Lethe Vita

Chapter 30

There was nothing he could do but pace.

Pace, and dial numbers.

A multitude of numbers.

He began with Brandon, leaving a voicemail that saw Dylan's voice falter halfway through as he told Brandon of Brenda's condition.

Or, of Dylan's uncertainty of Brenda's condition, as Dylan himself hadn't been told a damn thing.

He asked, or more demanded, that Brandon dial the hospital himself and find out what he could so that he would be able to relay the information to Dylan.

The next number he dialled picked up instantly.

"Dylan?"

"Cindy, thank God. How quickly can you get to the airport?"

"Airport? Dylan?"

"It's - it's Brenda," Dylan said as he fought to keep it together. "I took her to Tallinn and everything was fine, but she got some upsetting news that - that she didn't take well, and - and I'm trying to get someone who can fly us back to Helsinki so Bren can be closer to home, but for now she's in a hospital here and they won't tell me a damn thing."

"Brenda's in the hospital?" Cindy attempted to catch up.

"I told them I was her husband," said Dylan. "I tried to convince them I'm Bren's husband, but they saw her passport and got her records from Helsinki. I told them we were newly married, that Bren hadn't changed her name yet. They asked to see a marriage license. Bren needs me, Cindy. She needs me. Our daughter needs me. They need to know I'm here, that I'm here as long as they are, and I don't even know what's happening to my fi - my Bren! How soon can you get here?"

"I'm on my way," said Cindy. "I'll get your mother and we'll be on our way."

"I'll book you the next flight."

"I do have money of my own, Dylan."

"You sound like your children. I'll call you back with the flight information."

Dylan ended the call to prevent Cindy's further protests and called in flight reservations for the two women.

A flight, Dylan assumed, would be significantly faster than putting them on a ferry ride.

He looked down at the ring clutched in his palm, the one he had watched be removed from Brenda's finger.

Less than a half-hour since he had put it on her finger.

Dylan's face shattered into his enclosed fist, his tears working their way into the jewels of the ring.

He imagined what Brenda would do had she been in his situation.

Then he continued dialling.

"Dylan?"

"Jim." Dylan drew strength from the ring that had begun to mark indentations in his palm. "You - just - you'll want to get a flight to Tallinn. And when you get here, head for hospital. I've more calls to make," he said, and hung up without further word from Jim.

"I need 40k," Dylan told his private banker. "I don't care what you have to liquidate to get it now."

"Now? It may take a day or two to get the approval to withdraw that much money at once."

"It's my money," said Dylan. "I need 40k and I need you to wire it over to the Buffalo Police Department in Buffalo, New York by no later than this afternoon. Make sure they know it's for a Valerie Malone."