Chapter 19: Documents
"I have an idea how we can get along," Nick said after a moment's silence.
"What kind?" Jack asked curiously. Their conversation no longer sounded like they were mortal enemies, it looked more like a dialogue between acquaintances who both have their own problems. Nick's attitude completely changed when he found out what was behind the bank robbery done by Jack and his friends. It was hard to think of such a thing, under pressure of money for his daughter's operation to take such a step.
"I can make sure you and your friends don't go to jail, the case sort of vanishes into thin air. I'm a police officer, the file on your case can disappear, everyone can forget about it...or at least close the case so that you're safe" Nick replied. Jack was satisfied with what he had heard, however, he was curious about the price he would have to pay for his freedom. After all, nothing is free.
"And what's the catch?" Jack asked.
"Your daughter...from what you said she was young and her body wasn't seriously damaged..."
"What does my daughter have to do with this?"
"Judy, the policewoman you shot, has a blown liver, she won't be able to regenerate, she may die soon...but you can save her," Nick said. He hoped Jack would guess what he might mean, but his questioning gaze said he didn't know the fox's intentions further.
"You're going to sign papers whereby they'll do a liver transplant from your daughter for Judy." Nick explained briefly. Jack's eyes opened wide with surprise at the offer he had received. He hadn't expected such a price, it hadn't occurred to him at all that the price could be that high.
"I don't know if I can..." Replied Jack after a short hesitation.
"You don't have to agree. However, remember, if you don't agree, you will go to jail. At least 10 years for robbing a bank and collaborating with others, your friends will face the same fate. And just think, if you have someone on your conscience, it will be with you for the rest of your life. The feeling of guilt will never leave you, it will eat you up inside, it will not let go. Your daughter is already dead, nothing can help her now... Judy can live through this," Nick replied calmly. Jack didn't reply. He looked into the fox's sharp eyes, saying that there is no 'I don't know' answer. It's either yes or no. There is no turning back now. Either he goes to prison, or by sacrificing his daughter's dead body he saves a person who might die. A flurry of thoughts left him unsure of what could be worse. Spending 10 years in prison or sacrificing his daughter's body for someone else. Then he thought of his wife, who missed him. Since the robbery, he ran away from home and lived in a trailer so no one would find him. He got daily messages from his wife, asking him to come back or at least let her know he was alive. It was too much for him. He wanted to end it all.
"Fine, be it for you. I will donate my daughter's liver for you. But on one condition."
"What?"
"My wife must agree to it. " Jack replied. Nick didn't mind, no matter who had to agree, he wanted to receive the liver for transplantation.
"Sure, no problem. We're running out of time, where can we find it?"
"In the hospital. Our daughter is still there, let's go there" Jack replied.
"Wait here, I'll go get the gun and we can go" Communicated the fox walking towards the office.
On the way to the hospital, the fox was in charge, and they drove in his car to get to the clinic as quickly as possible. Soon Jack's daughter could be taken to the crematorium to have her body burned, so there was not a moment to lose. Every second counted, so Nick bent the rules of the road a little by exceeding the speed limit, but he didn't care. He had to get to hospital as quickly as possible. At some point, his signal sounded from the cockpit, someone was calling him. He unlocked the phone with one hand and was surprised to see that it was Doctor Adams calling.
"Doc? What could he want at this hour..." Nick thought as he picked up the phone.
"Good evening Mr Wilde, we have good news and bad news"
"Keep it short doctor, I'm a bit busy"
"We have found a person who is compatible with Judy's body! A transplant is possible!" The doctor communicated. Nick felt a sense of relief in his heart when he heard this, it would mean the end of the problems plaguing him, the question remained as to what the bad news was.
"And what is the bad news?" Nick asked.
"The girl's mother won't agree to the procedure until she meets her father. Time is running out as they are due to take the body to the crematorium first thing in the morning" The doctor communicated.
'James's daughter' thought Nick immediately. He put all the facts together, it all fit him already. He remembered the girl wrapped in dark material next to Judy's room. He remembered a group of people dressed mournfully, it was probably her family.
"Doctor, please tell her I'm carrying her husband. Let him wait at the hospital" Nick communicated, then hung up with the doctor.
"What is it?" Asked Jack after a moment.
"Your daughter's liver is suitable for transplant for Judy. Your wife is already there, waiting for you," replied Nick.
"She doesn't agree to the transplant?"
"Not yet, you have to convince her"
"And what if she doesn't agree?" Jack replied. Nick laughed ironically, although he knew he shouldn't, the answer to that question was too simple to ask himself.
"There are quite cosy cells in the prison. You can do it, just be yourself" Nick replied.
Upon reaching the hospital, Nick and Jack hurried out of the car to find Jack's wife, who was somewhere in the building, as quickly as possible.
"Remember, it's best if you tell the truth, don't try to deceive" The fox communicated as they stood just inside the entrance. Jack gave a confirming sign with a movement of his head. It was important to him too that the woman agreed to the transplant. He didn't want to know in prison, he would hate that. When they entered the hospital, they found Dr Adams standing at the reception desk with papers in his hands beside the woman. Her eyes opened wide at the sight of Jack, who was stunned to see his woman.
"Jack!" The girl squealed upon seeing her husband. She ran to him giving him the strongest hug she could. The situation was taken advantage of by Nick, who bypassed the hugging couple and showed with his eyes for the doctor to go "to the side"
"Our blood tests have indicated that everything is consistent with Judy, the transplant is possible, we just need the mother's consent"
"And the father?"
"He's missing...who is the man anyway?" The doctor asked.
"It's her husband, I found him. What happens if he convinces the girl to agree?"
"Then if they both agree then we can do the procedure, but they better hurry. There is little time left," replied the doctor.
"Are there any chances that something could go wrong?"
"We have practically the best surgeons in the city, please be of good cheer. All you need is for them to agree," replied the Doctor. Fox turned around, he saw Jack saying something to the woman, he guessed he was telling his whole story of why he wasn't there and the like. Fox sent him a look that said he had one simple task to convince the woman so they could do the procedure. Jack must have understood that because he nodded with a motion of his head.
"Do you know him?" The doctor asked curiously, seeing Jack's reaction to the fox's gaze.
"Yes...I mean...it's a long story Doctor, we don't have time to talk about it. What documents are you holding in your hands?"
"Consent for the procedure. We're still waiting, we can't start until they decide" replied the doctor. A few moments later, as Nick and the doctor were discussing the course of the procedure Judy was to undergo, Jack and his wife approached the two talking.
"We agree to the procedure, please give us the paperwork. We'll fill out the paperwork" Jack announced triumphantly. He looked at the fox's eyes which expressed great satisfaction at what he had heard, he would have loved to shake hands for him but had to hold back.
"Please head to reception, you will sign all the documents there" The doctor communicated as he headed towards the lift.
"Where are you going?" Asked the fox curiously.
"To prepare for the operation. We will begin the procedure in a moment" The doctor communicated closing the lift door behind him.