by C. Kennedy
Dr. Jordanou frowned. “What man?”
“The hospital m-man.”
Dr. Jordanou turned grave. “One of our staff? In blue scrubs like these?” He gently pulled on his cotton pants.
Thimi only nodded into his arms.
Dr. Jordanou and General Sotíras exchanged concerned looks.
“Let Dr. Jordanou look at you, and I’ll call Christy again.” Sotíras stepped away, and turned his back to them. He hit Redial and was surprised when Michael answered the phone on the first ring. “Michael, Thimi wishes to speak to Christy again.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t think that’s a good idea, sir. Christy got upset and fainted. What happened?”
Sotíras rubbed his eyes in frustration. “It would seem we’ve had a security breach. A man dressed as an orderly gained access to Thimi’s room and threatened him.”
“What happened? I thought you had police outside his room?”
Michael’s voice sounded strained, and Sotíras knew he was fighting like hell not to lose his temper. God knew, it was all Sotíras could do to control his own anger. “I do. I’ll add more officers immediately. Is Christy all right?”
“Barely.”
“Is he able to speak with Thimi again?”
Michael’s sigh was audible. “The nurse gave him something to calm him down. If they’re going to talk, they have to stay calm and do it fast. He’s going to fall asleep soon.”
“Ask Christy to ask Thimi to go back to the room with Dr. Jordanou.”
“Okay. Please call when you figure out what happened.”
“I will.”
As Sotíras walked back to where Dr. Jordanou sat with Thimi, Christy’s voice filled the phone.
“Thimi?”
“It’s Nicos. I promise I will protect Thimi if I have to stay with him myself.”
“You cannot protect him. These men are wealthy. They will pay your men to change sides.”
Sotíras chewed his lip, knowing what Christy said was all too true. “I’ll place several layers of men around the clock. I promise Thimi will remain safe.” He held the phone out to Thimi.
Thimi looked at Sotíras dubiously as he put the phone to his ear. “Ch-Christophoros?”
Dr. Jordanou stood and motioned one of the nurses over. “Watch him for a moment.” He guided Sotíras by the elbow a few feet away. “I don’t want him traveling tomorrow.”
Theodoros Jordanou had become a good friend over the years and worked wonders with victims of violent crimes. Sotíras trusted his judgment implicitly, and if he didn’t want Thimi to travel, he wouldn’t. But, given the security breach, getting Thimi out of the country was now an imperative. “He needs to leave as soon as possible.”
Jordanou sighed deeply. “These people need to be stopped.”
“Agreed. How soon can he travel?”
Dr. Jordanou shook his head in dismay. “Are you certain Dr. Villarreal can care for him?”
Sotíras became concerned. “I am, but you’ll have an opportunity to meet and speak with him yourself.”
“I’ve spoken with him over the phone. It isn’t that I doubt him.”
“You sound as if you do.”
Dr. Jordanou shook his head again. “It was three months before Christy could eat consistently and sleep for more than an hour without a violent nightmare. Not to mention, he had to learn how to bathe, dress, and eat with utensils. Thimi has been here one month, and I’m unsure he is ready to leave a hospital environment.”
“How long, Theo?”
Dr. Jordanou sighed again. “Let’s get him back to the room and speak to him. I need to set his wrist. It’s broken.”
Sotíras looked at him, incredulous.
“It snapped when we kept him from falling.”
Sotíras glanced at Thimi, who spoke into the phone as he cried. “He doesn’t seem to be in pain. Only upset.”
“He’ll likely never show signs of pain. Setting aside that his pain threshold is extraordinarily high, he is fearful of being punished if he shows any sign of weakness.”
Sotíras swore under his breath. “May those bastards rot in hell.”
Dr. Jordanou met his even gaze. “May they suffer the same torture in hell.” He abruptly turned and walked back to Thimi. He wanted Thimi off the roof and back in his room.
SOTÍRAS LISTENED intently as Dr. Jordanou spoke in low, soothing tones and carefully wrapped Thimi’s wrist in a cast. His voice was that of a consummate doctor—warm and round on the senses. “You’ll need to remember not to get this wet.”
Thimi remained silent, stoic, as if he’d mentally gone to some faraway place.
“Did you enjoy your conversation with Christy?”
Thimi looked at Dr. Jordanou now and nodded.
“And now you know Christy is all right.”
Thimi nodded again.
Dr. Jordanou’s voice became even softer, almost a whisper. “When did this hospital man threaten you, Thimi? Do you remember what time?”
Thimi studied him intently seeming to process the question. “The f-food.”
“He brought food to you? Was it breakfast, lunch, or dinner?”
“Lunch.”
Sotíras frowned. “I’m sorry, Thimi. I’m going to add officers to your door, and I promise we will keep you safe.”
Thimi only looked at him, his expression empty.
“There we go,” Dr. Jordanou said with a gentle pat to the new cast. “We want you well so you can go to Christy.”
Thimi turned to Dr. Jordanou. “As y-you wish.”
“No, not as I wish. You will do as you wish, and you wish to go to Christy,” Dr. Jordanou said gently.
“C-car.”
“Yes.”
“P-plane.”
“Yes.”
“C-car.”
“Yes.”
“Ch-Christophoros.”
Dr. Jordanou nodded. “Very good. You remembered every step. Who will go with you?”
“Y-you.”
“Yes. Who else?”
Thimi turned to Sotíras. “G-general.”
“Yes.”
“No T-Takis.”
“Never General Colonomos again,” Dr. Jordanou assured.
Sotíras cringed inwardly. Takis Colonomos had been his boss, and it goaded him beyond words that his own damn boss had been part of the trafficking cartel they’d found on the Sanna yacht. The horrid publicity and shame his department would face when it came out would be a living nightmare. Arresting Colonomos had given Sotíras a satisfaction he’d never before known, but no matter how long the man rotted in prison, it would never make up for what he’d done to boys like Christy and Thimi.
Dr. Jordanou continued. “What do we do to prepare for travel?”
“C-clothes. F-food. G-good sleep.”
Dr. Jordanou smiled. “Very good. What do we do when we need help?”
“Ask.”
“Very good. You’ll have no trouble at all.”
Thimi turned to Sotíras. “F-friend.”
Sotíras offered a sad smile. “I am.”
“Father in p-prison.”
Sotíras’s smile fell away, and he assumed Dr. Jordanou’s soft tone. “Yes.”
“Grandfather in p-prison.”
“Yes.”
“No p-punishment.”
“No punishment ever again,” Sotíras confirmed.
“There is no more punishment, Thimi,” Dr. Jordanou reassured. “Lie back for me.”
Thimi dutifully lay back on the bed, Dr. Jordanou snapped the leads to the cardiac monitor in place, and it began to sound to the beat of Thimi’s heart. “When would you like to go to Christy?”
Thimi’s heart raced, and the machine responded in kind. “N-now.”
Dr. Jordanou smiled. “Are you ready to take care of yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Very good. Would you like to see Christophoros in one week?”
“N-now.”
“How is the pain in your wr
ist?”
“No p-pain,” Thimi said quickly.
“What do we say about pain?”
“One okay. T-two bad. Three c-cry.”
“Very good. What is your wrist?”
“Two.”
“I’ll give you something for the pain.”
“Ch-Christophoros?”
Dr. Jordanou smiled again. “We’ll take some more pictures of your wrist tomorrow, and then we’ll decide together when you will go to Christy.”
The cardiac monitor sped in time with the beat of Thimi’s heart. “T-together,” Thimi whispered.
“That’s right. We make decisions together.”
Thimi looked at Sotíras. “T-together?”
Sotíras didn’t know how to answer Thimi but gave it his best shot. “You and Dr. Jordanou—”
“Yes, General Nicos is part of the together,” Dr. Jordanou interjected gently. “Are you ready to sleep now?”
“No d-dreams?”
Dr. Jordanou smiled down at him. “I think you will sleep well. Call the nurse if you need anything.” He withdrew a small item from his pocket and placed it in Thimi’s palm. “Good night, Thimi.” He turned to leave.
“D-doctor?”
“Yes?”
“Thank y-you.”
“You’re welcome. Sleep well.”
THIMI ROLLED over and held the trinket up to the red light on the machine by the bed. The purple glass marble had been his touchstone for as long as he could remember. It was beautiful and pure. Not like me. He balled it in his fist, held it tightly to his chest, and prayed with all his might. If he could get to Christophoros, he’d be safe. He dared not think it. He wasn’t free yet. The Mother would come for him. He was sure of it. And she’d know what was in his mind. She always did. The fear in his chest burned like dry ice, hot and cold at the same time, and he prayed harder.
GENERAL SOTÍRAS motioned to his officer as Dr. Jordanou closed the door to Thimi’s room.
The officer abruptly came to attention and saluted crisply. “Yes, sir.”
“What time did you come on duty?”
“Four o’clock, sir.”
“Who was on duty before you?”
“Officer Zabat, sir.”
“How did Thimi get out of the room and up to the roof?”
“He blocked the door with a chair, opened the vent, and crawled into it, sir.”
Sotíras couldn’t prevent the look of displeasure that filled his face. “You couldn’t catch him before he got away,” he said flatly.
The officer looked mortified. “He… he is very fast, sir.”
They hadn’t been fast enough to catch Thimi in the heating ducts of the house where they’d found him either. He pursed his lips and supposed he should cut the young officer some slack but couldn’t afford to. His men needed to be at their best. “The orderly who brought Thimi lunch threatened to take him back to the yacht. I’m adding another man on every shift, and no one, and I mean no one, is to enter that room without a police escort.”
The officer now looked alarmed. “Yes, sir.”
Sotíras walked away.
“Don’t be too hard on him,” Dr. Jordanou said once they were down the hall.
“I’m sparing him. He’d never forgive himself if something happened to Thimi.”
Dr. Jordanou reluctantly nodded his agreement.
Sotíras changed the subject. “Tell me, are you always so succinct in your conversations with Thimi? It’s almost as if you don’t believe he’s that bright.”
Dr. Jordanou became serious and guided Sotíras into a nearby waiting room. He gestured for him to take a seat and did the same. “Quite the contrary. Thimi is brilliant, and I don’t say that lightly. His IQ is extraordinary. But he lacks foundation. He has no fundamental basis with which to discriminate when processing information—” He paused abruptly. “How are you set for time? This may take a few moments.”
Sotíras gestured for him to continue. “Barring unforeseen circumstances, I’m off for the evening.”
Dr. Jordanou smiled. “You’re never off.”
Sotíras chuckled. “That’s beside the point. Please continue.”
CHAPTER FOUR
St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, UPSTATE NEW YORK
CHRISTY STRUGGLED to sit up.
“Stay lying down for a few more minutes, Christy,” Carol said in her stern-nurse voice. “We need to get your blood pressure and oxygen saturation back up.”
“Thimi,” he choked out.
She injected something into his IV line, and Michael was certain it was a sedative, but he couldn’t ask because he was on the phone with General Sotíras again.
“Is Christy all right?”
What in hell kind of question is that? No! He is not all right! “Barely.”
“Is he able to speak with Thimi again?”
“The nurse gave him something to calm him down. If they’re going to talk, they have to stay calm and do it fast. He’s going to fall asleep soon.” Michael met Carol’s eyes as she shook her head in disappointment.
“Ask Christy to ask Thimi to go back to the room with Dr. Jordanou,” Sotíras said.
“Okay. Please call when you figure out what happened.”
“I will.”
“Here, babe, it’s Thimi again. General Sotíras wants you to tell Thimi to go back to the room with Dr. Jordanou. Stay calm, okay?”
Christy took the phone quickly. “Thimi?”
Michael listened as Christy spoke in Greek, much calmer now thanks to the medication. Carol crossed her arms over her chest, now particularly unhappy.
After a few moments, Christy terminated the call and handed the phone to Michael.
When Carol went to put the oxygen mask on Christy, he pushed it away, turned into the pillow, and began to cry.
Michael reached for him. “Christy? What’s the matter? Is Thimi okay?”
Christy shook his head into the pillow.
“Talk to me. Please?”
Christy looked up at him, tears wet on his cheeks. “Thimi tried to make the jump from the roof of the hospital because the news in Greece says I am dead.”
Oh my God! Michael lifted Christy into his arms and hugged him. “You know the news, babe. It’s always wrong.” Christy cried softly against his chest, and he glanced at Carol, who looked more perturbed by the moment. Michael gently moved Christy back down to the bed. “Come on. I’ll lie down with you.”
Christy curled into a small ball, and Carol held the oxygen mask out to him. He reached for a tissue and blew his nose, then put it on.
Michael lay down, wrapped himself around Christy, and gave Carol a brief thumbs-up. She appeared less perturbed but not entirely happy as she turned and left the room.
“Do you want to talk about it?” he whispered to Christy.
“The person came to the room to say they will come for Thimi.”
Michael wanted to rail at the heavens as he stroked Christy’s long curls. How was it possible that the most powerful police force in Greece couldn’t keep one twelve-year-old safe in a freakin’ hospital? “General Sotíras said he’d put more men on his door, babe. Don’t worry. The general will keep him safe.”
“He is not safe.”
Michael silently cursed. “He is, Christy. And he’ll be here soon. Dream about that.”
Michael rubbed Christy’s back in long soothing strokes until his breathing deepened and evened. A thousand questions filled his mind, but he dared not ask them. Christy needed to stay calm and sleep.
Hippokration Hospital, Friday
GLYFADA, SOUTH ATHENS, GREECE
DR. JORDANOU cleared his throat before he spoke. “Abused people are extremely complex. Far more so than the average person. They live four lives from the time abuse begins. There is the ‘secret you’ fostered by the secrecy of abuse versus the ‘normal you’ shown to the outside world. Even more profound is the ‘real you’ versus the ‘you created and shown to your abusers’ in an effort to mitigate abuse
.”
Dr. Jordanou’s words were matter-of-fact, not preachy, and Sotíras listened intently.
“They are deeply conditioned by their abusers, lack exposure to the outside world, and children, in particular, become concrete thinkers. Choices represent threats, and they often can’t make the simplest of decisions. In order to learn how to make choices, they must first have confidence. In order to build confidence, we must help them unlearn the past while we teach new methods of thinking, and thus build foundation. It requires structure, repetition, constant reassurance, and we must ensure the rate of unlearning is commensurate with that of foundation building. It is a constant balancing act, but if done well, confidence will develop. That is what you hear in my voice when I speak with Thimi.”
Sotíras nodded in understanding. “How long will it take for him to develop confidence?”
Dr. Jordanou smiled. “That’s a lifelong endeavor for all of us, isn’t it?”
Sotíras chuckled and nodded.
“No two people are alike, the variables are many, and if there is any list of priorities I’d make for anyone working with abused youth, it’s that patience must be infinite, the youth must have all the control that is reasonable given circumstances, and you must be prepared to roll with known and unknown triggers. There is no formula, and there are no bright lines in working with them. All we can do is come to know them, develop systems that work for them, and help put a foundation in place.”
Sotíras nodded in contemplation.
“What do you think about traveling with him on Sunday?”
Sotíras gave him an appraising look. “Are you certain?”
“No, but I know you’re planning to stay in the states for a week. I’ll stay as well and help him settle in.”
Sotíras chuckled again. “I’m going to have to remind Apostolos that you are not privileged to my schedule.”
“Oh, but I am,” Dr. Jordanou said through a laugh.
St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, UPSTATE NEW YORK
CHRISTY WAS asleep, and Michael decided to clean up and be ready to leave when the time came. There was no reason his dad wouldn’t discharge them when he got to the hospital. He climbed out of bed and made his way to the nurses’ station.