A Crisis With Hop

Phillip is Found

Smug with the knowledge that I wasn't the only one neglectful of Carol I helped Rae clean up and left with a certain satisfaction. Carol was just as annoying to Rae as she was to me. Even Luke had a certain tolerance level for her that could be acceded from time to time. I did feel a little guilt and stopped by to check on Carol.

Mrs. Markel spoke to me now. When I first began living as Luke's kept woman she didn't even recognized me when I came up the stairs. My dress and manner had changed so much. Now, when she peeks out the door she waves to me. Fortunately for me she still doesn't feel comfortable enough with me to gossip anymore. The woman could talk my ear off.

"How are you, Ellen?" Mrs. Markel asked me.

"I'm well, Mrs. Markel. How are you?" This was the usually interaction.

"I'm well." Mrs. Markel shut the door.

I knocked on the door to the apartment I shared with my Mother and Sister for three years. Carol had none of her usual energy when she answered the door. Her bruises were healing, as were her torn nails. She was still crying from the looks of her red eyes. She was so listless that she didn't even say hello. Merely opened the door and let me in. Coffee was on the stove.

Luke had been giving Carol an allowance since he fired Phillip. To make sure she could get along despite her worthless husband. It was that allowance that Phillip had stolen from her after he had beat her into submission. I made sure that she had extra money to replace that which she had stolen from her. From the condition of the apartment I didn't think Phillip had come back. Carol may have appeared listless, but she had still kept the apartment half-way organized.

I sat her down at the same table our Mother had sat with us at many a time before we went to work and after work. I set out the coffee mugs and poured coffee for us. It frightened me how listless Carol was. I wasn't sure I could leave her alone.

"Phillip may not be coming back, dear." I said. Recently I have adopted my mother's favorite endearment for the two of us. "Why don't you come home with me."

"No. This is my home, Ellen. It was Mother's home as well. I don't want to abandon it." Carol said. "Everyone I know is in this building, including Mrs. Markel. Who loved Mom so much."

"You don't have to abandon your home, dear. Just come stay with us for a little while." I was worried, although it wasn't my habit to physically express my worry. "In fact, I'm thinking of visiting Rae, wouldn't you like to see her?"

For just a moment I saw a little life in Carol's eyes. "I'd love to see her play."

"So, we shall." I said, forcing a smile.

If Rae was surprised to see me come back to the backstage of the theater for the second time that day, she didn't show it. She fussed and hugged us both as if she hadn't just seen me. Once I knew that Carol was in good hands I felt confident to leave Carol with Rae. She was becoming more like the old Carol the longer she was with Rae.

"I'll drive her to over to the mansion." Rae assured me. Knowing I had business to take care of.

"I think she just needed something to do." Watching Carol going through the wardrobe of the theater. Racks of clothing that was not the best quality. Actually sitting down and mending some. "I wonder if she shouldn't earn her allowance by taking care of the theater wardrobe."

"It certainly could use it." Rae said. "We get our clothes second hand, often not in the best shape to begin with. If she could help with the clothes, it would be appreciated."

Rae and I made arrangements with Carol who was thrilled. It was the next day that Phillip had come home to a empty apartment. Mrs. Markel phoned me to inform me of it. Before Carol could find out I had Luke's men come and pick up Phillip. Who was too sick from opium withdrawal to resist them. Phillip was taken to the cellar of one of the old speakeasies that was no longer used by Luke. Where they waited with him for Luke and I to come.

Luke needed me to administer the drug. This is the only reason he let me come with him. My medical training included giving shots. I came down the cellar stairs behind Luke. My medical bag, similar to a doctor's bag in my hand. As the door opened I saw Phillip for the first time in months. I was shocked how a few months had changed him.

The last time I had seen Phil was during New Years, it had been obvious then that the drug was taking a toll on him. Carol had been brave about it. Saying that Phil was recovering from a bad cold and the drugs they used made him dopey. I believed her. Not knowing how serious the addiction really was. Or simply not wanting to see it for what it was.

Phil had lost weight. His skin was pallid and clammy. He hid his drug ravaged face with his hands. They were balled up in fists. He sat at a table in the cellar with his elbows on the table. Phil wore torn and dirty clothes. His hair was filthy, matted with sweat, and hung listlessly. It was too long, even for modern standards. His nails from what I could tell were long and broken. There were healing scratches on his arms and face.

"Take off your jacket. Roll up your sleeve. I'll give you some hop so we can talk." I said.

Paul moved slowly. He pulled off his jacket and rolled up his sleeves. Since he smoked his opium his arms weren't pot marked by needle shots. The veins were still in good shape. I administered just enough opium to help with the withdraws. That would be all he got until he showed symptoms again. It would help with the withdraws, but it wouldn't stop them all together. It would be a painful and long experience for Phillip.

"We will come back when the opiate takes affect." Luke and I ascended the staircase. It would be a little while before Phillip would be ready to talk with us.

I sat at a table in the empty dilapidated speakeasy that had been a saloon before that. It had been closed when Luke decided to go fancier and with more entertainment. There was no alcohol in the old speakeasy. Luke took out a flask of gin from his pocket. I opened a thermos of coffee I had brought with me. Luke offered me a shot of gin from the flask,

I shook my head. "I need to remain clear headed. You know how I am with alcohol."

Luke put away the flask and and grabbed a couple of fairly clean coffee mugs from under the bar. He brought it to the table we were sitting at and we shared the coffee. As we sat there in silence, one of Luke's men came up from the cellar. Phillip was ready to talk.

"You beat my Sister and ran away like a coward." I told Phillip straight off. "If it wasn't for Carol still loving you I would have had you killed. As it is, you will be weaned off the hop, then I'll let my Sister decide what she wants to do."

"You cooperate with us, Phillip, and I'll let you have your old job back eventually." Luke said. In his calm voice. "Or something inside the organization I feel you can handle. If not, you know I'll do what is necessary to protect my organization. That includes termination of a former employee turned addict."

Phillip nodded his understanding. With that we both left. I would be returning this evening to teach the men how the administer the shots. Along with clear instruction as to how much hop Phillip would receive and when. It would be up to Phillip in the end. To end this addiction or to lose his life.