USO.”