Code blue, p.25
Code Blue, page 25
“Great. If Henry asks any questions, let him know you will be guided once you get to the care center.” She paused to let Theresa wrap her head around the plan. “Theresa, I know this has been a very strange and bizarre experience, but trust me. Everything is going to be alright, including Aunt Dottie.”
Tears were streaming down Theresa’s face. The past week had been fraught with questions, oddities, mean-spirited people, and yet, new friends. To describe it as surreal would be an understatement. She could barely choke out the words, “I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You can thank me when we touch down in McLean. Stay calm. Stay strong. This ordeal will soon be over.”
Theresa was trembling from head to toe. “Can I call my sister and tell her we’re bringing Aunt Dottie up there?”
“Wait until our wheels are up.” Annie could only imagine the emotional roller coaster Theresa was on. “We are here for you, Theresa. And Aunt Dottie. See you later.”
Theresa could barely hold the glass of water in her hands. She took several deep breaths and waited a few minutes to get her bearings before she phoned Henry. She gave him the first part of the instructions. She would arrive at his place at 5:15, where they would move to the next phase. He was like a kid going on a new adventure. “Do I need to wear a disguise, too?”
Theresa let out a big laugh. “Only if you want to.”
Florida
Maggie phoned the hospital and asked Clara to let Jeremy know she would be picking him up. “He’s such a nice fella. I’m glad they took those cuffs off of him,” Clara said kindly.
“It was a case of mistaken identity,” Maggie offered, without going into any specific detail.
“That’s very nice of you. I’ll let him know.”
“Great. What time should I be there?”
“The doctor is doing his final rounds at eleven. I’d say one-ish, to be on the safe side.”
“Thanks, Clara. You’re a gem.”
Unbeknownst to Regina, Jeremy, Danny, and possibly Bonnie, their fate was being maneuvered by a group of loyal, kind, responsible, generous people with the utmost integrity. It would be a mere few hours before their future unfolded.
The night before, Annie phoned a friend who owned a large pharmaceutical chain in Florida. They served on several advisory boards together. It was only a matter of telling her colleague that a well-qualified pharmacist needed a job. The answer was quick. “Just tell me what town, and when,” was the response she got.
Yoko contacted one of her landscape vendors just outside of St. Augustine. She knew he was expanding his business and was looking for qualified people. Two simple recommendations from Yoko were all he needed to say yes to hire Danny as a foreman and Regina as an apprentice.
Lizzie was able to secure a position for Danny’s girlfriend Bonnie at a law firm in the same area, should she choose to go with him. The position offered more money, benefits, and the opportunity to advance. It was a no-brainer, as far as Lizzie was concerned. But the decision would be up to Bonnie, who had absolutely no clue as to what was in the offing.
Life was going to be a little topsy-turvy for the four of them, but in the best possible way.
Maggie arrived at the hospital at one. Jeremy was wearing normal clothes, his arm in a sling, with a much smaller bandage on his forehead. “Ready?”
“More than you can imagine.” Jeremy was smiling from ear to ear.
“Let’s go, champ.” Maggie wheeled him to the nurse’s station. “We’ll be on our way, Clara. Thanks for taking care of my cousin.”
“You stay out of trouble, young man,” Clara teased.
“Don’t you worry about that.” Jeremy smiled. “And, yes, thank you. You were the nicest person here.”
Maggie handed Clara a shopping bag with the See’s Candies logo. “Just a small token of our appreciation.”
“Oh, my! How did you know I love chocolate?”
Maggie jutted her chin toward Clara’s desk. “Evidence.” She winked. “Enjoy!”
Jeremy waved as Maggie rolled him into the elevator. “You really are an investigative reporter.”
“That I am.”
When they reached the main level, Maggie handed the parking attendant her ticket. A few minutes later, her rental car pulled up. Jeremy was able to get out of the wheelchair on his own. It was hospital policy to have every patient who is being discharged wheeled out of the building for safety and insurance.
On the way out of the parking lot, Maggie began to tell Jeremy about his future, and a little bit about the past. He sat dumbfounded as the words poured out of her mouth.
“So, I was set up?”
“That would be a yes,” Maggie replied.
“But why?”
“You were getting too close.”
“So now what happens?”
“You are being relocated,” Maggie said, as she looked straight ahead.
“I’m what?” There was a sense of panic in his voice.
“For your protection. No, it’s not witness protection, but we felt it would be in your best interest to distance yourself from Sunnydale. Literally and figuratively.”
“Who is we? I am really confused,” Jeremy said.
“I work with a group of people. Yes, I am a real reporter for a real newspaper. Let’s just say we help people who find themselves in a situation they did not deserve.”
Jeremy remained silent.
“I can’t go into too much detail, but when we get back to your place, you should pack what you’re going to need for a week. We’ll arrange for a shipping company to pack and move your stuff.”
“Move it to where?” he asked earnestly.
“St. Augustine. You have a new job waiting as a pharmacist for the Family Pharmacy.”
“The retail chain?”
“Yep.”
“But where am I going to live?”
“We arranged for a short-term hotel. You’ll be able to look for a new apartment once you get there.
“You’ll be going through a training period. You should be ready for full-time employment by then.”
“Who are you people?” Jeremy was insistent.
“Please don’t ask me again. You’re going to have to trust me.”
“Well, you did find a lawyer who was able to get the cuffs off.”
“Exactly.” She pulled into the driveway. “I’ll give you a hand with the necessary items.”
“How soon do I have to get out of here?”
“As soon as you’re packed.”
“But my car was totaled in the accident.”
“We have an SUV rental coming shortly.” They went inside, and Maggie worked with Jeremy to get him ready to go. An hour later, a concierge service arrived and delivered the rental. “You can look for a new car while you’re looking for a new apartment.”
Jeremy was still in a state of disbelief, but he had no other place to be. Might as well go with the flow.
Maggie helped put his suitcases in the vehicle, then handed him a slip of paper. “Here is all the information you will need. You have my phone number in case you get into trouble, but please don’t.” She grinned and tapped the roof of the car. “Good luck,” she said, as she gingerly hugged the befuddled young man.
Yoko asked Danny to drive them to the area where they were breaking ground. Once they were parked, it was her turn to advise Danny of what the future of Sunnydale might look like.
She explained that there was a lot going down, and it was in his best interest to follow her lead. Once the investigations started, it could take years for things to settle. He listened intently. He seemed to grasp every word she was saying. “The place was getting weird, especially Zhukov,” he said, nodding.
“There are very powerful people doing some very bad things.” Yoko gave him just enough information for him not to question her sincerity, especially when she handed him the paper with the name of the company he would be working for, and the address of the temporary housing. Just as he was about to mention Bonnie, Yoko told him about a job offer for her, as well.
“This is a lot to absorb.”
“I know. But I can tell you this: I was once in a terrible situation. These same people saved me and gave me my life back.”
Danny folded the paper and put it in his pocket. “When do I leave?”
“As soon as possible.”
“I’ll phone Bonnie the minute I get home.” He looked at Yoko. “This is better than lemonade.”
Yoko gave him an odd look.
“When life hands you lemons …”
“Ah. You make lemonade.” She nudged him with her elbow. “Come on. Let’s get back. We both have jobs we have to quit.”
Later That Day
Izzie waved at Regina as she arrived at the pub. Once Regina took a sip of her wine, Izzie told her what was in store for her. Regina blinked. And blinked. And blinked some more.
“Wait. Tell me again.”
Izzie ran through the plan again.
“You’re telling me that I have to move to St. Augustine?”
“I am strongly urging you to move. Sunnydale is in a lot of trouble, and we don’t want you around for the fallout.”
“Who’s we?”
“That part isn’t really important. You will hear about it in the news in a matter of a week or so. It’s in your own best interest, believe me. The doo-doo is going to hit the fan.”
Regina stared into her glass. “Wow. I have to admit, the place was getting stranger by the day.” She turned to Izzie. “What about Jeremy? He didn’t do anything wrong.”
“He’s fine.” She checked her watch. “In about an hour, he will be heading toward St. Augustine.”
“Him, too?”
“We thought it would be good for both of you to have someone you knew. An emotional support pal.” Izzie grinned.
“And I am going to be working as an apprentice for a landscaping company?”
“If you want to.”
“Wow. For sure. Wow.” She kept blinking.
“What you have to do now is go home, grab whatever you need for a week. We’ll send someone over to pack and ship your things. You’ll have temporary housing, so the sooner you can find a place to live, the sooner you’ll get all your belongings.”
“Wow. And Jeremy is going, too?”
“Correct. Maybe you guys can share a place.”
“Well, I am his pretend girlfriend,” she said, and giggled.
Izzie handed Regina a piece of paper with all the information she needed. “Now skedaddle.” Izzie got up, paid the check, and gave Regina a big hug. “Let me know when you arrive in St. Augustine.”
“Who are you people?” Regina asked one last time.
“Good people. Let’s leave it at that!” Izzie gave her an open smile.
Arizona
5:30 PM
Theresa, aka Terry, arrived at the security checkpoint at Sunnydale wearing her wig, hat, and tinted glasses. As per the usual, the guard phoned ahead, notified Henry, and let “Terry” pass through.
When Henry opened the door, she almost doubled over laughing. He stood in the doorway wearing a pair of lime-green knickers, a green and white argyle sweater with matching knee socks. On the top of his head sat a green tam-o’-shanter. A golf club was in his left hand. “You look like you just arrived from Scotland!” She tried to contain herself. “Don’t tell me you had this in your wardrobe?”
“Well, yes, to be perfectly honest. Once a year, me and a few fellas get together and play a few rounds in these getups. It’s for charity.”
“You look dashing.” Theresa gave him a big hug. “Where’s Frida?”
Frida did a little shuffle into the living room wearing a traditional red and black Norwegian folk dress. At this point, Theresa was in stitches. “This isn’t a costume party, but I appreciate the effort.”
“We’re undercover, don’tcha know?” Frida grinned.
“You two are hilarious.” Theresa’s face hurt from smiling.
“So, give us the skinny,” Henry said in a hushed voice.
“First, I have to put my suitcase in the trunk of your car,” Theresa said. “Everything is going to happen very quickly, so I need you to be on your toes.”
“How’s this?” Frida did a spin.
“I appreciate the good humor and assistance, but this is really serious. I mean, really serious.”
Frida and Henry’s faces went blank. “Henry, you asked what were we going to do about Aunt Dottie? Well, this is where the rubber meets the road.”
The three of them walked to the parking lot, and Theresa fetched her suitcase. Henry proceeded to roll down the car windows. Once everyone was settled, Henry asked, “Where to?”
“The side of the care center,” Theresa replied calmly.
“Well, alrighty, then!” Henry backed out of the parking space and drove to their destination. “Now what?” he asked.
“We wait,” Theresa said, as she looked out the side window.
When Kathryn arrived, she used the stolen key card to gain access to the elevator. She pressed the button to keep the door open in order to save time, then prepared Aunt Dottie for her journey. Kathryn gently slid her out of her bed, put her in a wheelchair, and strapped her in. Then she removed the syringe she had prepared from a padded envelope and went to her desk.
Several minutes later, Turner came stomping in. She was surprised to see Kathryn at her desk so late in the evening. “What are you doing here?” she demanded.
“I wanted to check the stockroom report. Something didn’t seem right, and now I am having trouble with my computer. Can you take a look?”
Turner grumbled and pounded toward Kathryn’s desk. “What’s the problem?” she huffed.
Kathryn gestured toward her chair. Once Turner sat down, Kathryn grabbed her into a chokehold and stabbed her in the neck with the needle. “You, lady, are the problem.”
Turner’s eyes rolled back into her head. The last words she heard were, “Strike that. You were the problem.” Kathryn wrapped duct tape around Turner’s chest and secured her to the rolling office chair. Kathryn quickly shoved the chair down the hall. Again, she used the stolen key card, gained access to the elevator, and hit the down button. Kathryn checked Turner’s pulse. It was hard to believe such a nasty thing could have a heart. Kathryn swiftly moved across the concrete floor toward the rear ambulance-size door. She sent a text to Annie and Pearl:
Turner has been neutralized.
That was Annie’s cue to text Theresa: NOW
Theresa swung the car door open and shouted to Henry as she slammed it shut behind her. “Go!”
Henry took off like the wheelman of a high-stakes action film, as stones and sticks were kicked up behind the big Caddie.
Theresa bolted toward the main entrance and was buzzed into the building by Annie, who was waiting at the second inside door. She waved Theresa on. Aunt Dottie was dozing in her wheelchair. “Get the elevator,” Annie instructed Theresa, then took hold of Dottie’s chair. They moved as quickly as they could without dumping the moving chair over. When they got to the lower level, Annie said, “Keep looking straight ahead.” Annie didn’t know how Theresa would react to slipping past a morgue. Some people can be squeamish.
Theresa had her eyes on the open door that led to the lot, where Henry’s car was waiting. The taillights of Pearl’s vehicle faded in the distance as it carried the wicked witch of Sunnydale to her final destination. It wasn’t death. It was worse. Janet Turner would open her eyes to the inside of a tent in the hottest, wettest part of a jungle. She would be able to hear and see everything around her, but she would not be able to swat the mosquitos from her face. She would be paralyzed from the neck down for a very long time. Even longer.
Meanwhile
Florida
8:30 EST
One of Pearl Barnes’s associates arrived at Sunnydale in a Suburban. The man claimed to be with IT and was called by someone named Izzie to check out her computer. The guard phoned Izzie’s number that she had forwarded to her cell phone. She gave the guard the “all clear,” and he raised the gate. The man drove to an intersection, where he made a turn onto a narrower road, which led to Edith’s cottage. Once he was in place, he signaled Izzie, who phoned Clayton.
“Edith, I am in the office. I think there’s been a security breach.”
“This technology will be the end of me,” she shouted into the phone. “I’ll be right there.”
The minute she walked outside, Yoko and Izzie grabbed her. Yoko put her in a sleeper hold until the man could move her to the back of the large SUV. Once Clayton was prone, Yoko injected her with the pesticide. The man bound Edith’s wrists and ankles as the dangerous liquid was absorbed into her body. She, too, would awaken in a tent just like her sister, and in the exact same condition.
Washington, D.C.
9:00 PM
Two well-dressed men in their early forties approached the large, marble reception desk. The man behind the desk recognized them immediately. “Good evening, senator. Congressman. How may I help you?”
“We’re here to see Nikki Quinn. She is expecting us.”
“Certainly.” He phoned her office, nodded. “Take the elevator on the left.”
When the elevator reached their floor, it opened to a tastefully decorated reception area. There was no one in sight. Footsteps approached, and a striking woman appeared.
“Good evening, gentlemen. Nikki Quinn. Thank you very much for meeting with me so late. I’ve been trying to wrap up a few things before I leave town.”
“No problem. We do some of our best work after hours.” Gerber’s attempt at humor fell flat.
“Please, follow me.” Nikki ushered them into her private office. “Have a seat.” She indicated the sofa and club chairs. “May I interest you in a drink? I believe you gentlemen are partial to Macallan.”
Gerber sat up straight. “Yes.” He was slightly taken aback.
“I do my homework. I like to know who I’m dealing with.” Nikki raised an eyebrow. She got up and went to the outer office, where she prepared the concoction of ketamine with the scotch. She mixed it thoroughly and placed the tumblers on a tray, along with the bottle. She went back into her office with a warm smile on her face. She set the tray on the coffee table and handed each of them a glass.
