I have wanted to talk with him, but it really isn’t my place. I have found the more I let on that I know what an adult is feeling, the less I should say about it. It seems to make them feel very uncomfortable around me. I can’t help knowing, but it is maddening knowing, and not being in the position to do anything about it.
Still deep in thought, I stepped out of the shower and dressed quickly. I was so engrossed in my internal commentary on life and the world we live in, that I couldn’t remember if I’d washed my hair. I was still arguing with myself even as I grab my towel. Crud. My hair smelled clean, but maybe I just used conditioner and skipped the shampoo entirely. Darn it! I threw the towel down, undressed again, and turned the shower back on. Focus, Meg, I reminded myself.
8 Sleeping Beauty
After hearing the shower turn on, Dr. Andrews pressed the ten digits he had memorized for a couple dozen years and waited patiently for the line to start ringing.
“Theo?”
“Hey, Greg. Yeah, it’s me.” If anyone were listening to Dr. Andrews’ voice just then they would have noticed a big change from how he sounded just moments ago with the children in the room. Now, he sounded exhausted and sad.
“What’s up, big man? How is everyone doing?” the detective asked cryptically. He was always a cautious guy; one of those habits he picked up from his job.
“About the same. My patient is still slowly recovering. Her kids are keeping constant vigil more for her protection than anything. It’s been a long two weeks. Any news you can share?”
“There are a few pieces of information. Are you on a land-line?” he asked rhetorically.
“Yeah, I’m at the hospital.”
“Of course you are.”
“Well, if that isn’t the pot calling the kettle black. When was the last time you took a day off?”
“Listen, when your girlfriend stops pissing off the wrong people, then I’ll take a break. But for now, I’m a little busy.”
“I know, man. Sorry. The kids and I are feeling like sitting ducks here.”
“Yeah, I bet you are. Here’s what I’ve learned. Williams has another place he works out of—in Germany. That’s where we think he’s holding up. Extradition isn’t working too well, this time. He has all the right people paid off.”
“When you say another place, what exactly do you mean?”
“From what I can gather, it looks like a compound. There’re half a dozen buildings on a huge bunch of acres out in the middle of nowhere-ville Germany. We’re talking twice as big as that place he had in California.”
“Oh, crap.”
“Wait. It gets better. The guy is not hurting for money at all. We haven’t even traced a quarter of his holdings. He has billions, Theo.”
Dr. Andrews was rubbing his eyes with his one free hand.
“You still there?” Greg asked after he only heard silence.
“Yeah,” Theo breathed.
“I wish I had better news for you.”
“Well, this is pretty much what I expected. Leave it to Margo to piss off the most evil and powerful mad scientist in the world. I’m not surprised,” Theo said, trying to laugh in the dark.
“You guys need to move, and soon. Don’t tell me where you’re going; I’d rather have believable deniability—just in case.”
“Yeah, I understand.”
“Good luck, Theo.”
“Thanks, man. I…well, thanks.” Dr. Andrews stood for a moment with his back to Margo holding the receiver like it was his life-line. He was trying not to get choked up. It was so overwhelming to feel responsible for the safety of all these children and his oldest and dearest friend, and probably the love of his life. She was so injured that it was still painful to look at her through the eyes of a man instead of a doctor.
“Mmmm,” Margo moaned softly.
Theo turned and hurried to her side. “Margo? It’s me, Theo. You’re at my hospital and you and the kids are safe. Margo?”
“Mmuph,” Margo’s eyes fluttered open. She tried to talk again, “Rrrugh mmuff”
“Try not to talk,” Dr. Andrews was doing his level best not to burst in to sobs of relief at seeing Margo awake. “Your jaw was…seriously injured. We had to wire it shut so it could heal properly.”
Margo’s eyes looked frantically around the room. Theo guessed she was looking for the children. “Meg, Evan and Alik are all here at the hospital, but they’re fine. Everyone has recovered from their injuries…well, except you. Meg’s in the bathroom getting dressed. Alik, Evan and Cole are on the third floor entertaining the sick children there—with magic tricks,” he added with a nervous laugh.
She motioned for something with which to write.
“Good idea,” the doctor smiled. “Let me find a pen and paper.”
Her wrists were still wrapped and one arm was in a sling because of the broken ribs and fractured collar bone. But even through all that, Margo grabbed the pen Theo gave her available hand and wrote two words: Thank You.
The doctor blushed deeply and shook his head. “Don’t thank me, it was your children who saved you.”