And Not to Yield
Chapter 6
Words: 3,217
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TC stood with clasped arms looking out the window at the shadows spreading out across the valley below the ridge the hospital sat on. The sun was a lazy red ball sinking slowly Ewa side in a cloudless azure sky. At the sound of the swinging doors opening he turned and hurried back to the waiting area as Dr. Vennama swiftly crossed the hall way, his stethoscope draped around his neck. Agatha rose from her chair carefully examining the troubled look on the doctors' face.
"Please," the doctor motioned to TC and Agatha, "please sit down and I'll try to explain where we are right now with Higgins' case." He absently mindedly slipped the stethoscope off his neck and began folding it back and forth between his hands. "The brain scans show a slight hematoma.. that's a pocket of blood caused by a ruptured blood vessel. The formation of this hematoma has been very slow, which indicates the vessel which ruptured is very small. That's the good news, the bad news is that for some reason something is also causing small blood clots to be thrown off and these are causing blockages of several blood vessels supplying the eyes and other parts of the brain. The anti-coagulant medications have had some positive effects but have not succeed in completely halting this process. Unless we operate quickly this is a situation that can quickly turn critical and cause irreversible damage."
"Well, then operate and fix it. You can fix it can't you?" TC interjected.
"The prognosis for surgery is good. However," he looked searching at both Agatha and TC, "there are problems." He took a deep breath and then continued. "Higgins is not capable of signing a waiver for the surgery, and we have no record of his having any immediate family we can contact. The hospital can assume the role of legal guardian, but.." Vennama's voice faltered and he bit his lip before he was able to go on, "the policy is to wait at least twelve hours to ensure all options are taken to find a qualified family member. That means that if we can't find someone who qualifies we are going to be forced to wait an additional," he glanced down at his watch, "six hours before we are allowed to proceed. And I don't think Higgins has six hours.""
"I don't understand..." TC blurted out.
"I know, it sounds foolish and in cases such as this it is foolish. It needlessly delays treatment options and increases the risks to the patient. I didn't say I agree with it, I don't. But I have to live with it. That's why I am talking with you"
TC half rose from his seat, his fists clenched and his face contorted and congested with a blinding anger. "But this is ins..."
"Wait, Theodore." Agatha reached over and taking TC's arm gently tugged him down to his seat. "Doctor, thank you very much for clarifying the situation for us. We were not aware of the restrictions place on you and the hospital. But now that we do know we certainly are able to assist you."
She turned and gave TC a grim smile. "I think Theodore that it is time to tell the doctor who you are, there is no reason not to. You know Higgins will not be upset with you, he has never felt that way. He always told me it was your mother's wish and because of that he has kept his promise but promises are not forever and not for every occasion. Please tell the doctor who you are so he can proceed with what he needs to do."
TC gazed at Agatha with a look compounded of outrage, anger, and a growing understanding. He slowly nodded and then took her hand. "Thank you, Agatha."
Turning to Dr. Vennama, TC sat up straight and looked the doctor in the eye. "Please bring me any authorization you need, I can sign for my father, doctor."
Dr. Vennama gave a start and looked quickly at Agatha before turning his attention back to TC. "Are you sure about this?"
"Of course. I'll sign anything you require, there is no need to keep our relationship a secret any longer."
"Higgins' paternal grandmother was a Calvin-Quayle. And although Theodore's mother refused to take Higgins' name because she feared the problems it could bring him, she did compromise and let Theodore be raised as a Calvin. Higgins has always been very proud of Theodore," Agatha squeezed his arm, "and came to Hawaii to retire so he could be close to him."
"I see," Dr. Vennama said slowly. Reaching out he took TC's hand in a strong grip. "Thank you; I think any man would be proud to call you son."
Releasing TC's hand he stood up and turned hurriedly toward the door, calling over his shoulder as he disappeared, "Wait just a moment and I'll bring the authorization wavier for you."
Agatha and TC sat silently for a moment and then she reached over and placed her hand on his arm. "He's right you know."
"What's that, Agatha?" TC asked softly as if from a far distance.
"Any man would be proud to have you as a son."
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Jeremiah's stop lights flared briefly in the light haze of dust from the dirt road, as he braked in front of a small clapboard house surrounded by palms. In the evening twilight the door of his rusted beater of a car groaned as he got out and walked over to where Rick had stopped. Leaning an elbow on the roof of the Beamer he pointed at the silhouette of a two story house a couple hundred yards further up the road.
"Dat's where the Shark be staying. Dat ol' pink big foot be parked on da far side if'n she's home." He looked down at Rick and gave him a smile. "Sure you don' wan ta come in and have a brew, bra? I got some good Mickeys in da 'fridge ice cold, man."
Rick slowly swung his stony gaze from the house to Jeremiah's face and he forced a smile as he held out his hand. "Thanks, bra. Maybe later, but I need to take care of some unfinished business first." He nodded towards the distant house.
Jeremiah slapped his fingers lightly a few times and with a big grin shook his head as he stepped back from the car. "Better you dan me, man. I don wan no business with dat lady."
Rick gave him a small salute and putting the Beamer in gear slowly drove down the road. As he approached the house he could see a small porch light was on, but only a couple of windows gave off light. The vague shape of a dark colored car could be seen in an old shed close to the house, and as he passed the pink body of a pickup perched on huge balloon tires appeared on the far side. There were a few trees growing in haphazard fashion around the unkempt yard and some ragged bushes. The closest house was Jeremiah's.
He drove on for a quarter of a mile or so, past three other houses before he turned around and slowly drove back, pulling off the road a hundred yards or so away from her house. He sat in the darken car with the windows down watching silently. After a half hour a light flared behind a window on the second floor and stayed on. He sat watching for another half hour and then rolled up the windows and silently eased out of the car and locked it. As he stood watching the house he pressed the catch on the automatic, disengaging the magazine which he silently extracted and pushing down on the top cartridge reassured himself it was fully loaded, then still keeping an eye on the house and the surroundings, eased the clip back in until it clicked back into place. He then slowly pulled the receiver back until the top round clicked up and then just as slowly forced the receiver closed with a faint snick signaling the round had chambered. Lowering the hammer he snugged the auto into the top of his pants in the small of his back under his aloha shirt, and then with a quick look around started walking slowly toward the house.
He could hear the occasional hum of tires and the murmur of engines from the coastal road and as he drew nearer to the house he thought he could catch faint snatches of some sort of music. His feet sent up small puffs of dust from the shoulder of the road as he walked along keeping to the side away from the house. He took his time trying to mimic the manner of a local out for an evening stroll.
As he passed the house he gave it a cursory glance all the while his senses were recording everything he could see or hear. Halfway to Jeremiah's place he slowed and crossed the road, relieved that no dog had come out to contest his right to be walking in the night. Staying in shadows he eased back until he was only a few yards from the shed. He stood behind a tree for ten minutes while he watched and listened. There was music softly playing inside, it seemed to be coming from the second story but he couldn't be sure. From this side only the porch light and one downstairs window gave off light.
When he eased up to the open doorway of the shed he could see the vague form of an old green Mercedes sitting in the shadows. Rust blistered the paint, the windows were rolled down, a back tire was flat, and there was the smell of old oil and mold in the air. The car obviously hadn't been driven for some time, and maybe never would be again.
Switching his attention back to the house he could tell from this distance that the windows were covered by outside screens in old peeling wooden frames, but that most of the windows were opened. Sliding up next to the side window closest to the front, he cautiously peered in. The front room extended across the entire width of the house. On the far side there was an interior archway through which dim light glowed. A stair way was in the center and then a closed door closest to where he stood. After a few minutes he moved to the front and slowly looked around the corner at the porch.
The porch itself had fallen into disrepair years ago. The posts supporting the roof had been shorn up but the porch floor had been ripped out, and a couple of steps had been thrown together from cement blocks and old planks. There was a wooden screen door and behind that the main door stood open.
He eased up to the doorway and waited for awhile and then slipping an old credit card out of his pocket inserted it in-between the screen door and the door frame. The metal hook fastening the door was loose and easily raised out of the small eye bolt holding it. He stood holding the screen door shut with one hand to prevent it moving for a few minutes and then slowly eased it open enough to let him slip inside. Standing quietly in the dim interior he refastened the catch and listened intently for the sound of movement - there was none.
He moved cautiously toward the open archway, sliding his feet to try and minimize squeaking floor boards. As he reached the wall next to it, he shifted his head to the left so as to peer around with one eye without exposing his body. The dim light came from a small reading lamp sitting on a table next to an old lounge chair. There was a figure reposed in the chair. The light caught faint gleams of blonde highlights, and showed a faint raising and falling as if someone lay asleep, although the features were hidden.
Rick eased into the room and after watching the silent figure for a while reached out to the light switch next to the doorway and turned on the overhead light. The eyes of a thirtyish woman opened in sleepy confusion as her lithe figure snapped upright. She wore shorts and a tank top, and a large clumsy dressing was taped over her upper right arm. Suddenly her searching eyes focused on Rick and she jumped out of the chair and against the wall as her eyes probed the darkness behind him.
"You! What are you doing here?" Her voice contained a trace of panic as she looked around, as if for a way out.
"You have something that doesn't belong to you. And I've come to get it back." Rick answered as he took a step towards her into the room.
"Where are your friends?" Eyes still searching, the signs of panic began to receded as no one else appeared.
"This is just between you and me... bitch." Rick's voice was cold and flat as he moved closer to where she stood.
A quick taunting smile flashed across her face. "So, that's it. The old man has come for his revenge. Is that it?" She said with a trace of victory in her voice. Her body loosened up and flexing her joints she moved away from the wall. "Well, old man, maybe you should have thought that over. You got off light last time. But maybe not this time." As she ended her sentence she launched herself toward him and her right leg flashed out. Moving toward her Rick caught her leg and twisting it threw her back so that she staggered and nearly fell. Bracing herself against the wall, she smiled. "So, the old man has been practicing."
Rick flexed his arms and stepped sideways. "I learned a bit about you. And now we'll see how you do without your friends or guns."
Her breathing quicken and a strange light flicker in the depths of her eyes. "Yes, now we'll see." She said in that strange tenor voice. She pushed herself off the wall, coming forward in a replay of her last attack, and as her right leg began to move outward, Rick stepped forward again. But this time she suddenly leaped into the air straight at him and coming down on top of him bent her right elbow and drove into the top of his head with all the force she could muster. Rick crashed to floor, blood streaming down the side of his face. As he tried to rise a foot crashed into his side, throwing him back onto the floor.
Blinding pain consumed him as he felt the broken ribs separate and jagged bone cut into flesh. An explosion of light in his head threw him down again as he tried to rise and this time he lay there unable to move as his breath came in ragged gasps. After an eternity his vision cleared and he managed to curl to his side and lift his head. Through pain shot eyes he saw her moving back and forth in quick little dancing steps watching him with a malevolent gleam in her eyes.
"Didn't learn enough did you, old man? Come to get your revenge, did you?" A maniacal laugh cut through the room. She suddenly turned and pulled out a fat envelope from the cushions of the lounge chair. "Come to get what doesn't belong to me, did you?" She let out another laugh and waved the envelope at him. "Well, here it is. Come and get it, old man, if you're man enough." She laughed again and tossed the envelope on the side table.
"God, this is good. I get to take you out, and in a couple more hours that old bat will living on the street. She'll think this is a palace when I'm done with her. Good old pious auntie Agatha, the bag lady!" Peals of insane laugher filled the air as she threw her head back and laughed so hard tears started down her cheeks.
"Auntie?" Rick mumbled in disbelief as he shook his head trying to clear the pain.
"Yes, my dear foster auntie, Agatha.. you mean you don't know?" She stared at him in disbelief for a second and then started to laugh again. "Oh, and you said you learned about me... but you didn't did you?" She nodded her head and her grin got wider. "So, you didn't tell her, because you didn't know. Oh, this is better and better. I bet you didn't tell anyone did you? Oh, no. Not you. Not old macho man himself." She giggled and then the grin faded and a dark blotting shape filled her eyes.
"Oh, yes. This will be so good. Why not? They deserve it. How sweet it will be." She quit her dance and stared at him like a white shark focusing on its prey. "First you, then that black bastard, and then that old has been. Yes, it will be easy. And then when I'm in Rio living in the Ritz I can commiserate with my dear sweet cousin, Connie, who will agonize over the bitter bitter fate of her dear sweet auntie."
With her face as cold as a block of winter glacier ice she moved forward and as her foot swept forward Rick threw himself back, the blow taking him on the side of the head. He threw his right hand behind as if to brace his fall and as she move forward he whipped it out from behind holding the automatic. Before her eyes could readjust to the threat the gun bucked in his hand and in the roar that filled the room she stumbled back with a shriek and fell to the floor.
Rick pushed himself back wards with his shaking legs until his back came against the interior wall, all the while watching her withering figure as her hands clutched her torn and bleeding leg. Pushing himself to his knees he took deep shuddering breaths and as he watched her a deep red flame of anger and hatred spread across his vision. Staggering erect he crossed to where she lay weeping and cursing.
She looked up as he stood over her, her eyes crazed and drops of foam in the corners of her lips. "I'll kill you, you hear! I'll kill you! I'll kill all of them!" She tried to lunge to her feet but the auto swept out and crashed into her arm as she tried to block it. There was a snapping of bone as her arm bent and she fell to the floor. Rick fell on top of her and the auto swept up and descended again and again.
"You bitch!" he sobbed as he drew back and shoved the muzzle against her bloodied head. His hand tightened on the auto and began to shake. With a sob he threw himself back and buried his head in the crook of his right arm as his left clutched his side. "You bitch, you bitch..."
---- Dissolve----