“Can we donate?” I asked.
“It would be too risky without knowing everyone’s type,” he replied.
“The boys are A negative, I’m O positive, and Kathy is AB positive,” I remarked immediately.
Mark looked startled and said, “I’m not even going to question how it is you know her blood type, but yes, we can do a transfusion from all three of you if need be since she is a universal receiver. That will buy us some time.”
Mark set up the equipment and Eric went first so he could relieve Jason.
Jason had finished donating his pint when we saw flashing strobe lights in the dimming twilight coming down the road, preceded by a military Humvee. Jason and I both grabbed our rifles and stepped out.
Captain Andrews emerged from the driver’s side of the Hummer, and a pretty, short, blonde haired woman got out of the source of the flashing lights: an ambulance. She was dressed in wrinkled scrubs and carried a large medical bag.
“Allexa, this is Dr. Denise Streiner, the GYN you asked for.” Andrews looked at the rifles in our hands. “Believe me, I understand your wariness, but you won’t need those.”
“Dr. Streiner, please come this way.” I looked at Captain Andrews briefly and snarled, “You stay here.”
When we got inside, I introduced the doctor to my husband.
“Mark, this is Dr. Denise Streiner, a GYN. Dr. Streiner, my husband, Dr. Mark Robbins. And this is—”
“Oh, Kathy!” Dr. Streiner rushed to her side. “Kathy is one of my patients. What happened to her?”
I explained as briefly as I could what Kathy had told me, Mark adding that she’d received two pints of blood.
“How did you type?” Dr. Streiner asked.
“For whatever reason, my wife knows everyone’s blood type. Kathy is AB positive, and she was given A negative,” Mark replied.
While Dr. Streiner added her instruments to the examining table, I took the opportunity to explain.
“Kathy and I would go together to the blood center to donate. I’m the second most common type; she’s the second most uncommon. It seemed worth remembering. My head gets filled with all sorts of trivial data.”
Kathy blinked her eyes open and saw Dr. Streiner.
“Denise?” she whispered.
“I’m here, Kathy. Don’t worry, I’ll take care of you.” Denise blinked back some tears, though her voice never wavered.
The two doctors scrubbed as best as they could in the kitchen sink, and then I assisted them with sterile gloves and tied masks to their faces. At that point, I left them to do what they could and stepped outside to confront Captain Andrews.
He must have recognized the determined scowl on my face.
“Before you lay into me, Ms. Smeth, I did not send those men here, and I didn’t even know about this situation until you called,” he scowled right back.
Eric arrived, coming up quietly behind our visitor.
“Hello, Sargent Rush,” the captain said. “Your mother hides her expressions well, though I did see a flicker of eye movement that told me someone was behind me, and I assumed that if I didn’t hear the approach, it must be you.” He turned to face Eric.
“Capt…” Eric started, then looked confused. “Sir, may I ask what’s going on? Even when field promotions were common, a captain doesn’t generally make the leap to colonel in a week.”
“You have an exceptionally observant son, Ms. Smeth,” Colonel Andrews said turning back to me. “Can we sit somewhere?”
“I’d like you to listen to something first, Colonel, while we sit.” I retrieved the answering machine from the back seat of my car, and led the way to the greenhouse.
After plugging it in, I hit the play button, and Anna’s voice spoke.
“Allexa, it’s Thursday and we just arrived at my sister’s house. This has been a horrible experience! The three-hour processing has taken three days! Right after we got there, we were immediately separated and questioned. Interrogated is more like it. I don’t know where Carolyn is, I haven’t seen her since we got here.”
The Colonel listened silently while the recording continued.
“Adding in your deception about your rank, you now know why I’m so upset and why none of us trust you. We are not your enemy, Colonel, though it would appear that you are ours. Would you care to explain yourself?”
“Understand, Ma’am, that I owe no one an explanation, except for my superior officers. However, for some reason this little community is tied to a bigger problem, not as a cause, mind you, but as a target.”
“A target? Why would we be anyone’s target?” For a moment I forgot that I was so angry with him.
“I don’t know. It’s just one piece of a very complicated puzzle.” The Colonel stood and paced for a moment, looking intently at the flourishing vegetables in the grow boxes. He sat down again on the bench by the water pond.
“I was sent to Sawyer because of a growing and festering hole of corruption that had been reported within a month or so of the first earthquake last fall. I decided to come in ‘undercover’ as it were, as a lower ranking officer. I mean to find the head of this and dispose of it. I’m being stalled and I don’t know where to dig, since I’m not from around here. I’m old school military, Ma’am, and I don’t tolerate this kind of corruption, the kind you’re experiencing firsthand.”
“I see,” I mumbled. “How can we help?”
The Colonel smiled. “Thank you, but I don’t know if you can. That being said, this current event will give me an opportunity to shake things up a bit.”
“I don’t understand,” I said. “How?”
“Finding an injured soldier and a red convertible should be fairly easy. One or both of those will lead me to the others that participated. Once I have them, I will execute them if need be, one at a time, until I have the information I require.”
“Execute, as in kill?” I asked, astonished over his casualness.
He looked at me in surprise. “From what I’ve heard, Ms. Smeth, this town has done its share of dispatching its enemies, quickly and without remorse. Do you have a problem with my method?”
“No, actually, I don’t, Colonel. I thought there would be more legality you were required to follow.”
“Not anymore, Ma’am, not anymore. We did up until Yellowstone, but now I get to take the gloves off. Anything goes,” he replied stonily. “I will get to the bottom of this, and when I do, the punishment will be swift and severe. Count on it!”
Eric stepped into the greenhouse. “Mom, Mark wants you inside.” I hurried into the house, leaving the Colonel listening to the soothing sounds of the waterfall.
Both Mark and Denise were rinsing their instruments in the sink, their masks down, hands still gloved.
“How is she?” I asked, approaching the table.
“Denise did some very interesting surgery!”
“Her uterus is horribly shredded; that’s what was bleeding so profusely. I tied it off at the juncture above to stop the bleeding. I need a regular operating room to finish removing it safely,” Dr. Streiner said. “Once that’s done, Kathy should be fine, but she will have to stay in the hospital for a few days.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
The ambulance driver and Eric brought the gurney in, and transferred the inert Kathy, strapping her down for the drive into town.
“I’m going in to assist with the surgery, Allex,” Mark announced.
“No!” I placed my hand on his arm. “You promised to never leave me, remember? If you go, they may not let you come back!”
“I will guarantee his safety, Ms. Smeth, and I will personally bring him back in the morning,” Colonel Andrews said from the doorway.
“Allex, I know so little about gynecology. I could learn a lot from Dr. Streiner. Knowledge that someday may help me save you, Emilee, or Amanda. I’m a doctor, Allex, this is what I do. Please don’t make me choose, because I would choose you,” my husband pleaded with me. I removed my hand from his arm.
“You’re right, Mark, this is you and I won’t make that demand of you out of my own fear.” I kissed him lightly and turned to the Colonel. “You better keep your word on this!”
JOURNAL ENTRY: August 11
It’s hard to believe that we’ve been married only nine days and how quickly I have become accustomed to having Mark by my side. Without his presence I slept poorly and fidgeted all night. This morning finds me restless and bleary eyed, anxious for his return.
All of what Col. Andrews told me yesterday keeps running through my mind and little of it makes sense. I understand him investigating this kind of a problem from a lesser rank; many will open up to someone closer to their own status. For this I can forgive him, though it isn’t my place to bestow forgiveness to anyone.
What still doesn’t make any sense is why anyone would be trying to hurt us. This is a small town, we haven’t harmed anyone, well at least no one that didn’t try to harm us first, and then that was just self-defense.
I don’t get it.
*
While I was pouring a second cup of coffee, Emilee came bounding across the road. She seems to be getting taller every day.
“Nahna, Dad just had a phone call! He says you need to come over right now,” Emilee relayed in a very grownup, matter-of-fact tone.
“Yes, Col. Andrews?” I kept my voice level when I returned his call. Dispatch had saved the phone number from yesterday, so it’s now our means of communication. I don’t mind, it’s better than going to the township hall to make a call.
“I thought you would like to know things have moved quickly,” he said. “I have all four culprits in custody and they can’t stop talking.”
“What have you learned and where is my husband?”
“Dr. Robbins is assisting in a second surgery this morning. Another rape victim came into the ER during the night, a victim of the same attackers. We picked the guys up a couple of hours ago. Your friend should be awake soon and I need her to identify these men. It would help her to have you here.” The actual request was left unasked.
“Do I get the same safe passage?”
“Of course. In fact, I will meet you at the security gate myself.” He sounded relieved. “One hour?”
~~~
“No, Eric, you cannot come with me!” I said to my son. “I will not risk any of you being detained. If the colonel is still lying, then he has Mark and me and we will find a way to escape. Do not argue with me! Besides, I need you and Jason to take care of Bob. We can’t leave him in the house, tied to a chair.”
“You’re right, Mom. We’ll take care of it. Please be careful.”
~~~
I waited a hundred yards from the rusting security gate on County Road 695, until I saw the colonel walking up to the single guard, then I drove forward.
“Always so cautious, Ms. Smeth?” Colonel Andrews asked, smiling. He lifted the gate so I could drive my car through.
“Yes, Sir, I am, and I think I have every right to be. I want to see my husband.”
“If you follow me, we will go directly to the hospital. There you can see Dr. Robbins and your friend,” he replied, handing me a security clearance badge, his smile gone.
~~~
We rode the elevator up to the sixth floor of the quiet hospital in strained silence. There were few visitors and fewer patients, since all elective surgery was cancelled and only the direst of illnesses or injuries were admitted, a necessity with the lack of doctors and nurses.
Stepping out of the tiny elevator, I breathed the relieved sigh of a claustrophobic. Then the smells assaulted me: disinfectants couldn’t hide the odors of urine and feces and blood that wafted through the halls.
“This way to the surgical lounge,” Col. Andrews said, leading the way. When we approached the double doors, they opened and Dr. Streiner stepped out. Her face froze when she saw me.
“I will leave you here, Ms. Smeth, while I make arrangements for you to see Kathy,” Col. Andrews said, and he left.
“Dr. Streiner, how is Kathy doing?” I asked when she emerged from a set of nondescript double doors.
“I removed her uterus. It was damaged beyond repair, but I know Kathy had no interest in having children. There were other injuries as well, though none life threatening.” She looked solemnly at me. “She’s lucky you found her so quickly or she would have bled to death within an hour. For all of that, she’s doing well, but I’d still like to keep her a few days for observation.”
“Where is Mark?” I asked, glancing behind her.
“He did amazingly well for not having much OB/GYN training.” She avoided my question.
“Where is he?” I asked again.
“You should really consider encouraging him to stay here, where he would be more useful.”
There was something about her stance, her tone, and a look in her eye. There was a smug hostility I didn’t like. She was more of Mark’s professional equal than I was and I felt jealousy rising within me. I tamped it down and took another approach.
“Denise, I know Mark is an amazing man, and I know he’s handsome, and charming and kind. He’s a really good person. But he’s my husband.” I could have said more, lots more, but I didn’t.
She looked away. “Am I that obvious?”
I smiled in understanding. “He has the same effect on me.”
“He must love you a great deal, Allexa. You’re all he would talk about,” she admitted. “But I will take him away from you. You’re just a mousey little farmer and he’s a brilliant doctor. You don’t deserve him.” Denise lifted her chin. “He’ll be out in a minute,” and she stepped toward the double doors, sneering at me. I was shocked by her verbal attack and I was trying very hard to ignore the insults she just lashed at me.
The swinging doors opened and Mark stepped out. His somber expression faded when he saw me and he took me in his arms for a long, embarrassing kiss.
“Ahem,” Denise cleared her throat. “Excuse me. Let’s look in on our patient.” She turned away from our blatant display of affection.
We walked down the hall to the elevators and rode in silence to the floor Kathy’s room was on, which was marginally cleaner and by far less noxious in odor. She lay against the crisp white pillow, her freshly washed red hair fanned out like a flaming halo. She opened her eyes and smiled.
“Hi, Allexa,” she said sleepily. I sat down next to her on the bed and took her hand, tears threatening behind my lids.
“Hi to you too,” I said softly. “You look better than the last time I saw you.”
“Well, that wouldn’t be hard to do,” came the retort I expected from my gal-pal of many years. “I was a mess.” Now the tears formed in her eyes. “I owe you one, my friend. I understand I owe you many. If you hadn’t come by when you did…”
“If she hadn’t, we wouldn’t have caught the men responsible,” Colonel Andrews said from across the room. None of us had seen him waiting there in the shadows when we walked in. “Do you feel up to making a visual confirmation on these scumbags?”
“The sooner the better, Captain.” Kathy saluted the Colonel from her bed and he laughed.
Mark and I rode with Kathy in the ambulance that took her and a wheelchair to the National Guard Armory where the men were being held under heavy guard.
Colonel Andrews pulled in beside us as we were settling her in the chair.
“Please follow me,” he said, walking briskly around the outside of the squat red brick building along a broken cement path to what looked like the parade grounds.
The ride was a bit bumpy for her, and Kathy winced. I stopped Mark from pushing only once.
“Are you okay, Kath?”
“Let’s get this over with,” she replied, and we kept going until we hit the open field, where four young men were standing in front of a brick wall, handcuffed and shackled.
Against the red brick building stood a squad of a dozen soldiers at parade rest. Sheltered and semi-hidden by the gloomy shadows, they
were there as security and as witnesses.
“Ma’am, do you recognize any of these men?” the colonel asked Kathy formally.
“Yes, I do. I recognize all of them as the men who attacked my husband, raped me, and that fat one on the end is the one who shot my husband in the head,” Kathy replied calmly, with tears streaming down her still bruised and swollen face.
“Corporal Jones, do you have anything to say?” Colonel Andrews addressed the first man. The answer was silence. “Then for the charges of rape, accessory to murder, theft, and for behavior unbecoming a member of the military, I sentence you to death.”
Colonel Andrews went through the same charges with Corporals Carter and Griffin. When he got to Sargent Streeters, he added the charge of first-degree murder.
“Do any of you wish a blindfold?” he asked. The one named Griffin said yes. “Tough, you can’t have one, close your eyes,” the colonel replied harshly.
Colonel James Andrews pulled his service revolver, and shot each one of them in the head from a short distance.
Mark was shocked by the execution; I was expecting it. I’m not sure about Kathy, but she didn’t protest.
“Doctor, can you confirm death for me?” Andrews requested. Mark pulled a surgical glove from his pocket and after slipping it on, felt for a pulse on each of the soldiers lying in the brown grass.
“You were quite effective, Sir. May we leave now?” Mark asked flatly.
“Thank you, and yes, please return Ms. Kathy to the hospital,” Colonel Andrews replied, and then turned to me. “I would like to talk to you further. If you’ll ride with me we can talk.”
“No,” Mark interjected immediately. “She stays with me. If you want to talk to her, you will talk to us. You can either come back to our car or we will rejoin you here, but we will not be separated!”
The Journal: Crimson Skies: (The Journal Book 3) Page 5