Nowhere to Hide

Praying for a Miracle

Stepping into the room, the nurse flips on the overhead light. "I'm sorry to wake you, Miss Mueller, but I need to check your vitals. It's the only way the doctor would agree to let you stay off the machines." The nurse turns to find Elizabeth's face is discolored; her chest is completely still. She checks for a pulse. When she doesn't find one, she lowers the head of the bed as she yells. "I need the crash cart in here, now," She's doing chest compressions when she hears code blue being announced over the intercom.

A team dashes into the room a few seconds later. One staff member inserts a breathing tube, while the second hook her up to the monitors.

The nurse checks the wires then glances at the machine again. "I'm not getting anything, doctor."

"Give her one ml of epinephrine and charge the paddles to 200 joules."

A nurse pulls a vial from the cart. She draws the liquid into a syringe and then inserts it into Elizabeth's IV port. "The med is in."

"The paddles are charged, doctor."

The attending takes them out of her hands. "Clear." Everyone steps back. He shocks her and then glances at the monitor.

"There's no change, sir."

One of the members begins chest-compressions. A second uses a bag-mask device to pump air into her lungs.

The physician continues to watch the screen. "Give her another dose of epinephrine and charge the paddles to 250 joules."

The nurse looks up from the bed. "The med is in."

"The paddles are charged. She turns towards the doctor, paddles in hand.

"Clear." The staff moves away from the bed. The physician shocks her for a second time.

Looking over at the monitor, the nurse shakes her head. "There's still no change, doctor."

The crash team resumes CPR.

The doctor glances up at the clock. They've only been in her room a few minutes, but they have no way of knowing how long she'd been down before she was found if a successful resuscitating would leave her in a vegetative state.

"What do you want to do, doctor?"

He glances at the twenty-something woman again. His daughters suddenly come to mind. I'd want them to do all they can If she was one of my girls. "Let's try one last time. Give her another dose of epinephrine and charge to 300 Jules."

"The med is in."

"Paddles are charged." She hands the device over.

"Clear." The doctor shocks her a final time. A stillness lies heavy over the room. The staff holds their breath, hoping her heart rhythm will change. The seconds tick down on the clock behind them, adding to the nervy feel.

Guess I'm not getting a miracle today. The attending glances at his watch. "Time of death..."

"Look, doctor." The nurse points to the monitor. He glances over to find her heartbeat is in sinus rhythm, and her blood pressure and oxygen saturation are continuing to climb.

Everyone breathes a sigh of relief. "Good work, everyone." The attending glances towards the ceiling and whispers, "Thank you."

One of the nurses turns towards the doctor, a syringe in hand. "I found this under her bed, and it's not the type we use."

He takes the syringe from her hands. " Everyone, stop what your doing. The room is I crime scene now. Turning towards the nurse, he continues. "Tell security what's going on. I'll notify the police."

***

The bright morning sun reflects off the gray metal building. Manny gazes at the hospital's enormous structure one last time. I didn't think I'd ever get out of there. He recalls his numerous attempts to flee and his odd chosen retreats. The worst being the women's restroom. The look on the old broad's face was priceless. He snickers. He then remembers being conked with her purse as she's chasing him out the door. She sure gave me the what for called me a few colorful names too. He chuckles, rubbing his achy head. The money will be so well worth everything I've been through. He pictures his life of luxury and smiles... Well worth every hit. He sighs.

He starts to take a step off the sidewalk when a firm hand grabs his arm. Manny spins around to find a security guard beside him.

The hot morning sun pounds relentlessly against Manny's back, intensifying the unnerving situation. His body begins to tremble. Beads of sweat pop out across his forehead as he pictures his lifeless victim in her bed. They didn't figure it out already, did they? No, they couldn't have. He looks over at the man again. Then why is he here? His stomach balls up into a hard knot. Manny then remembers what the judge had said.

"I'll give you the maximum sentence on whatever you've done in addition to your suspended sentence if I ever see you in my courtroom again." I'll never be free again.

Images of his enemies' faces come to mind. He then remembers his frequent trips to the infirmary how he decided to spend the rest of his sentence in the hole to stay away from them. He then recalls their warning as he was being escorted down the hall, mere minutes from freedom.

"We'll be waiting for you," the largest of the four growls.

I'll be lucky to last a day this go around. He pictures himself being carried out in a body bag and gulps.

The officer tightens his grip on his arm. The sudden pain, the overwhelming stench of freshly laid asphalt, brings him back to the present. I could make a run for it. He discovers his car is a distance away when he gazes across the parking lot. He looks down to find a gun strapped to the officer's side. I either take a chance of being shot or die in prison. He glances at his car again.

"You dropped your phone, " the man explains.

Manny turns towards the security guard. His eyebrows arch, his forehead creases. He tilts his head to the side. "What?"

The guard holds out his cell. "You dropped this by the front door." He points towards the entryway.

Manny notices his burner phone in the man's hands. He sighs with relief. "I don't know what I'd do if I lost it." He nervously chuckles. Taking it from the man, he hurries across the lot.