Shaking Off the Dust (8 page)

My jaw dropped. “It’s amazing how people can take advantage of even the most tragic circumstances.”

I stood up and started pacing. “Go on, please.”

“I told him we’d try to do something as soon as possible. There is a fifteen-year-old boy named Arturo and his sister Mia. Their parents walked right into the light holding hands, but they didn’t follow. They’re afraid.”

“I’m sorry, Tom. I made you go to them. Did it break your heart to hear their stories?” I walked to him trying to touch his face. I wanted to hug him.

“Your skin is warm on my face,” he said softly.

I stepped back to the couch and sat down, face hidden in my palms. Those children lost and left behind.

Eduardo desperate to help his children. I hated to cry. I shook my head as the first tear rolled down my cheek. They fell in continuous fat droplets against my fingers.

Shimodo knelt in front of me, pulling my arms down. He wiped tears off my face, pressing the tissue into my hands. He set next to me, putting his arms around my waist, drawing me closer into his shoulder, and whispered soothing things in my ear. I don’t know what he said, because he spoke in Japanese, but it calmed me. When I reached that shuddering-breath stage with my face swollen and red streaked, he got up and poured us each a glass of cool water.

“I’m sorry. I have no reason to cry, but it breaks my heart, all those people who already died but still have to suffer. Tom, you’re a fool not to walk into that light.” I took a sip of water.

“You didn’t, Hannah,” Tom said. “You died in surgery, but you didn’t choose the light.”

“What are you talking about?” I turned to Tom.

“You already knew that when the paramedics got to you at the scene of the accident you’d stopped breathing. But later in OR, things happened. It was storming that evening of your accident. In surgery the electricity went out right as I started to evacuate the bleed. When the generator came up, it caused a power surge in the equipment. You got an electrical shock directly into brain tissue. Your heart stopped for over two minutes.”

My jaw dropped. “I don’t remember hearing about this.”

“It was a Friday night and Takeshi had come to town for dinner. When I got the call about you, he went to the hospital with me. He even scrubbed in on your surgery. When your heart stopped, he did CPR.

You fought to come back. You made a choice, we are your witnesses.” Tom spoke in his clinical, detached voice.

“I’m the perfect lab rat for you, aren’t I?” I couldn’t keep the weariness from my voice. My expression revealed disappointment that he was merely a doctor interested in a fascinating case.

“Hannah, I need to know what he’s telling you.” Shimodo reached out to touch me and I stood, moving away from him.

“We should focus on what’s happening now. We have to get to those people.” Tom had already moved on. He stood there with his arms crossed, then shrugged. “They broke my heart too, Hannah. You are the one who made me go to them. Now we’ve given them hope, that there is a reason they are still here.

So we have to do something, or at least we have to try.”

Shimodo came up behind me, pulling me into him.

“Tell me what he’s saying, Hannah. He’s told you something that upset you. If I don’t know what it is, I can’t help.” He bent over until he was inhaling my hair.

I tilted back to look into his face. His mouth and eyes were close to mine, dark and intimate. I blinked back the urge to kiss him. Instead, I buried my head into his chest, ashamed I enjoyed the feel of him.

I told him what Tom had said about getting to Spain. He gave me a little hug.

“That wasn’t everything, was it? I wish you felt like you could talk openly to me.”

I unwound from his hold, nearly throwing myself back on the settee. I needed space from him and my raw feelings. I meant nothing to him, and when he was near me, I kept forgetting that.

Tom watched as if he was shocked. He shook his head a little and walked up to Shimodo. “He’s different. I don’t know if it’s because of the unique situation, but he’s very protective of you. He was always too involved with his patients for a clinician. It’s why he went into research and teaching.”

I stared at my hands, not daring to glance up. I didn’t want to repeat what Tom was saying. I could feel Shimodo’s eyes on me. He suspected there was a conversation going on.

“Now what?” I had my neutral expression back in place when I raised my face. It was time for him to come up with a plan, because I had no idea what to do next.

“I think it’s time we found someone who can help us. At Tom’s funeral, I saw one of our college buddies who’s with the FBI. Perhaps he can give us entry to someone working on the plane crash investigation. I also have a colleague in Spain, who does similar research to mine. I suggest we go to Louisville this afternoon so I can contact them. You’ll need to pack, in case we go to Spain.” Shimodo paused. “Do you have a passport?”

I nodded and couldn’t help the stupid grin on my face. “I think you’re overreaching here. As much as I’d love to visit Spain, I doubt we’ll have any luck getting there. And if by some small miracle we do, I doubt we’ll gain access to people who have power to have any effect on those we’re trying to help. I only have a week off and I need my job.”

“We don’t know until we see what can be accomplished. I’ll drop you home while I try to make some arrangements. Bring all your medications.”

It felt good to have a plan, even one based on a vague hope rather than any real expectations that we might achieve anything.

“I like your Goth outfit. Be sure to repack it,” Shimodo teased, touching my arm.

It was almost dark when Shimodo phoned. “Are you ready?”

“I’ve been ready, neuro boy,” I said dryly, trying not to yawn.

Alone in my own home, I’d had time to think about everything. I could be his guinea pig. I’d learned to be good at sassy patient. It would pass the time until Tom was dead, buried and actually gone.

He laughed. “How about we go to dinner before we head out of town?”

“How long until you get here?”

“I am here.” A knock came from my front door.

“Aren’t you too cute for words?”

“Answer the door and find out.”

I stopped myself from running to the door. He was there, dressed in blue jeans, a navy sweater and a black leather coat. His Mustang was parked in the drive.

“I don’t know if you have enough room in that trunk for my luggage.” I gave him a skeptical face.

“Are you telling me there is a lot of luggage?”

“A huge carry-on and a hanging bag.”

“I think we’ll manage. If not, Tom will have to sit on your hanging bag. It shouldn’t do it any damage, but he’ll complain the entire trip about how inconsiderate we are.” He lowered his voice. “You’ll be the one having to listen to him. I hope you brought a coat.”

“A coat, a jacket, a sweater and a partridge in a pear tree.” I went to my closet and put on my own black leather jacket. Black jeans, sweater and leather jacket. Could I be anymore Goth? What a dork.

The fact I looked ten pounds lighter in dark colors was the main determining factor. Being mistaken for Goth was simply a bonus. Now where was my black eyeliner?

Shimodo managed to get my suitcase in the trunk, as well as the hanging bag. What a man—able to pack a trunk and look good while he did it. I got in the front seat and buckled up as he slid into the driver’s side.

“You seem pleased with yourself. What miracles have you accomplished?” I asked.

“Me, I’m always pleased with life.”

“We have a technical abbreviation for your type. FOS.” I didn’t usually tell the doctors they were full of it, even when they were, but I was excited to be on this little adventure. The biggest reason for that was the man sitting next to me. I was a much bigger fool than I wanted to be.

“I am familiar with the term and appalled you would say such a thing. What a mouth you have. How have you managed to keep your job?” He tried to appear shocked. It would have worked if he had kept the laughter out of his face.

“Honestly? I don’t know.”

“I don’t know either.” Tom suddenly appeared in the backseat.

I yipped. “Tom, you can’t scare the electrocuted nurse so much.”

“I’m surprised I can scare you at all.” He tilted his head.

I scooted sideways, so I could see both of them without craning my neck around. Tom wore a pair of khakis and tan shirt. It was different from what he wore this morning.

“Tom, how do you decide on the clothes? You must have changed all the time before you died.”

“I consider what to wear and it’s on me. It is rather odd.” Tom used his head to indicate Shimodo. “So did he tell you everything?”

I was about to start quizzing Shimodo, when he reached out an arm and nudged my knee. “What did he tell you? It’s frustrating to hear only one side of the conversation.”

“I’ll give you details then it’s your turn to talk. You need to explain to me what’s going on,” I bargained.

“Yes, of course. I planned to discuss it at dinner. Now what did he say about changing his clothes?”

I told him and he nodded his head. “Despite getting everything second, I feel like Tom is back.”

“Hannah, you need to remind him that I won’t be sticking around. When we finish this, I’ll be gone forever. I don’t want him to go through all that loss again,” Tom said.

I didn’t say anything. I looked at Shimodo’s profile and Tom was right.

“He’s talking to you, and you’re not sharing,” Shimodo accused.

“I was thinking about something else.” I shifted in my seat, watching the road.

“You’re not a very good liar, Hannah.” Shimodo shook his head.

“That is not true. I’m a great liar.”

“I give up. You don’t want to tell me what he said. Fine.”

“What about the dogs? Who takes care of them?” I asked.

“The couple who sold them to Tom asked if they could buy them back. I thought the animals deserved better than me. They need a big house and the Turners have a large property for the dogs to run. I was scheduled to drop them off tomorrow, but Mrs. Turner was happy to take them today. Tom came with me.”

“Oh.”

I considered dinner for a minute, which led to more depressing thoughts. Like how much money this little excursion was going to cost. How many meals out would we eat? How much credit I had on my cards?

A trip to Spain would hit my limit. I hated worrying about money, but after my accident it was a real issue. Now I couldn’t stop myself from calculating cost.

“What are you hungry for?” he asked.

“I don’t care. Why don’t we do fast food and get on the road?”

Tom groaned. “How many days of these mood swings can we expect to endure?”

“Bite me, Mecurio!” It slipped out of my mouth, but it made me smile to think I’d said it to him.

“There’s dinner solved,” Tom tossed right back.

I burst out laughing and I could hear Tom’s laughter bubbling. I gave Shimodo the short version. He looked frustrated that he didn’t hear it the first time around. In the silence that followed, we pulled into an Italian restaurant.

As we walked into the restaurant, Shimodo took my hand and slid his finger to my wrist.

Figures, he was checking my pulse.

“Are you hungry?” he asked after assuring himself my heart rate was normal. He let my hand slip out of his.

“I could eat.” The door opened and the aroma of spaghetti sauce and garlic bread hit me. “The smell alone has me starving.”

The receptionist came to seat us. I asked for a booth and then scooted in so Tom could sit next to me. I wondered if it looked weird.

After we ordered drinks, I excused myself and headed to the ladies’ room. I snagged the waitress on the way and asked for separate checks. She gave me a knowing smile and said that was not a problem.

When I got back to the booth, she was serving our drinks and was all but pressing her bosom into Shimodo’s face. I wanted to yank her hair and make her stand in a corner. Jealousy, from me, no way!

Shimodo ignored her and stood when I reached them. He helped me take my off jacket, but I figured that was to get the waitress out of his face. She was a pretty girl with dark hair and blue eyes. I’d always envied the blue-eyed crowd. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t hate my own color, but it always seemed like blue made the girls look more innocent. My hazel eyes were far from innocent.

After the waitress left with our dinner orders, I gave Shimodo a wave of my hand.

He shook his head at me. “You are so impatient, Hannah.”

“So edify me, what did you arrange?”

He took a pull on the straw in his water.

“Stop stalling, Shimodo. Just tell me.”

His eyes glinted in the low light of the candle on our table. “I reached Marvin Soames. He was in the dorm with Tom and me. He’s been with law enforcement since college and the FBI the last six years.

He’s out of Indianapolis now, but he’ll be in town tomorrow for meetings. I talked him into having dinner with us. I think there’s a chance we can convince him that we’re legitimate.” He shrugged.

“I left messages and an email for my colleague in Madrid. I think the best possible way to approach this is from a scientific method. I arranged to have access to a PET scanner and MRI tonight at the university hospital. One of my research associates is meeting us there with the equipment we need, so we can establish some hard data on you.” He frowned at the glare in my eyes.

“I’m sorry, Hannah. I should have asked if you would mind me scheduling the tests, but I felt we needed to accomplish a lot in a very short period of time. You signed the papers this morning that allowed me to get a copy of your medical records today and said you would not mind being tested. I realize I’m rushing things. But, we might be able to establish you as a psychic or medium. The FBI has been known to use them. If I can show enough documentation of your ability then we may be able to convince the FBI, my colleague and ultimately the Spanish government that you are able to give them information from the dead.”

My eyes got bigger as he spoke. “I think I mentioned earlier that you were FOS. Now I am convinced of it.”