Arthur Hailey - Evening News

There had been no future for him in the United States, no family ties, no children. Even his wife had left him several years before. He had visited Colombia several times and, for want of a better place, decided to go there. After a while he found he could use his considerable medical skills for shady, sometimes criminal purposes, without arousing any questions. He was in no position to be particular and took whatever came his way. Amid it all he managed, by reading medical journals, to stay up to date in his specialty. This last was why he had been chosen for this assignment by the Medellin cartel, for whom he had worked before.

All of this background had been made known to Miguel in advance, with a warning that while the assignment lasted Baudelio was to be deprived of any alcohol. Antabuse pills would be used to enforce the prohibition, one pill to be taken by the ex-doctor every day. The effect of Antabuse was that anyone drinking liquor afterward became violently ill, a fact of which Baudelio was well aware.

Since it was common practice among alcoholics to spit out the pill secretly if they wanted to cheat, Miguel was cautioned to be sure the Antabuse was always swallowed. While Miguel carried out the instructions, they did not please him. In the comparatively short time available he had a multitude of responsibilities and acting as a "wet nurse”was one he could have done without.

Also in light of Baudelio's weakness, Miguel decided not to trust him with a firearm. Thus he was the only one in the group not armed.

Now, regarding Baudelio warily, Miguel asked, "Are you ready? Do you understand everything that is to be done?”

The ex-doctor nodded. Briefly a vestige of professional pride returned to him. Looking Miguel directly in the eye, he said, "I know precisely what is necessary. When the moment comes, you may rely on me, and concentrate on what you have to do yourself.”

Not entirely reassured, Miguel turned away. The Grand Union supermarket was now directly ahead.

Carlos saw the Nissan passenger van arrive. The parking lot was not crowded and the Nissan entered a conveniently vacant slot alongside Jessica's Volvo station wagon. When Carlos had observed this, he turned into the store.

* * *

Jessica gestured to her partly filled shopping cart and told Angus, "If there's something you especially like, just drop it in."

Nicky said, "Gramps likes caviar.”

"I should have remembered that,” Jessica said.”Let's get some.”

They moved to the gourmet section to discover it was featuring a special caviar assortment. Angus, inspecting prices, said, "It's awfully expensive.”

Jessica said softly, "Have you any idea how much that son of yours earns?”

The old man smiled; he kept his voice low too.”Well, I did read somewhere it was close to three million dollars a year.”

"Close is right.” Jessica laughed; being with Angus always made her feel good.”Let's blow some of it.” She pointed to a seven-ounce can of beluga caviar in a locked display case, priced at $199.95.”We'll have some of this with drinks before dinner tonight.”

It was at that moment that Jessica noticed a young man, slightly built and well dressed, approaching another woman shopper nearby. He appeared to ask a question. The woman shook her head. The young man approached a second shopper. Again an apparent question and a negative reply. Mildly curious, Jessica watched the young man as he approached her.

”Excuse me, ma'am,” Carlos said.”I'm trying to locate someone.” He had been aware of Jessica all the time but deliberately had not gone to her first, instead positioning himself so that she could see him speaking with the other people.

Jessica noticed a Spanish accent, though that was not unusual in New York. She also thought the speaker had cold, hard eyes, but that was none of her business. All she said was, "Oh?”

"It's a Mrs. Crawford Sloane.”

Jessica was startled.”I'm Mrs. Sloane.”

"Oh ma'am, I have some bad news for you.” The facial expression of Carlos was serious; he was playing his part well.”Your husband has been in an accident. He's badly injured. The ambulance took him to Doctors Hospital. I was sent to find you and take you there. The maid at your house told me you would be here.”

Jessica gasped and turned deathly pale. Instinctively her hand went to her throat. Nicky, who had returned in time to hear the last few words, looked stunned.

Angus, though equally shocked, was the first to recover and take charge. He gestured to the shopping cart.”Jessie, leave all this. Just let's go.”

"It's Dad, isn't it?”

Nicky said. Carlos answered gravely, "I'm afraid so.”

Jessica put her arm around Nicky.”Yes, dear. We're going to him now.”

"Please come with me, Mrs. Sloane,” Carlos said. Jessica and Nicky, still dazed by the sudden shattering news, went quickly with the brown-suited young man toward the store's main door. Angus followed. Something was bothering him, though he wasn't quite sure what.

Outside in the parking lot, Carlos preceded the others. He moved toward the Nissan van. Both doors on the side next to the Volvo were open. Carlos could see that the Nissan's engine was running and Luis was in the driver's seat. A shadowy form in the back had to be Baudelio. Rafael and Miguel were out of sight.

Alongside the Nissan, Carlos said, "We'll go in this vehicle, ma'am. It will be—”

"No, no!” Jessica, tense and anxious, was groping in her purse for car keys.”I'll take my car. I know where Doctors Hospital—”

Carlos interposed himself between the Volvo and Jessica. Grasping her arm, he said, "Ma'am, we'd rather you—”

Jessica attempted to withdraw her arm; as she did, Carlos held her more firmly and pushed her forward. She said indignantly, "Stop that! What is this?” For the first time Jessica began to think beyond the impact of the awful news she had been given.

A few feet behind, Angus now realized what had been troubling him. Inside the store the strange young man had said, "He's badly injured. The ambulance took him to Doctors Hospital.”

But Doctors Hospital didn't take emergencies . Angus happened to know because over several months the year before he had visited an old Army Air Forces comrade who was a patient there and got to know the hospital well. Doctors Hospital was big and famous; it was close to Gracie Mansion, the mayor's residence, and alongside the route Crawford used on the way to work. But emergencies were sent to New York Hospital, a few blocks south . . . Every ambulance driver knew it.

So the young man was lying! The setup in the store had been a fakel What was happening out here wasn't right either. Two men—Angus didn't like their looks at all—had just appeared from around the back of the passenger van. One of them, a huge bruiser, had joined the first man; they were forcing Jessica inside! Nicholas, a little way behind, was not yet involved.

Angus shouted, "Jessica, don't go! Nicky, run! Get—”

The sentence was never finished. A pistol butt crashed down on Angus's head. There was a fierce, searing pain, everything around him spun, then he fell to the ground unconscious. It was Luis who had jumped out of the driver's seat, rushed around, and attacked him from behind. In almost the same motion, Luis grabbed Nicholas.

Jessica began screaming and crying out.” Helpl Someone—anyone—please help!”

The burly Rafael, who had joined Carlos in seizing Jessica, now clamped a massive hand across her mouth, set another in her back and flung her inside the van. Then, jumping in himself, he continued to hold her while she screamed and struggled. Jessica's eyes were wild. Rafael snarled at Baudelio, "IApi~rate!”

The ex-doctor, with a medical bag open on the seat beside him, produced a gauze pad which moments earlier he had soaked in ethyl chloride. He slapped the pad over Jessica's nose and mouth and held it there. Instantly Jessica's eyes closed, her body sagged and she became unconscious. Baudelio gave a grunt of satisfaction, though he knew the effect of ethyl chloride would last only five minutes.