by Manolo Mario
At this point there was the typical back and forth between you go, no you go, I’ll stay. No, you go and I’ll stay. ‘Why don’t we all go and come back?’ After the round robin, Elio looked at the nurse who was about to lose her patience, when he spoke.
“Here’s what will do. Carmen, go and get Nevy and have her come stay here. When Nevy gets here, I’ll take Elena home to get cleaned up. While you do that, I’ll go and get cleaned and come back to get you and we will come back. Carmen, you go ahead and be with Rona, until we send Nevy home.”
Though tired they all nodded in agreement, took the last swig of coffee from their demitasses and began with their plan.
***
Galo pointed toward the floor, “So, where exactly did you find Alonso?
Fefo swallowed, “Yes, he was here along the floor next to his desk. He bled from his head, mouth, and face. I could see his arm was broken in a weird way. It went this way and that way, not like a normal elbow. And the leg...” He seemed to sway and gag. Rico grabbed his arm and settled him into a chair. “I have never seen anything like it in my life. The leg twisted and looked like a mass of meat inside his pants. Señor Galo, Señor Rico, I did my best to take care of Señor Alonso, but all my friend and I could do was place a board underneath and carry him. There was no way to splint the leg. I still feel sick thinking about it.”
He guzzled the glass of water. “We got him down the stairs and into the cart. The poor man moaned and whined the whole time. I haven’t slept. The sound won’t leave my head, but I tried to help him. I held his hand in the cart. After we got to the hospital, I don’t know what happened. Do you know if he will be all right?”
Galo refilled the man’s glass. “We won’t know much until later today. They are taking good care of him, though. He is too hurt to know.” Rico banged his fist on the wall as his anger showed again.
“Fefo, you did fine. Coño, you did more than fine and you were brave. Thank you and I’m sure Alonso has a chance because of you. If you are all right now, go ahead and get back to work. I’ll let you know if anything happens to Alonso.”
Galo and Rico looked through the office to assess the damage. There were bloodstains on the side of the Alonso’s desk and a trail of paper that seemed to flow from the desk onto the floor. A rag rested under the desk stained with a line of blood that turned and waned at the edge. Some of the papers were splattered with blood as well. The disorganization was unlike Alonso, who was meticulous with his work. There were a couple of paperweights on the floor that looked as if they had been knocked off the desk. They looked at each other and went to see the safe. It was locked and did not show any sign of tampering. Galo turned the combination, opened the safe and noted that nothing was missing. There was a small stash of bills, but the usual cache had been deposited at the bank after he examined the last receipt. Nothing left the safe and he closed it back with a final flip of the combination wheel.
Rico picked up the papers and straightened out the desk while Galo finished with the safe. Both stood, looked at each other, and shrugged. Rico, out of the corner of his eye, noticed the calendar on the floor in the corner opposite the desk. He pointed it out to Galo and they leaned in closer. The calendar had been on the wall toward the right side of Alonso’s desk. The calendar was flipped to two days hence and the paper had a blunt mark. On the page, the words ‘insurance $ due’ were written. They looked at the wall and noticed a chip in the paint immediately to the left of where the calendar had been.
“Rico, this was no fall or accident. I think the ass of a cop hit Alonso with his stick! Maybe he wanted his money before it was due and Alonso didn’t budge. What a fool!”
Rico scratched his head. “You mean, he should have given him the money?”
“Yes, he should have given him the money! We could have gotten it back later!”
“Hell, we should have never given him money in the first place! I told…”
Galo cut him off and stabbed at the air with his finger. His voiced boomed stronger than ever, “Don’t you dare say that again! And whatever happens, don’t even think of it in front of Elio. If I know him, he is taking all the blame for this!”
***
At the hospital, Elena and Elio returned to find Nevy with a rosary and handkerchief in hand drying her tears. They both felt a sense of doom when they approached Nevy.
“Nevy, what has happened?”
Nevy sniffled and cried in little sobs. “No one has talked to me since you left.”
“Why are you crying?” asked Elena.
Speaking through even bigger sobs, she said, “I’m so sorry for Alonso. There are too many things that are bad with the world. The war in Europe is damning all our people. God is angry at us and allowing for all the bad things that are happening.”
Elio rolled his eyes and patted her on the back. “Now, now, calm down, Nevy.” He found an excuse to walk away and find the nurse for the latest information. He had no luck and returned to sit with the calamity in progress. An hour later, the nurse and two doctors appeared. They asked for the group to join them back in a plain examination room with a few chairs. All the medical instruments hung ominously on the walls. The same doctor from the day before took control.
“To remind you, my name is Nuñez. I was the doctor on duty yesterday when we received Sr. Velez.” He consulted his chart to confirm and continued, “As you know, he came in with many serious injuries and we have been gravely concerned about what we may not know. We sedated him and tried to keep him comfortable throughout the night. We observed him during that time. Our main concern involved any internal bleeding. After reviewing the pressure readings from the night and checking for any blood in his urine or other cavities, I believe he is not bleeding internally, so he has passed the first real critical issue.”
With the stated conclusion, both Elio and Elena seemed to exhale and breathe easier. Nevy whispered “hallelujah” and bowed down to thank God for His kindness. The doctor let it sit before beginning once more.
“In spite of this assessment, he is not clear of danger. His breathing is still shallow. This is understandable with the bruising and his broken ribs. Now, I want to turn it over to Dr. Sanchez, who is our orthopedist. He was the doctor who set the broken arm and casted it yesterday.”
Dr. Sanchez cleared his throat and stepped forward a bit, “Good morning, I am truly sorry to be meeting you under these conditions. I can understand your concern and want to make sure you know that these are my concerns as well. I will do my best with your loved one.” He spoke gently, kindly, as Elio, Elena, and even Nevy perked up to listen closely.
“As Dr. Nuñez said, Señor Velez’s arm is set and I do not fear any complications. The bones did not break through the skin, so I do not imagine there will be any unforeseen issues. The ribs are a concern and will be quite painful for some time. We will eventually wrap his mid-section to add stability and help him breathe without feeling as much pain. It will be painful, no matter what happens.”
At this phrasing, Nevy let out a little ‘Oh’ and Elio and Elena grew more somber. Elio raised his hand low. “For how long will he be in pain?”
The doctor barely let him finish the question. “As you may know, pain is different from person to person. It will take six to eight weeks for the bones to heal. I would expect strong pain for the first three to four weeks and for the pain to dissipate until he is fully healed. But sir and madams, the ribs will be a little inconvenience in comparison to his leg. This is the hard part and where I need your help.”
The three of them sat up fully attentive, and if they could have held hands right away, they would have.
“Señor Velez has multiple fractures of his tibia and fibula. There is a deep bone bruise on his femur as well, but luckily it didn’t break. The fractures are dislocated and it is not an easy task to reposition. In such cases, the indication is to remove the leg and keep the patient from such a painful experience.”
Nevy and Elena gasped, one fearful an
d one welling up with tears. Elio smacked his thigh and shook his head from side to side. “Dr. Sanchez, is there another option? What else can be done?”
The doctor lifted and eyebrow and tilted his head slightly. “Well señor, the other option is to try and reset the leg. He would be sedated and I will use traction with weights to pull the leg as straight as I can and try to massage the bones back into their place. If it takes, the traction will remain, keeping everything in place until it heals. If it doesn’t take, I may need to break the bones later and try again. Like I said there is no guarantee. Let me also say that even if it takes and it heals, Señor Velez may never walk straight again.”
Nevy began to cry openly again. Elena welled up also, and Elio pinched the bridge of his nose.
Dr. Sanchez extended his arms behind Dr. Nuñez and the nurse and nudged them out the door. “I will give you some time alone and you can let me know what you would like to do.”
Elio watched the door and stared at it, then turned back to them. “Elena, if it was me, I would rather have them take my leg.”
Upon hearing this Nevy started to wail. Elena shook in her chair and swayed from side to side. Elio looked from one woman to the other several times. He stepped over to Nevy. “May Galo and Rona forgive me as well as God.” He quickly and firmly slapped Nevy forehand and backhand making her head turn each way. The slap -- or the sound of the slap -- quieted her immediately. He turned back to Elena and placed his hands on both her shoulders. “You heard how I feel. Now what do you want to do?”
He looked at a much older woman than twenty-four hours earlier. She stared back at Elio, but there was not light in her eyes. “I don’t want to see him suffer more than necessary, but taking his leg will crush him. Despite the pain, if it doesn’t set, the doctor can take the leg later, right? Perhaps, Alonso will be alert enough to make the decision himself. I want the doctor to try and set the leg.” She grabbed his shirtsleeves and yanked. “Elio, don’t let them take his leg! Don’t!” The light reappeared.
Elio struggled to retain his balance from the unexpected jolt. He crossed his arms to reach each of her hands and pry them from his shirt. “I won’t let them do anything to take the leg. Let’s let the good doctor know what to do.”
Chapter 22
Galo looked up and saw Elio entering the office. He turned and yelled, “Rico! Elio is back. Let’s go!” Elio detailed the conversation with the doctors, “Galo forgive me, but I slapped Nevy.” Galo furled his brow. “She couldn’t control her nerves and wailed and made everyone nervous.”
“Damn, you waited too long. I would have slapped her the minute I got to the hospital. Do you know how much I’ve wanted to do that?” Rico chuckled.
Elio commented, “I don’t know about the two of you, but if it is me, they can take my leg! I can live without a leg.”
Rico grimaced. “No way! I want my leg.”
Galo rubbed his hands. “Let’s say I’m glad I’m not the poor son of a bitch that has to make the decision. Elena was brave in her decision; because once the leg is gone there was no option. This way she kept the option open. As to the pain, Alonso will need to suck his own dick and bear it.”
Galo and Rico walked Elio through what they uncovered at the office. Galo lit up a cigarette. “So in conclusion, Alonso got hit with a club of some kind. As to anything else, we will have to wait for the dickhead to wake up.”
Rico stood tall and cleared his throat. “It was the bastard, son of a whore of a cop that did this! There is no other conclusion. If you would have let me at him the first time…”
Galo wound his fist to punch Rico outright, but Elio didn’t let Rico finish. “Stick your tongue in your ass22 and shut up. You don’t know what you are talking about. If I let you do what you wanted to do, at best we would all be in jail, and at worst one of us would be dead. In case you didn’t notice the bastard is some kind of animal to have beaten a defenseless person.”
Rico opened his mouth, but no sound came out. Elio and Galo glared. Without much more to say, he left the office and went back to the line.
It was left at that between them as Elio sat at Alonso’s desk and opened up the books. Galo sat quietly across from Elio and watched him work. Although a few minutes passed, it seemed like an hour.
Elio slammed the book shut and looked up. “I am at a loss as to what to do next. We could call the police and denounce the cop and call it out to everyone, but Rico may be right. I am not confident they would do anything. You know they have a way of sticking together.” He took a deep breath. “We can also consider paying the beast a call and giving him some of his own medicine and letting him feel the pain as well. But then, he could press charges and have us all arrested and jailed.” He shifted in his seat. “I am also concerned that perhaps he didn’t do it and maybe it was someone else. After all, a lot of time passed between when Fefo first saw the cop and when he found Alonso. What doesn’t square in my mind is why a cop, getting a handsome sum like clockwork every week, would endanger his income by hurting the provider. What would there be to gain? This doesn’t make any sense.”
Galo continued to sit quietly. He brought out his knife and sharpened pencils he pulled from a cup on the desk. He knew this moment would arise and he wanted his friend to fully vent and get the guilt out of his system.
Elio continued, “There has been crime in the neighborhood. We have been spared. I think it’s because we start work early and that is usually the time bad guys come out to play. I also think there are easier targets than men who are well trained and practiced with knives. It’s strange that at that particular hour of the afternoon all of this would have happened. Usually everyone has gone home. There is clean up going on, and on any other day, Alonso would have been gone, except he is too retentive about his statistics. Look at the notes on these papers. One would conclude he was some kind of a professor. It is also incomprehensible that the one person not trained with any knife would be the one hurt. Damn it!” He pounded his hand on the desk.
Galo picked up the papers and reviewed the columns of numbers so as to let Elio catch his breath.
“And what about Rico blaming me for not letting him kill the cop the first day?” Elio stood and paced behind the desk. “Whew, I don’t know about him. He talks a big game, but killing a man is a big game. There is no doubt in my mind whatsoever we would be in jail if we had touched the man. It was an economic decision for me. And a cheap decision at that, a fair decision and deal; a mere extra expense to keep things in order and allow us to focus on the business. At this time, I don’t understand what we have or what will happen. “
The room fell silent again. Galo finished sharpening the pencils and pressed the spent butt of his cigarette in the ashtray. He leaned forward with his elbows on the desk and rubbed his hands up and down, considering his thoughts and contemplating his friend.
Elio stopped pacing, “Well don’t just sit there, man! Say something! Tell me where I’m wrong?”
Galo let the silence run a bit longer before he sat back. He threw his leg over the arm of the chair and placed his hand over his crotch. “My young friend, you are a smart man. I think you have thought about this very well, probably too well. I have also heard and watched you struggle because you are too smart. It is clear to me, if not to you, that all those years in school with the nuns are guiding your options. And let me tell you, it is not wrong to think this way. It is the correct way, the decent and proper way. Perhaps it is even the reason why we are friends and partners, for I know you are a decent and proper man. As a matter of fact, this whole association and enterprise is about proper men. We win in this bloody business and are making money in ways we only dreamed of. Much of it is owed to you and your brain for this business.”
Elio sat down, and leaned toward his partner.
“The fuck-up here, if any, is losing sight that there are other men, and I would say the majority who are not decent. The scummy shit is what makes them and us different. And among the most fecal of
men are those who abuse the indefensible. What did the nuns tell you about bad people? Do you remember the catechism about the devil? It explained what couldn’t be explained? So, are you not trying to reconcile your thoughts with trying to interpret the devil himself?”
Elio smiled. “I am truly shocked! This is the longest you have spoken. And when did you become so religious all of a sudden? My God, citing my nuns and leading to the devil.”
“You shouldn’t be surprised. I did pay attention the times I attended church. In fact most of it makes sense, especially when considering the alternative.”
“So, Galo, you believe this is the work of the devil and we should let God figure it out and make His judgment at His accord? There should be no vengeance?”
Galo sat up straight and scratched his temple, “The devil? Oh, I don’t know if there is a devil to blame here.” He pulled up his index and middle finger on his right hand. “Things happen because a person either eats shit,” pointing to his index finger, “or because he is a son of a bitch,” pointing to his middle finger. Pushing his index finger down into his hand he added, “and not everyone eats shit,” leaving his middle finger straight up from his hand.
“Elio, you can think this through further and do what you must to assure yourself the cop did this to Alonso. There is nothing I can see to convince me someone else did this. I will also tell you we are not dealing with a normal man here. This is an animal of extremely low qualities. So low, I am regretting the cattle I have slaughtered, because cow shit deserves more consideration than that beast. After all cow shit helps vegetables grow and feed others. This cop is a plight, so whether he’s the devil or simply a son of a bitch, I am with Rico. He needs to disappear in a painful way.”