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“Uh, I’m not entirely sure,” I told him honestly. The wait for the police was anxiety filled. I sat at the dining table, my foot tapping at an unreasonable speed.
“Are you okay, Callum?” Ames asked, sitting in the seat across from me.
Just then, the knock came at the door and I launched myself at its handle, throwing the door open and stepping back slightly. Two uniformed officers removed their hats and asked if they could enter.
“Of course,” Ames said, gesturing to his sofa.
“Actually,” the larger of the officers said, “it might be best if you sat down, Mr. Tate. ”
My heart beat rapidly and I had trouble catching my breath. I sat and Ames lowered himself next to me in support.
The officers sat in the chairs opposite us, seemingly taking their time, reluctant to reveal whatever news they were tasked to repeat. It’s just a message about John, Callum. Nothing’s wrong with Harper. She’s perfectly safe back home. I foolishly tried to convince myself but deep down I knew that if the N. Y. P. D wanted only to speak with me they would have rang me. Two uniformed messengers meant bad, awful things. My stomach wrenched itself and I wanted to vomit.
“Please,” I begged, “just tell me. ”
The larger of the two sighed, obviously the spokesperson and leaned forward as if to catch me. I didn’t like where this was going at all. “Mr. Tate are you married to a Harper Tate?” He asked.
My world began to spin and it felt like the floor would drop beneath me. I gulped. “Y-Yes, sir,” I answered shakily, shifting forward in preparation.
Ames looked at me with wide eyes, obviously shocked at having learned I was married but wisely kept his mouth shut.
“I’m sorry to have to tell you this, Mr. Tate,” the larger officer began but I cut him off.
“Please,” I begged, my voice breaking. “Not Harper. . . not Harper. ” I slid from the sofa and onto my knees hard. All three men lunged for me but I held them away with a quivering hand. “What happened?” My trembling voice asked.
“She was found not a block from here, badly wounded. She’s been airlifted to Northwest. ”
I launched myself at the door and threw it open. I ran down the steps, not knowing exactly where I was going but knowing that if I didn’t move, didn’t do something, I would lose my mind. I heard the officers’ steps as well as Ames’ but paid no attention. I looked up the street toward the city and decided to run but Ames caught be before I could flee, throwing my coat over my shoulders.
“You can’t run to her, Callum! Be reasonable! I’ll drive us!”
Ames ran around the building to the garage for his car and I collapsed on the steps of his building.
“Son, she’s alive, hold on to that,” the smaller officer assured me. I closed my eyes and nodded once in acknowledgment. His hand rested on my shoulder, letting me know he was there. “We’ll escort you there. ”
Ames’ car pulled up short at the curb and the officer helped me inside. He climbed into the passenger side of their cruiser and led the way, sirens blaring, to Northwest.
“She’s alive,” Ames’ said quietly. “The officers told me she lives, Callum. ”
I turned to my young uncle, unsure of what to say but finally found the words. “Do you really think they would have come to your apartment, given us this escort, if they suspected she would live?” I asked incredulously. My jaw clenched at hearing myself say the words.
Ames said nothing, only pressed harder on the gas pedal.
“I can’t live without her, Ames. ” I told him but turned inward. “I think I always knew it. I was a fool to think I could come here and forget her. ” I looked at his profile, highlighted by the neon lights of his dash. “I’m ridiculous in love with her. ”
“I can tell,” he told me. “Is that why you never said a word about her? You two are no longer together?”
“In a sense, yes,” I answered, unable to reveal more.
The drive to the hospital felt like it took hours. My legs were sore from bouncing repeatedly in anticipation. When the emergency room at Northwest came into view, I removed my seat belt and scooted up in my seat. Ames rounded the driveway in front of the entrance and I bounded from the car before he’d even come to a complete stop.
I ran through the automatic doors and practically assaulted the woman manning the desk. “My wife! Where is she?” I asked.
“Your name, sir?” She asked professionally.
“Tate. Callum Tate. My wife is Harper Tate. ”
When I said Harper’s name, the woman’s eyes briefly flashed wide before she checked her expression. Her tone softened. “Uh, yes. Um, if you’ll just come with me,” she said quietly.
I buried my hands under my arms, hugging myself tightly as I followed her to a single empty room. “What is this?” I asked.
“Um, I thought you’d be more comfortable in your own private waiting room. ”
“No,” I said, refusing to step through the door. Flashes of the day my parents died came flooding my senses. These were the rooms they put family of patients not expected to live. These were the rooms they stuck you in so you wouldn’t make other families uncomfortable when you lost your shit. I’d been in one of these rooms once before. “No!” I screamed, buckling under my own weight, falling to my knees once more. The woman signaled to someone for help and one of the officer’s from earlier in Ames’ apartment helped me up, leading me into the room I detested with every fiber of my being. They sat me down on a leather love seat and my head fell into my hands. “Just tell me,” I said.
“She’s in surgery,” the woman said softly, earning a soft, exhausted sigh from me. Her hand went to my shoulder, “but she’s in critical condition. ” Tears began to flow freely and my fingers tore into the back of my head. “A doctor will be here shortly to enlighten you more on her condition. ” She stood as Ames came into the room. I stood quickly and he hugged me tightly as I lost control of myself.
The door clicked behind the woman, leaving just Ames and I. “She can’t die,” I told him.
The two officers came into the room and waited patiently.
I pulled myself from Ames’ embrace and turned toward the officers. “What happened?” I asked.
Ames and I sat down. “Well, we’ve been in touch with the N. Y. P. D and unfortunately their prisoner, John Bell, had escaped the night he was arrested. ” I sucked in a breath. Confusion, anger, and pain flashed across my chest, thinking that I’d left Harper there alone that night. “They’ve been desperately trying to get a hold of the both of you. We confirmed that John Bell was following Harper through surveillance video obtained from airport security. We suspect he engaged her on the plane and, essentially, kidnapped her. ”
“Where is he?” I asked, my jaw clenched, my hands in tight fists on my thighs.
“We don’t know,” he admitted.
“Jesus!” Ames said.
“We’re doing everything we can!” He insisted. “He can’t get very far. We’ve alerted all means of transportation that he is a wanted man as well as the media. He will not be getting far. ” he paused, thinking. “Is there any place you can think of that he could be hiding?”
“None,” I answered. “He has no family and I believe he knows no one in the city. ”
“Good. ” The officer seemed to relax a bit. “We’ll be checking all hotel and motel establishments in the area. We’ve got men manned at every airport and bus depot. We’ll catch him. ” Both officers stood and shook our hands, exiting swiftly. The larger officer stood by the door and turned toward me quickly. “We’ll let you know if there is any progress. ”
“Thank you,” I told him as the door clicked behind them.
Ames and I waited for hours. Each minute that ticked by, the tightness in my chest constricted to unbearable levels. I paced the length of the room at least a thousand times, praying to God, offering myself in her place, if He would just give her back. I kn
ew God didn’t work like that. If He did, I would have had my parents back, but I wasn’t bitter about it. That was life. I just wished He’d bend the rules, just once, for me. Though I didn’t deserve it, I prayed He would.
A knock came to the door and Ames left my side to answer it. A tall man in his mid-fifties came inside, shutting the door behind him. He looked haggard, tired.
“Mr. Tate?” He asked me, my red rimmed eyes giving away my title.
“Yes?” He took my hand and shook it. “I’m Doctor Matthews. I just came from surgery with Harper. ”
“How is she?” I asked, dejected.
He breathed a large sigh, removing his glasses from his red face, and rubbing his eyes. “She’s stable but still in critical condition. ” He replaced his glasses on his face. “She’s in ICU and I expect her to wake within a few hours. She’s doing remarkably well. . . considering. ”
I swallowed. “What - what happened to her?”
All three of us sat. “Her back was broken,” he said, ignoring my trembling body, a product of his profession. “Her spleen ruptured and we were forced to remove it. She had several small internal bleeds but we believe they will heal without difficulty. I’m most worried about the possible damage her spinal cord suffered as well as her kidneys. She has acute renal failure and will more than likely need dialysis while her body heals to bridge the gap. ”
“Is she,” I swallowed, “ expected to live?”
“I believe she will survive but any permanent damage can’t be determined as of yet. Only time will tell. ”
“Can I see her?”
“Not yet. ” He glanced at his watch. “It’s close to two in the morning now. ICU visiting hours quit after nine, you won’t be allowed back into ICU again until the morning. She’ll be asleep anyway. I suggest you get home, get some rest and come back here bright and early. ”
Doctor Matthews stood to leave. “Thank you, Doctor Matthews,” I said, taking his hand.
“Of course,” he said, his eyes softening. “I’d say she is nothing short of a miracle, son. ”
“I already knew that,” I said, a small smile touching my lips. He smiled back and shut the door behind him.
“She’s going to live, Ames. ”
“I heard,” he said, gripping my shoulder next to me on the sofa and sending me a large grin.
My whole body shook as the relief poured over me. I couldn’t think of the possibility that she may never walk again. One obstacle at a time. I was grateful I even got the chance to worry about any damage at all, if that makes any sense. I was so ecstatic she was alive.
“Did you want to go back to the apartment?” Ames asked.
“Not even if you threatened to drag me,” I said.
“I figured as much. Let me grab a change of clothes for you and some food. I’ll be back in an hour, Callum. ”
“Thank you, Ames,” I said, slapping his back.