Rick Mofina - Every Second

“It’s over, sweetheart. You’re safe. We’re all safe.”

A woman entered the room. Her hair was in a ponytail, she wore glasses, a white coat and had a stethoscope collared around her neck.

“I’m Dr. Beth Valachek. How’re you doing, Lori?”

“Tired and sore.” She continued holding her son’s hand. “How’s Billy? Will he be okay?”

“Yes, he’s going to be all right. He’s got a gunshot wound in his lower abdomen. Miraculously, the bullet passed through without damaging any organs. He also suffered a concussion, but no major damage is evident. It took over a dozen stitches to close his head wound and he’s lost some blood, but he should recover nicely after some rest.”

Lori nodded her thanks.

“You,” Valachek said, “will need some surgery on your arm to repair the damage from your wound. But you’ll regain full use in a few months.”

“And Dan? I want to see Dan.”

The nurse and police officer looked at the doctor.

“Lori,” Valachek said, “Dan’s not doing well.”

Lori covered her mouth with her hand.

“What-is he-”

“He’s in the ICU and he took a bad turn earlier today.”

“I need to see him!”

“I don’t think it’s a good idea right now.”

Lori gripped the handrails on the wheels and began pivoting her chair. Valachek gripped the chair, lowered herself, removed her glasses and looked directly into Lori’s eyes.

“Lori, listen to me. He’s in critical condition. He was shot six times. He suffered a number of compound fractures to his ribs and legs. He suffered exposure and he lost a lot of blood. He’s had several setbacks. By all measures, he shouldn’t be alive right now.”

“Then I need to see him! I need to see him before…”

Valachek took Lori’s hands in hers.

“Lori, let’s wait. He needs to rest. The next few hours will tell us how he’s doing.”

“I want to see him now!”

The doctor gave it a moment, then nodded once. “Okay, I’ll take you.” She wheeled Lori to the elevator, then up to the intensive care unit. Before entering, she helped Lori as they put on protective smocks, hair nets, masks, gloves and foot covers.

The light in the room was dim, making it tranquil with the soft beeping and hum of the monitoring equipment. A nurse, who’d been keeping vigil, stepped aside.

Lori stared at Dan as the doctor moved her closer.

He was unconscious. His hair had been shaved off, and his scalp was webbed with stitches. His swollen face was bruised and laced with cuts. An IV line ran from his left arm, while a sensor clipped to his right index finger ran to a monitor. A clear oxygen tube looped under his nostrils.

Lori found Dan’s hand, entwined her fingers with his.

Using her free hand to steady herself, Lori stood and leaned into her husband, kissing his cheek tenderly.

“It’s Lori, sweetheart. I’m here, Dan. Billy’s here, too. We’re both safe because of you, because of what you did.”

Valachek watched the equipment monitoring Dan’s heart rate, blood pressure and breathing.

“You have to keep fighting, Dan. We need you. Don’t leave us, please. Keep fighting. We’re here with you. We love you, we need you.”

A beep sounded.

“Okay, Lori.” Valachek nodded to the nurse. “We need to take care of him now.”

“Please, let me stay.”

The beeping grew louder, more insistent.

“You really should leave, Lori,” she said. “Nurse, please help Lori into her chair and back to her bed.”

The beeping grew to an alarming level.

“Dan!” Lori called. “Stay with me!”

As the nurse wheeled Lori out, other emergency staff rushed in.

Lori demanded she be allowed to remain on the ICU floor, to stay as close to her husband as possible.

The nurse agreed to take her to an empty lounge area where Lori watched all-news channels and their coverage of the case. She sat alone at the end of a hallway in the darkened lounge, bathed with the light of the television mounted in a high corner. During the commercials and sports reports she took stock of the IV tube in her arm and all she’d endured.

Was this real?

Her life blazed before her…the first time she’d met Dan, falling in love; the tears in his eyes on their wedding day; his smile when Billy was born; her agony over Tim’s death; how Dan had helped her every painful step of the way, his smile, his resolve to save her when she was lost.

The TV flickered with a news bulletin showing the aftermath of chaos, gunfire and an explosion at a mountain diner. Lori stared in disbelief.

All of the suspects, except one, were dead.

Tears streamed down her face as she shook her head and prayed for her husband’s life.

Coyote Mountains, New York

The Early Light Motel hadn’t changed since the 1970s, when it was established by a retired navy cook.

Sheltered by maple trees, it stood about four miles from the media center where the FBI would hold its press conference the next morning.

Looking at the neon No Vacancy sign, Kate was relieved that she’d reserved two rooms when she and Strobic had first arrived in the area.

As a veteran reporter, she’d learned that when you’re on the road, you’ve got to think ahead. News crews from New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania filled the lot.

“The FBI presser’s at nine, so I’ll meet you for breakfast at seven-thirty in the motel restaurant,” Strobic said as Kate unlocked the door to her unit, which was next to his.

Her room was utilitarian and “shipshape,” like the website said.

The knot in Kate’s gut had not yet relaxed. As she sat on the bed, her body aching for sleep, she smiled at her phone’s screen and the faces of Grace and Vanessa. It seemed a lifetime had passed since she’d seen them.

Kate pressed the number for Nancy Clark.

“Hi, Nancy, it’s Kate. Hope I’m not calling too late to talk.”

“Hi, Kate. No, Grace’s getting into her pajamas and Vanessa’s at a night class. So how’re you holding up?”

“Good, just a bit tired.”

“We read your story, how you found the Fultons. I’m so happy they rescued everybody and stopped those psychos. It could’ve turned out much worse.”

“It could’ve been far worse.”

“Are you on your way home?”

“Not tonight. The FBI’s holding a press conference here in the morning, so I’ll be back tomorrow, likely in the afternoon.”

“Would you like to talk to Grace? She’s right here.”

“Yes, thanks. And Nancy, as always, thank you for doing this.”

“You don’t have to thank me. Here she is.”

“Hi, Mom!”

“Hi, sweetie, how did school go today?”

“Well, my friend Lilly and me saw Lucas Parker try to kiss Madison on the mouth! Eeeww!”

“Oh, my.”

“He tries to kiss all the girls on the mouth. We said, ‘Lucas, you’re spreading germs!’ But Mia Schendaller kissed him back! Eeeww! Right?”

Kate laughed. “Right.”

“Mom, when’re you coming home?”

“Tomorrow. I was thinking that you, me and Aunt Vanessa could all go out shopping and then go to your favorite restaurant.”

“Yes!”

“I’m so sorry I’ve been working a lot, sweetie. I love you so much.”

“I love you, too, with a million hugs and a million kisses!”

After Kate ended her call, she texted Vanessa.

Miss you, sis! See you tomorrow and we’ll all go out.

A short time later her phone chimed with a text.

Love you, too, Kate! Be safe!

For a long moment Kate stared at her phone, tracing her finger lightly over Grace’s and Vanessa’s smiles. Then she flipped on the TV, surfing quickly through the twenty-four-hour news channels and checking her phone to see if any competitors posted any breaking angles online.