"One fifteen over seventy-five," the nurse said. "Very normal. Normal on the low side." She made a notation on the chart at the foot of Nora"s bed. "This is amazing, Mrs. Buckley. You seem to be absolutely fine. When Dr. Seligmann comes in he is going to be very surprised, and delighted. Would you like me to call your husband?"
"No. I"m not certain where he is," Nora answered the nurse. "Let"s wait for Dr. Sam, and let him do it."
"Please get back into bed now, Mrs. Buckley. I know you feel fine, but just as a precaution. Are you hungry? The kitchen is just getting going for the day, but I could get you some tea and pound cake from the nurses" room."
"That would be lovely," Nora agreed. A mirror. She needed a mirror. She wanted to see what she looked like now. She watched the nurse bustle out, and then slipped from the bed and went into the bathroom. She stared at her face in the gla.s.s. She looked fine. Younger if anything. But her hair had faded. She"d have to have it colored this week. She found a brush in the medicine cabinet, and brushed the hair out. Then she braided it into a single plait. Yes. Her face definitely looked younger. And it was stress free after how many years? She left the bathroom, and climbed back into bed just as Nurse James came back into the room with her tea and a plate with a slice of pound cake on it.
"I didn"t want to give you too much," she said. "We"ve been feeding you with the IV twice a day." She set the plate and mug down on the side table. "I"ll have to leave you. I have patients waking up, and rounds to make before the seven a.m. shift comes in. I hope you won"t mind."
"What time is it?" Nora asked.
"Almost seven now. I"m kind of behind with you, but oh, Mrs. Buckley, this is really a miracle!" And with a smile she hurried out.
A miracle. Nora wondered if such a word would really apply to what had happened to her. To them all. The kids! She had to call the kids.
She missed Kyle. She missed her apartment. She missed the endless and delicious sensuality she experienced when she was in The Channel. It had become a part of her, and she was irritable now not being a part of it. Can something like The Channel be addictive? But she already knew the answer. The Channel was like a narcotic, which was why once you were introduced you kept going back. And I have lived for weeks in The Channel, Nora considered. I"m suffering withdrawal. But it won"t be forever. I just have to get through today and tomorrow.
Chapter Ten.
Dr. Sam Seligmann stepped into Nora"s room.
"Sam!" Nora threw back the coverlet and came from the bed.
"Elda stayed to tell me you were awake," he said, "but sweetheart, you"ve been out like a light for eight weeks. Take it easy. Sit down before you give me a coronary." He almost pushed her into the chair, his fingers reaching for her wrist.
"I"m fine," Nora insisted. "I want to go home, Sam."
"Yep, pulse normal." He took the chart from the foot of the bed and scanned it, shaking his head. "Everything is normal," he said, almost to himself. Then sitting himself in the second club chair, he told her, "All your vitals have been normal since you were brought into the hospital, Nora. But you were unconscious. Actually it was more like you were sleeping. Do you remember anything?" He peered through his gla.s.ses at her.
"I remember ordering a cable movie. That"s it. Oh, my G.o.d! I was supposed to sign the settlement papers. Jeff must be furious."
"He"ll live," Sam Seligmann said.
"When can I go home?" Nora demanded. "I feel fine, and I really do want to go home, Sam. And the kids must have been frantic all these weeks. I need to call the kids."
"Frankly I"d keep you under observation for a couple of days," Dr. Seligmann said, "but now that you"re conscious, I know your HMO will start screaming because they know that other than being out for these past weeks, you haven"t shown any signs of trauma or illness. I"m going to keep you a day, Nora. Just today. You can go home tomorrow, okay? But I don"t want you to do anything strenuous for quite a while, sweetheart, and I"m going to check on you myself twice a day."
"You"re going to make house calls on me?" Nora grinned. "Why, you old sweetie, you have been worried."
"Don"t tell on me." He grinned back, then he grew serious. "Whatever felled you, Nora, I don"t want you to relapse by flinging yourself back into your life too quickly."
"I don"t have a lot of time, Sam. I"ll have to sign that divorce settlement, and that means the house goes on the market April first."
"I"m going to talk to Rick about that," the doctor said. "Under the circ.u.mstances we should be able to get an extension. I mean would it kill Jeff to wait till May first?"
"I don"t know," Nora replied. "He"s been carrying a bridge loan on that co-op he bought. Jeff isn"t a man who likes wasting money."
"Listen, Rina says that Carla told her the girlfriend is paying the bridge loan. Your husband isn"t out of pocket a penny on this," Sam Seligmann replied. There came a high-pitched sound, and he looked down at the pager on his belt, eyebrows lifting. "Excuse me, Nora, while I make a call." He pulled out his cell and punched in the numbers. "Dr. Seligmann here. Yes. What? You"re kidding! I"ll be right there." He stood up. "Gotta run. Stay here today. I"ll release you tomorrow, and I"ll be back later."
He stood up, gave her a kiss on the cheek, and was gone.
Nora smiled to herself. Mr. Nicholas had been right. Everything was going to be just fine. The door opened again, and an aide came in carrying a tray.
"Dr. Sam says you get breakfast, Mrs. Buckley. Glad to see you awake. I"m Chrissy. I went to school with Jill."
Nora smiled. "Of course, I remember you. Cheerleader, right?"
Chrissy nodded. "Yep. Then motherhood too early. I"m going to school now to get my R.N. My mom looks after Jason."
"Dr. Sam sure left in a hurry," Nora probed gently.
"It"s something big, but I don"t know what," the aide replied. "My brother"s an EMT with the cops, and he got called out just after six a.m. Enjoy your breakfast, now."
Sam Seligmann"s mind, however, was on the telephone call he had just received from his wife. "Come quick," Rina had said. The cops are all over Ansley Court, Sam. Heidi"s pressing charges, and Jeff is raising b.l.o.o.d.y h.e.l.l." He reached home in record time to find the street cordoned off. "I"m Dr. Seligmann," he said, holding his ID out for the emergency worker to see. "I live here. Number 200." He was waved through, and parking in his drive, he got out and ran across the street.
"Hey, Dr. Sam," the cop in front of the house said.
"What"s happened," Sam Seligmann asked.
"Looks like Mr. Buckley beat up the girlfriend early this morning, although he claims he hardly touched her. She"s over at the Johnsons" now. Pretty kid. What she sees in him I don"t know, anyway he"s barricaded himself in the house. They"re trying to talk him out now. You don"t know if he has any weapons, do you?"
"No," Sam said. "He"s not the type. Who"s in charge here?"
"Lieutenant Barker," the cop said. "He"s the bald-headed guy over there with the p.i.s.sed-off look."
"Thanks," Sam replied, and walked over to where the police lieutenant stood. "Lieutenant? I"m Dr. Sam Seligmann, Mr. Buckley"s neighbor. Is there some way in which I can help?"
"Can you talk that a.s.shole inside outside, Doc?" Lieutenant Barker asked irritably. "d.a.m.n, this is no big frigging deal. The guy beat up his girlfriend. She"s pressing charges. I have to arrest him, and now he"s adding resisting arrest, and G.o.d knows what else, to the charges."
"I have his cell number," Dr. Sam said, trying not to laugh.
"Think he"s got it on?" the cop asked.
"He always has it on," Dr. Sam said dryly. "He"s an important man in his business." He pulled his own cell from his pocket and punched in the number.
"He"s a jerk, as far as I"m concerned," Lieutenant Barker said.
"Jeff? It"s Dr. Sam. Will you please come out? No one is going to hurt you, and you"re just adding charges to the ones Heidi is filing against you." He listened. "Hang on a minute, and I"ll tell him." Turning to the police lieutenant, Dr. Sam said, "He says he"s not coming out until he speaks with his lawyer."
"And when the h.e.l.l is that going to be?" the cop demanded. "You tell him to get his a.s.s out here now. He can call his lawyer from the station."
"Jeff, listen, you can call Kramer from the station. The whole neighborhood is in an uproar, and the local news trucks are already beginning to arrive on the scene. You"ve taken a simple matter and turned it into a spectacle worthy of P. T. Barnum. For G.o.d"s sakes, think of your reputation, and that of your firm."
"Ask him if he wants his front door broken down," the cop said.
"Jeff, listen to me. How about if Lieutenant Barker and I come in with a couple patrolmen, okay? I"ll go with you to the station house." He listened, and nodded. "Alright, Jeff. Just the lieutenant, two cops, and me. I"ll tell him." He ended the call.
"Thanks, Doc," the lieutenant said.
"He says he wants time to get dressed once you"re inside," Dr. Sam said.
"No problem. I hope you"re not a good friend of this guy. He"s a real piece of work, if you don"t mind my saying so. Wife in the nursing home unconscious, and he"s bringing the girlfriend out from the city to sleep in her bed. A real sweetheart, this guy."
"You won"t get any argument from the others here on the court," Dr. Sam said. "It"s Nora we all love. Jeff? A real putz."
"Funny how the wife was found like that, isn"t it?" the cop noted.
"I"m Nora"s doctor, Lieutenant. When she was found, there was absolutely no sign of any injury, internally or externally. She was in a locked house and there was no sign that anyone other than Nora Buckley had been or was in the place."
"What do you think the girl sees in him?" the cop continued, curious, and obviously anxious for a little inside information.
"Money. Power. A stepping-stone for her career," Dr. Sam replied. "Listen, when we get inside, can I talk to Jeff?" His cell rang, playing the theme from the "Peanuts" Christmas special. "Dr. Sam. Okay." He turned to the cop, who was grinning.
"I like "Peanuts" too," the police lieutenant said.
"Jeff says come in now," Dr. Sam replied. "You didn"t answer my question. Can I talk to him?"
They walked to the front door, and it swung open. Jeff Buckley was in pajamas and his robe. He said nothing.
"My men will escort you upstairs to dress, Mr. Buckley. When you come back down, I"m going to read you your rights. Okay?"
Jeff nodded. He was pale, and looked a little flushed to the doctor.
Sam Seligmann reached out and took the man"s wrist. "A little fast. Calm down, Jeff. You"re only upsetting yourself."
"I left a message on Kramer"s voice mail. Why hasn"t he gotten back to me?" Jeff said to no one in particular.
"Because he isn"t up yet maybe?" the doctor replied. "Get dressed, Jeff. You"ll feel better when you do."
"What the h.e.l.l are my partners going to say about this? That d.a.m.ned little b.i.t.c.h has made one h.e.l.l of a mess for me," Jeff whined.
"Mr. Buckley, please go upstairs now. Or would you prefer to go to the station in your pajamas? I don"t give a d.a.m.n personally, but either way in ten minutes you"re out of here, sir. But I think you would prefer to be seen at your best," the lieutenant noted.
Jeff turned and, escorted by the two patrolmen, went upstairs.
The other two men walked into the living room and sat down.
"You can talk to him when he"s dressed, and before we take him out of here," Lieutenant Barker said.
They sat in silence for a few minutes, and then Jeff came back into the room with the two patrolmen. He was dressed in a dark pinstriped suit with a white shirt, and a dark patterned tie. A cashmere coat was over his shoulders. He was every inch the prominent businessman.
"He"s ready to go, sir," one of the uniforms said.
The lieutenant stood up, and came over to stand in front of Jeff. "Jeffrey Buckley, I arrest you for the a.s.sault and battery, with intent to do harm, of Heidi Millar. You have the right to remain silent. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you. Do you understand these rights as they have been outlined to you?"
"She"s make a big thing of this," Jeff said. "If I could just speak to her."
"Sir, do you understand your rights?" the lieutenant persisted. "Please answer yes or no."
"Yes, yes, I understand. Do you think I"m an idiot like the lowlifes you obviously consort with daily? I want to speak with my attorney!" Jeff was beginning to recover from his initial shock.
"I am going to give Dr. Sam a moment to speak with you, Mr. Buckley, and then we are going to leave your house, and you will be driven to the police station."
He stepped from the room to give the two men some privacy.
"You"re making a f.u.c.king big deal out of nothing. So I slapped the b.i.t.c.h. She had it coming, d.a.m.nit!" Jeff said angrily. Then he turned to the doctor.
"I came to tell you that your wife woke up this morning. She"s fine. I plan on releasing her from Sh.o.r.ecrest tomorrow, and she can come home."
"She"s not coming here," Jeff said nastily. "The house is going on the market in another month."
"The house is hers until then, you b.a.s.t.a.r.d," the doctor snapped. "And it"s my understanding that she never signed the settlement, Jeff. Until she does, you"re stuck. d.a.m.nit, Nora has recovered from whatever felled her, and instead of being relieved, you"re p.i.s.sed. What the h.e.l.l is the matter with you? What did that nice woman ever do to you to make you so vindictive against her?"
"She"s alive," Jeff responded angrily. "Why couldn"t she have died?"
Lt. Barker gripped Jeff by the arm. "Let"s go, Mr. Buckley," he said.
Jeff pulled away. "I"m not going anywhere with you until I speak with my attorney," he snarled.
"I told you, after you"re booked you get a phone call," Lieutenant Barker said. "I"m trying to do this in a way that won"t embarra.s.s you, sir. But if you refuse to cooperate, I"m going to have to cuff you."
"Go to h.e.l.l!" Jeff yelled, and then to his astonishment he found himself slammed facedown into the couch. His arms were dragged behind him. He tried to struggle, but his efforts were futile. He felt the metal cuffs enclosing his wrists. Heard the snap of them locking. Then he was yanked to his feet again. Enraged, he shouted, "This is police brutality. I"ll have your d.a.m.ned badge for this! Dr. Seligmann is a witness!"
"What are you talking about?" Sam said, a small smile flitting over his lips. "I didn"t see any police brutality. I saw a man resisting arrest."
"You kike b.a.s.t.a.r.d!" Jeff was practically screaming now, and his lips were flecked with foam.
"Let"s go, Mr. Buckley," the police lieutenant said sternly. He was embarra.s.sed by his prisoner"s slurs on Sam Seligmann. Sam was the town doctor. Everyone liked him. He was a good man. What kind of thing was that for this jerk to say to him? He pushed Jeff forward a little harder than he might have under other circ.u.mstances.
Jeff whirled about, and his head b.u.t.ted the detective hard. "I want my lawyer!"
Two uniforms jumped forward and, each taking an arm, hustled Jeff Buckley from his house past a line of flashing cameras, and into a waiting police car. Left to regain his composure and his dignity, Lieutenant Barker stood up from the couch where he had landed.
"Are you alright?" the doctor asked him.
"I think he bruised my ego," the lieutenant said with a wry grin. "Nah, he just took the wind out of me. I didn"t expect such violence from the guy."
"He"s a man used to getting his own way, and used to having people do what he tells them to do. His wife really surprised him when she didn"t cave easily to the divorce. He was tossing her out of her house. Cutting his kids off so they had no college tuition at the last moment, and he didn"t want to pay alimony, or support for the younger kid," the doctor explained. "To his surprise, she got tough with him."
"Yeah, a woman will where her home and her kids are concerned. Nice guy, your neighbor. Wanted everything for himself, and the young girlfriend. Hey, wasn"t his kid the high school"s star soccer player the last two years? My kid really admired him. Went out for soccer just because of J. J. Buckley. Made junior varsity this year," the detective said proudly. "And he wouldn"t help the kid go to college. What a s.h.i.t!"
"J. J. got a scholarship," the doctor said.
"Well, I better take my prisoner down to the station and book him. You"ll tell the wife? I hate stuff like this, and h.e.l.l, you"re a friend, right?"
Sam Seligmann nodded. "I"ll tell Nora," he said.
The two men went their separate ways: Lieutenant Barker back to the Egret Pointe station house, Sam Seligmann across the street to his house, where he discovered his neighbors all gathered in the kitchen drinking coffee and eating Krispy Kremes. He laughed. He couldn"t help it. "Rina! Rina!" he said to his wife.