Have to talk to her face to face before it’s too late.
He arranged to have three days off, threw some clothes in a suitcase, and was out the door.
In the Porsche, he checked his watch. The plane for SF left in a couple of hours. He had just enough time to make the Tucson airport, buy a ticket, and check in.
Abby reached through the car window and placed a hand on his shoulder. “I hear you’re going to San Francisco. Is that true?”
“Yeah. I’m sorry. Can’t talk about it now. Got to get moving or I’ll miss my flight.”
“Are you going to see Gina?”
“Yes.” He put a hand on hers. “I need to try to put everything back together again.”
“We’ve been good together, Harry.” Abby looked into his eyes; there was just a hint of a smile,
“You’ve been a great friend. If things had been different ... if they were ...” He shrugged.
“Yeah, if only you weren’t still in love with Gina.”
“Something like that.” He started the car. “Listen, I really need to get out of here. We’ll talk again when I get back.”
“Sure,” she said, stepping back.
“See you later.”
As he pulled away, he heard her shout, “Come back, Harry! Please come back!”
Chapter 29
Russell hurried through Ridgewood. The corridors were crawling with medical personnel— and there were rumors that more beds would have to be set up in the hallways. The whole city’s medical system was drowning in sick people.
He’d heard there were no hospital beds available anywhere in Ridgewood, perhaps even in all of San Francisco.
He wanted to run but his legs wouldn’t move fast enough to escape the horrible blast of sound that followed him everywhere.
It was the roar of an angry carnivore, running loose and chasing him from room to room, from floor to floor. He was surrounded by urgent voices of doom, surrounded by fear, surrounded by panic. His chest was caving under the crush of people.
Stop! You’re killing me!
The overhead speakers blasted constant requests for Code Blue teams and “Dr. Gray,” the emissary of death.
Moaning, coughing, gasping resounded everywhere, like the sounds of the dying animals his foster dad insisted he help butcher.
Listen to them. Listen! Listen! They’re dying. Say it! They’re dying!
Todd would repeat it over and over until Russell’s ears heard nothing but the grunts, the cries, the last breaths of the hunted, doomed creatures in the woods. Todd made Russell kill, kill all the wounded creatures that quieted only when their blood drained away.
Everyone suffers until their blood drains away.
Russell hurried into the nearest restroom, locked himself in a stall, and covered his ears with shaking hands.
Get away from me, Todd. I don’t want to do it anymore!
A voice cut through the noise in his head. “Are you all right in there? Do you need some help?”
Russell rubbed hard at his ears, forced his eyes open. “Yeah, I’m good ... stomach problems.”
“Well ... long as you’re okay.”
He heard the outside door to the restroom squeak shut. A sudden whoosh of air slid past his neck and down his shirt. It left behind an icy chill that crawled down his spine.
The Presence was with him. Here, in the stall.
He shook his head and the roar quieted. The Presence quieted the noise.
Why don’t you show yourself? I need to see you, know that you’re real.
He picked up his work tray, surprised because he couldn’t remember setting it down on the floor. He left the stall, went to the sink, and splashed cold water on his face again and again. He pulled several paper towels to dab his face dry.
He was in control again. He took a deep breath and slipped back out into the hallway traffic.
* * *
The laboratory was a madhouse. So many people were waiting to have their blood drawn; the line snaked down the corridor, spilled over into the x-ray area.
Rod looked at him, but instead of being angry, as Russell had assumed would be, his manager appeared relieved to see him. Russell set his tray on the counter and waited for whatever was going to happen next.
“Man, am I glad you’re back,” Rod said. “We have three or four patients that I swear don’t have any veins. I have them waiting for your magic touch.”
“I’ll be there in a moment,” Russell said.
“Three of the staff are out sick, can you believe that? The patient load has become impossible to handle. How is it out on the floors?”
“Pretty bad. People are everywhere you look.” Russell chuckled softly.
They all need to have their blood drained.
Rod gave him a strange look and said, “Well, maybe you’d better get to it, Russell. We need to get these people out of here to make room for more.”
Russell took a couple of deep breaths and carefully restocked his tray in case he was called out to the floors again. He walked over to the drawing area, where all six chairs were filled with patients waiting to give their blood for a variety of tests.
He smiled at the first person in line.
Chapter 30
The ER was like a battlefield—bodies everywhere. Gina thought if she saw one more person with pneumonia, she would scream.
Many of those who came through triage probably should have been hospitalized. Most of the younger ones were given IV antibiotics for their secondary infections and send home with prescriptions.
She’d been working twelve hours straight and was out the door before they could try to talk her into staying another hour, or more. It was a good thing she hadn’t come in Brad’s car or she would need to take a bus home. She didn’t think she could handle that.
When she slid into the Fiat, she rested her head on the steering wheel for a moment. Now that she’d slowed down, she realized she wasn’t feeling so great herself.
Get on with it, Mazzio. Go home, have some hot soup, take a hot shower, and crawl into bed. You’ll be fine. After a good night’s sleep, you’ll be ready for tomorrow.
She drove in a daze; the only thing that kept her awake was a pounding headache that was impossible to ignore. She parked her car and walked the short distance to the apartment complex.
Brad was standing beside the entrance, waiting for her. He held out a hand. “Hey, how are you doing?”
“Not too good, really. I hope I’m not coming down with this horrible bug.”
“Come on. I’ll walk you upstairs.” He took hold of her arm and they went through the entrance door. She leaned heavily on him as she forced herself up the flight of stairs.
“Brad, I’d ask you in but I’m really too done in. Tomorrow, okay?”
She’d barely got the key in the apartment door when it opened suddenly; she almost fell into her apartment.
Harry.
“What ...” Gina backed up a step, glared at him. “You have one hell of a nerve showing up here like this.”
“You’re Harry Lucke, right?” Brad said. “I’ve met you before.” He held out a hand to shake.
“And your name?” Harry’s voice was crisp, icy; he ignored the hand being offered to him.
Gina patted Brad’s shoulder. “Thanks for seeing me upstairs. I’ll see you tomorrow, Brad.” She kissed him on the cheek, stepped into the apartment, and closed the door behind her.
“What in hell are you doing here, Harry?”
He pulled her into his arms and squeezed her to him. “Baby, I missed you so much. I had to see you.”
“Where’s Jenni?”
“She went to bed.”
Gina stepped around him, her heart pounding wildly. She set her huge purse on the sofa. She ignored him and walked into the kitchen, poured a can of minestrone soup into a sauce pan, and put it on the stove to heat.
Harry followed her to the kitchen and leaned against the door frame.
Gina turned and gave him
her full attention. “Was I not clear about our situation when I spoke to you on the phone?” A chill raced down her spine, leaving her tense and angry.
“Gina, we’ve been together for more than four years. Did you think I’d let you go without a fight?”
“Did Jenni put you up to this?”
“I did talk to Jenni ... so what?” He sat down at the kitchen table and looked up at her.
“So, it’s none of her damn business.”
Jenni walked into the room, towing her suitcase.
“Gina, I know I’ve interfered. Maybe that’s unforgivable in your eyes, but you don’t realize how fortunate you are to have someone like Harry. I was only trying to help.”
Gina wanted to reach out and slap her in the face, tell her she never wanted to see her again.
Why does everyone think they know what I need better than I do?
“Well, you need to wise up, Jenni. Really, get it straight once and for all. All you did was make things worse.”
“I was only trying to help.”
“Did Helen or Vinnie have a part in this?” Gina asked.
Jenni’s face was scrubbed clean of makeup, her dark eyes were large and fearful. “I spoke to them. They told me to leave things alone, that you would make your own decisions. But—”
“—But you couldn’t keep your two cents worth out of how you think I should live my life.”
Jenni said nothing. Her silence was like a heavy blanket smothering the air in the room.
“I think packing your stuff was an excellent idea.” Gina picked up a spoon and stirred her soup before her gaze cut back to Jenni again. “Just go!”
“Gina, maybe you ought to reconsider,” Harry said. “It’s not her fault. I’m the one who asked about you. Asked all the questions.”
“She didn’t have to answer or interfere in my life. And maybe it’s time you left, too, Harry.”
Gina stared at him, then at Jenni. Tears streamed down Jenni’s cheeks. Harry looked like he was in shock. Gina knew she would regret it, regret what she was doing. But right now, she didn’t care.
Harry stared back at her. Jenni quietly pulled her suitcase out of the kitchen.
“Both of you ... go!”
* * *
Jenni felt like an idiot as she walked with Harry down the steps. It had been really stupid to interfere in Gina’s life. She shouldn’t have said a word to Harry about Gina’s dating.
Dumb, dumb, dumb. That’s what happens when you don’t have a life of your own.
“I’m sorry, Jenni,” Harry said. “It’s my fault you had to leave.”
“No, Gina was right. She told me to butt out. I refused to listen, stuck my nose in where it didn’t belong.”
They walked together to Jenni’s car.
Harry’s face was drawn and unhappy. “So, Brad is the one she dated? I met him once before, and as much as I hate to say it, he seems like a nice guy.”
“He is nice.”
“And good looking, too, dammit.”
They reached her car. Harry threw her suitcase into the trunk and stepped back up onto the sidewalk.
“Can I give you a lift someplace, Harry?”
“That would be great.” He threw his shoulder bag into the trunk next to her things.
“Where are you headed?” she asked.
“I’ll probably stay with Helen and Vinnie,” he said. “They’re not too far from here.” He gave her directions and they took off. “Why were you staying with Gina?”
“Some creep from work has been stalking me; she offered to let me stay with her for a while.”
“Hell, Jenni. I wouldn’t mess with that. Go to the police and get some help.”
“If it keeps up, I will.”
“There it is!” He pointed. “That’s Helen and Vinnie’s complex. You can double park while I get my things.”
She pulled the latch to open the trunk; he got out and grabbed his bag. “I really hope things work out, Harry,” she said.
He gave her a quick hug. “I do, too. Thanks for the ride.”
* * *
Helen served Vinnie a bowl of hot chicken noodle soup, then sat down at the kitchen table next to Harry.
She watched Vinnie spoon-toy with the noodles, picking them up and letting them slide fall back into the bowl without ever taking a bite. It was irritating her, but she bit her lip to keep from saying anything.
“Sorry you’re sick,” Harry said. “Damn, you look terrible. I guess you’ve got what’s hitting everyone else so hard.”
“Hey, man, don’t worry about me. I’m getting better. Really.”
Helen let out a long sigh. “If you don’t start eating that soup, Vinnie Mazzio, I’m going to dump it on your head.” She picked up the chicken sandwich she’d fixed for herself and Harry, took a big mouthful and glared at Vinnie. “Eat the soup!” she said with a full mouth.
“She’s beautiful when she gets her Irish up, isn’t she?” Vinnie gave her a brilliant, toothy smile.
Harry was sipping on a glass of chardonnay and, like Vinnie, was barely eating.
“This is great of you guys to put up with me. I don’t know what I’m going to do now. My whole life has been wrapped around Gina. She’s all I really care about.”
He looked away, but Helen saw his eyelids were rimmed with tears.
“I love my work, but Gina ... I need her ... need her to breathe.”
“Focus on the now, Harry,” Vinnie said. “That’s one of the major things I’ve been getting out of therapy. As long as I remember to do that, it helps quiet the noises in my head.”
“So things are going well with your sessions?”
“I’m not as angry, or as scared, but it’s all still with me. I can’t stop thinking about those guys in my crew that I left behind. I can’t stop feeling that I deserted them ... they’re there, I’m not. I can’t let that go.”
“At least the nightmares have gotten less and less,” Helen said, reaching across the table to take his hand.
“I have to thank you again for that, Harry. And you, too, baby,” he said to Helen. He smiled at her, picked up his spoon and took a spoonful of soup into his mouth. “But I’ll never figure out why a bunch of miserable, traumatized men and women spilling their guts makes all of us feel better.”
“No one can get it like they do,” Harry said. “Sharing traumatic experiences is healing. And there’s always someone who’s had it worse than you.”
Vinnie took another shot at the chicken soup. “What are you going to do about Gina?”
“I don’t know where to begin. How to make her listen.” Harry lifted his wine glass and took a large gulp. “I mean she’s already dating Brad Rizzo. Jeez! What if he hurts her?”
“He’s a nice guy,” Helen said. “I know that’s not what you want to hear, but she’s been so down; he’s been good for her. “Have you considered dating again?”
“Honestly, I have thought about it. I work with a great gal and when I needed a friend to talk to, she was there. We spend a lot of time together. But she wants a lot more than I can give ... to her, or anyone else, except Gina.”
“Gina loves you, Harry,” Vinnie said. “I don’t doubt that for a second. But I’m her brother; I saw it all ... saw how Dominick treated her. He destroyed a part of her, changed her in so many ways. It’s not only soldiers who suffer from PTSD.”
“Yeah, I know,” Harry said. “She still has those horrible nightmares. Gina’s a pretty tough person and can handle most things, but those dreams really beat her down.”
“They’re quite a pair of siblings,” Helen said. “One goes off to Afghanistan, one stays in the Bronx, and they both end up a mess.”
“Listen to me, Harry,” Vinnie said, “If you want to win her back, you have to be willing to take her the way she is.”
“Don’t I do that?” Harry ran a hand across his eyes. “I’m in love with her. I’m always there for her.”
“Not if you keep hounding her about getting m
arried,” Helen said. “Why can’t you just be with her ... be her lover ... be her friend?”
Harry bowed his head. “I’ll do anything.” He looked up at the both of them. “Do you hear me? Anything. But how can I make her stop thinking about Dominick, stop her from thinking he’s going to kill her ... kill me?”
“If I knew, if I could think of a way, I’d tell you, man,” Vinnie said.
Chapter 31
Jenni walked into her apartment. Everything seemed to be all right. She felt really dumb about overreacting. Russell was probably following her just to frighten her.
Must be something wrong with me to torment a rapist.
She set her suitcase down on the end of the bed and unpacked. She carried her things to the dresser and when she opened the drawers, everything was a mess.
She stared at it for a moment, shrugged, blamed it on having packed in such a hurry.
After she put everything away, she still felt something was off. She couldn’t pinpoint what it was.
Standing silently in her bedroom, she listened, turning her head from side to side.
Nothing.
Maybe she was simply nervous about being alone again. She’d never thought of her place as empty or minded living alone ... until now.
It was nice staying with Gina, having a friend to talk to at the end of the day.
Guess it’s back to the television for company.
She wandered into the kitchen and started searching for something to eat.
Screw it! I’ll order out. Pizza.
She pulled out a delivery menu from a local pizza parlor. As she scanned through the menu food items, she absently opened the fridge.
Inside, a dead rabbit stared back at her, eyes bugging out, its pelt covered in blood.
* * *
What’s Harry doing here in San Francisco? Why can’t he leave me alone?
Gina was numb standing in the shower, relentless hot water pounding every part of her as she turned and turned. The steamy heat loosened her muscles and the tight, twisting knot in her stomach began to ease.
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