The Ransom of Dr. Dave
Part 56
Jing-Mei: Oh god! Dave! Where's Dave!
Hysterical, Jing-Mei runs out of Dave's room and tries to find someone to help when she runs into Mrs. Peterson.
Mrs. Peterson: Dr. Chen, what's the matter?! What happened?
Jing-Mei(trying to control herself and stop crying): I...I went into.... Dave's roo...room and he's...
Mrs. Peterson: He's what?
Jing-Mei: He's gone! He wasn't there. Something's happen! That's why that nurse tried to stop me. (starts crying again)
Seeing Jing-Mei shaking and upset, Mrs. Peterson takes the baby from her.
Mrs. Peterson: Maybe, they just took him back down for some more tests.
Jing-Mei: His bed was stripped. They wouldn't do that if he were having some tests run. Besides, the room was empty as if he had never been in there. I knew I shouldn't have went to Italy. I should have never left him.
Mrs. Peterson: You did what you had to and what Dr. Dave would have wanted you to. Now, someone around here must be able to tell us what is going on. Let's go find one of his doctors and try to calm down.
Jing-Mei and Mrs. Peterson search the ICU floor and most of the staff, including Dr. Vasquez and Dr. Phillips, are in shocking another patient who went into cardiac arrest. They decide that somebody down in the ER must know something if they kept their promise to her and were visiting with Dave while she was away. The two ladies and the baby get into the elevator and hit the first floor button and Jing-Mei tries to calm herself down. The elevator stops on the next floor and Elizabeth gets on.
Elizabeth: Jing-Mei, you're back. How was your trip?
Elizabeth starts to play with Antonio, who smiles back at her and laughs.
Jing-Mei: I should have never taken it.
Elizabeth(to Antonio): Aren't you just the cutest little fellow. (to Jing-Mei) Why is that, not a good trip. Jet lag? (back to Antonio)You certainly have your daddy's spirit, don't you?
Jing-Mei: No, it was a nice trip but I wish it had been under better circumstances. I should have been here with Dave. He's gone and I wasn't here.
Elizabeth: Gone! What do you mean? He's gone.
Mrs. Peterson: Dr. Chen, went into his room and it's empty and the bed is stripped.
Elizabeth: Oh. Jing-Mei, Mrs. Peterson walk with me.
The three ladies get off the elevator on the second floor and walk down the hall. Elizabeth takes them into a patient's room.
Elizabeth: There.
Elizabeth points to the bald-headed patient in the bed.
Jing-Mei: Dave! Oh thank god.
She runs over to him and gives him a big hug, waking him up and causing him to jump back on the bed.
Jing-Mei: I can see you still don't like to be touched. (pause)You're in a regular room and out of ICU, finally after almost nine months.
Elizabeth: Everyone in the ER was saving it as a surprise for you. I guess they didn't expect you back here so soon.(pause) I have to get back to work. I'm happy for you two.
Jing-Mei: Thank you Elizabeth. If you see anyone from the ER, tell them I'm sorry that I spoiled their surprise.
Elizabeth: I will. Goodbye.
Jing-Mei and Mrs. Peterson: Goodbye.
Jing-Mei and Mrs. Peterson turn back around and look at Dave.
Jing-Mei(laughing): Well, look at you. Our 2 month old here has more hair than you do. We will have to do something about that.
Mrs. Peterson: I know just the thing. It will be perfect.
Carter and Abby walk into Dave's room.
Carter: I see you found our surprise before we had a chance to spring it on you.
Jing-Mei: I can't believe that Dave has been moved to a regular room.
Abby: I can't believe how different Dave looks without hair.
Jing-Mei: Yeah, well if he's done with having brain surgery, maybe he will grow a hair again. I can't tell you how scared I was when I went into the ICU and saw Dave gone and the bed stripped. I thought...well that's pretty obvious. I should have known something was up when the nurse tried to stop me from going into Dave's room and I didn't see the guard...Oh my god, the guard ,where is he?
Carter: Relax Deb, he's sitting right outside the door.
Mrs. Peterson: I didn't see him.
Carter: He's in plainclothes. This way he'll blend in more with the surroundings and not be so conspicuous.
The door to Dave's room opens and Capt. Amos sticks his head in.
Capt. Amos: Hope I'm not interrupting.
Jing-Mei: No, come on in.
Capt. Amos: I was just checking on my men and I heard you in here.(pause)How are you feeling, Dr. Malucci?
Dave just stares at the captain and remains unresponsive.
Jing-Mei: Dave, sweetheart, do you remember Capt. Amos?
Dave blinks once(no)
Jing-Mei: He's the detective that's going to find the bast...people who did this to you... who hurt you? Sorry captain, but his memory still hasn't come back. But it will once he starts therapy.
Capt. Amos: He looks like he's on his way to a full recovery.
Carter: Malucci will never fully recovery. He's suffered permanent damage...physical and emotional.
Jing-Mei: Let's not talk about that now. I'm learning to live for today and not worry about tomorrow. Dave taught me that. It's always been his philosophy and he lives by it...before and after his attack.
Antonio starts to cry loudly--very loudly. Dave starts stirring in the bed. He grabs his ears, holds his eyes tightly shut and starts whining almost as loudly as the baby. Mrs. Peterson starts bouncing Antonio and singing to him to try to calm him down but with no luck.
Jing-Mei: Mrs. Peterson, you had better take Antonio out of here. His crying is hurting Dave's sensitive ears.
Abby: Maybe we all should leave. Dave needs his rest.
Everyone agrees and after Jing-Mei gives Dave a kiss on his cheek, the only place where she can without Dave freaking out because he can't see it coming from the side, she follows the others outside.
Mrs. Peterson: I think he's hungry. I have some formula in his baby bag. I'll go into the waiting room and feed him. Excuse me.
Mrs. Peterson takes the baby into the lounge down the hall. All the way down you can still hear him crying.
Capt. Amos: Good, I'm glad we came out here. This is something that we don't need to talk about in front of Dr. Malucci.
Jing-Mei: What's this about?
Capt. Amos: Frankie's trial. The D.A. is going want to talk to you. Are you prepared to testify?
Jing-Mei: I sure am. I'm scared but I'll testify. I want to put that little son of a bitch away for the rest of his life for what he's done to Dave and Rusty and me.
Abby: Exactly how long could he get?
Capt. Amos: I'm not sure. If the D.A. can positively connect him to Jada's murder, they may be able to get the death penalty.
Carter: How can the D.A. not positively prove that he killed Jada. His prints were on the bullet that was removed from her.
Capt. Amos: I know that but that is difficult evidence for a jury to understand. We may only confuse them especially if Frankie keeps the same sharp-tongue mouthpiece that he had at his arraignment.
Jing-Mei: What about his arraignment?
Capt. Amos: You didn't tell her.
Jing-Mei: Tell me what? (giving Carter and Abby a death look)
Carter: We didn't want to worry you.
Abby: We knew you already had enough on your mind.
Jing-Mei: Captain, what happened at the arraignment?
Capt. Amos: Bail was set at one million dollars and paid.
Jing-Mei: Are you trying to tell me that...that monster is out on bail.
Capt. Amos, Carter and Abby look at each other. Jing-Mei gets more angrier at them the longer they remain silent.
Jing-Mei: Well!!
Capt. Amos: Yes. But we have increased the sec...
Jing-Mei: After everything that he's done. He killed Jada, threatened me, Dave and our boys, kidnapped, beat, raped and try to kill Dave and Rusty and, for all we know, he might have been behind my car explosion and since he was making those calls to me it's obvious he had something to do with Antonio's kidnapping and he was released on bail.
Capt. Amos: That's what a good lawyer can do for you...a good high priced lawyer.
Carter: Where does a punk kid come up with the money to pay a top-notched lawyer?
Capt. Amos: When a defendant comes into an arraignment or to court with a lawyer, we can't ask them how they manage to pay for them.
Jing-Mei: So, he'll be right back here to get to us again.
Capt. Amos: As I was saying, we are increasing the security around you, Dr. Dave and your boys. Where is your older boy at, anyway?
Jing-Mei: Back in Italy. He stayed there with his Uncle Manny and cousin Marissa. You going to protect him over there, too.
Capt. Amos: I have some connections over there. He will be looked after.
Jing-Mei: Yeah, right. Look how much good your security has done already. They still keep getting to us.
Capt. Amos: We are doing the best that we can. (pause) Tell me Dr. Chen, how well do you know this Uncle Manny?
Jing-Mei: I met him for the first time when I went over for Sophie's funeral. Why?
Capt. Amos: Can he be trusted?
Jing-Mei: What the hell is that suppose to mean?
Capt. Amos: Could he be a threat to the little boy?
Jing-Mei: He loves Rusty like a son. He would never do anything to hurt that little boy!
Capt. Amos: Just as a precaution, I think I'll have my Italian connection question him and run a background check on him. If he has any dirty little secrets in his past, we'll find them...
Jing-Mei: DON'T YOU DARE HARASS HIM!! That poor man has just lost his wife. His little girl doesn't have her mother anymore. The last thing they need is trouble from the cops. You leave them alone.
Capt. Amos: You never answered my question, do you trust him?
Jing-Mei: Fully. With my life, Dave's life and with my boys lives.
Capt. Amos: It seems to me that you trusted Frankie around you and your family too and look how that turned out...
Jing-Mei: No you don't. You are not going to blame this on me. If you and your men were doing your jobs properly, you would've had these fuckers in prison right after they abducted Dave and it never would have gotten to this point. If you are looking for someone to point the guilty finger at, you just let him walk right out of your jail.
Seeing how upset Jing-Mei is getting, Carter and Abby break off the conversation.
Carter: That's enough captain.
Abby: This conversation has gone to far. Look, Dr. Chen will accept your protection and in exchange you do your job and find the bastards who are responsible for Dave being in this hospital.
Capt. Amos: Alright, I'll back off for now. But I'm not done. I still want to talk to Dr. Malucci. He's still our star witness.
The captain leaves and Jing-Mei goes into the lounge to check on Mrs. Peterson and Antonio.
Mrs. Peterson: Finished your little chat with the police detective. Everything okay. You look like you've been crying.
Jing-Mei: I'm fine. Just please keep close to Antonio. Don't let him out of your sight for one second and no matter what stay with the guard. Promise me.
Mrs. Peterson: Of course, dear. You were so happy a short time ago and now...what did the captain say to upset you so.
Jing-Mei: Frankie's out on bail. So be extremely careful.
Mrs. Peterson: I definitely will.
Jing-Mei: How is my little man here?
Mrs. Peterson: Sleeping. He went through almost all his bottle and I've already changed him and now he's knocked out for the count. It's been a long day.
Jing-Mei: For all of us. Let's go home. Do we have to swing by your house and pick up Antonio's things.
Mrs. Peterson: No, I have Antonio's bag and nebulizer in the car.
Jing-Mei, Antonio and Mrs. Peterson jumped into Mrs. Peterson's car and she drove them home. Jing-Mei takes her and the baby's bags out of the truck while Mrs. Peterson takes the baby out of his car seat and tearfully handed the baby to his mama and kissed his head without waking him up.
Mrs. Peterson: Bye, bye little angel. See you tomorrow. What time do you want me to be here?
Jing-Mei: About 8:30 that way I'll have the baby fed and bathed before you come over.
Mrs. Peterson: You look like you need your rest. Why don't you sleep in. I don't mind feeding and giving Antonio his bath.
Jing-Mei: I appreciate that but it's been a while since I had the chance to breast feed him and I'm actually looking forward to it. Besides, with Rusty gone I have more than enough time on my hands.
Mrs. Peterson notices a certain sadness in Jing-Mei's voice.
Mrs. Peterson: Ahhhhh!! You miss Rusty, don't you?
Jing-Mei: I do. It's weird. I've only known him for such a short time but I feel like he's been part of my family all of his life. As much as I would have liked him to come back with me, I know he is happy where he is and it's not like he's gone forever. He'll be back when Dave gets better.
Jing-Mei and Mrs. Peterson say their goodnights and Jing-Mei heads into the house with her sleeping baby as the babysitter pulls out of the driveway. Once inside, Jing-Mei puts Antonio into his sleeper and lays him down in his crib. She goes back to the door and picks up the mail. She sees one particular letter that catches her eye. She opens and reads it.
The letter says: Dear Dr. David Malucci;
It has come to our attention that you have not applied to renew your United States of America visa. We have also learned at this time that you are not currently employed due to illness which makes you ineligible for a green card. We have, in the past, given you notice and have set a time limit allowing you time to take care of this matter. According to our calendars, your 30 days are almost up and unless you take appropriate measures to correct the matter of your residence in this country, our government has no choice but to take the situation into our own hands and regretfully escort you out of the country. However, if your illness or health is still a matter of concern, please notify us at the number below and we will set up an appointment for you to be examined by our own private physicians. If they find you fit to travel, arrangements will be made for you to continue to receive medical care and treatment back in your country of birth, which in your case would be Italy. Medical care and treatment therefore, would be at your own expense. Thank you for interest in residing in our wonderful, free country and are looking forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely yours,
Thomas Gibbs
Thomas Gibbs
Department of Immigration
(312)645-9595
Jing-Mei(to herself): Oh god! THEY ARE GOING TO DEPORT DAVE!!!
To be continued. Please read and review.