33
The freeway was crowded with late-afternoon travelers. Mimi sat in silence as John manipulated his way through traffic. The westbound lane seemed to bottleneck the closer it got to the exit for the NC State Wolfpack’s stadium. It was too late to try and take a shortcut or maneuver around the city without getting caught up in football game traffic.
“How much longer to the hospital?” Mimi asked impatiently.
“Try and relax, Mimi. I’m doing the best I can, considering the parking lot we seem to have found ourselves in. Don’t you worry; I’ll have you there in a few.”
Mimi didn’t say another word. The drive allowed time for her mind to wander…to wonder why her baby had been a target. The answer was not far behind.
“I need that gun,” Mimi said out of nowhere. “My gut tells me that Victor is behind this. If something happens to my daughter, I’m going to…”
“Don’t say it, Mimi.”
“Victor needs to make peace with God; I’m not going to wait for the police to figure this out. I’m going to take that bastard out myself.”
“You need to call your husband.”
“John, you need to drive this car and get me to my daughter. I’ll call Raphael as soon as I’ve seen Afrika.”
John stared straight ahead and didn’t open his mouth again until he pulled up beside the Emergency Room at Duke. Mimi didn’t wait for the car to come to a complete stop before she was out of the car and into the ER.
Frantic, Mimi approached the window of the intake processor. “Excuse me, my daughter was brought into the hospital by ambulance an hour or so ago. I’m her mother and I need to see…”
“Ma’am,” a woman in a pink and purple print smock waved, “follow me. You are here for…”
“Afrika Bailey.”
“Right this way.”
“Mrs. Bailey.”
Mimi stopped and turned in the direction of the person who called her name. There was Asia, her eyes as red as tomatoes. Several police officers were in the room, continuing their investigation, trying to get answers…anything that would lead to the shooter.
“Hi, Asia,” was all Mimi could say, fighting back the tears. “Thanks for being here.”
“Hello, Mrs. Bailey, I’m Miss Deavers, the cheerleading coach. We’re all so sorry about what happened to Nikki. It is incomprehensible.”
“Thank you, Miss Deavers. I appreciate you being with Nikki when she was taken to the hospital. The one time my phone was off…”
“Don’t worry about it. We’ve been praying that Nikki will be fine.”
Asia went to Mimi and hugged her; the other cheerleaders got up from their seats and followed suit. They all began to cry and console each other. Mimi moved away first.
A police officer stepped in front of the girls. “Are you Ms. Bailey’s mother?”
“Yes, sir, I am. Right now I have to see about Afrika; the nurse is waiting on me.”
“Ma’am, I’m Officer Stokes. I’ll need to ask you some questions when you get a moment. I understand you need to be with your daughter.”
“Thank you, Officer Stokes. I’ll be happy to answer any questions later.” Mimi turned to the others. “Thanks, Asia; Miss Deavers.”
“Tell Nikki I love her,” Asia said, echoed by the others, tears continuing to flow from their faces.
“I will,” Mimi said and turned to leave. Just as she did, she caught a glimpse of John. She nodded in recognition and he found a seat and waited.
The nurse escorted Mimi behind the Emergency Room doors, through a long hallway and a large room of makeshift smaller ones, separated by walls made of heavy muslin hung by metal rings that slid along metal bars. Finally the nurse stopped beside a bed, whose curtain had not been drawn as a team of doctors stood around, prepping the patient for surgery.
“Are you this young lady’s mother?” a doctor asked upon seeing the nurse and the woman behind her.
Mimi held her chest and willed herself to move closer. Her nerves were on edge, and it felt as if a spear was piercing her heart. She moved closer still until she saw Afrika with IVs running from her arm to a pole. Her eyes were closed; she seemed so peaceful.
“Yes, this is my daughter, Afrika.”
“Ma’am, I’m Dr. Daniels. We need to get your daughter to surgery as soon as possible. We’re waiting for clearance to take her to the operating room. She’s suffered a bullet wound in her back; she’s fortunate to be alive. She’s lost a lot of blood.”
“Oh my, God.” Mimi blew air from her mouth. “Thank you, doctor. Please save my baby.”
“We’ll do everything in our power. It may be a tough road, but for a Saturday afternoon, you’ve got a good team of doctors on call.”
A phone rang.
“Let’s move her to the OR,” Dr. Daniels said.
The team pushed the gurney out of the room to an elevator, on their way to the surgery room, as Mimi stood helplessly by.
A gentle rub made Mimi look up. “I’ll take you to the waiting room,” the nurse said. “Is there anyone in the ER waiting room that you’d like to have go up with you?”
Finding her composure, Mimi shook her head. “Yes. My daughter’s fellow cheerleaders and a friend of mine are in the lobby. I could use their comfort about now.”
“Let’s go and get them.”
“I need to make a phone call first; then we can get them.”