Sunshine or Lead

by Adam Van Susteren

  “Yes, delicious and perfect for a hot day like this. What is it?”

  “It’s a Rosé from Record vineyards in Paso Robles.” Peter said as he went into his house leaving Aaron and Tina alone on the porch.

  Tina looked up at Aaron. “Aurora’s coming into town? When did you know about this?”

  “Just a few minutes ago. She’s going to be here because Nannette is in custody. And I also think she might be able to help me with this other matter. She’s someone that I think I can trust. You don’t have work until Monday, right? Want to stay tonight and do dinner with her tomorrow?”

  “You wouldn’t bring her in on your new case unless it was real trouble, would you? Can you tell me a little bit about what’s going on at least?”

  Aaron thought for a second about what would be breaching attorney-client privilege. “Honestly, I hope this is a really small thing but I can’t tell you anything about it yet. I need permission from my client to disclose and right now the fewer people that know anything the better. The best news, though, is that if this blows up like last time, the United States government should be on our side.”

  “That would be a nice change. Getting our boring lives back would be much nicer. I mean, it’s been a month now. You’ve been on television, radio, magazines. Is this going to be a new line of work for you? National problem-solving attorney?”

  “I don’t know. It’s definitely a way to get paid and help people. And my success in the first case is bringing up this possible second case, so who knows what else might be out there?”

  “That kind of changes the life we had planned, doesn’t it? You decided to move to be with me or I would have come down here. Now on the day we are supposed to start our lives together, we are both attacked and you can’t come home,” Tina said with sadness in her voice.

  “I can turn down cases like this in the future and focus back on a more regular law practice. But in both of our careers we sometimes need to put our own lives on hold in order to help or even save a life,” he said nodding towards her to emphasize it was her that saved lives.

  “Can you?”

  “Yes, I think I can help.”

  “But really, if someone comes to you and thinks you can help them out of a jam, can you ever say no?”

  “Sure I could. But if you knew more about this case you would want me to do anything I could to help.”

  “Does it make me selfish to think that all I wanted was a quiet life of helping to save the lives of stab wound victims that I don’t know? I don’t want to run through the forest to save your life from a stab wound ever again.”

  Aaron didn’t know what to say. “Not at all.” They sat in silence for a minute until Peter came back out with a bottle of water and a second bottle of chilled Record Rosé.

  Aaron and Tina both smiled at him and the interruption that he brought. He poured a quarter glass for Tina and topped off Aaron again. He asked Tina, “Do you need another Pepcid, honey?”

  “Do I look red?”

  Aaron shook his head no.

  “Then you can drink honey!” Peter said as he raised his glass to toast them. “To me…” he paused for a second and quickly finished, “and you and you.”

  As they clinked glasses, Aaron echoed, “To us. A pretty damn awesome group drinking some pretty damn awesome wine.” They all took a sip. Aaron raised his glass again. “To the impossible. You did it today, Peter. No, not saving Tina’s life. But doing something I thought was impossible. You made her look even more beautiful with your haircut. Something I thought was truly impossible.”

  Both Peter and Tina beamed at the compliment. Tina smiled at him. “Ugh Aaron, you can be so damn perfect sometimes.” She reached up and squeezed his cheeks with her hand and pulled his face towards hers for another kiss.

  Peter asked, “You said a while ago that you had a meeting on immigration law. Did you know that I have a Green Card? I’m not a citizen.”

  “I didn’t know.”

  “He was born in Vietnam. Moved here at what, ten?”

  Peter nodded affirmatively.

  Aaron asked, “How did you get your visa to become a permanent resident?”

  “Long story short, my grandfather died after my dad was born. My grandmother married an American that she met during the Vietnam War. After Grandmother became a U.S. citizen, she got my dad to move here but I was born in Vietnam and was raised by my mom until he could get his Green Card. Then ma and I moved here when I was ten and we both got Green Cards.”

  Aaron said, “That sounds like the way it happens for most immigration here in the United States; it’s very hard to become a citizen or permanent resident otherwise.”

  “I think it works well that way. I couldn’t imagine moving to a new place and finding my own way. It would be really hard unless there was some family here to support me and help me assimilate to the new culture.”

  Tina shook her head. “You know, I’m not sure how my parents became citizens. I think they came here on student visas forty years ago and then found jobs. I thought it was just some boring story when I was a kid but I’m interested now.”

  Tina took a sip of wine. “Oh hey, when I was a first year resident, we had a chief resident that was from Japan; he was about five years older than me. He finished his residency there and was a doctor but wanted to come live in the United States. He had to go through residency again; his residency in Japan didn’t transfer. There is no way I could ever do residency again. With such a big doctor shortage, why do we make it so hard for foreign doctors to come practice medicine in the United States?”

  “I have no idea. I know there is a special ability program.” Aaron wondered if Xiaowan’s parents might be able to qualify for a program like that. It might be faster than the familial route.

  Tina looked at her wine glass and reminisced about her residency. “Even if it weren’t for immigration, the residency match program makes it so hard for them. I mean, they have to do residency a second time, which is terrible. Do you know why it was called residency?”

  Peter and Aaron looked blankly at each other. Aaron guessed, “Because when it started the residents lived at the hospital while learning the skills?”

  “How do you know everything?!”

  Aaron could tell she was about to vent and he wanted to encourage it. “Go on about residency.”

  “Okay, so you know that to be part of the match system the hospitals have a cap of eighty hours per week, averaged over four weeks. That is literally two full-time jobs and, let’s just be honest here, these times are self-reported so often it goes over eighty hours. Did you know that the average salary is fifty thousand dollars? These residents are students that got straight A’s in high school and again in the most challenging undergraduate curriculums on the planet. Then they dominate the MCAT and interview well to earn twelve bucks an hour saving lives. And for that salary, we risk getting sued all the time.”

  Aaron had heard it before and believed Peter had, but he saw that this was cathartic for her and egged her on. “That just doesn’t seem right. There’s no free market so residents are treated like crap.”

  “I heard there was a lawsuit[1] about it where a bunch of residents tried to challenge the match system and they won, but then Congress passed a law as part of another law so that they can keep the match system going. The thing about the match is that you have to do it if you want any kind of specialty at all. So that doctor from Japan that I knew, Masaru Miwata, had to spend three years in the system before finding a match. When he got here, the medical challenge of residency was a joke; he already had more experience as an intern than the chief residents and even some of the attendings.”

  “You made it through all of that. You’re tough as nails,” Aaron said, sensing that her need to vent was running its course.

  “Yeah. It’s crazy, but as nervous as I was about the match system, it worked out well for me. It brought me to San Diego where I met you and some great friends, and it gave me a top-notch re
sidency program. I guess I just remembered the fear I had before the computer matched me up. I busted my ass for fifteen straight years, not even one A minus. And then I had to rely on a computer to tell me where I was going to do my residency.”

  “I’m glad it matched you here,” Aaron said with a genuine smile before he leaned over a bit and gave her a gentle kiss on her lips.

  “Get a room!” shouted Peter. “Seriously, get a room and stay this weekend. You guys are awesome.”

  Aaron pointed at Peter. “Well you’re pretty damn fabulous yourself.”

  “Damn right I’m damn fabulous!”

  “Well how about it Tina? We can stay at Kor’s and then both go to dinner with Aurora tomorrow night. Then we can head up late Saturday night or early Sunday together?”

  “That means we go back Sunday. Thank God it’s not football season or we’d be going back Sunday at ten at night and I would feel like I was back in residency with my hours instead of the attending physician that I am. Damn it Peter, might as well top me off with a little of that Rosé.”

  Aaron noticed the colors outside where changing from blue to a dimmer almost orangish hue, indicating an approaching sunset. He looked at his watch and saw it was half past seven. All the time with the police, Enloe, and even on the porch, just flew by. He opened up his cell phone and called Kor.

  “A-B, what up homie?”

  “Hey buddy, Tina and I are staying in San Diego. Do you mind if we crash at your place tonight?”

  “No problem. Got a parking spot for you, just come over whenever. Jess and I just finished up dinner and are just hanging out.”

  “See you in a bit.”

  Aaron drained his glass of wine and said to Peter, “I think we need to head over to Kor’s and figure out dinner. Do you want to come join us for dinner and a few drinks tonight?”

  “I doubt it. I think I’ve had enough excitement today. I’ll text Tina if I’m up for it,” Peter said as the three all stood up to exchange hugs and salutations. Tina then remembered that her car was still a few miles away at the salon. They called a cab and waited until they were able to get picked up.

  When they were dropped off at Tina’s car, Aaron felt okay to drive since he had just two glasses of wine over the past two hours. Getting into the car, Tina said, “I came down just to help you move. I don’t have any clothes for tomorrow or even tonight.”

  Aaron also realized that he didn’t have anything to change into and his clothes were starting to smell a little from all the sweat. “Should we pick up something new? Or, we can do laundry at Kor’s place.”

  Aaron smiled at her. “Want to go out tonight?”

  “I might need a Red Bull, then, or I might fall asleep in the car.” She took his right hand in hers and rested them on the center console.

  “So we need to get a whole outfit then.”

  Tina realized that she didn’t have any makeup with her at all and would have to get shoes to match a new dress. “I’ve got no makeup. Tonight needs to be casual, okay?”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “If I just get a really casual dress, I can wear these flip flops. How about we go to H&M?”

  “You mean we’re not going to Target? I thought that was our thing, get nearly killed and then shop at Tar-shay.”

  “That’s only after we get stabbed.”

  “Ah. Good to know. Fashion Valley Mall it is. I can get my car from there too and move it to the office. I took the trolley down. Shit, can you text Kor and tell him we’ll be there a little after nine so that if he goes out he can leave us a key at the front desk or something?”

  “Sure,” Tina said as she texted Kor to that effect. Jessica had a two bedroom condominium in the Meridian building in the Marina District of San Diego where Kor moved into about a year ago. It feels more like a hotel with valet parking and white glove service than a house, but Kor and Jessica loved it. Sometimes they thought about moving so that they could get a dog, but for two young busy professionals it was a fantastic, and fantastically expensive, place to live.

  Aaron looked at the shirts at H&M and realized even their XXL wouldn’t fit his shoulders and upper back. The slim fit look was popular but it didn’t work for him. He told Tina he was going to go somewhere else and would meet her back there in twenty minutes. He was able to score a polo shirt, socks, underwear, and cargo shorts at Macy’s within ten minutes and was back at H&M while Tina was in the fitting room line waiting to try on three different dresses.

  Aaron saw that she was halfway through the line. Since it might take a while, he suggested, “Why don’t we buy them all and just return two of them on our way to…” he almost said ‘Orange County’ but instead continued, “our way home.”

  She smiled at him. “Great idea.”

  Chapter 8

  Kor bear-hugged Aaron then looked at Tina. “Damn girl, you are looking as beautiful as your boy is smelly.” While hugging Tina, he looked back at Aaron. “I’m almost afraid to let you use my shower because I don’t want you to stink up the sewer lines.”

  Aaron picked at his shirt, held it out a few inches, and took a whiff. He noted a light mildew smell from his sweat drying up on his shirt. Slightly embarrassed, he said, “Thanks for letting us stay over tonight. Mind if we do a quick load of laundry?”

  “Got ten dollars sucka?”

  “I’ll just hang everything out on the patio and the sun will clear it all up. Saving the money,” Aaron joked.

  “No shit? That works? If you have smelly gym clothes and leave them in the sun, the sun will kill that shit?”

  “It’s very true, that’s why people say sunshine is the best disinfectant. It really is.”

  “You got that sweaty just from moving today? I didn’t think it was that hot out.”

  “You didn’t see anything on the news?” Tina asked.

  “Nope, I had ESPN on all day. What happened?

  “Nannette from D.C. was caught here in San Diego,” Aaron said and filled Kor in on half of the details during the elevator ride to his unit. They walked into his unit and exchanged warm greetings with Jessica. Aaron started the story over for her. Then Tina filled them in on her day’s adventure as well.

  Jessica said, “Well I can cook something for you if you guys want to stay in, or we can order some delivery.”

  Aaron and Tina looked at each other and were immediately on board with staying in. “Pizza sounds great,” Aaron said.

  “Sure does,” echoed Tina.

  After the four negotiated two pizzas with different toppings, Kor said, “Tina, why don’t you shower in the master bathroom so you can use some of Jessica’s stuff if you need anything. I can give Aaron some dish soap to take outside on the patio with a bucket?”

  “Sounds good. Have some paper towels?”

  Kor showed Aaron to the guest bathroom and Jessica took Tina to the master to let them get cleaned up. Aaron was back out first. “Thanks for letting us stay here, guys.”

  “You’re welcome,” Jessica said. “It’ll give me a chance to talk with Tina about my bachelorette party. I know my sister wants to plan something big but she’s on the East Coast and I’m not sure how many of my friends can afford to go somewhere truly special.”

  Aaron asked, “Kor, where’s your bachelor party going to be?”

  “I don’t know playa. I’ll be happy anywhere there is some cold beer and we can play some golf or drinking games. Maybe try to get back to Budapest? What do you want to do?”

  “I don’t know, I’m finally catching up on work and might have a new case that will get me swamped. A little vacation in a few weeks sounds fantastic.” Thinking about his meeting tomorrow, Aaron asked, “How did you become a citizen, Kor?”

  “Why do you think we’re getting married?” Kor joked.

  “Seriously, I’m curious.”

  “Mom married my step-dad, an American citizen, so we all got Green Cards and then when I turned eighteen I applied for citizenship and became a citizen before going t
o college. What’s up?”

  “I’m thinking I’ve got an immigration-type case to deal with. Sounds like a lot of new immigrants do what your family did. Anyway, have you guys thought about when you are getting married?”

  “This fall.”

  “Wow, that’s so soon,” Aaron said in disbelief.

  “We’ve been dating for four years and living together for two. No need for a long engagement. We know who we are so might as well do a small wedding in a couple of months. God knows, if we are friends with you, what kind of death-defying adventures we might face.”

  Tina came out of the bathroom wearing a white dress with a few green flowers on it just a minute before the pizza came. The four of them stayed up chatting, laughing, eating pizza, and drinking beer and wine until just past midnight when exhaustion overtook everyone but Kor; his motor wouldn’t stop running. He laid down to try to get some sleep and spent thirty minutes checking Facebook and ESPN on his phone until he could finally fall asleep.

  Aaron and Tina woke up to the smell of fresh coffee, eggs, hash browns, and bacon. Jessica woke up early and made it to the store to make breakfast for everyone.

  While everyone was eating, Jessica asked, “What are you guys going to do today?”

  Aaron had his meeting with Xiaowan at two. Tina didn’t have plans, she just knew she didn’t want to be alone after the kidnapping. Jessica invited Tina to spend the day with them, which she gladly accepted. A relaxing day at the pool sounded wonderful.

  Chapter 9

  While Tina was relaxing, Aaron was at the public library researching immigration and espionage until it was time to go meet Xiaowan.

  As Aaron was driving up to the gym to meet Xiaowan, he realized he should have borrowed more than just a swimsuit from Kor. He didn’t have a towel or backpack.

  Aaron chided himself for forgetting those things and chided himself further for thinking that was a big deal when Xiaowan was meeting with Zhou right now. Aaron was nervous to think about what type of task Zhou was going to give her and what type of danger Xiaowan and her family might be in.