My cell phone rang. I ignored it.
Though Mom was nonresponsive to sound and touch, she still had brain activity, so I talked to her.
I talked about a lot of things.
Sometimes I talked about silly stuff, like the weather, or people we used to know. Other times I spilled my guts, apologizing for what happened, begging forgiveness she couldn’t give.
Tonight I was in begging mode.
My cell rang, again. I couldn’t handle any more condolences. Even from friends. Especially from friends. I finally had to tell Alan to back off, give me room to breathe, or I’d go crazy.
On the positive side, I hadn’t taken any sleeping pills in days. I embraced my insomnia.
The phone rang once more. I finally picked it up and shut the damn thing off. I was crying, again, and I didn’t want to talk to anybody.
Before I could begin another apology to Mom, the room phone rang.
I let it ring. And ring. And ring. It eventually stopped. Then it started again. Couldn’t whoever it was take a hint?
“What?” I answered.
“Hi, Jack.”
I almost dropped the phone in surprise. Fuller.
“I was beginning to think you weren’t going to pick up. That wouldn’t have been good for your friend here. Say hello, Herb.”
A male voice screamed.
“Herb’s not doing so well. And if you don’t follow my directions, he’s going to be doing even worse. Here’s what I want you to do.”
In the background Herb yelled, “It’s a trap, Jack! Don’t-”
Followed by another scream, even louder than before.
I tried to swallow, but my mouth was dry.
“What do you want, Fuller?”
“Turn your cell phone back on and call me on my cell. When you’re ready, I’ll give you the number.”
I powered up my cell phone and punched in what he told me. It rang once, and he picked up.
“Good. Now hang up the hospital phone. Here’s the deal. I want you to come over and join our party. We’re having fun, right, Herb?”
Another scream.
“I’ll be right over.” I clenched the phone so tightly it shook. “Want me to stop for beer and pretzels?”
“Funny. What I want you to do is lose the police escort.”
“How?”
“Tell them you got a call from me, and I’m in the parking lot. Be convincing. If you try to give them any signals…”
Benedict screamed again.
“Stop hurting him.”
“Hurting him? You mean like this?”
I shut my eyes while poor Herb wailed in agony.
“I’ll do what you say, Barry.”
“Good girl. Remember – I’m listening. Ready… go!”
I went into the hallway and yelled at the two cops on duty.
“Fuller just called me! He’s in the parking garage!”
They drew weapons and took off down the hall.
“Are they gone?”
“Yes.”
“Who’s nearby?”
“No one. A nurse.”
“Give the nurse the phone.”
“Why?”
Mistake. A part of me died inside when I heard Herb’s scream.
“Nurse!” I hurried to her. “Someone wants to talk to you.”
She gave me a quizzical look. “Who?”
“Just tell him whatever he wants to know.”
The nurse took the phone. “No… Nope… Nobody.” Then she handed it back. “He wanted to know if there were any men outside the door to room 514.”
I growled into the cell. “Satisfied?”
“Not yet. But I will be. Get in your car and go north on Lasalle. I want to hear your voice the whole time.”
“What if the cell signal goes out?”
Herb screamed again.
“You’d better make sure it doesn’t, Jack. Now keep talking. Start with the ABC’s.”
I recited the alphabet while I hurried through the corridor. Elevator or stairs? Which was better for cell transmission? I picked the stairs, moving as fast as I could. When I made it down to the parking garage, I saw one of the cops ordered to guard me, his gun drawn, creeping around a corner. I threw my back against a wall so he didn’t see me.
“Jack? You there?”
“… Q… R… S… T… U…”
I paused for a moment, and then made a beeline for my car, stepping lightly so my footsteps didn’t echo on the asphalt.
My cell reception became staticky.
“It sounds like I’m losing you, Jack. I hope not, for Herb’s sake. Frankly, I don’t know how much more he can take.”
I made it to my car and fumbled with the keys, beginning the alphabet for the third time. When I opened the door, one of my cops saw me.
“Lieutenant! We can’t find him!”
“Uh-oh, Jack,” Fuller purred into the phone. “You’d better hurry.”
I hopped in the driver’s seat, my cell signal getting even weaker. I was yelling the alphabet now, hoping my louder voice got through. Both cops converged on my car. I jammed it into gear and hit the gas.
The exit was up a concrete ramp.
“Jack?” Barry was yelling. “I can’t hear you, Jack. Jack-”
The phone went dead.