40
Wednesday, June 7, 2006 – 7:07 a.m.
Aspen Memorial Hospital
“Doctor Mahoney to surgery. Doctor Mahoney to surgery.”
Ken fidgeted on his small bed that he kept tucked in the corner of his office as the intercom overhead crackled to life. Slowly opening his eyes and clearing his head, he looked at the clock on his desk. It read 7:07 a.m. Ken stretched. Once he’d gone to sleep, he’d slept soundly all night. Apparently, everything had been okay with Maisie since he’d gotten no calls or pages. At least that made him feel good. Sitting up, he swung his feet over the edge of the bed and yawned. After allowing the blood to get moving in his veins, he slipped his feet into his Hush Puppies and stood up to stretch. He straightened his clothes out, tucked in his shirt and ran his fingers through his hair to put it in place. Getting himself prepared to face the day, Ken’s first stop would be the men’s room. Leaving his office, he slipped down the hall avoiding almost everyone until he reached the restroom. Once inside, he spruced himself up for the morning. He decided he’d run down to the cafeteria after a bit and get something to eat. Satisfied with his appearance and feeling refreshed, Ken walked out of the restroom and over to the neurology admitting desk.
“Good morning Dan,” Ken said stepping up to the desk.
“Doctor S. buddy! How are you? I heard you spent the night.”
“Yes, I did. I wanted to be here just in case something went wrong.”
“Well, according to the night shifts notes, everything was fine. They said it was actually a very quiet night.”
“That’s good. I’m going to go check on Maisie and then get some breakfast. Try to hold any calls for me unless it’s an emergency.”
“Okay, we’ll do.” Dan went back to working on some paperwork while Ken headed for room 511.
Ken walked down the hall and quietly opened the door to Maisie’s room. The lights were on and he heard voices coming from within.
“Hello?” he called out.
“Hello. Come on in.”
Ken walked into the room to find Maisie sitting up in bed and Karen sitting nearby. The two of them looked perky and mischievous.
“Hey Papa. How are you? I haven’t seen you for awhile.”
“I’m fine. And how are you?”
“Great! I feel much better. The headache is gone too.”
“You do realize that I was in here last night talking to your mom?”
“She told me, but I don’t remember.”
“You were so out that I don’t think anything would have awakened you. I think you needed your rest.”
“I probably did. I mean, I did have a rough day. Besides that, think of all the tests and shots you gave me.”
“Now come on Miss Shirley. It wasn’t very bad. Besides, it helped you get better didn’t it?”
Karen sat smiling as she watched her daughter and Ken banter back and forth. They got along so well it was too bad that he really wasn’t her grandfather.
“I guess I did get better. But you could have just given me pills or something. I didn’t need to be poked.”
“Yes, but the poking got the medicine into you quicker, didn’t it?”
Maisie smiled at Ken but didn’t say anything. Karen spoke up.
“So, do you think we’ll get to go home today?”
“I’m thinking so. You had no problems last night and Maisie here seems to be doing fine.”
“I am fine Papa. I need to get home.”
Looking at Maisie Ken said, “I know you want to go. But I do need to discharge you first. I can’t just let you walk out without checking you over. That wouldn’t make me a very good doctor now would it?”
“Probably not.” Maisie giggled and looked at her mom who smiled back at her.
Karen continued. “So when will we be able to leave?”
“Well, remember, I have a therapist coming in around 11:00 a.m. to chat with you both. After that, you’ll probably be free to go. I’m thinking around noon or so.”
“Sounds good.”
Maisie spoke up. “I feel better now. Do I still have to talk to a shrink?”
“This is not a shrink Maisie. This is a therapist who specializes in helping people deal with traumatic or difficult situations in their lives. They will just talk with you and see if they can help you deal with what happened to your Papa so that it’s not such a stress for you.”
“I’m fine. I don’t need to talk.”
Karen looked at Ken and rolled her eyes as if to say ‘She’s a tough little kid. She thinks she can handle it all herself.’
“I’m sure you can handle it,” Ken told Maisie. He reached out and brushed a curl away from her eyes. “The thing is, if you talk to this therapist, it will make me feel better. You may not need it, but I do. Do you think you can do that for me?”
Maisie sat thinking for a bit. “I suppose if it makes you feel better, I can talk to them. But, it’s only for you. I don’t need it.”
“Sounds fair to me. Does that sound fair to you?” Ken looked at Karen when he asked the question.
“Yes, yes. That sounds very fair.” A twinkle in Karen’s eyes indicated that she agreed with Ken’s attempt to persuade Maisie into thinking that she was helping Ken.
“Okay then, it’s settled. The therapist comes in and talks with you, I return, and you’re discharged to go home. Sound fair?”
Maisie smiled at Ken. “It sounds great! I just want to go home.”
“Good. Now I’m going to go have some breakfast. I haven’t eaten yet. Have either of you?”
“We’ve ordered, but it’s not here yet.”
“It should arrive shortly. In the meantime, I have a few things to do. I’ll check back with you around noon. Okay?”
“Okay,” Maisie said. “Do you still have my doll?”
“Yes, I do. I took it and cleaned it up. I’ll bring it back when I see you later.”
“Okay. Thanks.”
“Thanks so much for checking on us,” Karen said.
Ken smiled at her and said, “You’re welcome. I’m glad she’s doing so much better. And you look more relaxed as well.”
“I am. A good night of sleep and a healthy daughter can do wonders.”
“I’m sure of that. Okay, until we meet again.”
“Bye Papa,” Maisie said giggling.
“Good-bye Miss Shirley.” Ken smiled at Maisie and nodded at Karen.
Just then, the door opened.
“Breakfast for Maisie Atwater,” a voice called out.
“Come on in,” Maisie said. “I’m starved.”
Appearing around the corner was a nurse carrying Maisie’s tray of food. Karen’s breakfast was also provided. Both sat under silver domed lids with a small hole in the middle through which the nurse placed her index finger to remove them from the plates.
“Mmm. It smells delicious,” Maisie remarked.
“Enjoy your breakfasts,” Ken said as he left.
Maisie waved as she eagerly prepared to devour her food. Ken left the room. Walking to the elevator, he arrived just as the door opened and a large woman carrying a bag exited. Ken stepped on and pushed the button for the second floor. When the doors opened, he headed straight for the lab.
Upon arriving at the lab, Ken was greeted by several patients sitting in the waiting room waiting to have various tests performed. Walking up to the window, a young red-haired technician looked up and smiled at him.
“Can I help you doctor?”
“Yes. I left a doll here last night for Chandini and Dalmar to test. It had some kind of liquid on it and they were going to run some tests on it for me. I need to get the doll back and find out the results of the test.”
“What name was that under doctor?” Her petite frame and high-pitched voice almost gave her the appearance of a teenager.
“It should be under doctor Slaterbaugh, Ken.”
“One moment and I’ll check.” Leaving her desk, she disappeared around the corner. A moment later, she returned with the doll and an envelope. “Here you go doctor.” She handed both items to Ken.
“Thank you very much. You have a wonderful day.”
“Thanks. And you do the same.”
Ken turned to leave, then stopped and went back to the counter where he talked the tech out of a Band-Aid. Opening it, he placed in over the almost imperceptible hole in the doll’s neck. Throwing the bandage wrappings away, he retraced his steps to the door. Several patients eyed him suspiciously as he exited the room. He headed back to the elevator and went back upstairs. He decided to give the doll back to Maisie first and then go have breakfast. Entering room 511, he found Maisie and Karen in the middle of breakfast.
“Wow. Back so soon?”
“Well, I decided to drop off your doll first so I wouldn’t have to pack it around the cafeteria.”
“Why not? Are you embarrassed?” Maisie’s mischievous smile caught Ken’s eye.
“As a matter of fact, yes, I am. Do you think the other doctors would respect me anymore if I were carrying a doll around?”
“You never know. Have you ever tried? Maybe they’d think you had a soft spot in your heart for some lonely, small, sick patient and that you were stopping by to get some food for that poor, lonely soul. It might make you a more requested and respected doctor.”
Ken and Karen laughed. “Right. Like that’s going to happen. Anyway, here’s your doll. Keep it in a safe place,” Ken said as he handed it back to Maisie. She tucked it in the bed next to her and immediately went back to eating.
“Okay, once again I leave you in peace. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
Maisie just waved since her mouth was full. Karen nodded between bites and gave a half wave herself. Ken left the room. He walked past the admitting desk and took the stairs down to the first floor. Arriving a bit winded, but otherwise doing fine, Ken walked to the cafeteria. Tucking the envelope under his arm, he walked through the serving line. He ordered two eggs, hash browns, bacon, a container of fruit and a container of orange juice. Stepping up to the cashier, he paid his bill and found an empty table to sit down and eat. After organizing his eating utensils and food, Ken opened the envelope. Removing the paper from it, he began to peruse the results.
As he’d anticipated, the results showed high levels of tryptamines. It was apparent that the hole in the doll’s neck had been an injection point that had been intended for Maisie. The level of tryptamine poisoning indicated a lethal dose had been prepared. Fortunately, for Maisie, the assailant had missed. Maisie was alive. Piercing a piece of bacon, Ken brought it to his mouth and chewed on it while thinking about the circumstances surrounding the tryptamine situation. After receiving the video recording, it made him realize that Slick not Spike was the real threat. Now that both were gone, he was left with no proof, no way to get his questions answered and no one to take out his frustration on. He would never see justice done for what had happened to Benita, Hank or Maisie. That was the most frustrating part of all. Someone should pay for the results, but whom?
Ken was in a quandary. He finished his breakfast and walked back to his office. He was so deep in thought that he didn’t even remember walking there. Sitting down at his desk, Ken put the test results on the stack of papers with the information he’d been collecting on his other patients. About the only thing he could do was be glad that Maisie was doing so well. Maisie was the only bright spot in all of this turmoil. A small smile of comfort crawled across his face. Miss Shirley. Miss Shirley. What a character you are. Ken thought about her smiling face, her tough disposition and her happy demeanor. She really was an inspiration to all. Ken rummaged through the paperwork on his desk. He had a few things to do before checking on Maisie at noon.
Just then the phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Hello. Doctor Slaterbaugh?”
“Yes.”
“Good morning. This is Detective Johnson. I was checking to see if this Mr. Goddard had checked in?”
“No, he hasn’t,” Ken said, his voice indicating disappointment.
“We checked his home this morning and there was no one there. In fact, it appears that he hasn’t been around there much at all lately.”
“I’m sorry to hear that. I really have no idea where he’s at.” Ken thought to himself that he did know where he was, but if he told the police they’d think he was nuts. Who would believe that Slick had disappeared in a time machine?
“Well, as far as we’re concerned,” Johnson continued, “he’s a suspect. We have his car make and model and his license plate number. As of now, we have an APB out on him. If he’s found anywhere, he’ll be brought in and questioned immediately.”
“I understand completely. If I see or hear anything, I’ll let you know.”
“What about this other character, Spike?”
“What about him?”
“Do you know his whereabouts?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Well, we also have an APB out on him as well. When there is a crime or a potential crime, anyone who disappears from the scene is considered a suspect.”
“Again, I’ll do whatever I can. If I see or hear anything, I’ll call you.”
“Thank you doctor. Please let me know.”
Ken hung up the phone. He sat tapping a pencil on the desk thinking about the disappearance of both Slick and Spike. Gone. Gone. Gone to where? Time? Future, present, past. Where? How? Why? Ken was still having a hard time grasping the idea that Spike was probably stuck in the past. But as for Slick, where did he go? Why? For what reason did he take the lives of innocent people? Would he ever know the answers to those questions?
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