by Hunt, Jack
“That’s right. Yeah.” He nodded, tears welling up in his eyes. “I pulled her away and she seemed confused but at the same time wildly curious about what would happen if she did it. I don’t understand. What would make her do that?”
Jenna looked back at Deidra. “Well, Martin, that’s what we have to figure out. We’re going to do some blood work, maybe run her through an MRI machine and see what it shows us.” She looked back at him. “Are you sure there is nothing you can pinpoint? A moment when she started acting strange and out of sorts?”
He shook his head.
“And what about yourself? Are you okay?”
“Beyond being traumatized? Yeah,” he said, a tear streaking his cheek. Jenna placed both hands on his arms.
“Hang tight, the doctor should be in shortly.”
Martin headed back into the room to be with his wife while Jenna took her clipboard over to the center desk. Tina, a good friend and co-worker of hers, was busy juggling paperwork and speaking on the phone. She glanced at her and stuck the phone into the crook of her neck to indicate that she needed to talk. They had been rushed off their feet from the moment she started her shift. On any given day or night they could find themselves dealing with all manner of trauma victims, and trying to prioritize. Of course this often led to dealing with angry visitors who demanded to be seen immediately. Tina put the phone down. She spun in her seat and exhaled hard, running a hand around the back of her neck. She had a blond ponytail and was wearing blue scrubs.
“I need to take my break.”
“Tina. We’re overloaded right now. Can you hold off?”
“I was meant to take my break two hours ago. If I sit here any longer I’m going to pee myself and die of starvation.”
Jenna laughed. “All right. I’ll let them know where you’ve gone.”
She wasn’t in charge, per se, but Tina was new to the crew and Jenna had been given the task of making sure she was up to speed on how they operated and where they kept all the supplies. Tina darted out before anyone could change their mind, leaving Jenna to deal with an impatient man who was tapping his fingers against the counter.
“What does a person have to do to get a little help around here?” he asked.
“How can I help you?” she asked.
“We’ve been sitting in the blue, non-emergency ward for over two hours and no one has been by to see us.”
“Sir, I can appreciate that. We usually try to get around to everyone within a four-hour window but it depends on how many patients have been admitted. Those with critical injuries are obviously going to be seen first, but be reassured we will get to you. Can I get your name?”
“Roger Whittaker.”
She brought up the file. “Yeah, the doctor has you on his rounds. There are three people before you.”
He scoffed and said, “What a joke this place is. And to think my tax dollars pay for this. I’ve seen better treatment in third world countries.” With that said he returned to the small waiting room. Jenna understood people didn’t like to wait and if she had her way she would get them seen immediately but that wasn’t how things worked. They were understaffed, overworked and — some would argue — underpaid.
On any given day they saw two hundred people flood into the department and even more in the summer months. They tried to keep track of patient flow every four hours and kept turning over the staff every eight but it didn’t always work out.
It didn’t help that at times it looked as if the nurses weren’t doing anything but that wasn’t the truth, more often than not it was because rooms were full, they were reviewing blood work, completing charts or looking ahead to see if any preliminary work would make it easier for the doctors.
Jenna recalled one lady a few hours earlier complain that a nurse was eating food at their desk. What she didn’t understand was that the nurse hadn’t had her break during her shift. Perspective was everything.
She turned to get back to work.
Dr. David Summers emerged through a set of double doors with that permanent frown on his face. They all had them. Fine lines etched into their skin from the constant stress and concern. Even when she went home she found it hard to switch off. It was only after she took the job as a nurse could she begin to understand what Brody was going through when he came home from work and appeared to be ignoring her. It wasn’t that. At least that’s what he said in counseling. At forty-four, Jenna was sure she’d aged five years since working there, as she’d noticed a few gray hairs streaking through her auburn hair that weren’t there before she started the job. However, it was to be expected. Those at the college had warned her of the stress of the job but after working for a zoo, she thought she could handle it.
Dr. Summers glanced at his clipboard, flipping over paper and then surveying the room.
“Anything I can help you with?” Jenna asked.
He exhaled hard and placed the clipboard down, then went over to a computer and brought up an X-ray, followed by some reports on blood work. She was used to being ignored. It wasn’t personal. There was only so much room in everyone’s mind when they were working. Summers was usually good though and would store away a question and return minutes later with the answer.
“I can’t make head or tails of this. That is the sixth patient from Marfa that we have seen today with self-inflicted injuries. One guy stuck a knife into his leg. I asked him why, and he said he just wanted to see what it felt like.”
“Crazy,” Jenna replied.
He nodded while glancing at the screen with his back to her. “Then there was the lady who walked out in the middle of traffic. She’s on life support right now. I’m not sure she’ll make it.” He turned his head towards her then looked off down the hall.
Jenna thought back to Deidra.
“There has also been a massive upswing of patients today.”
“Flu?”
“No, like I said, weird stuff. A few outbursts. Though I have noticed some of the symptoms in those who had hurt themselves were headaches, fever and vomiting. But some had no symptoms, which makes it even stranger. We’re running a battery of tests but so far we’ve got nothing.”
Right then they heard a commotion down the hall. It was loud enough that it caught everyone’s attention. Heads turned and several patients stepped out into the hallway to see what was going on. It didn’t take long for Mary, another nurse, to emerge through a set of doors.
“Where is security when you need them?” she asked.
“What’s going on?”
She thumbed over her shoulder. “There is a guy out front who is destroying the seats, and lashing out at people.”
Jenna ducked out from behind the counter and made her way down, pushing through the set of double doors into another corridor that took her down to the waiting room. “Shouldn’t there be security at the front desk at all times?”
“Yeah, and there should be more doctors,” Jenna said.
As they came around a corner that opened up into an expansive space full of seats, a thin guy who looked as if he hadn’t slept in days was waving a chair in the air and telling people to get back. “Don’t come near me!”
She imagined he would be the one pushing forward but he looked terrified. His eyes were wide, and he was sweating profusely. Was he on drugs? It looked like it. Jenna tried to calm him by putting out a hand and telling him that no one was going to hurt him and if he would just… He tossed the chair at a large man who was edging towards him and in lightning fashion leaped over a line of seats, scooped up another chair and cracked it over the head of another guy who tried to stop him. A black guy fell on the ground, his head now bleeding badly.
“Security!” Jenna yelled.
Realizing the two security guys were gone from their post, she knew she had to try and take control of the situation. From what she could tell he was only attacking people who tried to come near him. He’d walked by two women and though he looked at them he didn’t touch them or say anything.
He wasn’t listening, he was too focused on another guy who was now furious because he’d injured his friend.
“Get back. Get back!”
Jenna turned to Mary and told her to get a sedative. The only way this guy was going to stop was if he was sedated. The challenge would be getting close enough to administer the injection.
While Mary was away, Jenna tried to get the mans attention but his fight-or-flight instinct kicked in when someone lunged at him. Reacting fast, the crazed man grabbed the guy and swung him into some chairs. Another person tried to overpower him but was injured badly when the 140-pound lunatic threw him into a wall.
Right then Mary returned and handed her the sedative. It wouldn’t put him out but it would at least bring down his anxiety a few notches. Jenna had to time it just right. She glanced towards the security booth, wondering where they were. She’d rather they handle it but by the looks of it, if someone didn’t act fast, this guy was going to kill someone.
“Jenna. Be careful,” Mary said, touching her arm.
She had to admit she’d never felt so scared in her life. When she and Brody were together there were nights she didn’t know if he was coming home and that bothered her, but this was on a whole other level. She darted forward just as the man’s back was turned and jammed the needle into his backside. He let out a bloodcurdling yell and released his grip on the man and lashed out, but she was already several feet away. She expected him to go nuts.
That momentary distraction was all it took. Another guy managed to slam him into a wall. The sheer force should have knocked him out but he got up and fought back like a wild alley cat, limbs flailing and screeching like a banshee. More chairs were thrown, several hitting women, even a child. Then he turned his attention back to Jenna. His eyes were wild. He charged forward and before she could get a few feet away he took her down and began pummeling a meaty fist into her ribs. She gasped in agony, as each strike was harder than the last. This was followed by one to the face. Fortunately security came barreling into the room and brought him down. The unstable man squirmed beneath them, screaming out that they were going to kill him.
“Sir, stay still. Stop resisting.”
In the next second he went as stiff as a board.
It was crazy to watch it play out and had that been it, she might have forgotten about it in a few days, except it was what happened next that concerned her. They dragged him to his feet and began checking his pockets for weapons. While they were doing this, a military truck pulled up outside and several soldiers jumped out of the back, wearing masks and carrying M4s.
“What the heck?” she said, brushing dirt off as they entered through the main doors and began to take charge. They interrupted security and pulled the lunatic away leading him down the hallway. More soldiers, this time in hazmat suits with goggles and respirators, filed into the hospital.
“What are you doing?” Jenna asked pressing forward.
“Stand back, ma’am,” a soldier said putting a hand up and making it clear that she was a threat.
“Private, it’s okay,” said a woman walking in behind several of the soldiers. She carried herself with an air of authority even though she was short in stature. She had bright red hair, and a military uniform on.
Baffled by the intrusion, Jenna persisted. “Would you mind telling me what is going on here?”
“Of course. This place is being quarantined.”
Chapter 3
After the couple had shown them where they believed the truck’s lights were on the night Viola went missing, the other officer took them back to Alpine leaving Brody and Gottman to venture in Brody’s truck across the Mitchell Flat. The couple had seen the lights somewhere between Paisano Pass and the Chinati Mountains. It was a desolate area that spread for miles. The only things out there was desert, the old Marfa Air Field and mountains.
“Dear God, I thought this truck was meant to be top of the line,” Gottman said tugging at his collar.
“It goes in tomorrow to get fixed.”
“You didn’t buy this from the used dealership, did you?”
He glanced at Gottman. There was only one that he was referring to and yes, he bought it there but he wasn’t going to tell him that. While he and Gottman were generally on good terms, Gottman had always been a little pissed that he got overshadowed for the position of chief. It was only after that Brody found out that he’d gone for it.
Brody didn’t bother to answer him. Instead he flipped the sun visor down and put on his aviators to block the glare of the sun. It was still early but the sun was already drying everything in sight.
“So how you liking the position?” Gottman asked.
“It’s not bad.”
“Pays well, right? You earning around one ten?”
“About that.”
“Nice,” he said removing his hat and wiping his brow. Brody knew he was going to bring it up, he’d expected it from the moment he saw him step out of his cruiser. “So I saw your Jenna the other day.”
Brody shot him a glance. He didn’t like his tone.
“Oh, I mean I had to go to the medical center to deal with some asshole who’d beaten up his wife. I didn’t know she was working there. Anyway, we got chatting and uh…she said you and her were divorced.”
Brody was quick to reply to that. “Separated. We haven’t finalized.”
Gottman raised both eyebrows. “Oh man, that’s too bad.” He didn’t sound too bummed out. If Brody wasn’t mistaken, it almost sounded fake. “How many years has it been?”
“Twenty-four,” Brody replied.
“Wow. That’s why I never got married. You see, here’s the problem with marriage, Brody. The moment people get that paper in hand, and a ring on that finger, they go batshit crazy.” Brody glanced at him and raised a brow so Gottman clarified. “Okay, not immediately but it doesn’t take long. You see, people think they have a right to the other person. Before they spewed their vows they wouldn’t do half the shit they do once the knot is tied. Then one day you wake up and find out they no longer want to have sex with you, they expect you to pay for their lavish needs, and have you jump whenever they say. Nope. Not me. I’m not into that crap. I date women and that’s it. When it gets too serious I dump their ass.”
“Even when they’re decent?”
“Especially when they are. More often than not it’s the quiet ones you have to worry about. They won’t say a damn word while you’re dating but as soon as you close that door you will see another side to them. Really, it’s not the life for any man. We weren’t born to be tied down to one woman for our whole lives. Seriously, can you imagine having one flavor of ice cream?” He chuckled to himself and sighed. “Whoever invented marriage was a complete idiot.”
“So tell me, Casanova, how do you figure out which one you want to be with then?”
“I don’t. Like I said, I date and that’s it.”
The truck rumbled across the desert, kicking up a plume of dust behind it. It would take them a while to get out to the spot, and well, it was interesting to catch up and see a different view on life. Brody had grown up in a stable family where people stayed together even if they were unhappy. He thought about how unhappy his father was and yet he weathered the storms of his abusive mother.
“Come on, man, you must have met at least one woman you wanted to settle down with?”
Brody bounced in his seat a little as they went over some rough terrain. He swerved the truck around some large boulders.
“Okay, I will admit. There have been a couple but unfortunately they didn’t pass the shit test.”
Brody laughed. “Run that by me.”
“It’s a way to filter out those who aren’t really interested in you or they are going to be trouble later.”
“Like?” Brody probed.
“Like you take a woman out on a date and open the door for them on their side, if they don’t lean across and do the s
ame for you, chances are they are going to be a pain in the ass.”
“Come on, man, maybe she overlooked it. Are you telling me you have dumped a good woman because she didn’t lean across and open your door?”
“Oh yeah. Why should we be the only ones to open doors?”
“Geesh, Gottman, you must be a real blast on a date.”
“What, because I have standards? Believe me, Brody, so do they and they won’t think twice about whining about them a year or two into marriage. It’s better to nip it in the bud early and avoid all that drama.”
“And how do you do that?”
“Okay, let’s say you want to give one the benefit of the doubt. Here’s three ways you can figure out if they are going to be a pain in the ass later. First test is to see if they would be willing to buy a coffee for you.”
“A coffee?”
“Yeah, you’ve been out on a few dates. Comfort is setting in and you want to know if you can go to that next level. So you take them out and leave your wallet behind and then go through a drive-through and tell them you forgot your wallet, and could they spot you the money. If they willingly do it, you might have a keeper. If she doesn’t, perhaps she’s too into herself.”
“Are you serious?” Brody asked before laughing. “Please tell me you did not try that on someone.”
“Chief, it works. Try it sometime. All right, next one. This is called the No test. Let’s say they want to go watch some chick flick, or take you to a museum, and you have zero interest in doing it. Just say no, I’m not interested. If they try to shame you, by saying if you were a real man you would go, drop her ass like a hot rock.”
“Hold on a minute, Gottman. You’re dealing with another human being here. Are you telling me that you would expect her to go to whatever you wanted but you wouldn’t do the same for her? Seems like a double standard there. That has divorce written all over it.”
“Is that what happened with Jenna?” he asked before snorting.
Brody shook his head. That wasn’t it. Well it kind of was — that and a number of things. Since losing their son Will, so much had changed between them. Her stress, anxiety and all manner of unspoken troubles had worn away at the fabric of their relationship. It wasn’t long before they were sleeping in different rooms, and he found Jenna avoiding him. Any time he tried to communicate with her she would just shut him down and tell him that she didn’t want to talk about it. Except she would talk about what she wanted. Yep, double standards existed. And it had left both of them broken and empty. He hadn’t thought he could feel so much pain and he never expected it to happen to him. Prior to Will’s death, they had been on great terms, taking vacations and spending time with one another, and then the loss of their eldest son just tore a giant hole through their entire family. While Brody had managed to heal from it, Jenna hadn’t. This led to all manner of arguments and accusations. Why do you act as though it doesn’t affect you? You’re so fake; I know you are hurting too! She couldn’t be further from the truth. The fact was it had taken everything inside him to drag himself back to work, and where she saw work as avoiding the problem, to him it was salvation. Something about switching off his personal life and switching on to the work enabled him to cope. If he had to take a wild guess, he was certain that Jenna resented him for that. She wanted him to suffer the way she did. She wanted to see him in tears every night. She wanted him to not want to touch her because how could he enjoy life without Will? But he was a man for God’s sake. He had needs. Was he meant to ignore them? The fact was they were still alive. They still had another son that they needed to be strong for. She couldn’t see that. So it took her far longer to climb out of the dark hole and scramble back to the land of the living. But by that point they were too damaged. Too many painful words spoken, too many accusations, too many assumptions and too much time apart finally destroyed what had once been a healthy marriage.