Snakes and Ladders

by Matty Dalrymple

  “Is Lizzy okay?” Philip asked, his voice worried. “She had a session scheduled for today.”

  “We were out on a hike at the Thread-the-Needle Trail and she got bitten by a rattlesnake right as she stepped through the Eye. I’m at the ER at Yavapai Regional, I’m waiting to hear how she’s doing.”

  At that moment, a short, somewhat plump woman came through the doors from the ER treatment area into the waiting room. She looked at a tablet she was carrying, then glanced around the room, her gaze falling on Owen. “Dr. McNally?”

  Owen jumped to his feet. “Yes, that’s me.” He spoke into the phone. “The doctor’s here. I’ll call you back once I know anything.”

  He just heard Philip’s “But—” before he disconnected the call.

  The woman put out her hand. “I’m Dr. Prowse, I’m treating Miss Ballard. If you’d like to follow me, I can give you an update.”

  He followed her through a set of swinging doors. She waved him into a small room containing a table and two chairs. “Please have a seat.”

  Owen sat, breathless with anxiety.

  Dr. Prowse took the other chair. “I have good news for you,” she said. “Your goddaughter is suffering some ill effects from the snakebite, and we’ll be admitting her for a day or two to keep an eye on her, but I feel confident she will be fine.”

  Owen puffed out a bushel-sized breath of air. “Thank God.”

  “The bite was just above her hiking boot and through her hiking sock. I suspect the angle of the strike and the thickness of the sock may have kept her from getting a full, direct injection of venom.”

  He nodded. “That’s good.”

  “Are you a medical doctor?” she asked.

  “Yes. Not practicing—I teach neurobiology.”

  She looked back to the tablet. “The EMTs established a line and administered oxygen. She had some moderate respiratory distress and tachycardia but her vitals and SpO2 are back to normal. She has some ecchymosis around the bite and she had some pain and nausea. We administered antivenom and she responded well. We also gave her an anti-inflammatory and an antiemetic. She’s stable right now.” She glanced up at Owen. “I in no way want to understate the severity of any rattlesnake bite, but as these things go, she was lucky. Actually,” she amended, “not so much lucky as mentally well-equipped to deal with the situation. The EMTs reported that she was able to calm herself—to keep her breathing and heart rate low—which certainly contributed to the favorable outcome.”

  “She’s been taking a lot of yoga classes,” said Owen.

  “Yes, I imagine that would have been a great help to her. Also, it’s possible that the snake had recently struck and had not fully regenerated its venom. If she had been bitten by a domesticated snake, I would have guessed that the snake had recently been milked, but that’s obviously not the case here. I don’t believe she’ll have any long-term ill effects, but it will be best for us to keep an eye on her here for a day or two.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  Dr. Prowse scrolled down through the information on the tablet.

  “She has indications of recent wounds on her arm and back. Not from today, but fairly recent.”

  Owen hesitated. “She fell off her bike.”

  “Oh, yes?” Dr. Prowse looked at him expectantly.

  “It was quite scary.”

  “Did you take her to the ER? Or to a doctor?”

  “My brother is an emergency room doctor and he was with us. He treated her injuries.”

  The doctor examined him expressionlessly for a moment, then said, “They look like bullet wounds.”

  “Bullet wounds?” asked Owen, a little too loudly. “No, no. It was from the fall off her bike.”

  “Where did this fall take place?”

  Owen did a quick calculation. A fall with injuries just to the arm and back seemed unlikely to happen in December in Pennsylvania, with anyone hardy enough to venture out for a bike ride likely to be bundled up against the cold. “In the Keys. We were vacationing there before we came to Sedona.”

  The doctor set the tablet aside.

  “Are Miss Ballard’s parents here in Sedona with you?”

  “No. Her mother died when Lizzy—Elizabeth—was quite young, and her father died just a few months ago. That’s why we’re here in Sedona. He was killed in a mugging in Philadelphia, and as you can imagine, it was quite traumatic for her, and I decided it would be best for her to be away for a little while.”

  “Yes,” said Dr. Prowse, her expression sober. “That is certainly a lot for a young woman to deal with—a parent’s death and then an incident like this. I’m sure the yoga practice stood her in good stead.” She rose from the table and Owen followed suit. “Where do you teach?” she asked.

  “William Penn University in Philadelphia.”

  “William Penn? I was an undergrad there. Biology and chemistry.”

  They learned they had a few mutual acquaintances, and that they had both attended the same conference three years before.

  Dr. Prowse glanced at her watch, then back to Owen. “I’ll be checking in with your goddaughter, but she really just needs some rest and monitoring. You should be able to take her home by the day after tomorrow at the latest.”

  Owen followed her out of the small conference room and through the swinging doors to the waiting room.

  “Someone will let you know as soon as you can see her,” she said.

  “Thank you.”

  She extended her hand and Owen shook it. She turned to go.

  “Oh, Doctor,” he said, and she turned back.

  “How was Lizzy with the people who treated her? Was she, um …”

  Dr. Prowse raised her eyebrows questioningly.

  “… polite?”

  She smiled sympathetically. “‘Polite’ seems an odd word to apply to someone being treated in an emergency department, but she was very brave and cooperative.”

  “She’s a pretty extraordinary young lady,” said Owen. He cleared his throat. “And everyone who treated her is feeling well?”

  She looked at him, puzzled. “As far as I know.”

  Owen nodded. “Good to know.”

  Dr. Prowse shook her head—no doubt at the odd reactions people had in such crises—and disappeared back through the swinging doors.

  33

  That evening, Philip knocked lightly on the door of Lizzy’s hospital room. Owen looked up from where he stood by her bed, holding a sheet of paper. Lizzy, evidently in the middle of some type of physical therapy under Owen’s direction, fell back on her pillows with a look of relief.

  “Hey, Philip,” she said, her voice tired. “Come on in.”

  Philip stepped to the bed. Lizzy’s leg was on top of the covers, a bruised discoloration running up her calf and ink lines from a felt tip marker showing where the EMTs had tracked the spread of the swelling.

  “That’s got to hurt,” said Philip.

  “Yeah. Some.”

  “Fortunately the swelling is already going down,” said Owen. “The doctor says that Lizzy is doing as well as can be expected, considering what she’s been through. She’ll probably be discharged the day after tomorrow.”

  “That’s great news,” said Philip. “And I have something else that might make you feel better.” He held out a small square of folded paper.

  Lizzy unfolded the paper and drew out the Zuni bear pendant. “You found it! Where was it?”

  “It was on the path, at the point where it narrows as you approach the Eye. I’m guessing that’s where they loaded you into the ambulance.”

  “That sounds right. When did you get it?”

  “I went over there after I heard from Owen what had happened.”

  Lizzy ran the necklace through her fingers. “It’s on a new chain.”

  “I only found the pendant.”

  “You bought a new necklace?” She fastened it around her neck and stroked the pendant.

  “I got the necklace in the gift store here.
Used to have this on it.” With a grin, he held out a Hello Kitty pendant.

  She laughed. “Thank you. I feel better already.”

  “Not to rain on your parade,” said Philip, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans, “but I found some other things near the Needle. There was a plastic pail and lid hidden behind a rock just a few yards from the Eye.”

  Owen’s face tightened. “Like you might use to transport snakes.”

  “Exactly. There was also a length of rope tied to the pail, just long enough so that someone could pull the pail off from a safe distance.”

  “What did you do with the things you found?” asked Owen.

  “I left them there. I figured it was best if whoever they belonged to thought they hadn’t been found.”

  “So, it seems likely that it was George Millard at the trail,” said Owen.

  “Seems safe to assume that.”

  “The guy on the trail did keep suggesting things that didn’t seem like good ideas,” said Lizzy, “like putting on a tourniquet, or doing things that Uncle Owen had told me not to do, like trying to squeeze out the venom. I told him to be quiet, and he did stay quiet after that.”

  “Did you get angry with him?” asked Philip.

  “I started to, until he stopped talking.”

  “Did you squeeze him?”

  “Not intentionally.” Lizzy considered. “No, I don’t think I did, because at the time I thought he was just a clueless and annoying guy who was trying to be helpful.”

  “He certainly didn’t seem like he was suffering any ill effects when I talked to him,” said Owen.

  “Might have been better if you had given him a little squeeze,” said Philip, “but with him being squeeze-free, as far as we know, I think it would be a good idea for you guys to hit the road as soon as Lizzy’s discharged.”

  Lizzy sat up. “But what about our sessions?”

  “We can talk about that, but I don’t think that’s the highest priority at the moment.” He turned to Owen. “And I don’t think you should stay in your house tonight.”

  Owen nodded. “You’re probably right.” He ran his fingers through his hair. “I’ll stay here in the hospital with Lizzy. If they kick me out, I can go to a hotel.”

  “That sounds like a good plan,” said Philip.

  Owen thought for a moment, then said, “Although I’ll need to go to the house to pack up, and if I did that tonight, we’d be ready to go as soon as they discharge Lizzy.”

  “You shouldn’t go by yourself,” said Lizzy.

  “I agree,” said Philip. “And I’d like to stay here with Lizzy while you’re gone. But I think I have someone who can help.”

  “I don’t want to get anyone else involved in this,” said Owen with alarm.

  “My landlord is a retired Phoenix cop who moved to Sedona and stays busy by flipping houses. I’m pretty sure he would like nothing better than to have an opportunity to play cop for an evening. I can tell him that the alarm at the house tripped and you want to check it out but don’t want to walk into a possible burglary in progress alone.”

  Owen looked affronted. “Makes me seem a little bit wimpy.”

  “Not at all. Makes you seem smart.”

  Owen seemed to be marshaling other arguments against involving Philip’s landlord, but Lizzy spoke up.

  “I’d feel better if someone was with you.”

  Owen sighed. “All right.”

  Philip pulled out his phone and hit a speed dial. “Eddie, it’s Philip—how’re you doing? … Yeah? … Hey, I have a favor to ask.” He gave the story about the tripped alarm. “Do you think you could meet up with my buddy there and check out the place with him? … That’s great, I really appreciate it. His name’s Owen. He’s tall and—” Philip glanced at Owen.

  “Fat,” supplied Owen.

  “—sizable,” said Philip. “Light hair. Fair skin.” Philip relayed the address from Owen to Eddie, and ended the call. “He’s heading over there now. If he’s not at the house when you get there, you shouldn’t have long to wait. He’s a black guy with a shaved head, so no risk of confusing George Millard with him.”

  “Thanks,” said Owen. “Although I still feel bad dragging your landlord out on what’s probably an unnecessary errand.”

  Philip slipped his phone back into his pocket. “Once he heard what was up, he sounded more cheerful than I’ve heard him since he scared the crap out of some teenagers who were busting up jack-o’-lanterns on Halloween.”

  Owen put on his jacket and hat. “It shouldn’t take me more than about an hour to get there, pack up, and get back here. If I run into any problems, I’ll let you know.” He kissed Lizzy on top of the head. “Want me to pick anything up for you while I’m out?”

  “No, but thanks.”

  “Magazines?”

  “No, Uncle Owen, I’m fine. I have books on my phone.”

  “Okay, I’ll be back in a jiff.” He lumbered out of the room.

  “Uncle Owen thinks magazines are the antidote for everything,” said Lizzy.

  Philip sat down on the guest chair next to Lizzy’s bed. “Looks like you’re probably going to be heading out of Sedona one way or the other. Getting bitten by a snake isn’t the most fun way to go about it, but it’s what you wanted to do, right?”

  Her hand went to the Zuni pendant. “I wanted to go back to Pennsylvania and do something about Louise and George Millard, but now I feel like it’s better to stay here for a little while so we can continue our sessions. Get me better prepared for … whatever happens in Pennsylvania when I do go back.”

  Philip laced his fingers together and rested his elbows on his knees. “That’s what I wanted to talk with you about, and why I didn’t want to go back to the house with Owen. I need to tell you a little of my history, and explain why it has anything to do with your situation.” He took a deep breath. “When I was nineteen, I went to jail for killing a man.”

  Lizzy looked at him, startled. “Really?”

  “Really. I found him … doing something not very nice to an animal. I was just going to teach him a lesson—take the animal away from him, rough him up a little—but he pulled a knife. And I pulled a knife. And it turned out that I was better with my knife than he was with his.”

  There was a long silence. Finally Lizzy said, “Wow.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Good thing Uncle Owen doesn’t know.”

  Philip smiled. “Yeah.”

  “I’m surprised he didn’t find out about that,” she said. “He Googled you.”

  “I had a different name back then.”

  “Really?”

  “Yup.”

  Lizzy considered. “But you were trying to rescue the animal. And then you were defending yourself. How could they send you to jail?”

  “My lawyer was incompetent, the judge didn’t place much value on the well-being of an animal, and the guy in question was the son of a big rancher in the area.”

  “That doesn’t seem right.”

  “Yeah.” Philip cleared his throat, then continued. “I went to the prison in Williams and was there for four years.” He smiled again, but this time the smile didn’t reach his eyes. “Those were not the best years of my life. Prison is not a great place to be if you’re a relatively good-looking young man.”

  Lizzy stirred uncomfortably.

  “You don’t believe I was a relatively good-looking young man?” he asked, trying to lighten the mood.

  “No, it’s not that,” she replied. “It’s just that …” Her voice trailed off.

  “I know. I shouldn’t make a joke out of it. It was no joke. If I ever got in trouble again, I’d leave the country before I’d go back to jail.” He paused. “I’d consider killing myself before I’d go back to jail.”

  “It was that bad?”

  “Yeah, it was that bad. On top of all the obvious disadvantages of being locked up twenty-four seven with a bunch of criminals who have no respect for their fellow man, being behind
bars is just a soul-killing experience. Hell, I wasn’t even in that long, and if I had been left to my own devices, I would have left more damaged than when I went in.” He drew a deep breath. “Anyhow … the whole experience did have a silver lining.”

  “It did?”

  He nodded. “When I showed up at Williams, all I could talk about was how I was a victim of the system, a victim of my circumstances. No mom, no dad, no real home, no money. Then I met this guy named Oscar. He took a liking to me—and I mean that in a totally positive way. He was in for twenty years for first-degree murder, and he had done six years of it when I met him. He wasn’t quite as pretty as I was,” he smiled ruefully at Lizzy, “so he didn’t have exactly the same problems I did, but being an old guy in the joint is no treat, either. There are a whole bunch of other ways they can make life shitty for you if you’re an old guy. But he took care of me. I don’t think it’s too much to say he saved my life—literally and figuratively. He made me see that after I put in my time, I’d get out with my whole life ahead of me. He said if I wasted that, I should be ashamed of myself.”

  “Seems like you took his advice,” said Lizzy.

  “Yeah. Not only did he help me get through my time in prison, but he helped me see what I could do when I got out. He’s the one who first saw that I had a talent for reading people, and got me thinking about making it into a profession. He said I had everything to live a good and happy life, and I just needed to recognize it and do something with it. He had this philosophy he called the Ruby Slippers. You know about the Ruby Slippers?”

  “Sure. From The Wizard of Oz.”

  “So, what is the lesson of the Ruby Slippers?”

  “That Dorothy can go back to Kansas.”

  “No.” He said it so forcefully that she jumped. “Not just that. Think about it.”

  She considered, a little flustered. Finally, she said, “That Dorothy could have gone home any time she wanted to.”

  “That’s right. That she didn’t need to be helped any longer. That she’d always had the power to control her destiny, but had to learn it for herself.”

  “So you always had the power to make your life better,” Lizzy said slowly, “like the ability to read people, and you just needed Oscar to help you see that.”