The Open Road

Chapter 14

Bob

I tried not to fidget under the stuffy sheet covering every part of my body. I heard approaching footsteps and could already picture Jack's signature coy smile playing on his lips.

"Why is no one helping you doctor?"

The voice reprimanded, sounding suspicious. I felt the sheet being slowly pulled to uncover my face.

Jack do something before our cover is blown!

"My patient is suffering from a rare heart disease that requires total concealment from the sun. Allow me to give you a concept of his condition. Once the sun hits his skin, it paves way for the UV rays to tamper with his heart system causing him to exasperate and fall into a series of major seizures."

My eyes considerably widened as I pictured the face of the nurse who was receiving this bogus information. UV rays? Heart? Surely she was not buying this crap, right?

I dug my nails into the flesh of my palm as I struggled to think of an alternative plan. We had come this far, my foot was literally at the door. We could not leave without me seeing Sue. I could not abandon her, she needed me. What would happen if the nurse recognized me? She would probably summon the hospital guards who would in turn contact the police. I would be in jail by sundown and all this, all I had done, all Jere had done would have been in vain. Had Jack been right all along?

Of course he had you fool! This is a terrible idea!

I needed to take a deep breath but that would require that I pulled the sheet away from my face. I needed to stay still in order to maintain our cover.

Which had probably been blown.

How would rays from the sun affect a patient with a goddamn heart condition?

Calm down Bob, maybe the guy watches Grey's Anatomy.

I do not know if it was his confident demeanour, or his apparent charm but Jack managed to persuade the nurse that he was, in fact, saving a patient's life. A few seconds later, I felt my gurney slowly being pushed and I could only assume that it was towards the hospital entrance.

"Mary please sign in Dr Ojure, he has a patient with a rare heart disease."

Her tone had changed from cold and wary to chirpy and friendly; Jack was good, scary good. He pretended to receive a phone call and proceeded to push me away from what I deemed to be the reception. A door was opened then closed simultaneously. I heard Jack mutter "occupied" under his breath. Our movement came to an abrupt halt and Jack pulled the sheet away from my face.

I gasped for air, willing my nerves to stay calm.

"What now?" He asked, darting his eyes around the alley we were currently in.

I took out my phone and shot a text to Sue. I let out a low cuss as I struggled to type the message.

Whch room r u in?

Under different circumstances I am certain she would have made fun of me, a lot.

A doctor walked by us and threw a glance our way. I swiftly lowered my head. Apparently, a fellow doctor is a cause of assurance that nothing is out of the blue. I prayed that Sue would reply promptly so that we could continue maneuvering around the hospital. Staying in one position was a queer sight, it would raise suspicion, get us in trouble. Perhaps even land me back in jail.

"Excuse me? Doctor ummh Ojure is it? From the cardiology department? I am Doctor Drew Oduro. I was wondering if you could join a group of us in the conference room. We are holding an analysis panel for a patient with this bizarre condition. We are lacking a doctor of your expertise."

I gulped heavily. This was bad. This was really bad. The moment Jack agrees to this summoning his lack of knowledge in cardiology will be easily seen and if he is reluctant to share his insights it would raise suspicion. Jack was good but not that good! I needed to think, fast.

I quickly bent forward and began wheezing. I then proceeded to throw myself vigorously on the gurney and started trembling. I hoped whatever I was doing looked something akin to a seizure.

"I am sorry Doctor Oduor or Oduro or whatever your name is...I have to take care of this. Kindly move out of the way, I believe I have a code red in my hands!"

Jack or his now known alias, Dr Ojure, pushed me with hulk strength from the compromising situation and made a beeline for the elevator. I angled my head to view the doctor who was simply starting at us. He had this odd look on his face, as if he was confused; something told me we were headed in the wrong direction and he knew it. Once the doors to the elavator closed I regained composure, halting my pseudo-convulsions. Luckily, the lift was empty. I sat up on the gurney and fumbled for my phone. Earlier while we were defusing our situation, I had heard a text pop in.

Sixth floor, second wing.

I expected questions or warnings to say the least but it seemed like she had contemplated the situation and decided to just tell me where they were. A thought suddenly occurred to me. Why was I so ready to trust a woman who had abandoned me once I was put behind bars? A woman who had gotten engaged to my brother? A woman who was now a mother to a five-year-old? Could this be a trap orchestrated by Darren? Perhaps he had found out that Sue and I had been communicating. Perhaps he had forced her to make that call and all this, Kimberly being critically ill and what not, was all a trap.

"Bob this is a trap. Don't you think it's a little suspicious that she is not worried about you getting caught at all?"

Jack must be a mind reader or something, he had voiced my thoughts. If Sue was here, Darren was definitely present. If it was a private wing, there was no way I could waltz in and out unnoticed. My chances of getting caught were quite high. Was I willing to jeopardize the only chance I had of clearing my name? Suddenly there was a ding as the door to our elevator slid open. We were on the sixth floor. An image of a distraught, pacing Sue flashed in my head. I had to see her, see whether Kimberly was really sick.

I had to know whose side Sue was really on.