Nowhere to Hide

Romero's Final Attempt

Elizabeth was moved to a private room for the night. The doctor didn't find any abnormality in her x rays but said that since she passed out twice; once during the accident and again on the way in, he thought it best to keep her for observation. With everything she'd been through, Elizabeth was too exhausted to argue the point.

John said he had business to attend to, but he'll be back to pick her up in the morning. He also said he'd set up a security system so she can return home. John's fallen head over heels for her and wishes she wouldn't leave but realizes she'll be miserable if she stays.

Elizabeth glances at the monitors beside her. The nurse said she'd be back to hook her up, but she hopes she'll forget. "Trying to get

comfortable with all these wires hooked to me is impossible," Elizabeth complains.

"I know, honey, but I have to follow the doctor's orders." The nurse notices the disheartened look on her patient's face and adds. "I'll talk to the doctor, see what I can do."

Elizabeth pulls the covers, over-top her as she snuggles down in bed. With everything that's gone on and only having a few hours of sleep the night before, she's never been so tired in her life. This has been a hell of a day both good and bad.

She thought her friends would be furious when they found out what happened to the van. They were happy to hear she's alright and she'll be coming home soon. When Elizabeth voiced her concerns about her safety, Ned volunteered to stand guard outside her door. John insisted on a professional security system. Said he wouldn't be so worried about her.

It'll be so nice to be home again. I only wish John would come with me. She tried to convince herself her feeling is a mere infatuation, but deep in her heart, she knows it isn't true. This leaves Elizabeth torn between her old life and her feelings for him. She tried to talk herself into moving to the big city. She then remembers how miserable she was growing up. How often she dreamed of a quiet, peaceful life like the ones she saw on TV. She doesn't dare ask him to give up everything he knows and loves; close down a law firm he worked so hard to build to move to Berryville with her.

John claims he understands, promising to stay in touch and to visit her when he can. Elizabeth already knows how it'll go. Their relationship will be wonderful in the beginning and then slowly fizzle out. They'll talk once a week and then only once a month. Before long, their only communication will be on birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions.

Finding herself emotionally torn, Elizabeth asks for Thelma's advice. Her friend said if the romance was meant to be, it will be. She then recited an old quote. She went on to say fate always has a way of working itself out.

I hope Thelma is right about this, that it'll all turn out for the best. It pains Elizabeth's heart to think she might lose John for good but can't convince herself to take the big leap. Closing her eyes, Abby drifts off into a deep, peaceful sleep.

***

Manny's heart pounds in his chest; beads of sweat pop out across his forehead. He wipes the moisture away and then continues through the earth-toned corridor. There's always a risk with this type of job, more so now since he's on the cop's radar. I'll do this one simple job and leave the country a rich man, he reasons. His rationalization did little to calm his frayed nerves.

Manny punches a code into the keypad; the door clicks open. He slips into the employee locker room and glances around. Finding it's empty, he runs to the supply closet and grabs a pair of scrubs from the shelf. Then dashes to the bathroom to change. He's moving items to the scrub pockets when the hall door opens. Manny hears shuffling in the adjoining room.

"I can't believe someone would be stupid enough to put their pecker in a pool drain."

" I often wonder if people have a brain these days." The surgeon laughs.

"One man's stupidity is another's job security I suppose."

Bill recalls a few of his lavish vacations. "You're right about that." He chuckles. "Hey, John, want to grab a drink?"

"I have an early day tomorrow, so I better not. Maybe we can do it another time?"

"Sure, see you tomorrow."

" A few seconds later, Manny hears the door close. It opens and closes again.

"Now, to take care of business."

Avoiding the employee's watchful eyes, a tall thin man steps into Elizabeth's room. The visitor eases the door closed and then tiptoes to her bed. I'll leave the country a wealthy man. Manny smiles, continuing across the white tile floor.

The moonlight shines through the colorless blinds, silhouetting her angelic face. It's a shame we have to waste such an attractive broad. Gorgeous women have always been a big weakness for him. Manny is a real Casanova, but because of his big heart, his love for women he's often taken advantage of gives more than he gets. Romeo's words echo in his mind as he admires her natural beauty.

"She can send all of us to prison if she's not stopped."

It's either you or me. I'll be damned if I go upstate again, beautiful or not. Manny was recently released on parole after a five-year stint. He' knows he'll serve twenty with no possibility of an early release if he goes back. Pulling a syringe from his pocket, Manny removes the needle from the plastic piece. He's screwing the equipment into her IV when Elizabeth jerks her hand away. "I need to give you some medicine, honey. It'll help ease your pain," he explains. It'll ease all your pain. He smiles inwardly.

She glances up at him. "Oh, sorry." Cool air whips across her hand when she pushes it out from the covers.

Manny plunges the poison into her vein. He smiles and says, "Sleep well, hon."

"Thank you." She groggily replies, rolling onto her opposite side.

"Just doing my job." He's shoving the syringe into his pocket when a small ray of light brightens the tiny room. Manny spins around and sees the door being pushed open. He turns towards the bed to find Elizabeth struggling to breathe.

***