And Not to Yield
Chapter 8
Words: 3,166
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For the second time in as many days Magnum pulled the Ferrari into the hospital parking lot and went running towards the emergency room entrance. Several police cars were parked close by, their flashing lights highlighting small groups of grim uniformed figures standing outside, and reflecting off of the glass doors and windows through which more cops could be seen in the waiting rooms and hallway. Several gave Magnum brief nods of recognition as he hurried past and approached the admissions counter. A middle aged receptionist looked up as he leaned against the counter. Her quick cool eyes took in the blood on his shirt and arms and the sense of urgency in his eye. "May I help you?"
"I was told my friend Jonathan Higgins was going into emergency surgery tonight; could you tell me what his status is and where he is now?"
The receptionist typed for a few moments and then examined the displayed information before looking back up. "He was admitted for surgery... but I'm not sure if they are still operating or not. Let me check." She reached for a phone and after a short conversation turned back to Magnum. "He's still in surgery." Standing up she leaned over the counter and pointed to Magnum's left. "That's on the fourth floor, go down the hall there to the first elevators on the right. Check at the surgical desk when you get to the fourth floor, that's to your right as you exit the elevator, they'll be able to tell you your friend's status."
With a quick nod Magnum thanked her and hastened away. Just before he reached the hallway he heard a familiar voice raised in anger and stopped dead looking to this right toward a curtain enclosed examination area. A uniformed officer and two local Hawaiians were standing close by looking through the partly opened curtained doorway, through which he could see medical personnel moving around an examination table.
"I tell you, you can't confiscate that, it won't wait until tomorrow it has to be delivered now, before midnight!" Rick's angry voice, tinged with desperation shot across the intervening space as Magnum changed course and hurried over. As he approached the biggest Hawaiian looked up and with a smile turned to meet him with an outstretched hand.
"Magnum, hey man, its good to see you. Rick's had us calling all over but we couldn't get hold of anyone."
"Kimo," Magnum automatically slapped the big man's hand as he looked from him to the enclosed area. "I didn't recognize you. Is that Rick in there?"
"Yeah, man. He's a little beat up but he'll be okay. The cops are just sort of giving him a bad time for shooting that bitch. Too bad he didn't kill her." Kimo said with a shrug.
"Shoot?" Magnum asked with a start. "Who did he shoot?"
"Ah, that bitch everyone calls the Shark. She stole some papers and when Rick went to get them back he had to shoot her." Kimo shrugged his huge shoulders. "She's pretty bad when it comes to kick boxing and stuff. I told him it wouldn't be easy taking her on, what with his busted ribs and all. But you know Rick," he added with a grin. "He had to shoot her but he got the paperwork back, but now the cops say its evidence and are confiscating it."
"Kimo, wait here will you? I got to see Rick." Magnum squeezed the big man's arm and hurried forward. As he did the uniformed officer turned toward him. "Its my buddy in there officer, I just need to talk with him. All right?" After a pause the officer nodded his head and stepped aside. As Magnum pushed through the curtains he saw Rick stretched out shirtless on his back, a doctor and a nurse were bent over examining his injuries, and a man who appeared to be a plain clothes detective was standing close to the head of the table with a large clear plastic evidence bag, which contained a fat white envelope, in his hand.
Rick glance over as Magnum entered and as he saw who it was his eyes lit up. "Magnum! Tell him he's got to get that envelope to Higgins before mid-night. Tell him, Magnum, he doesn't understand what's going on here."
Magnum hurried up and stopped just short of the quietly murmuring figures of the two medical personnel. Rick's face was puffed up, one eye was partially closed, and as he raised up he let out a groan and fell back, clutching at his side. Large red and black swellings covered his ribs and his stomach was a mass of ugly bruises. "Rick, are you okay?"
Rick wiped the sweat off his head and shook his head. "I'm fine, I'm fine. Just a couple busted ribs, its nothing." He stopped and closed his eyes for a minute as he took a deep breath and held it. "Look," he said opening his eyes again, "You gotta tell this guy he has to get those papers to Higgins."
"All right, Rick, all right. Take it easy." Turning to the detective Magnum motioned with his head toward the hallway. "Could we talk outside?"
The detective gave Magnum a measured look and then nodded his head. "Okay, but your friend here isn't going anywhere." He turned back to Rick. "Right now you're in police custody until we clear up the matter of that shooting. You understand?" Rick lay with his eyes closed in apparent exhaustion. The detective finally shrugged his shoulders and went through the curtained entrance. "Keep an eye on him until I get back," he told the uniformed cop standing outside.
The detective strode over to a unoccupied corner and turned to face Magnum. "Okay, you're that private dick, Magnum, right?" As Magnum gave a short nod the cop went on. "Okay, so I know a little about you. Now what's going on with these documents." He raised the evidence bag as he looked down at it.
"Its sort of a long story detective, but Rick is telling you the truth. He and two other of my friends were nearly killed last night when three guys held them up and stole the contract, I assume that's it in that envelope." Magnum shrugged. "I don't know how Rick tracked down whoever had it, but apparently he did, and got it back. It might be very important that the contract be validated before midnight tonight, or some good friends of ours could lose everything they own."
The detective shook his head as he looked down at the envelope. "This is evidence in a shooting and from what you say, in a couple possible homicides; I'm familiar with what happened last night. That's serious stuff and its my duty to confiscate this and turn it in."
"Look, detective," Magnum broke in, "Captain Tanaka knows all about this. He's covering the crime scene over where your officer was shot tonight. If you get on the radio he can verify what Rick and I are telling you is true."
"Even if he did it won't make much difference," the detective shrugged his shoulders again, "we have to maintain the chain of evidence, we can't be turning this over to you or this Higgins guy..."
"But officer you don't need to. All that is needed is to have Higgins' legal consul examine this contract, in your presence, you don't even need to let go of it, just as long as he can examine it. Then if its indeed the original contract he can verify it and do what ever might be needed.." he let his sentence run out as the detective held up a hand.
"Okay, you wait here. I'll see if I can get Tanaka on the horn but don't count on any thing; it ain't our job to get involved in contracts and stuff, you know." With that the detective strode off toward the exit doors.
Magnum turned and hurried back the examination room. When he peered in Rick was lying flat on his back with his eyes shut, apparently asleep. The nurse was withdrawing a syringe from the IV tube and looked up as she saw Magnum. "We gave him a sedative for the pain. We'll be taking him to radiology in a minute."
The doctor straightened up from where he had been holding a stethoscope against Rick's abdomen and turned to Magnum as he adjusted the stethoscope around his neck. "Are you a relative? We might need someone to sign for him if he needs surgery. He might have suffered some internal damage and it would be best to operate tonight if needed."
Magnum silently nodded his head as he gazed at the battered face of his friend. "Yes, doctor. I can sign for him. He's my brother."
---
Higgins lay quietly, propped up in the raised hospital bed, a white dressing covering his right eye. When he heard the soft swish of the outer door his left eye opened and a slow smile spread across his face as he saw the slim figure hesitate at the door, her eyes peering at him through large glasses. "Miriam, what a surprise. How did you ever find out I was here?"
"Oh, Mr. Higgins," Miriam shyly stepped towards the bed carrying a large vase of flowers. "I was manning the Historical Society desk at the resort when the helicopter came to get Dr. Vennama for you." She gently put the vase down on a corner table and moving to the bed softly touched Higgins' arm. "But we didn't know it was for you until just yesterday. How are you?" She asked quietly. "The girls were all upset to hear that you were injured. You know we all so love your talks."
"My dear, that is very kind of you to say. Please tell the other ladies that I am recovering and I look forward to many more enlightening talks with them in the future. You know I have always found your knowledge of Father Damien's time on Molokai particularly informative. Some of the insight you've provided in our talks is simply fascinating." He patted her hand as he smiled at her faint blush.
"Oh, I don't really know very much. Its just that he was such an extraordinary man, and I love talking to the older people on Molokai. Some of them actually remember relatives or friends who personally knew Father Damien." Her lovely eyes grew wide with excitement. "When you read the accounts in the history books it seems so long ago, but in fact when you live there and walk the paths he walked and look out over the same views, and talk with the people whose families have lived there for generations, why it all seems to come alive and its like it was only yesterday."
"Yes, I know what you mean. Why there was one time when I was with the regiment in North Africa.." Higgins' story was interrupted by the door opening again.
Agatha's questioning face appeared as she peered around the half opened door. "Oh, Jonathan, you're awake." A smile blossomed across her face and she opened the door and marched in, followed by TC. "I only have a few minutes before tea with the Hospital Volunteers committee, and then the Organ Donation committee is having a special meeting, but I so wanted to stop in and see how you are."
As she stopped at the foot of the bed holding her huge purse in both hands, she took a second look at Higgins' visitor and a pleased expression crossed her face. "Why, Miriam. It is so nice to see you again. I so wanted to go to Molokai for the Historical Society's seminar on Father Damien, and so looked forward to visiting you, but then all these simply awful events.." She stopped and looked up over her shoulder as TC suddenly placed a hand on her shoulder as he moved around her to get a better look at Miriam.
"Miriam..? Why it is you, isn't it?" TC beamed at Miriam, whose eyes has been focused on him, but which had immediately turned away under his gaze. "Oh, excuse me, Agatha," he said to the older woman and squeezed her shoulder. "Agatha, this is the lady whose white board I stole when I flew over to pick up Dr. Vennama. I am real sorry I didn't it get back to you." He helplessly shrugged his shoulders, and then a mischievous look came in his eyes. "Don't tell me you came all the way over here to turn me in to the police?"
Miriam's eyes flew wide in alarm and she covered her open mouth with a hand. "Oh, my goodness, no. I wouldn't do that. I.. I heard it was Mr. Higgins that was injured... and I had a few days off, so I thought I would visit friends and see how he was." She gave Higgins a quick glance. "We.. the girls in the Historical Society, all love Mr. Higgins so, and they would never forgive me if I didn't come to visit him." She touched his arm and gave him a quick smile again before her eyes locked back on TC.
"Did you say you'll be in town for a few days?" TC asked quickly.
"Well, I'm a teacher and school is out for the break so I.. I have a few days free." Miriam's voice trailed off.
"Hey, that's great. Say, I don't mean to intrude but we had a cancellation and I was trying to talk Agatha into coming along on my Afternoon Hawaiian Champagne Island Tour, but she won't give up her tea." TC paused and looked intently at Miriam. "If you're not afraid of flying and have the time how does a free helicopter tour of Oahu in," he peered at his watch, "about forty five minutes sound? I'd love it if you'd let me make it up to you for stealing your white board, which I can give back to you, too, I still have it."
"Oh..." Miriam's hand was pressed to her heart and a faint blush had crept across her face. "I love flying.. but I wouldn't want to impose..."
"Oh, nonsense." TC beamed. "If we leave now we'll have time to stop by that new specialty food store; you know the one you were telling me about Higgins, they're having their Grand Opening this week." TC threw a quick glance Higgins' way before looking eagerly back at Miriam, "We could pick up something really fine for the flight."
"Oh.." Miriam looked dazed as she turned to Higgins. "Mr. Higgins..?"
"Please, Miriam. You'll have a wonderful time. Even I enjoy TC's tours." Higgins glanced back and forth between Miriam and TC as a smile grew on his face.
"Oh.. well, then..." Miriam said some what breathlessly as TC backed up and held out an arm for her. "Ms Agatha it was nice to see you again." She looked somewhat awkwardly over her shoulder as TC escorted her to the door.
"It was nice to see you too, dear. If you're going to be in town for a few days you'll have to come by the house for a nice tea." Agatha raised her voice and gave their retreating figures a small wave.
"Have you heard about the Black Rose? Its a real classy restaurant that just opened. I know one of the owners, I fly him around all the time. He said he can get me a reservation any time. I hate dinning alone and didn't have any one to ask, but if you're going to be here a few days maybe you'd like to go." TC's voice carried back into the room.
"Oh, but I don't have a thing to wear..." Miriam's gasp was the last thing Agatha and Higgins heard before the door slowly swung shut.
Higgins was trying to suppress a large grin as he shook his head back and forth. "She is a lovely girl."
"And he is a lovely son." Agatha added as she smiled down at Higgins.
---
The sun was slowly rising in the cool morning air, casting shafts of brilliant red tinged light onto the pair standing on the high cliff. White gulls wheeled below, crying to each other as they searched the rocks and shore line, where the green waves crashed in rhythmic succession. Magnum and the Duchess stood side by side, looking out over the Molokai channel, near the edge of the knoll where Magnum and Bob had briefly met.
"He loved this place the best of all. He told me it was as if you could look out over the whole world and forget your cares. It was just you, the sun, and the sea." The Duchess held a wide bodied red ceramic urn tucked against her body in the crook of her left arm, while she softly dabbed at the silent tears that tickled down her face with a crumbled white handkerchief.
Magnum raised his left hand which held a small sheet of paper, and with a bent head began to read out loud. "Dear Lord, we now commit the mortal remains of Robert Frazier into your hands. May he find the love, forgiveness, and lasting peace that was denied him in this life, in your almighty presence. In the name of the Son, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Taking the lid from the urn, the Duchess handed the receptacle to Magnum. He gripped it in both hands and then swung his arms in a forceful arc as he tipped the urn sideways. A small cloud of ash and dust shot out and hung momentarily in the air next to the cliff before it began to fall and fade silently away.
The Duchess stepped next to Magnum, and removing the handmade wreath of flowers from her hair, softly tossed it outward as she quietly murmured a Hawaiian chant Magnum could not catch. As the wreath fell it seemed to be momentarily caught in an updraft, for it suddenly seemed to swell. The air around it became as a lens magnifying the ocean and rocks below so that they seemed to be rushing upward as well. The cry of the gulls faded along with the booming of the surf, and a reddish tinged tension seemed to grip the knoll. Then like a bubble softly bursting the light dimmed, the tension faded, the sound returned, and the wreath fell back, to disappear into the background clutter of ocean spray, glistening rocks, and heaving waves.
For a moment they stood silent, then the Duchess leaned against Magnum as tears cascaded from her eyes, and silent sobs shook her body. Magnum placed an arm around her shoulders and held her tight against his side. They stood together in silence as the sun rose and waves marched off in rhythmic progression toward the far horizons.
---- Dissolve----