Ring in Mine #3: Nephi and Jerome: Chapter 66
I had to post this one quickly after 65.
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Chapter 66
"Andy, when is my dad coming? Tomorrow is our last day at Disneyland." Hugo wanted to share Disney with his dad.
Adam's Tellerson security thought before answering. "I haven't heard from your dad yet. Maybe we should go to Universal tomorrow and save our last day at Disney for when your dad joins us."
Kimmie listened to Hugo read and then his prayers. When she returned to the suite's sitting area she found Andy on the phone.
"He called when he arrived and we haven't heard from him since." Andy listened.
"I can't follow up. I'm with Adam's son." The pause was longer this time.
Andy's face glowed with anger as he hung up. He shuffled through plastic cards in his wallet until he found the number he needed.
"Mrs. Montrose, I realized it's late on the east coast, but we've lost track of Adam." Andy filled in the few details he knew. "The head of security isn't willing to commit the resources to send someone to check on him."
Belinda hit roadblocks similar to Andy's. She had two options left. She played her highest card first. With her photographic memory she didn't need to search her Rolodex on her night stand.
"I am Mr. Tellerson's assistant, Belinda Montrose. I need to speak with him for a moment. It is urgent."
With a week of therapy since his latest meltdown Jerome regretted his words with Adam and wanted little more than having his man by his side. He listened growing more irritated as the conversation continued. Jerome's agitation drew his keeper's attention. She set her novel down, ready to call for help.
Jerome dialed the 800 number Adam made him memorize and practice dialing, even in the dark.
After identifying himself by name and password, Jerome moved to the business at hand. "Route this to security headquarters and to whatever office is closest to Spokane, Washington. Stay on the line. I want this called recorded." In less than a minute two voices identified themselves.
"You have twenty-four hours to locate Adam Tellerson, use whatever resources necessary."
"I will need to run this by my superior for approval. It may take a while to reach him." Jerome could tell he was being put off.
"For the next 24 hours you are the head of security. You have one day to show what you can do. You have carte blanche. Send this to all offices with my approval. I don't want to call in a private company. Meet me in Spokane.
With security on the case Jerome addressed his initial contact. "Where are the jets?"
After some give and take, a chartered plane would be at the airport within the hour. Jerome with his security and a nurse were heading to Spokane. Jerome paced back-and-forth driving everyone else crazy.
"Trace, have you heard anything?"
"Not in the last ten minutes." Trace, Jerome's personal security understood his boss's concern. "You've been up all night. Why don't you close your eyes?"
"I can't. What if something's happened to him?"
Trace thought of a solution and made a short call. Three hours later there was a knock on the hotel room's door.
"Is that him?" Jerome rushed to the door. He was disappointed to find Marshall instead of Adam.
"Surprise!" Jerry and Skip jumped out from either side of the door. After a second to process, Jerome dropped to his knees hugging his boys.
"We're a destruction." Jerry announced.
"A distraction." Skip corrected his new brother.
Marshall had explained to the boys why they were here on the plane. "Dad, I'm tired after the trip. Will you take a nap with me?"
"Yeah, the plane made me tired too." Jerome tried hard not to laugh at Skip's cheesy yawn. Sandwiched between his boys Jerome closed his eyes.
Hugo overheard Andy and Kimmie. "At least someone is looking for him. Do we wait to tell Hugo?"
"If something has happened to my dad, tell me now."
"Why do you think something has happened to Adam?" Kimmie asked.
Hugo shook his head. "Even when they were hiding at the cabin dad called every other night. It's been almost a week."
Andy made the call. "Adam met with the undertaker and left the same day. No one has seen him since. Jerome is in Spokane waiting for any news."
"I'm glad dad Jerome cares again. When do we leave?"
"We were going to Universal today." Andy answered.
"I can't have fun if my dad is in trouble. I need to be with Jerome." Hugo had learned calling them both dad when talking to others caused confusion. Adam was always dad. With others he often used Jerome's given name.
"We don't have tickets." Kimmie was new to the family. Hugo had watched his dad over the past weeks. He pulled out his wallet and found the important numbers card Adam had given him. He pushed the speakerphone button and dialed.
"Hi Belinda. Dad said not to bother you unless it is an emergency. I need to be with Jerome."
"I've been waiting for your call. A car will pick you up in about half an hour. Your flight is in two hours. I've settled the bill with the hotel. I agree Jerome needs you."
Hugo looked smug as he pulled his suitcase from the closet. "Aren't you coming with me?"
Fifteen minutes later a bell boy knocked on the door. "Mr. Tellerson your car is here."
He seemed surprised when the boy answered and took the lead. He looked to Andy.
"The young man is Mr. Tellerson. We are his companions."
Hugo continued to take the lead at the airport. They had an hour's wait. "Where is the First Class Lounge?" Hugo observed the world around him and remembered what his dad had done at the airport.
"We aren't flying first class." Andy pointed out.
When the attendant asked to see their boarding passes, Hugo handed her his Tellerson ID. "Welcome Mr. Tellerson, which flight are you on?"
After showing her his ticket she promised to let him know when the plane was boarding. Hugo made a beeline to the brunch buffet. "What? I didn't have breakfast!"
While they were eating Andy pulled his ID from his wallet and compared it to Hugo's. Hugo's had a row of symbols along the bottom missing on Andy's.
"Mr. Tellerson, there has been a cancellation in first class. Would you like to upgrade?" The uniformed attendant asked.
When he learned there was only one seat available, Hugo chose to stay with Kimmie and Andy. Hugo claimed the window seat though. They spent the hour and a half layover in Salt Lake in the First Class lounge enjoying the lunch buffet. Hugo concentrated on the desserts. Andy called home office for news about Adam.
It did not surprise Jerome when he opened the door finding Hugo on the other side. He dropped to one knee and hugged his oldest boy.
`It's sad dad had to disappear to remind you how much you love him." Hugo tried looking serious, but with the first tickle Hugo broke down in giggles. Jerry came to his brother's aid. Skip wasn't far behind.
"Stop! Please stop!" Jerome cried out in mirth. This was the therapy he needed most right now.
Hugo stopped for a moment. "Say it or we don't stop."
Jerome yelled, "Uncle!" Hugo renewed the onslaught.
"I was stupid to tell Adam to go away!"
"Close enough." Hugo hugged his dad. Jerry and Skip joined in. A knock at the door brought the love fest to a screeching halt. The acting head of Tellerson security stood at the door.
"A hiker found Mr. Tellerson's rental car in a ravine in Montana." Jerome slumped. Only leaning on Hugo kept him vertical. "Mr. Tellerson was not in the car. The only footprints belonged to the hiker. There were no skid marks where the car went over. We are working on the assumption someone pushed it over the edge."
"So what does all that mean?" Jerome asked.
Another gentleman stepped to the door. "It means this has crossed state lines and we are taking over the investigation." He showed his FBI identification. "The director is taking a personal interest in this case and we are treating this as an abduction giving us jurisdiction."
The police force, a sheriff and a single deputy, of Adam's hometown had thrown obstacles in the way of the Tellerson investigation, refusing to share any information. They insisted Adam must have hooked up with another `faggot' and left the state. "If he had done any queer things in our jurisdiction, he'd be rotting in a cell."
The FBI considered time to be a critical factor. Adam could be dead or lying somewhere unable to make it to help. Adam wouldn't be the first homosexual or person of color to disappear or come to a bad end in that part of Idaho. The agent explained their team was expanding the search and collecting data from multiple agencies. The items being charged to Adam's card didn't fit the pattern of someone dropping out of sight. All were things that could be converted to cash.
Jerome's 24 hour deadline had 15 minutes left when the phone rang. Trace put it on speakerphone.
"Mr. Tellerson, we found him." Jerome recognized his temporary head of security's voice.
"Where is he?" Jerome hoped he was alive.
"Just a minute sir, I called the FBI when we first suspected we had located Mr. Tellerson. I waited until their confirmation before calling" The entire group in the hotel room listened to the organized chaos on the other end.
"Sorry sir, he's alive but in bad shape. The smaller jet is at the airport ready to transport you to Missoula, Montana. He is in Saint Patrick's Hospital. I'll arrange for rooms at the nearest hotel. I've spread the story he is your fraternal twin. That should solve any access problems at the hospital.
"Thank you for making the arrangements. When things calm down we will look at some upward mobility options." Andy took care of the hotel while everyone shoved things into suitcases.
Besides Jerome, his kids and their companions, a small group of field investigators from Tellerson filled the plane. The 200 mile flight ended almost as the family finished the sandwiches provided by the flight attendant. Jerome bombarded her with the question "How much longer?" at least five times during the short flight.
Trace whisked Jerome to the hospital while the rest of their party headed for the hotel. The doctor insisted talking with Jerome before allowing him to see his `brother.'
"From his injuries, the people who attacked your brother hadn't planned on him surviving. We've repaired the internal damage the best we can for now. We won't know of any cognitive impairments until he wakes. Reconstructive surgery will be necessary." The doctor had been briefed on Jerome's appearance. He managed not to stare at the scars on his face.
"Mr. Tellerson." Jerome recognized a voice behind him. Without a second thought, Jerome turned and hugged his temporary head of security. The man wisely returned the hug.
"Mr. Tellerson, before you go in, I would like you to meet the man responsible for your `brother' being in the hospital instead of the morgue."
It was out of place, but Jerome hugged the uniformed officer.
"I have to get back to work, but I wanted to tell you about finding your partner." Jerome looked at his head of security.
"I didn't say anything."
The officer interrupted. "No one said anything and your secret is safe. My story might help you understand. I'm still a little confused and I was there."
My assignment was to patrol I-90 from Missoula to the Montana-Idaho border. I had settled in monitoring the speed of traffic and had just cited a car with four young men going ten miles an hour over the speed limit. The car's registration was current and belonged to a rental car company based in Washington. The driver's Idaho license was current and clean. Dispatch had nothing on file for either so I issued the ticket and they continued toward Missoula at a reasonable speed.
A call came in from dispatch. I didn't recognize the man's voice. An accident with injuries had been reported miles away. I was the closest car available. Before I reached the location dispatch cancelled the call.
I turned around and headed back toward the freeway. I saw the car from earlier at a pull- out. The boys waved and I continued toward the interstate.
I felt I should turn around and check on the boys, but needed to get back to my assignment. My car died less than half a mile down the road. I tried but it wouldn't start. As plain as you can hear me now, I heard a voice. `You can turn around or sit here and wait for a tow truck.' I assumed it was dispatch, since it was the same voice as earlier.
I turned around and used the siren. As I approached the pull-out the car peeled out, leaving a bloody body.
I could chase the car but then there would be no chance for the victim. I checked for vitals and called for an air ambulance. It was in route to the hospital and was only minutes away.
If I hadn't arrived when I did, they would have finished what they had started and there would be another unidentified body found by the roadside. We've tried to follow up with the police in Idaho, but they have been very uncooperative.
The officer had not taken the opportunity to check on the person he had saved. There was an ongoing investigation why the officer had strayed from the freeway. Dispatch had no record of any of the radio conversations. Multiple officers had come to his defense. The first call had come over an open channel.
An agent from the National Security Agency took responsibility for the messages. It had something to do with a new domestic terrorist group based in Hayden. When the department tried to follow up, the NSA denied any knowledge of the events or the agent, but that is what everyone expected them to do.
Jerome offered to reward the young officer, but he turned it down. It was all in the line of duty.
"I want to know what side of the bed he gets up on." Jerome stated. All of Tellerson Security knew what the phrase meant. The temporary head of security had foreseen this directive.
"He gets up on the left hand side of the bed. He has been on the force for four years. Has a wife, mortgage and three children. The youngest had a rough start in life. They struggle to pay the medical bills."
"Contact Mrs. Montrose. I want those medical bills paid and a fund for future bills. College funds for the children would be appropriate." The doctors were ready for Jerome.
Jerome appreciated the doctor's briefing of Adam's condition. It prepared him for what he would find but nothing could prepare Jerome for the flashback of Nephi lying in bed in a coma. Jerome broke into uncontrollable tears. Not sure how to help his boss, Trace called Marshall at the hotel.
"The hospital is named St. Patrick's. Get Jerome to the chapel. Light a candle and let him pray."
"He's from Utah. Isn't he a Mormon?" Trace asked.
"Jerome is a child of God, and that is who he needs right now. The denomination isn't important. If you had to call him anything, you would call him a Samaritan." Marshall explained. "I am on my way."
An orderly helped Jerome into a wheelchair. Arriving at the chapel, Trace wasn't sure how to do the whole candle thing. The hotel was close. Jerry arrived and handed Trace a twenty dollar bill. "Light two candles. Put the money in the donation box."
Trace followed Jerry's instructions. Jerry knelt next to his father and in the innocence of youth Jerry prayed aloud.
"Father in Heaven, thank you for helping us find my dad, Adam. Thank you for all our blessings. Please have Jesus watch over my dads and help them get better. They are the bestest dads except for You. Amen."
Jerome turned and hugged his son. "Thank you for reminding me what's important."
"That's what I do, remind you of important things like ice cream and brownies." Jerome hugged his boy again. "Let's go see dad."
It was a sad commentary on Jerry's short life that he took Adam's appearance in stride. "Dad, it's not so bad. He doesn't have tubes in his nose and mouth, so he's breathing. Look at his heart beeps. He just needs to wake up." Jerry's accurate summation of Adam's condition surprised the nurse.
"I need to read to dad and you need to sing to him. Daddy Nephi said he could hear us."
Jerry left his dad to talk with Adam. "I'll be back tomorrow after breakfast with my books."
Jerome owned none of this old, established medical institution. When visiting hours were over the staff told Jerome he would have to return the next day. They relented and gave him time to sing to his man. In the hallway a young intern stopped Jerome as he left. "You're that new singer on the radio. Is that him, the guy you sing to?" Jerome nodded.
His wealth carried little weight here but Jerome, the performer, was an instant celebrity. The intern put in a good word with the floor's head nurse. For the cost of a song and a few autographs, Jerome sat with Adam through the night.
The staff had saved his man, but Jerome still hated hospitals. As soon as possible, Jerome would move Adam to the reconstructive surgeons at the facility Jerome had just left. The specialist team were ready to work on Jerome. They could recover together.
Jerome woke many times during the night, every time Adam made a sound. Jerome's eyes popped open. The nurse said it was a good sign. At four o'clock Jerome couldn't go back to sleep.
"My beloved come back to me." This is so hard having to do this again. Jerome wanted to hold Adam's bandaged hands. The heel of a cowboy boot can do a number on the bones in a hand.
Jerome sang every sappy, sentimental love song he knew. He started softly but as he got into the music he grew louder unaware of the early medical team standing in the doorway.
"If I could put time in a bottle..." Jerome began. His eyes closed as he remembered the good times with his man. The room filled with a haunting sadness as Jerome realized he may have to spend his life without either of his loves.
Jerome broke into uncontrollable sobs almost missing the raspy request to sing it again. Jerome looked into his lover's eyes. He searched for a patch of bare skin to kiss. He pushed gauze out of the way and kissed a shoulder.
"Please." Adam asked
Instead of a funeral dirge the song was now an anthem of celebration. A nurse stepped in with a cup and a straw when Jerome finished. She regulated Adam's drinking.
"I love you." Adam's voice was less raspy.
Jerome took the opportunity of Adam's recovering voice to tell his man how much he loved him and how stupid he had been. Jerome shared the story of how the Highway Patrol Officer found him and Andy's story of Hugo arranging for the flight to Spokane.
"We have smart children. I don't know how bright the rest of them are." Adam struggled to speak. "How can I wake up and be so tired? Don't worry, I'm just sleeping. An angel named Michael pushed me out of heaven and told me not to come back until I finished my task on earth." Adam closed his eyes.
Should Jerome call the hotel, or let them sleep at least until 6:00. He had to tell someone. Jerome did the math and called Belinda.
"He woke up and still loves me. Sorry if I woke you. I had to tell someone." Jerome was excited as a kid on Christmas morning. "Arrange for a room at the medical center in Palm Springs."
Belinda promised to make all the arrangements, pleased that Jerome would call her with the news. Jerome's restless night caught up with him. Hugo and Marshall found Jerome asleep, still in the chair with his head leaning on Adam's bed.
"Jerome's asleep. Maybe we should wait outside." Marshall suggested.
"Hugo, how was Disneyland?" Hugo's eyes glowed hearing his dad's voice.
"You're awake. Disneyland would have been more fun with you there." Hugo examined his dad. "Where can I touch?"
"The cast on my arm should be fine." Marshall found another chair and Hugo told his dad all about Disneyland and what Hugo wanted to show him when Adam was better. Jerome listened not wanting to intrude on Hugo's time with his dad.
Jerome must not have been as sneaky as he thought he had been. Hugo stood and hugged his other dad from behind. "I know you are going away to have dad put back together. I want to be close enough I can visit every day. We all miss our dads."
The doctor stepped in. "I don't want to interrupt your reunion, but now Mr. Tellerson is awake, we need to do the doctor thing. Why don't you get breakfast."
The staff poked, prodded and x-rayed Adam. They even looked inside with the new ultrasound technology. The doctor sat in a darkened room with the radiologist reviewing the test results when the door opened and a gentleman stepped in uninvited.
"How may I help you?" The resident physician asked the interloper. The visitor introduced himself and handed the gentlemen his business card. He was well known as one of the foremost reconstructive orthopedic surgeons in the nation. The men reviewed the images with their esteemed colleague.
"You've done a great job saving his life and putting Mr. Tellerson back together on the inside. As soon as he is stable we will transport him to the center in Palm Springs where our team will put him together on the outside.
Jerry and Skip had their chance to talk with Adam after lunch. After dinner, even Jerome's singing wasn't enough to break the rules two nights in a row.
"The patient needs his rest." The doctor insisted. A machine kept Adam's pain meds at a constant level administered through the IV. The nurse added a little something and Adam fell asleep.
Adam slept well until midnight when the nurse checked his vitals. If they wanted patients to sleep, why did they wake them in the middle of the night? Adam couldn't get back to sleep. The pain had increased, but the nurse insisted he had all the pain meds allowed. He cried, praying for some relief. Unseen Qayin stood in the corner and cried with him.
"Father do something." Adam called upon his God.
Qayin looked heavenward. "Hevel, I have reached my limits. I interceded with the patrol officer when I was sent to bring Adam home. There are rules we have to follow. I am not The Father or our Elder Brother."
Adam's sobs tore at Qayin's heart. Maybe he was too close to the situation. It didn't take long to find a local Bishop and his brother in the delivery waiting room.
"The patient in room 375 needs you." Qayin whispered into their spiritual ears. "The baby will not arrive before you get back." It took three more promptings before they stood and looked for room 375.
They anointed Adam's head with consecrated oil and laid their hands upon his head. The bishop called Adam not by the name on the chart, but by the name Qayin whispered into his ear. The blessing wasn't going where Qayin wanted. He whispered into the Bishop's ear.
"I beseech he who died for our sins, lend your comforting spirit to this, your younger brother in need." The man closed in the name of the same older brother.
The men returned to the waiting room. Five minutes later the nurse announced the mother and daughter were doing fine. The father had hit his head when he passed out and appeared holding an ice bag the point of contact.
Adam settled into a deep sleep, the pain now gone.
"Qayin, you have done well tonight. You may rest. Everyone has forgiven you but yourself. Is it not time?"
"But, I was my brother's keeper. If I had been there as I should have been, he wouldn't have died."
The pierced hands clasped Qayin's. "Rest in peace for now, little brother. You have brought many great works of my Father's plan to fruition in your self-assigned role as your brother's keeper." The pierced hand closed Qayin's eyelids, and for the first time in millennia he rested.
His older brother gathered Adam's soul into his arms. Adam slept in the arms of his shepherd. In the morning Adam did not remember the pain only the peace of being loved.