Sean put the car in gear. “Then we’re representing a fugitive.”
38
But now I am cabined, cribbed, confined, bound in, to saucy doubts and fears.
MACBETH, ACT 3, SCENE 4
Ted arrived at the Richardson house behind an ambulance, which parked beside the cottage. Two EMTs hurried in. Ted ran up the steps to the main house and rang the doorbell. No one answered, and he peered through the sidelight into the dark foyer. He decided to try the cottage. A nurse’s aide who had been on duty one evening with Sarah came out the door carrying a thick folder.
“What’s wrong with Baxter?” Ted asked.
“He has pneumonia. Both lungs. They’re taking him to the hospital to start him on oxygen and monitor his vitals more closely. The internist has already begun a high dose of antibiotics.”
Ted could see into the cottage. Baxter lay on his back with an IV pole beside him.
“Which hospital?”
“Santee. There’s no point taking him farther away. They can do everything locally that could be tried in Charleston.” The aide shook her head. “It’s a shame. He was starting to turn the corner.”
“How bad is it?”
“Very bad. He doesn’t have much pulmonary function left, and he’s losing the little he has. They’ll do more tests at the hospital.”
“Is his wife here?”
“No. The doctor called her. She’s on her way back from Charleston.”
“Oh, I see.”
So Rena’s return to Santee was linked to concern for her husband, not fear for herself.
“And his father?”
“I’m not sure if he’s been notified yet. But the family will eventually be contacted so they can come to the hospital.”
“It’s that serious?”
The aide nodded.
Ted looked again through the door of the cottage. He wasn’t sure what to think. The aide spoke.
“I was on duty with Sarah Locklear one day when you played and she sang, and I read in the chart that you’ve been back recently. It’s beautiful what you’ve done for him. I’ve never heard anything like it. I’ve pecked away on the piano since I was a kid, but you have a special gift. If I’m ever seriously ill, I hope you will play for me.”
An EMT came out of the cottage and opened the back door of the ambulance. Now, no one seemed in a hurry. They acted like mortuary workers picking up a corpse. Ted and the aide stepped aside as they wheeled Baxter past. The young man’s face was ashen; his eyes closed. Ted had seen a similar pasty appearance before—on people at the edge of death.
A sudden wave of emotion swept over Ted, and his eyes stung with tears. He cared, and not just about the investment of his musical gift or the hours spent at the cottage. He’d invested his whole heart and soul in seeing Baxter Richardson healed. But it had been in vain. The EMTs lifted the gurney into the ambulance. Ted rubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. The aide saw him.
“I know. It’s sad. We’ve done everything we can to care for him, but in the end it’s not in our hands.” She pointed up. “It’s in his.”
The ambulance rolled down the driveway. No lights flashed or siren screamed. Ted left the aide and went into the empty cottage. The state-of-the-art hospital bed was empty, the room itself hopeless. Ted’s emotions shriveled in the stale atmosphere. Baxter had left behind the aroma of death. There was no hope here. There was no hope where Baxter was going. There was no hope for Baxter Richardson on the other side of his last breath.
Ted returned to his truck. He sat behind the steering wheel, leaned his head against the back glass, and closed his eyes. He couldn’t argue with the justice of Baxter’s fate. Rena’s husband deserved whatever happened to him. But the signs of restoration—waking up from the coma, the slight movement in hand and foot—bore the marks of divine intervention. In some ways it would be easier to face total failure than grapple with modest success cruelly snatched away.
Ted sighed. Why would the Lord touch Baxter and then withdraw? God is good, but his ways are not our ways. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. Ted would probably never grasp the complex enigma of healing either.
The sound of a car entering the driveway interrupted his thoughts. A black limousine parked in front of the cottage, and the driver opened the rear door. Rena stepped out. The nurse on duty came out to see her. The two women talked briefly, and then Rena put her hands over her face. Ted waited, not wanting to intrude. The nurse returned to the cottage, and the limo left. Rena walked slowly toward the house. Ted got out and stood in the driveway. Rena came up to him.
“I’m sorry,” he said.
Rena’s eyes were red, but she wasn’t crying. “I don’t know how much more I can take. I’m so confused.”
Ted considered putting his arm around her shoulders but decided the gesture was outside the propriety of his current role.
Rena moved closer to the truck. “It helped the other day to talk to you and know that you believed me. Before we filed the petition to terminate Baxter’s life support, I had to forgive him for what he did to me at the waterfall. Alexia and I talked about it, and she made sure I wasn’t motivated by anything except what I believed Baxter would want me to do. But when you talked to him and he accused me of deliberately pushing him, every negative thought and fear has flared back up. Now it’s hard to let go of the hate. How could he be so evil?”
Ted just listened.
“Part of me wants him to die and get out of my life. Another part wants to divorce him and run away. A third part wants him to wake up and ask for my forgiveness.”
Ted paused for a second before speaking. “If he did wake up and ask your forgiveness, would you give it to him?”
Rena looked into Ted’s eyes. “I don’t know.”
“I don’t know if I could either. But it’s important for you to forgive him even if he dies and never has the chance to ask for forgiveness. No one in your position could do this in her own strength. It takes the power of God’s grace to forgive when there’s no reason to do so. But that is what God did for us. The Bible says that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. We didn’t deserve it, but he did it anyway.”
Rena nodded.
Ted continued. “Have you ever asked God to forgive you for your sins?”
“Sure, a bunch of times.”
Rena’s glib response threw Ted off guard.
“Uh, well, that’s what you can do for Baxter. Forgive him a bunch of times.”
“It’s easier to think about now that he’s so sick. When he was waking up and threatening me, I wanted to lash out at him.” Rena looked past Ted’s shoulder. “I’m thinking about divorcing Baxter, but I know it’s probably not the right thing to do. Do you think I should stay with him?”
Even though his own divorce was initiated by his wife, Ted always felt vulnerable when someone brought up the topic of divorce and asked his opinion.
“I guess it depends on whether he would be a threat to harm you in the future.”
“Only with his mouth. His body is broken. Alexia says it’s my choice whether to stay married or file for divorce.”
“Maybe we can talk about that later when Alexia is with us.”
“I’d like that.” She turned her full gaze into the minister’s eyes. “Talking to you has a way of calming me down.”
“I’m glad.”
“Did you come today to play for Baxter?” she asked. “I enjoyed listening to you at the church.”
“No,” Ted answered. He wasn’t adept at subterfuge. “Alexia phoned from Charleston and asked me to check on you. She was worried when you left the courthouse without letting her know where you were going.”
“Oh, I should have told her, but she was in a hearing, and I didn’t want to interrupt. Did she tell you what happened?”
“No, but she was concerned that you might have gotten scared and run away.”
“Of course not. I don’t have any reason to flee.” Rena straightened her shoulde
rs. “I have to face the future, no matter what it brings.”
A Santee police car pulled to the end of the driveway and slowed down. Ted leaned his head to see where it stopped. Rena turned around.
“What do they want?” she asked with irritation.
“Do you want me to find out?”
“Yes.”
“I’ll go ask. Wait here.”
Ted walked down the long driveway. He glanced back once at Rena, who had moved toward the front door of the house. She glanced at Ted before going inside. Ted approached the policeman, an older man with iron-gray hair cut in a flattop, and introduced himself.
“Is there a problem?” Ted asked.
“Not at the moment.”
Ted waited for further explanation but none came.
“Are you coming up to the house?” he asked.
“No more questions, Reverend. You’re free to come and go, but you might want to leave.”
The officer raised the window of the car. Ted, certain the officer’s presence had something to do with the warrant Alexia had mentioned, slowly retraced his steps toward the house. He had no role to play in the legal process and considered taking the officer’s advice to leave. But he’d promised to stay with Rena until Alexia arrived. He walked up the steps and rang the doorbell. Rena opened the door a crack and peeked out.
“The officer wouldn’t tell me why he’s here.”
Rena put her index finger to her lips. “Don’t talk here,” she whispered. “Come into the kitchen.”
Ted followed her into the house.
“There is a bug and camera in the living room,” Rena said in a soft voice as soon as they were in the kitchen. “Jeffrey had it installed.”
“Why would he do that?”
“Because he’s as bad or worse than Baxter.”
Ted’s face revealed his skepticism.
“You don’t believe me, do you?” she asked. “I guess Alexia hasn’t told you anything about what they’re trying to do to me.”
“We don’t talk about her clients.”
Rena stepped closer to him. “I could tell you things about the Richardson family that—”
Rena’s cell phone chirped from the counter beside the sink. She picked it up and answered.
“Yes, I’m at home. Baxter has pneumonia, and they’ve taken him to the hospital. That’s why I left the courthouse. The doctor called me while I was waiting for you in the snack bar. What happened in court?”
As Rena listened, Ted saw her eyes widen.
“What do you mean, that’s not all?” she asked, her voice rising rapidly in volume.
There was another, longer pause. Rena’s lips began to quiver.
“He’s coming here! No!”
Another pause. “Is he going to arrest me? I’d rather die!”
Rena bit her lip and stared straight ahead.
“Uh, there is a police officer at the end of the driveway right now. Ted tried to talk to him, but he wouldn’t tell him anything. How soon will you be here?”
Rena listened for a few more seconds and then clicked off the phone.
“Do you know what’s going on?” she asked frantically, running her fingers through her hair.
“Some of it.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Rena’s voice accused.
Ted stepped back. “Alexia asked me to let her tell you. She’s your lawyer and can tell you a lot more than I could. She also asked me to make sure you were okay until she arrived.”
“Okay?” Rena practically screamed. “What is okay about this? I’m going to die!”
Ted responded in a soft voice. “You’ve got to believe that the truth will come out. Remember what you told me a few minutes ago.”
Rena gave him a blank stare.
“That you would face your future, no matter what it brings.”
Rena turned away and looked out the window over the sink. “He’s here!” she cried out, pounding the metal sink with both hands. “Standing beside the police car!”
Rena moved away from the window and sat down at the kitchen table. She put her head in her hands and began to moan. Ted looked out the window and saw a short, slightly chubby, bald man in a brown suit talking to the police officer.
“No, no, no!” she said over and over.
Ted didn’t move to comfort her. Words wouldn’t penetrate this situation. He began to pray silently. Looking outside, he saw Alexia’s car roll to a stop behind his truck. The lawyer got out and waited for the man in the brown suit to join her. They talked in the driveway and then walked together toward the front door. The doorbell chimed.
“Do you want me to answer the door?” Ted asked Rena.
“No, no, no,” she continued to moan. She dropped her head to the table with a low thud.
Ted left her and went into the foyer. He glanced over his shoulder into the living room, wondering about the location of the video camera. He opened the door and faced Alexia and the man in the brown suit.
“Where is she?” Alexia asked.
“In the kitchen. She’s very upset.”
Alexia turned to the man in the brown suit. “I’ll get her.”
Alexia left Ted with Giles Porter. They introduced themselves, but it seemed unnatural to Ted—shaking hands and exchanging names while Rena writhed in the throes of a psychological meltdown. They waited in silence. Several minutes passed. Ted continued to pray. Porter stepped back onto the front stoop and stared across the yard. Alexia returned with Rena, eyes barely open, leaning on Alexia’s arm.
“We’re ready to go,” Alexia said.
Porter stepped forward and put the warrant in Rena’s right hand. She didn’t grasp the paper, and it fell to the floor. Porter didn’t pick it up.
“Ms. Richardson, this is a warrant for your arrest charging you with felony assault and battery with intent to kill Baxter Calhoun Richardson. Come with me.”
39
A sound of cornered-animal fear and hate.
ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST
Ezra Richardson slowly replaced the phone receiver in its cradle. He buzzed his secretary.
“Is Jeffrey in his office?”
“I’m not sure, Mr. Richardson. I’ll check and let you know.”
Ezra turned in his chair and looked out the window at the sunny afternoon. A pair of workers in white uniforms left the manufacturing facility and walked across the parking lot. He could see smiles on their faces. One of the men laughed. A knock sounded on his door.
“Come in!”
His secretary stuck her head inside. “He’s coming up the stairs. Do you want to see him?”
“Yes. Send him in immediately.”
Ezra stared unseeing across the room. Neither the fine paintings on the wall nor the imported marble bust on a stand drew his eye. The healthy balance sheet on his desk gave him no satisfaction. The door opened without a knock, and Jeffrey strode in, straight from the golf course. He took off his golf visor and tossed it on a leather chair.
“What is it?” he asked.
“Sit down.”
Jeffrey plopped down across from the desk.
“They’re taking Baxter to the Santee hospital and want us to come. He has pneumonia. I just got off the phone with his internist. It’s very serious.”
“Pneumonia is treatable,” Jeffrey scoffed. “It’s like a bad case of the flu.”
“According to his doctor, it’s the most life-threatening problem he’s faced since the fall.”
Jeffrey’s expression sobered. “Okay. I’ll clean up and meet you at the hospital.” He stood to go.
“Sit down,” Ezra replied with an authority that caused Jeffrey to immediately lower himself into his seat. “I had another phone call that we need to discuss here, not at the hospital.”
The older man fixed his gaze on his son until Jeffrey gave a nervous laugh.
“So, what was it about?” Jeffrey asked.
“We’ve both been fools,” Ezra replied grimly. “Especially yo
u.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nicholas Valese lost his job.”
“Really?” Jeffrey cleared his throat. “I talked to him a couple of days ago.”
“And his boss also lost his job. Apparently neither of them will ever work again.”
Jeffrey paled. “They’re dead?”
“And your link with them is out in the open.”
Jeffrey looked around the room.
Ezra spoke in a softer voice. “Jeffrey, I’m your father. If I didn’t want to save your hide, would I be talking to you?”
Jeffrey’s shoulders slumped. Ezra continued.
“Baxter is on the brink of death, and even if he lives, what kind of life will he have? My hope for the future is in you, not him. I have control of this company, not because of the number of shares I own, but because of the people on my side. Don’t try to buck the status quo. If you’re patient, you’ll get everything you want. Otherwise, I can’t protect you.”
Jeffrey swallowed.
“Are you listening to me?”
“Yes.”
“And Rena has been playing us against one another like schoolboys. Do you know about the criminal investigation against her in Charleston?”
“I knew it might happen. It has to do with a—”
Ezra interrupted with an edge in his voice. “Surveillance videotape. She told me all about your petty blackmail. An hour ago, a judge in Charleston ordered her lawyer to turn over the tape to a grand jury. We have to distance ourselves from her and cut off all support and contact.”
“Yes, sir.”
Ezra paused for effect. “She told me about your plan to file suit against some of our shell companies.”
Jeffrey’s anger flared. “That little traitor!”
Ezra’s fist came down hard on the desk. “No! You’re the one to blame! She’s a mountain hick in a pretty shell who wouldn’t know how to find her way across a street unless someone pointed her in the right direction. But she’s passed along information to her lawyer. That’s who I’m worried about. What information did you give Lindale?”
“Just a list of names. Nothing else.”
“Which ones?”
“There were ten.”
Jeffrey counted off the companies on his fingers. When he reached MetBack, Ezra exploded. “You idiot! Why did you list them?”
Life Everlasting Page 36
