Chapter 38 : Left For Dead
George could feel himself being dragged out of the car. Already dazed, he was plunged into further confusion. He was certain people being rescued from an accident scene weren’t handled in such a manner. That had been an accident, hadn’t it? He yelled as he was dragged through the shattered glass and onto the asphalt. He looked up, seeing the silhouette of a man towering menacingly over him, the fading sun directly behind him.
“The boss says, hi,” he heard the voice say before a meaty fist came crashing into his face. He felt his nose break as another fist came down on to his face.
George struggled to stay conscious, genuinely afraid for his life for the first time in a long time. Richard Jackson’s boys were still on the loose, and he was about to be killed because of bad intel. He could feel himself being dragged again, by two strong arms this time, and he was unable to struggle. His new location shaded him from the sun and he guessed he must have been moved into an ally of sorts. Great, he thought, privacy to die.
He barely had time to complete the thought as a booted foot struck his ribs. He felt the air whoosh out of his lungs as another kick landed on his chest. It wasn’t going to be a quick execution, he surmised. As kick after blow landed on him, he could think of only one person; Isla, his love and his light. His death would destroy her, especially in this manner. He wished he could warn her that the men from last night were after her, not him. He was sure now. He wished he could see her smile again, kiss those lips one more time. He mourned the years they would never have together; the children he had always wanted they would never get to name.
As his consciousness deserted him, George’s mind chose to focus on the happy times; the last few weeks of undiluted joy and satisfaction loving Isla. As he faded away, he saw her reach out to him.
“Isla…” he whispered one last time, the darkness engulfing him.
****
"If I am stupid, what would that make you?" Isla read. She looked over to were George lay, a small smile on her face. "That would make you the father of a stupid person, is it not?" She was animated, reading a chapter from her recent novel as she would to a five-year-old. "Sounds like the kind of witty reply you can give, George." She giggled, but the sound died out fast, because George wasn't laughing with her. He wasn't even moving on the hospital bed he lay in.
George had been in a coma for two days.
She recalled the knock on her door that had changed everything for her. She had stared at the door for a full minute, apprehensive. “Ma’am?” a friendly voice had called out. “Cedar Hill City PD here. Please open up.”
Relieved, but still a tad cautious, she had opened up. Two policemen were at her door, one in his forties, streaks of grey in his hair, and the other sandy-haired in his thirties. “Greetings, ma’am,” he greeted warmly, a hint of worry in his eyes. “I am Officer Crawley and here with me is my partner, Officer Ferdinand.” She had nodded, wishing they would just get it over with. There was a reason they were at her door. “We’ll need you to please come with us, ma’am.”
Her eyes narrowed in suspicion. Ferdinand, reading her body language correctly, moved to reassure her. “You’ve got to trust us. You must come with us.”
Isla was a bit short on trust right now, and the one man she had a bit of trust in wasn’t with her. Remembering his confession the previous night, she felt a flicker of doubt. However, she wasn’t about to antagonize the men whose hands her life practically lay in. “Very well,” she gave in, “but I am going to have to call George first. I don’t want him getting worried.”
The two officers had shared a panicked glance, and right there at that moment, Isla knew something was wrong. Terribly wrong. She folded her arms defensively, glaring at the officers. “I am not moving an inch,” she threatened, “till I am told what is going on.”
“There’s been an accident,” Officer William had started, and from that point, till she arrived at the hospital, Isla’s world was a haze.
She was dragged back to the present by the figure at the door. Her heart leapt for joy as Amaka walked in quietly. Till then, she hadn’t realized how much she had needed to see a familiar face, a friend. Showing more emotion than she knew Amaka had ever seen her show, Isla hugged her tightly, crying quietly.
Amaka quickly took to rubbing her back affectionately while she stared at the man a few feet away, lying motionless. She was sad that the first time she got to meet the man who was responsible for her friend and boss’ recent cheerful demeanor, he was in a hospital bed.
Isla pulled herself together, recalling Dr. Chang’s warning that though he was in a coma, he could hear her and was very likely aware of his surroundings. Cheerful sounds and laughter were therefore recommended to tempt him back into consciousness. She had held it together pretty well up until Amaka had stepped in.
Eager to make up for her slip, she smiled widely at Amaka. “Great to see you. Thank you for coming.
Before Amaka could respond, the monitor connected to George went crazy, beeping rapidly. Isla’s eyes widened in fear, and she pushed away from Amaka to rush to the door, screaming, "Nurse!"