Shaking Off the Dust (36 page)

“We’ll leave in the next hour if the weather permits. Dr. Santiago wanted you to arrive early enough to keep you two days before the ball. He told us it was related to your heart medications. Is there something we should be concerned about, Hannah? Have you been ill again?” Enrique asked.

“Just a tune-up. He told me the other day when I saw him that he wanted to redo some tests. That’s all.”

I could be a government agent. I could fabricate with the best of them. Of course they assumed I was pregnant. Why they needed me to confirm that was frustrating.

Despite the intermittent rain, it was a pleasant drive back to Madrid. We arrived at the same hospital we’d been after my face was bruised, and were led to a private room. Bill and Enrique bid farewell and promised to visit tomorrow.

I was scarcely pregnant and I knew my insurance was not going to cover this hospital stay. I was calculating cost versus days—I needed to work extra to cover it—when Takeshi asked me what I was doing. He’d been watching me put in numbers on the calculator I’d pulled out of my wallet.

“Reality, Shimodo. Let’s get on the same page here.”

“You do realize I have a good income, right?”

“You’re not the one in this bed and you are not the one who will get the bill. I have to know what it will take on my part to pay for this. Oh, and if I do need any other procedures, it’s getting done at my

hospital where my insurance will cover most of it.”

He took my hand. “The sooner you marry me, the sooner you will be on my insurance.”

“It’ll be on my insurance. Besides, marriage is a whole other discussion that we are not having right now.”

“Why are we discussing money? It is my worry, not yours. It is the most minor of things.”

“Perhaps to you. I was out sick for months after my accident. I know exactly what impact the bills have on my life. I won’t worry once I figure out how much overtime I’ll need to pick up.”

Tom popped in with Brodie who glanced around. Tom had gotten the gist of our conversation. “Don’t worry about paying these bills.”

“This from the man whose staff offered to garnish my wages so I could pay the good doctor his pound of flesh. I worked over four hundred hours of overtime to pay you off. So don’t lecture me in that flippant way that only surgeons use. I have those two days of observation after the big bolt of lightning to take care of too. Plus factoring in every other thing this will affect.” I pointed to my belly.

“You can use my money to pay for all of it,” Tom offered. “It’s Takeshi’s money now. He can pay, it is his fault after all.”

“Not going to happen, Tom. We are not married. We just started sleeping together. I’m not in a hurry to get hitched. I expect him to be there for me, to help support this child, when he or she is born. I’ve been living in luxury for several days now, but I know better. I’ve worked hard for everything I’ve gotten.

Complications always cost something, usually cash.”

They stared at me as if I’d grown a second head.

Dr. Santiago showed up finally. “Now begins the thorough physical you should have had days ago.” He saw Takeshi’s face. “Is there a problem?”

“No, nothing I can’t deal with. Tell me what you know.” I answered.

“Based on what Dr. Shimodo tells me, you’re about two weeks pregnant. But based on the quantitative beta result, I would guess you are much further along. Or…you are carrying more than one child.”

“Oh hell no. Twins? Hand me that calculator.”

Dr. Santiago smiled. “Very high numbers.”

Takeshi went to the chair next to the bed and sat down.

“I have talked with several cardiologists and they believe the caffeine, sleep deprivation and stress caused your last episode. We should take you off those meds as of today. If you do have another heart episode, we would have to consider interventional options that would be of benefit.”

I nodded at Takeshi, sticking out my tongue. “So when is lunch?”

“I’ll let you eat soon. We’ll get a baseline ultrasound. I don’t expect it show much, too early for a

heartbeat or even a fetal pole. Your electrolytes are still off, continuing on the low side. I’m taking you off your diuretics for your inner ear, but I’m putting you on a very low sodium diet, which I expect Dr.

Shimodo will help you maintain. Tomorrow I want to do a glucose tolerance. I know you are hungry all the time, feeding a growing fetus, or three, but I am concerned that you have lost weight. Besides, I’m betting you will be difficult to catch anytime soon for these tests.”

“Alright, sounds fine to me. Send in lunch, I’m starving again.”

“This is supposed to be a restful time for you. You look tired, Hannah. Try to get some rest.”

Takeshi looked up at him. “I’ll make sure she rests. I know Japanese voodoo.”

“Oh my God, Shimodo, that was perfect.” Who knew he was gorgeous, a sex god and funny. “I thought you were mad at him for giving you drugs.”

“Now that I have considered, I realize he was allowing me the rest I needed to keep up with you.”

Dr. Santiago glanced back and forth between us, trying to figure out the joke.

“So I can go to the ball on Friday night?”

“No. We are taking you off your heart medications. I don’t want any new stressors for you. That ball would be a huge one.”

“Wait, you can’t just say no. I’ve been looking forward to the ball. I have a job to do there. You could spend at least
one
minute convincing me it’s the right thing to do,” I grumped.

“I’d be wasting my time and yours.” Santiago shook his head. “Answer one question, is this dance more important than those babies you’re carrying?” He raised an eyebrow while he waited for my response.

“No.” Nothing was more important than the possibility of having Takeshi’s children. I wanted his babies and the future it would bring, even if it was only a slim chance.

Takeshi stepped beside me and kissed my forehead. His words were in Japanese, but I understood he loved me.

“I’ve never been to a masked ball.” Brodie was Tom’s ever-present shadow. “I’ve never been anywhere. Can I still go with Tom?” He walked over to me and sat on the bed. “This doesn’t count as your bed, at least not until you go to sleep. That’s what Tom said.”

“Brodie, say hello to Dr. Santiago. Shake his hand. You too, Tom. If you’re going to hang out here, he should know about it.”

Brodie walked over to Santiago who had his arms crossed. He went to grab one of them and let his hand stay there for a good ten seconds. The doctor pulled his hand away from his chest, touching it to test the temperature. That’s when Tom shook his hand and took the time to scrutinize him very closely.

“I like him, Hannah. It’s a shame he’s not local for you to see in our little town.”

“That was Tom?” Dr. Santiago asked.

“Yes, how could you tell?”

“A bigger part of my hand was cold, more equal to an adult hand. You lead an interesting life.”

“I’d have argued that two weeks ago.” I sighed.

The next morning I didn’t get breakfast, but I got a nasty overly sweet drink for the glucose testing. I was so disgusted with the lack of food that I bitched about it and got so grumpy that Takeshi taped my mouth shut, not completely but symbolically. He threatened me with Japanese voodoo or the tape. I saw the wisdom of shutting up, leaving on the tape helped. Although I took a certain amount of joy in the fact that I was able to be so grumpy with him. Would that last, I wondered?

I looked forward to heading home. I could get over the current excitement and settle in, praying this pregnancy would make it to term. The day passed into the next. I did fine. Takeshi watched the heart monitor like it was his full-time job. Around noon, Enrique arrived with Dr. Santiago announcing I was free to go. We agreed I could wear a telemetry heart monitor for the next several days.

“Where are we going?” Takeshi asked Enrique.

“To my home here in the city. I’ve had your clothes delivered there and Rachel is joining us. She will be Hannah’s double at the ball.” Enrique was all business today. The ball was tonight and they had instituted alternate plans.

“I want a special treat for having to stay home tonight. I want the richest, most chocolate desert and no frowns from you.” I pointed to Takeshi. “I agreed not to go for all the right reasons, but I will see Tomas’s sisters walk into the light. They are young enough to need their brother to be there and know the moment they have stepped over.”

“Enrique will negotiate a meeting that will be safe and stress free. And I will compromise on a sweet not having chocolate and will eat it with you,” Takeshi said.

Enrique bowed. “I will do my best. Your room is third on the left at the top of the stairs. I have a housekeeper who speaks passable English.”

About six p.m., agents arrived with makeup cases to get Rachel ready. They didn’t say much about how the change in plans would affect the evening, but I suspected they’d had a contingency plan set up all along. When Rachel came down the stairs in costume and mask, I was immediately jealous as hell.

Enrique looked so fine in a black tuxedo with a Spanish flair for embroidery throughout that I wanted a picture. I ran around asking Enrique where to find his camera. He just laughed, but I could see he was pleased.

Rachel took off the mask and I saw the fake bruises along her cheek and jaw. She looked a little like me, wearing a wig that matched my hair and extra padding up top. It was all very cool.

As they were about to leave, the doorbell rang and Hector stood there holding a cake box in his one functional arm. I welcomed him in, sitting him right on the couch and taking the box from his hand. The way he had managed to balance a cake box with one arm in a sling was impressive. I knew he had a couple of rib fractures.

“What idiot fool let you out of the hospital?” I frowned.

Enrique walked into the room. “I see your dessert has arrived. I asked Hector to pick it up. He’s been calling all day to complain about how bored he is at home. I decided you might pass a pleasant evening together. I’ve asked him to stand guard tonight. His room is prepared and is on the first floor.”

Hector laughed. “He has three men surrounding the place. I’m a token guard.” He indicated the sling around his arm and shoulder. “I think he decided I would get more rest here than being restless at home.”

“Why does she need to be guarded?” Takeshi kept his eyes on Enrique’s face.

“I don’t think she does, but there is a concern that Ramirez will be displeased she is not there. He may decide to find her himself,” Enrique said matter-of-factly and shrugged. “We’re taking Tom with us so he can communicate with his sisters. I hope Ramirez will accept that, but there is a chance he will not. My Morse code is rusty, I have one of the other agents acting as interpreter.”

“Tom’s Morse code is not great either. We developed several shortcuts that I showed you. It will take you and this other agent time for each translation, I’m afraid.” Takeshi stepped behind where I sat next to Hector on the couch and placed his hands on my shoulders. “I am concerned for Hannah’s safety though.

Will you call us to let us know if Ramirez agrees to the change in plans?”

Enrique nodded, and escorted Rachel out of the door.

The beautiful people all headed out to the masked ball. We homebodies played English Scrabble although it was unfair to Hector, first because he was Spanish, but mostly because I made him take a pain pill and he was groggy. I beat the pants off him and Takeshi. A victory is still a victory. I suspect Takeshi was not playing his best game on purpose. We had a late dinner and moved to the living room to linger over dessert. Okay, so I was the only one lingering. The guys were keeping me company.

About eleven, Enrique called to say that Tomas Ramirez accepted the change after they demonstrated Tom could communicate with Nina and Isabella. Takeshi seemed relieved. I shrugged and yawned.

I bullied Hector until he went to bed, walking him to his room. After two nights of both of us in a twin, I was tired and the king-sized mattress was a luxury I was ready to enjoy. I put on my tee shirt and jogging pants, crawled under the sheet, and we both went right to sleep.

I woke with a start. Someone had a large hand over my mouth. It was Takeshi and he bent into my good ear. “There’s someone in the room with us. Let me handle this. Don’t move or speak. Do you promise?”

I nodded, and his hand fell from my mouth. I tried to listen for any sounds.
Was that a rustling noise
near the window?
I could feel Takeshi slowly moving away from me. Within a few seconds, he had put the pillows against me where he’d been. The bed moved as he slid out. It was so dark I couldn’t see anything, but I had my eyes open in slits. That was good because the beam from a small flashlight glanced across my face. I closed my eyes completely.

I could feel someone moving towards the bed. I wasn’t sure if it was the intruder or Shimodo. A large presence loomed over me before a hand clamped over my mouth. It was not Takeshi and there was no gentleness in this touch. I opened my eyes and tried to pull the hand off my mouth and nose. I heard a quiet sound as whoever it was fired a gun into the pillow where Takeshi had been. I gasped, trying to

scream.

They were going to kill him. They thought they had already and my eyes filled with tears. I was truly terrified. No discussion, just shooting. There was no loud report, only a quiet thud as they fired again.

“Quiet, bitch, or you will join your boyfriend. In fact I can’t wait until I get permission to kill you, but not before I play with you.”

It was Vincent. This was very bad news.

He took his hand from my mouth and nose and grabbed my jaw in a crushing grip. I struggled for breath, but managed not to cry out.

“Only a taste of what I’ll be doing to you, American bitch. Tomas was not gentle, nor will my retribution be. You intrigue Mr. Sanchez, so instead of killing you, as you deserve, I plan to play with you until the others outside are taken care of. Then my companions will take their turn.”