CHAPTER 55
Alexander’s heart pounded as he called out for Margaret, frantically searching through each room of their home. “Margaret!” Alexander yelled, his voice echoing through the empty halls. Panic set in as he realized she wasn’t there.
Alexander grabbed his phone and dialed Mr Alex. “Is Margaret with you?” Alexander asked, desperation clear in his voice.
Mr Alex sounded unfazed. “No, I haven’t seen her. I hope she hasn’t done anything stupid again. You know how she can be. You need to put her in her place sometimes.”
“Why are you like this?” Alexander snapped, then angrily ended the call.
Next, he called Sandra, Margaret’s best friend. “Sandra, do you know where Margaret is?”
Sandra’s voice was nonchalant. “No, I haven’t heard from her. Why?”
“Never mind,” Alexander hissed, ending the call abruptly. His mind raced until he remembered the house he had bought near Hudson River Park. Without hesitation, he grabbed his keys and sped off.
When Alexander arrived at the apartment building, a maze of ambulances and police vehicles blocked the usual route. He took an alternate path to reach the building quickly. Once inside, Alexander rushed to the elevator and pressed the button for Margaret’s floor. The doors opened, and he sprinted down the hall to her apartment.
“Margaret!” he called out desperately as he threw open the door and began searching every room, even peering into the toilet. Panic started to set in as the minutes ticked by with no sign of her.
Alexander was overwhelmed by dread. He pulled out his phone and called his manager. “I need you to go to the police station and report Margaret missing. I’m on my way there now,” he said, his voice shaking.
After ending the call, he sank into a nearby chair, rubbing his face with his hands and taking deep, shaky breaths. “Come on, calm down. There’s got to be something I’m missing,” he muttered to himself, trying to steady his racing heart. “Think. Think clearly. You need to focus.”
An idea suddenly popped into Alexander’s head. He got up ran to his car and drove off, he noticed the cluster of ambulances and police vehicles outside the Greenwich Hotel. He slowed down, a mix of curiosity and fear gripping him.
Suddenly, he saw a familiar watch on the wrist of a person the paramedics were loading into the ambulance. His heart stopped.
He parked his car haphazardly and ran toward the ambulance, hoping to see who it was. “Move back, sir,” a paramedic ordered, blocking his view.
Frustrated, Alexander dashed into the hotel. At the reception, he demanded, “Who was that? The person being taken away by ambulance?”
The receptionist checked the database and replied, “His name is Victor.”
Alexander visibly relaxed. “Thank God,” he muttered, turning to leave.
As he headed out, he saw Caisse seated in the corner, crying hysterically and calling Andrew’s name. Hearing Andrew’s name made Alexander realize that one person was already in the ambulance and another was on their way to the hospital. He ran outside, but the ambulance had already left.
Alexander ran up to a nearby police officer. “Who were those people?” he asked urgently.
The officer replied, “We have identified one as Victor. The second person is still unknown.”
Just then, Caisse sprinted over to the police. “His name is Andrew!” she cried.
“How do you know that?” one officer asked.
Caisse fumbled in her pocket and then ran back to the desk. She returned holding Andrew’s contact card and thrust it forward. “Andrew slipped this into my hand when he hugged me,” she said, tears streaming down her face.
Alexander’s eyes widened in horror as he recognized the card. “No,” he whispered. It was indeed Andrew’s card, his best friend.
Alexander fell to the ground, clutching his chest as the weight of the revelation hit him. The police officers rushed to his side, their voices filled with concern. “Do you know the man?” one of them asked.
Alexander tried to speak, but his voice was tight and cracking. Finally, he managed to say, “He’s my best friend,” before shouting, “What hospital did they go to?”
The officer quickly replied, “Riverside General Hospital.”
Gathering all his strength, Alexander sprinted to his car and drove off.
Alexander fumbled with his phone as he sped toward Riverside General Hospital, his hands shaking uncontrollably. He dialed Andrew’s dad, Mr. David, and waited through the ringing.
“Hello?” Mr. David’s voice came through, calm but concerned.
“Mr. David, this is Alexander. I’m sorry to call you like this, but Andrew was just rushed to the emergency room. It’s critical. You need to come to the hospital as soon as possible,” Alexander said, trying to keep his voice steady but failing to hide the desperation.
Mr. David’s calm demeanor faltered. “What? I’m in Dallas right now for a business deal. It’s going to take time to get to New York.”
Alexander’s heart sank. “I understand, but it’s really urgent. I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
Mr. David took a deep breath. “Alright, I’ll cancel my meetings and take the next flight back to New York. I should be there as soon as I can. Just make sure you keep me updated.”
“Of course,” Alexander said, his voice cracking. “I’ll let you know what happens.”
As the call ended, Alexander fought back tears, his focus shifting to the road. He sped through traffic, a sense of urgency burning in his chest. The minutes felt like hours as he navigated the city streets, praying he would make it to the hospital in time.
He finally arrived at Riverside General Hospital in a blur of panic and urgency, rushing to the emergency room. “Where are the two men that were just rushed in?” he asked the nurse at the desk.
The nurse checked her records and pointed him towards the emergency room, where the “Code Blue” was lit. Alexander sat down, waiting anxiously and trying to control his rising panic.
When the doctor finally emerged, Alexander’s voice shook as he asked, “How is Andrew?”
The doctor shook his head solemnly, his face a mask of disappointment and exhaustion.
Tears welled up in Alexander’s eyes. “No, it can’t be,” he whispered. He felt as though his whole world was collapsing around him.