“Yeah, yes!”
“Did he talk to you or anyone else after he came to?”
“I don’t think so. He puked like a geyser, and then he collapsed. Wait! I saw him talking to a medic when they put the stretcher in the ambulance.”
“Good, that’s good. How long ago did this happen?”
Sirens wailed at the other end of the phone.
“Minutes, Mr. FW. Minutes.”
“So he wasn’t out for long?”
“I guess not. It felt like ages, though. I’m just waiting for the nice cop to come back and drive me over. Harry threw up everywhere. And the fucking fuckbag asshole is mouthing off about pressing charges, and there’s this really cute girl involved, and they wouldn’t listen to me about the Tourette’s.” Max yelled the last bit. “Ella, I mean Mrs. FW, always said that if—”
“I can’t possibly get Ella on a plane, Max.” Felix slumped into his office chair.
“No, no! You don’t have to. Harry needs you, Mr. FW. That’s why I’m calling. The only thing he said before blacking out was ‘Get Dad.’”
Felix shot out of his chair and grabbed his car keys.
“When you know which hospital they’re taking him to, text me.”
Max sniffed.
“Can you do that, Max?” Felix slowed his voice down.
“Yeah.” Max sounded like a little boy. “What are you going to do, Mr. FW?”
“I’ll be on the first flight to Boston.” He glanced up at his clock. “When I was making your reservations, I saw a JetBlue flight at six. Assuming I can get a seat, I’ll be on that one. I should land around eight.”
Felix opened the office door and waved in Nora Mae. “I need you to be my eyes and ears until I can get there, Max. Can you do that?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Good. Good lad. Now, when you get to the hospital and Harry is assigned a doctor, you’re going to call me again—on this number—and let me talk to the doctor.”
Nora Mae gave a small gasp.
“Okay,” Max said.
“Harry’s a minor. They need to talk with me about insurance, and I need to give them a list of his medications. I also need to tell them he has Tourette’s. I don’t want anyone thinking he’s an epileptic or trying to give him drugs without my permission.”
“Wait.” Max’s voice brightened. “I told the medic about the TS.”
“Brilliant. You did brilliantly. Now all you have to do is sit with him until I get there. Tell the doctors you’re his brother. I doubt they’ll question it. But do not leave his side.”
“Harry doesn’t like hospitals.”
“I know, but he has you. What is it he calls you? Max the Overlord? I officially dub you Max the Overlord, protector of Harry, until I can get there. You up for the challenge?”
“I’m on it, Mr. FW!”
“And Max?”
“Yo.”
“Not a word about this to your parents. I don’t want them to call the house and talk with Ella until I’ve figured everything out. Got it?”
“Got it.”
The burning rage came from nowhere. A sea of red; a wall of fire. Felix stared out of his sloping glass window into the deserted downtown street below. He needed to chain the monster until he could get to Boston. Then he would kill the person or persons responsible. Beat them to death with his bare hands.
Nora Mae touched his shoulder. “Harry?”
“Has a concussion.” Felix turned. “Book me on the next flight to Boston. Use the corporate credit card. If the only seat is in first class, book the ruddy thing. Check JetBlue first. I think there’s a flight at six. Tell Robert—”
“Tell Robert what?” Robert appeared in the doorway. He was jacketless with pinstripe shirtsleeves rolled back tightly. Never a good sign.
“Harry’s been in an accident.” Felix tossed files into his leather briefcase and then slotted in his laptop. “I’m going to Boston to get him. We’ll have to do this via conference call tonight.”
“You cannot be serious. Curt is completely out of his depth on this deal. Someone else will have to go to Boston.”