When Worlds Collide

Chapter 26

~Stefano~

I was waiting in the waiting area for news on Roxanna, I have my head in my hands facing the floor "please make it kid, please come back to us" I said to myself hoping Roxanna is going to pull through when I hear a really annoying voice "Stefano Mandolza, what a surprise" I just look up, not having the time of day to put up with stupid police "Officer Connor, to what do I owe the pleasure?" I say as I look up "don't be smart with me Mandolza" he replied, don't get me wrong he's 1 of the few officers I don't want to shoot, but I still weren't in the mood for him "I'm really not bothered about you officer" "really? You're not bothered if I arrest you right here, right now?" then I get defensive, like I said no time for police "don't even attempt it right now, I'm under way too much stress right now. I've lost someone and I'm hoping she can be brought back to life. That code blue, it's someone I brought in, so don't start on me now officer" Tobias smiles "well, I would arrest you, but luckily for you I've just been treated for a bullet wound so I'm off duty on injury pay, besides the department is more focused on catching Roxanna Miles" how convenient for me, guess I'm lucky on that topic "guess I am" say, can't believe I'm talking to a cop....but if it keeps him happy enough to no bother arresting me, then it's worth the annoyance.

Tobias sits next to me "so who's got you moping around here? A relative? 1 of your men?" 'just what I need a cop sitting next to me' I thought as I answered "a new recruit" "oh?" Tobias asked with slight surprise in his voice "been a reliable employee for years and decided to join today" I carry on "interesting, anyone I know?" I just act casual, trying to not be sarcastic, I can't at a time like this "no, I don't think you would, it's..." then I pause for a minute, trying to think of what I could use, I don't want him knowing it's the same girl they're after, so I say a completely impossible to track answer "my niece, it's my niece's best friend" that should do, but he is a smart officer who is very clued up, he doesn't fully trust what I'm saying "your niece's best friend? Really? What's her name then?" I rub my temples "yes really, and her name is Anna Xor Limes" "Anna Xor Limes?" Tobias questioned, like I said he's bright, but now I'm getting fed up of talking to him, I don't care for officers, I mean I can tolerate Tobias more than the others but I'm just not in the mood "yes, now please get lost officer" and to my surprise he stood up and said "ok, good luck with your 'niece's best friend'" he says air quoting niece's best friend, then he walks away. "Gee thanks" I say sarcastically, as he walks away I mumble "don't strain yourself too hard being nice officer" 'i***t' I think as I roll my eyes.

About 10 hours pass by and I'm still waiting for news on Roxanna, then a surgeon comes towards me "Mr. Mandolza?" he asks I look up and face the surgeon "yes?" I reply hoping he comes with good news "Miss Limes is out of surgery now, it was touch and go, we lost her a few times in there but managed to bring her back. So, there's good news and bad news" frustrated with how long I've had to wait and how it all came to this I snapped at the surgeon "just tell me already" but he remained calm and professional "as you wish, good news is she just about survived the surgery" "great, so what's the bad news?" I asked wondering if I really wanted the bad news, the surgeon had a serious look on his face as he told me the bad news "bad news is she has sustained major, severe injuries, and we did loses her a few times, had to bring her back. Her injuries were very serious, the worse I've seen since becoming a surgeon, and I've been a surgeon for over 20 years" guessing she's fine "is that it? She's fine now?" I ask hopeful "not exactly, she is far from fine, we've done our part" "what are you saying?" I asked confused as to what he was trying to imply, again he remains calm and professional as he explains "she fell into a coma, we have her on life support now to try and keep her alive. But right now the machines are keeping her alive, it's all down to her now as to if she pulls through or not" anger consumes me inside hearing him say that Roxanna may not make it, and it's all because of Robert "WHAT?!" I yell in pure anger, the surgeon gets a slight freight by my outburst "I'm so sorry, it's all down to her. We'll keep doing our best, but you have to prepare for the worst as it is ALL down to her. I'm sorry, she's in ICU if you want to go and see her" I sigh knowing that there was nothing more that could be done, "very well, thank you" I said with defeat in my voice, the surgeon had regained his composure and said "no problem, our best doctor and nurse are in charge of her care" he informed me "thank you" I say, I mean, at least they have their best looking after her. After that the surgeon nods and walks away, and I make my way up to the ICU.

~Tobias~

I'm in my room relaxing on my bed as I'm off on injury, I hate injury time off but it's bad enough that I still need to talk to the chief, so I guess it gives me time to think how I'm going to tell the chief. I just can't settle though, something is off about Stefano, I've never heard of a Anna Xor Limes, and I know EVERYTHING about the mafia from family to the newest recruits. I get lost in my thoughts 'wait, what if it's a fake name? no, no, even better an anagram to her real name' I think as I grab a pen and some paper. I write down the  name Anna Xor and start to rearrange the letters, just then I see a letter that got sent to me when Roxanna was in juvie, it read 'You've ratted me out, so now I'll suffer, but so will you. Watch your back you backstabber, remember eye for an eye. I'll be out and get to you, hope I hurt you enough as that was just a warning. Signed, Roxanna' I then put the letter down and started thinking 'wait, Anna Xor on that letter was from Roxanna, she always wrote letters in anagram with Elliot, that was their type of language was writing in anagrams, and she always signed it Anna Xor. Wait so it's not Anna Xor, it's Roxanna. Roxanna who though? There's no one that the department are aware of with the last name of Limes, it's not a last name I've heard before to do with the Mandolza's. Maybe, just maybe if I rearrange the letters' and with that thought, I start to rearrange the letters of Limes.