Chapter 156

word count 1448

Gil wound his way through the maze of tables while carrying drinks, preoccupied with trying not to spill anything, when he spied Algernon English standing at his table. The cop stopped dead in his tracks. That British guy was a puzzle. First of all, what was a character like him doing with a beautiful babe like Priscilla, married up and supposedly happy? It just didn't seem likely. And what brought the two of them to town all of a sudden?

The idea of British imports brought to mind a diamond he'd read about, the Princess Diana diamond, missing from the Royal Collection. It wasn't his concern, being in homicide, but he'd found the information when it passed his desk interesting reading. At that moment, he didn't know why, but he felt an intense need to go back to the office and do a little research about that diamond. Call it instinct, if you will, or maybe the urge came about because of an inkling about all things British in front of his face all of a sudden.

When he arrived at the table, he nodded to Algernon and distributed the drinks he'd gotten for his friends.

“If you'd like to join us, Mr. English, I was just leaving,” he said. “You can have my seat.”

Hank and Buzz shot him puzzled expressions.

“What's up?” Buzz asked, never one to mince words.

“Nothing, really. I just remembered some work I needed to do at the office.” He said his good-byes and rushed away.

Algernon watched him make his way to the exit. The British man's pulse quickened as his sixth sense told him something was up. He sighed unconsciously. That lad knows something, he thought. The sooner they found the Diana diamond and got back to England, the better.

* * *

The three boys sat in Elliot's hospital room, their parents having just left to go and get coffee. They didn't think the two adults would ever get out of the way so the boys could talk.

“What did that doctor mean, unidentifiable material? Wasn't it the diamond he took out?” Adam was beside himself. Just by the nature of their ages and their ability to be influenced, they always expected adults were being truthful, so they were puzzled by recent events.

“I know, dude! As soon as I heard him, I got upset,” Erik added. “If that wasn't it they took out, then maybe it's still in Elliot.”

Adam leaned over Elliot. “Dude, have you pooped lately?”

“Nah, and I've been laid up sick lately, dude! Duh!”

“Well, you gotta watch what comes out. You gotta look for that diamond. It's important to us!” When Adam said “us” he pointed to all three of them reminding Elliot of their sacred brotherhood.

“What if the nurse gives me a bed pan and takes it away after I poop?”

“Then you better go through the stuff before you give it to her,” Erik piped in.

“How am I gonna do that without getting caught? It'll look picked over! Eeew!”

“Dude, don't go to the bathroom until you get home!” Adam threw his arms in the air first, then leaned nose to nose with Elliot as he said the words to drive home his point.

* * *

Winifred Dunn had had enough. Theses incompetents were going to let the diamond slip through their fingers. She just knew it. Algernon was an old fool, and Priscilla, well, that young lady only had one thing on her mind most of the time. The older woman knew she needed to get out of hospital immediately and set things straight.

She got off the bed slowly and made her way to the closet. She felt a little dizzy, but that was okay. Her training had taught her how to buck up when necessary. Knowing she had to be quick and quiet, she grabbed her clothes and headed for the bathroom. The day nurse was notorious for sensing when something was up. In the tiny bathroom she donned her clothes and powdered her nose, next applying her rose colored lipstick. After checking her hair, and making sure her purse was in order, she was ready to go. Luckily, the nurses had not taken any valuables to keep at the desk. She opened the door slowly. All clear.

* * *

Priscilla held up the Mercurochrome bottle to the light, remembering what a ghastly color the red-orange liquid always made her skin when her mum dabbed it on her bruised knees as a kid. Swishing the liquid, suddenly she spied a little something bobbling around in the bottle, the ring with the gem standing out big as day. Blinking in surprise, the lady teeter-tottered on her perch at the edge of desk, almost falling, but recovering in time before the good doctor could notice.

Oh my, I've hit the jackpot, she thought....now how to get out of here with the goods.

Dr. Collins had an awful feeling that not only had the reporter just seen the jewel, but that she knew how valuable it was. He had to get the bottle out of her hands and get rid of her in a hurry. Another glance at his watch revealed it was 6:55. He should be meeting Boa right now. He needed to get the diamond and get it fast.

They locked eyes. Priscilla wrapped her hands around the bottle and clutched it to her chest. Dr. Collins moved closer, his eyes growing larger with rage. A chase around the desk ensued. But Priscilla made one lap and stopped short while Dr. Collins charged her. When he rammed into the woman, she grabbed him in a head lock to choke him. He struggled, arms flailing. In her death grip, his face turned red while gagging noises chortled out of his throat.

Hold on, Prissy. Let's not add murder to the list, she thought. She held only a moment longer until he lost consciousness. She dropped him to the floor like yesterday's garbage, feeling his neck afterward to make sure there was still a pulse. He was out cold, but okay. Satisfied, she lifted the bottle out of her bodice where she'd stashed it and admired the contents.

I really got lucky on this one, she thought. Now to just find Algernon. She fumbled her cell phone out of her pocket to call him as she exited the office, making her way down the elevator and through the main doors. Phone in hand, she spied Algernon's Edsel across the street at the Recovery Room. Oh god, she murmured. How she hated that car! But at least she couldn't miss it if she was looking. When she made it to the parking lot, she wasn't looking, replacing her cell, and ran right into Boa who was walking while fishing around in her purse. Priscilla was still clutching the Mercurochrome bottle in one hand for dear life.

“Excuse me,” she said, looking the other woman up and down.

Instant tension filled the space between them. The air was still, making it hard to breathe. But it was something else that made her breath catch in her throat. Priscilla had known this feeling many times in her career. This woman was dangerous. The vibes emanating from her were lethal. Her heart started beating out a crazy rhythm.

Boa glared at her in turn, and the two slowly moved in a circle, never losing eye contact in the process. It was like two wildcats fixing for a fight. It was then that Boa spied the bottle in Priscilla's hand.

“What are you holding?” she asked.

When the other woman didn't answer, Boa reached in her jet black boot and produced a tiny pistol with a pearl grip. “Hand it over,” she said. She didn't know what it was, but if the woman acted this funny about it, it must be something good.

“Drop the gun!” Frank's voice broke through the tension. Priscilla held back a tiny smile, relaxing her stance. The cavalry had arrived.

Boa didn't budge. Her dark eyes shot bullets more deadly than those in her weapon. The three stood posed in an uneasy triangle, Priscilla at one point, Boa and Frank at the other corners, and at a standoff.

Gil made his way through the parking lot to his car anxious to get to the office, when the hairs on the back of his neck stood up as though his body sensed danger before he saw it. Then his gaze fell on the three. He drew his revolver without thinking and edged closer.

“Police! What's going on here?” he said.

chapter 155

word count: 1392

it didn’t take long for frank to come to the conclusion that the good doctor had not entrusted the most precious gem into the still reclining, miss gina o’houlihan’s, seemingly all but capable hands.. he immediately placed a call to algie, who knowing better than to call and interrupt priscilla while she was working her own brand of magic on the good doctor,, quickly slipped his refurbished 1958 ford edsel into gear and glided as unremarkably as was possible (for someone in such an historic classic car) out of the hospital parking lot..

assuming a vantage point on a nearby steep incline from which he could not only keep an eye on the majority of the hospital campus,, but wait for a much anticipated call from priscilla,, algie settled in,, drew up a bowl of his most aromatic signature pipe tobacco,, and took a long comforting pull.. 

he then placed a call to winifred,, to bring her up to the moment on the caper,, and was visually dismayed,, when his call went directly to voice mail.. 

“so unlike winnie..” algernon could be heard saying aloud,, (had anyone been listening) as lifted his field glasses and swooped in for a closer look at the make shift ensemble that was currently parading itself across the hospital parking lot.. 

“indeed!!”  algie congratulated himself on his visual prowess,, as he watched the three clueless american detectives,, accompanied by the most oddly dressed mrs. trudy hunt,, cross the parking lot and duck into a waiting squad car.. 

the squad car entered the busy highway,, only to make a quick left into a parking lot across the street,, that was all but obstructed from algernon’s field of vision..  no sooner had he tamped out his pipe,, and started the engine on his beloved edsel,, when algie witnessed what he could only imagine to be the same squad car, exiting the parking lot,, and speeding off quickly in the general direction of the 45^th street precinct.. 

“most curious..” algie remarked as he scratched his balding head,, and eased the edsel out onto the roadway,, hitting redial as he did so, in hopes of reaching winnifred and in so doing being able to put his otherwise well-ordered mind at ease as to her whereabouts..

“ah!! winnie!!” he exclaimed as he was no doubt greeted by mrs. dunns somber tone on the other end of the call.. 

“curious turn of events here,, old gal.. curious turn of events, indeed..”

***

trudy waited quite impatiently until buzz concluded what could only be perceived as a jovial conversation with his still hospitalized housekeeper, mrs. dunn..  a part of her firmly wanted to smack that smile right off his face,, but she tempered her fury with thoughts of she and buzz at long last taking up housekeeping together,, and getting rid of the meddlesome old bird once and for all.. 

“what on earth does she want??” trudy barked in a no nonsense tone,, as buzz clicked closed his cell phone and returned what he hoped appeared to be his full attentions back to trudy.. 

“she was just worried.. about elliot.. it seems as though priscilla….”

“ugh!!” trudy expressed her disgust so loudly that everyone in the otherwise dark, dreary barroom turned to get a glimpse of the source of the disheartening sound,, before the door eased itself closed behind her..

“come on babe.. let’s just have a nice quiet cocktail,, and leave all of this at the door.. whadda ya say??” buzz cooed as he slipped his warm, familiar arm around the small of trudy’s back and guided her through the darkness into a waiting booth in the far corner of the sparsely populated barroom.. 

“damn, it’s dark in here!!” exclaimed gil, as he quickly regained his stance after practically falling over a misplaced chair in the middle of the barroom floor.. he stood motionless for a moment until his eyes adjusted and he saw hank, buzz and trudy successfully seated at an upholstered round booth in the corner..  

“only you!!” hank exclaimed as the three of them burst into a hearty round of well needed laughter at gil’s expense, that seemed to instantly lighten the mood.. 

“guess that means you’re buying!!” buzz chided a still wobbly gil,, as he slid into the booth,, his reddening face cleverly hidden by the dank barroom’s lack of adequate lighting.. 

“alright, alright!!” gil surrendered easily behind an slightly embarrassed looking smile.. “what can i get you guys??” 

buzz ordered he and trudy each a stiff vodka, soda, and lime,, as hank voiced his desire for a pint of something stout.. with that, gil,, eyes now adjusted to the virtual darkness,, stood up and made his way, sure footedly, back to the bar.. 

“oh, that gil,” hank snickered as the three of them watched him successfully navigating his way through the oddly placed tables and chairs as he made his way across the room,, “you can always count on the gil machine for a good laugh!!” 

as a chorus of giggles rose up from the booth and followed gil to the counter,, the door opened,, and an all but blinding beam of light flashed across the room.. 

trudy eyes ever so contentedly focused on buzz, watched as his gleeful expression, switched instantaneously to a look she knew only too well, to be all business.. she was able to get a quick glimpse of hank, confirming he was on alert as well, before the door closed and everything went black again..

“what’s the matter??” trudy interjected quickly, as she blinked hard trying to readjust her eyes to the dimly lit room so she could get a better grasp on buzz’s all but exasperating visible change in demeanor.. 

“isn’t that?” hank queried.

“it sure is.” buzz confirmed his unspoken suspicion.

“isn’t what??” trudy demanded,, her voice carrying across the barroom,, alerting an ever on the ball algernon to her presence there, even before his eyes could adjust to the troublesome lack of lighting.. 

quickly surveying his options,, algernon chose to acknowledge trudy’s presence rather than try to blend into the sea of dull green scrub’s that reclined comfortably along short stretch of the bar proper.. he pivoted gracefully,, and immediately set off in the direction from which the most unmistakable voice had come.. 

as he approached the booth,, and his eyes began to adjust to the dim light,, he saw trudy,, swanked on either side by two of the detectives that had joined them in the hospital waiting room, just in time to pluck the then irate mrs. Hunt, from the waiting jowls of hospital security.. 

“have to keep an eye on that one..” algie made a mental note,, as a most welcoming smile overtook him and he bounded, briskly toward the table..

“mrs. hunt,, what a pleasant surprise!!” he sang out as he went on to greet the detectives, each with a firm handshake and an ever so respectful,  “detective..”

***

it was quickly becoming evident to the good doctor,, that he very well may have bitten off more than he could chew when he invited the still mysterious brunette journalist into the inner sanctum of his office..  he simply did not have the time to indulge himself, despite the fact that his keen intuition told him that the acutely feminine brit, who now lounged gracefully on the corner of his enormous cherry wood desk, would literally bend over backward to “have a go” at him.. 

he hesitantly sneaked a peek at his watch.. 6:50.. he had to get rid of her,, and he had to get rid of her now,, as it was he wasn’t going to have the necessary time to shower and change before his ever important meeting with boa in the parking lot of the recovery room at 7.. 

as he was pondering whether or not his arrival in his still sweaty joggers would throw up any red flags for gina,, who would undoubtedly be waiting in the parking lot of the recovery room by the time he arrived,, priscilla picked up the well-worn bottle of mercurochrome, and proceeded to finger the bulb on the antiquated dropper in an anything but subtle,, seductive fashion.. 

“my, my,” priscilla purred as she let an enticingly wet tongue slip ever so gently over her provocatively pouty lips, “haven’t seen one of these since my primary school days.. didn’t rightly know that such a thing even existed here,, across the pond.. well..  that is.. until now..”

Chapter 154

word count 1163

Once Priscilla had left the area, Trudy settled down and Buzz sat next to her for a little talk.

“So what's going on, babe?” He shifted in his seat. Sitting and talking didn't come natural to the big man. To his surprise, a tear ran down Trudy's cheek. He scooted closer and gave her a big hug.

“Oh Buzz, I just don't know what happens to me. I get so upset. It's like something in me snaps and I lose control.”

“I know that feeling,” Buzz replied thinking of his rage and his short temper. “Well, look I really want to try it again with you. I know you don't like Priscilla, but Mrs. Dunn should be back soon. And Priscilla will be gone. I want you to move in with me.”

He sat quietly for a moment before proceeding. He continued, “Trudy, I know a doctor. He might be able to help you, help me. We could make a pact. We'll go and see him together. He can help me with my anger issues, and he can help you, too. Would you do that for me?”

“Buzz, are ya talkin' about a shrink?”

His face reddened. Trudy had no idea how difficult it was to make this suggestion. “Trudy, look. You know me. I don't have any faith in head doctors. I never have. But you and me, we both have problems, and neither of us is getting any better. To be frank, I don't know where else to turn.”

“Buzz, are ya talkin' about a shrink?” she repeated. “Are ya nuts?”

“Babe, we'll go as a couple. I think it's the only way I'll let you move in with me. If we both get treatment. They have medicines...”

She broke in before he could finish. “Ya mean movin' in with ya means I have to go?”

“Yes, Trudy. It does.”

He could tell she was ready to blow. But Buzz watched as Trudy pulled herself together. She looked away and then turned again to look him straight in the eye. “I'll do it,” she said.

“Aw, thanks, babe! We won't regret this.” He hugged her good and hard.

“Hey, Buzz...” Gil said, walking over. “We're all going to over to the Recovery Room lounge and knock back a few. These kids and their parents need some time alone with Elliot.”

Buzz and Trudy's eyes met. They both knew their respective sons didn't want them around. The boys had a new life now with John and Lisa. Buzz, in particular, cringed when he remembered Adam's fearful glance a short time ago.

“Let's go,” Buzz said, grabbing Trudy by the hand.

* * *

Algernon English flipped through the secret notebook he always carried in the lining of his ubiquitous trench coat. Rain or shine, hot or cold, he always had the coat in tow. The book was too precious to let it get into the wrong hands. Flipping through pages, he stopped, scanned a caption with his finger, and smiled. “Perfect!” he murmured.

He punched a number in his cell and waited. “Hullo? Is that you, Frank? Algernon English here. I'm fine. I need you for a little something. Surveillance, possible uncover work.” He paused, nodding unconsciously. “I need you to keep an eye on someone...stop a diamond heist in progress. Are we after the gem, as usual? Of course! And don't worry, you'll get your cut.” He paused again. “Splendid. Let's meet and I'll give you the address and details. I really appreciate this, Frankie. I think this lady will respond better to an American...Okay, thanks, see you later.”

“That sounded encouraging,” Priscilla said.

“Now, did you get the other one?” Algie asked lifting a china cup with a rose design to sip a spot of tea.

“No, I decided to handle that part myself. In fact, I'd better get going. He is probably about done with his daily jog.” She checked notes she'd made after picking the minds of some nurses earlier to determine the doctor's daily routine.

“Are you sure that's wise? He'll probably remember you from the waiting room.”

“It won't make any difference, what with the plans I have.”

* * *

Gina O'Hoohlihan was finishing her makeup when she heard a knock at the door. Not expecting anyone, and with this caper in progress setting her nerves on end, the pounding made her heart skip a few beats. What if it was the cops or something? All she wanted to do was pack a bag and meet Kevin and get the heck out of the country with the ring. She padded to the living room with bare feet and stood on tip toes to peer through the peep hole. Spying the handsome stranger, she let out an audible gasp. Fumbling with the lock, she opened the door.

“How do you do?” She struggled to get the words out, so overcome by his glaring blue eyes. They stared her down, intelligent and knowing, like she was an old familiar book and the fellow intended to seek out his favorite dog-eared pages next.

It was a simple matter to push his way through the door, grab the woman, and cover her mouth and nose with a handkerchief. He held her until the girl collapsed in his arms. Once he had lain her on the floor, he got to work rifling through her purse from the coffee table looking for her cell phone, scrolling through entries, looking for voice mails. Casting it aside, he started a rampage of the apartment, opening every drawer, flipping the mattress, overturning contents in every closet and cupboard.

* * *

Priscilla arrived at Dr. Collins' office at the same time he did. She stood with wide, welcoming eyes watching him approach. It would be impossible for a man not to be flattered by such a pretty girl waiting to speak to him. The doctor wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his arm and put on his most endearing smile.

“Dr. Collins? I don't if you remember me. I was with Elliot's family in the waiting room—the boy you removed a foreign substance from his stomach?”

“Of course I remember you,” Kevin said. Who wouldn't have noticed this bombshell, he thought. “Can I help you?”

“Actually, I'm a journalist. The story is so interesting. I'm doing a special for the Sunday edition on how a family pulls together when a child is ill. I've already interviewed the family, and as you saw, spent time while they waited during little Elliot's surgery. To round out my article, I could use an interview from the doctor's perspective. What you told family members, how you felt they dealt with the information, and so on. May we take a few moments in your office and talk about it?”

He glanced at his watch...6:20. He had time, and this lady was delicious. “Sure, let's step in my office,” he said.

chapter 153

word count: 1469

priscilla's extensive training in the interpretation of body language and facial expression paid out triple fold, as she trained a keen eye on adam and erik following the announcement by dr. collins that the mass they had removed from elliot’s stomach was,, “unidentifiable matter”.. 

both the involuntary drain of color from both of their faces,, and their impish eyes, wide as saucers, as they turned to stare at each other in complete and utter disbelief of what they were hearing,, spoke silent volumes.. although no words were exchanged,, priscilla could easily have transcribed the dialog that was going on in each of their heads.. 

the boy’s exterior monologue’s immediately confirmed any suspicions she and algie may have had previous to this most startling announcement.. indeed,, the hunt boy had swallowed the precious gem for safe keeping,, taken ill due to his inability to pass it,, and now,, upon its discovery,, this scheming doctor,, and his innocuous looking henchwoman,, most assuredly had possession of the exquisite, diana diamond.. 

a quick scan of the room confirmed that not one of the other adults involved were any the wiser.  

“idiot americans..” priscilla chortled to herself  as she took special note of the three high ranking detectives that stood huddled before her like a pack of school boys.. it was blatantly evident they had not a clue between them…

she and algie had to move quickly if they were to intercept the precocious doctor and his money grubbing accomplice as they attempted to whisk the exquisite stone out of the hospital, bound undoubtedly for places in which there were firmly no extradition orders in place to accommodate any plea by the american government should their caper ever become public knowledge..  

“sweetheart," she purred lovingly as she slipped her arm in algies. “what do you say we slip away for a moment and allow the families to regroup.. it has been an extremely emotionally exhausting day for all of them i am sure.. i would think the last thing they need is us,, meddling further in their private affairs..”

“you are absolutely right, my dear!” algie nodded in agreement as he acknowledged priscilla’s firm grasp on his arm with an outwardly affectionate gesture,, placing a seemingly loving hand graciously atop her entwined arm.. 

“we will be right downstairs in the coffee shop if can we be of any further assistance..” he announced to the seemingly befuddled grouping of assorted family members and bumbling police detectives, as he and priscilla quickly exited the waiting room before any acknowledgement could be made of their most generous offer..  

before the elevator doors had even opened to accommodate their departure,, both algie and priscilla were on their cell phones. priscilla gathering pertinent personal intel from a ‘plant’ they just happened to have in the hospital human resources department on this dr. collins and his trusty nurse o’hoolihan,, and algie urgently calling in the need for reinforcements..  

***

the muscle bound oaf that was currently assigned to ‘protect’ boa in the advent of an emergency situation, thudded heavily on the solid oak door to announce his presence before opening the ‘office’ door just a crack, and informing boa she had a call of a personal nature.. 

“the good doctor is on the line.. what you want i should tell him??”

“hmmm,," hummed boa, from her perch at the elegant gold veined marble dressing table,,  where she was expertly placing a luxuriously thick row of raven black eyelashes just above her natural lash line.. “tell him i will take the call.. put him through..”

when the call came through,, she instinctively put it on speaker so she could remain focused on the ever important task at hand while she dallied with the heartstrings of the one and only human connection that she had allowed to cross over with her from her lowly beginnings as a common club stripper,, into her present world of elite underworld espionage.. 

“kevin!! sweetness!! how lovely to hear from you.. and so soon too.. i would think you would still be recuperating from our last most intimate encounter..” she heckled him gently in her most insidious tone of voice.. 

“boa!! this is important.. i need you to pick up..” the noticeably anxious voice on the other end of the line admonished her.. 

“my,, my,, kevin dear,, aren’t we demanding today?? and without so much as a simple exchange of pleasantries..” she retorted in a tone of voice that clearly indicated it was a borderline reprimand.. 

“please boa,, there isn’t time.. please pick up..”

boa sensed a degree of urgency in kevin’s voice.. something quite out of character for the self-involved,, egotistical, albeit immensely talented, surgeon she had come to know so intimately over the course of the near decade they had spent clandestinely pleasuring each other.. 

choosing not to antagonize him further,, she plucked the shimmering gold handset from cradle of the antique victorian french princess phone on her dressing table and assumed her most dignified ‘strictly business’ persona..

“alright,, you got my attention.. what’s going on?”

“this is not something i can discuss with you over the phone.. i need to meet with you immediately..” 

“well i am afraid that is not a possibility.. i have a prearranged appointment at 7:30.. an appointment i am not at liberty reschedule..”

“fuck that!” kevin barked unceremoniously into her ear. “i have never asked that you extend to me any form of professional courtesy in the past.. i am asking for that now.. i need you to meet me discreetly in the parking lot of the recovery room lounge, directly across the street from the hospital at precisely 7 pm.”

“you do not seem to understand!” boa stated firmly.. “i cannot just…”

dr. kevin collins cut her off without hesitation. “and boa,, bring a cleaner..” 

with that the line went dead.. 

***

directly following dr. collins disclosure to the family that young elliot would make a full recovery,, and that the mass they had removed from his stomach was nothing to be worried about,, the voluptuous nurse o’hoolihan had,, at dr.collins own suggestion,, gone home to slip into something suitable for travel and pack a light overnight bag.. she was in route to his penthouse apartment to pack a few designated items, as per his request,, when the call she had so anxiously been awaiting,, finally came in..   

“gina? kevin.. it’s all set.. i am having that friend of mine i told you about meet me at 7, in the parking lot of the recovery room.. she will bring all the necessary identity documentation,, as well the prearranged travel package we will need to escape the country undetected.. all we are gonna have to do is take a quick picture,, and then you,,  my little sex kitten,, and i,, are off to join the jet set!”

“oh kevin!! i am over the moon!! never in my wildest dreams…” gina nearly bubbled into the phone..

“we will have more than enough time for that later, kitten.. what i need for you to do, is to show up, in the parking lot, at the recovery room, at exactly 7:15.. do not enter the bar.. stay in your car.. i will send someone over to bring you to me.. you and i must not, i repeat, must not, be seen together..”

“well then how will i..” gina started..

“don’t worry about a thing, my baby,,” kevin assured her in his most seductive tone, “i will be waiting for you in the secure transport vehicle.. we will take care of the photo for your i.d. in route..”

“ok,“ gina breathed heavily into the phone.. “7:15 sharp.. i’ll be there!! oh and kevin?”

“what is it baby?”

“kevin. i love you!” gina gushed.. 

“you know i love you too, kitten.. now you just concentrate on getting your sweet little ass to the recovery room on time,, and it will all be smooth sailing from there!!”

“oh, i will!! i will!” gina percolated,, as kevin disconnected the call abruptly,, and made a beeline for the doctors lounge where he would quickly change out of his blood spattered scrubs and into his joggers as he did every evening when he completed his shift..   

with the diamond safely tucked away,, at the bottom of the bottle of mercurochrome (that he had kept as a good luck charm since the day he applied to the elite stanford university school of medicine) which had served as a paperweight on his desk, ever since he was awarded the prestigious position of chief of surgery nearly ten years ago,, dr. kevin collins stepped outside the automated doors of the hospital,, and began a rigorous course of stretches,  as he did every evening in preparation for his ritualistic five mile run..

Chapter 152

word count 1219

Dr. Collins bent over the boy's supine body with scalpel in hand to begin the laparotomy. He made a quick incision as blood oozed along the line he cut.

“Sponge, Nurse O'Hoolihan,” he said. “And don't lets those boobs of yours get in the way.”

“Oh, don't worry,” replied the nurse. “I'm keeping them free and clear anyway for fear you bump them, and not accidentally, doctor.”

The physician chuckled pushing aside layers of the boy's abdomen to make his way to the stomach. Another incision and he could probe the gastric contents.

“So far, so good” he murmured. “OH, look at this!” He said the three words slowly for emphasis. The nurse handed him forceps and he reached in and pulled up a shiny object. He studied it in the light before dropping the ring in a silver tray. It landed with a clunk.

“Well, I guess we've found our foreign object. Now let's make sure there's no damage or perforations to the stomach.” Even as he probed the gastric walls, Dr. Collins marveled at what a beautiful jewel that diamond was.

* * *

Algernon English hung up the phone after speaking with Mrs. Dunn and pondered. Things were a right ruddy mess, they were. He didn't see how he could pull out Priscilla at this point without it all seeming suspicious. How many “relatives” of Mrs. Dunn could there be to show up and fill in. And at this point, now knowing the underworld was involved, he felt the need for more agents on this assignment rather than just the one. “Ah, I know what to do,” he murmured. Should he run it by Mrs. Dunn first? Nah, he thought. She wouldn't go for it, and he saw no other way to go. What she doesn't know, as they say...

* * *

As they rushed to the surgical unit, dodging nurses and orderlies, Gil and Hank shot each other worried glances. They could only hope the two women were behaving themselves. Their hopes were dashed as soon as they heard yelling. The three of them, Gil, Hank, and Buzz ran the final lap. Buzz was by far the fastest and the angriest. His teeth gritted and red-faced, he arrived first.

Trudy was being held by two uniformed cops while Priscilla stood hands on hips and confrontational. When she spied Buzz, she softened.

“Detective Miller, how nice to see you!” she purred.

He ignored her, pushing his way toward Trudy. “Trudy, I don't understand,” he said. “The last time I saw you, you'd changed. You were dignified, mature, ready for a 'new you.' What happened, babe?” Even as he spoke, he unconsciously clenched his fists at his sides in frustration.

Priscilla saw his anger and made note. She would love to see that sort of brutal intensity in the sack. She liked her men rough. Very rough.

“I'm sorry, Buzz! It's just that the WHORE OVER THERE was threatening to take ya away from me. She was being nice to Adam and giving me the evil eye.”

On hearing Adam's name, Buzz remembered the main reason he came and looked around for the boy. Adam, Erik, Lisa and John were seated along the side wall, as if pretending to keep as much distance as possible away from Trudy and Priscilla.

He rushed toward Adam and even as he walked, he noticed the boy cringe at the sight of him. He paused mid-step. His heart crunched. Is this the effect he had on the boy? Rubbing his forehead with the back of his hand, he turned around. He noticed Priscilla's eyes on him. She turned away. During all of this, Trudy had been carrying on, trying to free herself from the cops' grip.

Buzz let loose a heavy sigh. His life was fucked. Really. Totally fucked. He wanted to make a life with Trudy, but she kept reverting back to a wild woman. No one tried harder than her to behave, but it appeared to be hopeless. His girlfriend was a nut job. His boy was terrified of him. Could it get any worse?

He made his way to Trudy again to try to calm her down. But she was worked up beyond what he could control, her fists waving while she yelled. The two burly cops held onto the woman.

“You WHORE! He's my Buzz! Stay the hell away or I'll kill ya!”

“I'm just his housekeeper, darling. I don't know why you're accusing me of being more than that.”

Buzz backed off and leaned wearily against the wall. He studied Priscilla with a lazy eye. It was better than listening to Trudy. Where were those security officers when you needed them. He needed for them to be the bad guys and haul Trudy away, rather than himself. His glance went up and down studying Priscilla's curves, and he felt an unusual pleasure at seeing how shapely she was. Trudy was skinny with straight lines except for her boobs, and they were manufactured, so to speak. Priscilla was a hot one. He could tell. She'd be a superb screw. Maybe...

Trudy was still at it. “I HATE YOU” she bellowed.

Priscilla sighed. The woman could make you weary. She spied Buzz standing alone and considered wandering over to make her play. That was when an arm wrapped around her shoulders and swung her around. Next she got a fat kiss on the lips. Feeling a beard scratching against her chin, she went rigid. Oh shit!

“Hello, wife!” the gruff voice uttered, loud enough for all to hear.

Dammit, she'd have to play long. “Algie, my darling. What brings you here?”

“Well, my dear. My trip is finished and I have time free, so I thought I'd come and stay a while with you. A man belongs with his wife. Does he not?”

Trudy stepped back in shock, nestling backwards into the arms of the cops. Buzz, Hank, and Gil were equally dumbfounded. They stood looking on.

“May I speak with you privately?” Algie murmured in her ear. She nodded.

“Let's go have a cuppa,” she said loud enough for the others to hear.

Later, in the restaurant, she got Algernon up to date with the situation.

“I talked to the boys, but I couldn't get anything out of them. Honestly, I don't know which one of them has it, or where he is keeping it for that matter.”

“Well,” Algie said, stroking his goatee, “...in the tape from the junkyard, it is little Erik holding the gem. But that's not enough to go on.”

“The one boy, Elliot, got sick which is a curious thing. He had to go to emergency surgery for a foreign object in his stomach.”

It hit quickly. Priscilla and Algernon looked at each other in shock. “The ring!” they said in unison.

When they arrived at the surgery unit, the doctor was coming out to speak to the family.

“We found a foreign object. The good news is Elliot should be fine. I'd like to keep him overnight for observation, however. The object we found was of no consequence. Unidentifiable matter. No need to worry about it any further.”

Nurse O'Hoolihan stood to the side. Her heart was going pitty-pat. They were going to be rich.

chapter 151

word count: 1801

“stanley fucking lefkowich is on the phone..” one of boa’s male minions droned.. “you wanna talk to him? or you want that i should find out what he wants?”

“find out what he wants..” the elusive woman that had come to be known solely as, boa, responded disinterestedly,, as she reclined on an overstuffed red velvet chaise,, feigning interest in her ever perfect, dagger like black nails..

the brutish fellow, with right in between little and no elocution of the english language whatsoever, left the door ajar momentarily,, as he departed the doorway to go express his boss lady’s wishes to lefkowich,, only to return almost instantaneously with his response..

“he says the big guy wants you at ‘silk’.. he says he wants you there at 7:30..”

“hmmp.. tell him i’ll be there.” boa half stated,, half sighed,, as she fluttered her luxuriously long legs aptly capped with black patent leather stilettos,, admiring them as the most adept tools she knew them only too well to be..

as soon as boa was sure the muscle bound oaf had retreated to his post,, and the floor to ceiling solid oak door was securely closed between them,, with one effortlessly elegant movement,, she was on her feet,, surveying her total package in the floor to ceiling three paneled mirror that engulfed a considerable portion of 'the office’,, as she had affectionately dubbed her stateroom in the penthouse apartment of the entourage hotel..   

she pursed her lips seductively,, as she pleasured herself with her own flawless reflection,, taking it in,, in all its glory,, from every conceivable angle..   

“hmm..” she purred to herself as she remained mesmerized by the very sight of herself in the grand mirror,,  “if it is so fucking important to him,, why didn’t he call me himself??”

with that,, she dropped her shimmering mane of ebony curls down to the small of her back with a simple toss of the head and laughed insidiously, as she remained focused on her own impeccable image..

“silly boys…”

***

gil and hank had no trouble persuading the rent-a-cop security team at the hospital to turn buzz over into their custody.. in fact given buzz’s predisposition for being a pain in the ass,, they were only to glad to see him go.. 

as soon as the three of them were in the corridor,, with the security offices door tightly closed behind them,, buzz started in on his fellow detectives..

“i want some answers, and i want them now!!” he barked.

gil and hank,, both of whom had expected something that even resembled a ‘thank you’ before buzz jumped headlong down their throats,, looked at each other,, rolled their eyes, shrugged their shoulders,, and simultaneously wrote it off as buzz,, just being buzz,, before either of them accommodated him with any further information.. 

“now!!” an impatient buzz bellowed.. his demanding voice echoing off the walls of the basement corridor as the three of them approached the elevator.. 

“ok,” hank was the first to speak up.. “looks like the foster parents, errm,,  john and lisa,, both went to work,, leaving the boys at home alone.. they had been informed by deeds and sotherland,, the two plain clothes that caught the protection detail that morning,, that it was absolutely safe to do so as they were under orders not to let anyone come or go from the house in their absence..”

“c’mom, c’mon, c’mon..” buzz chided him along.. “get to the meat here.” as he, without any prior notice, smacked the stop button in the elevator, bringing it to an abrupt halt..

“whoa!!” gil remarked as his stomach did what could only be described as a flip flop when the elevator came to agitated rest between floors.. 

“so anyway,” hank continued through pursed lips,, the only outward sign to manifest itself,, as he was growing quickly perturbed with buzz's impatient antics, “it appears that unbeknownst to deeds and sotherland,, the house was under surveillance by a couple of stan the man’s guys,, you know the guy that picked up where tobin left off?” 

“i don’t give a fuck about all that!!” buzz snarled, as he rolled his hand in the air signifying he wanted hank to cut to the chase.. 

gil jumped in, “long story short,, deeds and sotherland made a potty run,, the thugs we now have in custody,,  nick, ‘salami’ solumbrino, and lenny ‘the puck’ moskowitz seized the opportunity to have a go at the house.. somehow or another the boys saw it coming and they ingeniously set a trap for the two thugs,, cleverly coating the kitchen floor with cooking oil and a box of roofing nails..”

buzz still rolling his hand in the air,, and visibly reddening with utter frustration,, somehow succeeded in keeping his mouth shut as gil continued..

“ok, ok, “ gil stammered a minute as he collected his thoughts and tried to summarize things into a context that would better fit the few seconds he had left before buzz blew a gasket..

“so the trap worked,, the thugs went down, but unfortunately so did the kid,, trudy’s kid, what’s his name?”

“elliot.” hank quickly interjected.

“yeah, elliot went down,,  then either adam, or the other kid called 911.. acute abdominal pain is the word from the first responders on trudy’s kid.. he is currently in emergency surgery as the x-rays showed a foreign mass of some kind in the kids stomach or something.”

satisfied that the information, ,that he had all but pulled like a sore tooth out of gil and hank, was about as complete as it was gonna get, buzz popped the stop button,, and the elevator lurched back into its ascent.. 

“and now for the bad news,” said hank, still holding on to the handrail on the wall of the elevator just in case buzz decide to bring the car to yet another abrupt stand still, “that fill in house keeper of yours,, and trudy hunt are at each others throats,, and both of them are gonna be in the waiting room when we get there..”

“fuck!!” buzz exclaimed as he grabbed the back of his neck,, and winced at the news..  as if he didn’t already have enough problems.. 

“what happened there?” he was almost afraid to ask. “i was the one that sent priscilla over to get trudy..”

“well somehow or another trudy made it to the precinct before priscilla ever got around to collecting her,, and well, let me just say,, it was once again necessary to restrain her..”

“fuckin’ trudy..” buzz huffed as the three of them exited the elevator and headed toward the surgical waiting room.. none of them quite sure what degree of havoc  would be awaiting them there.. 

***

algernon english fumbled through every pocket on his overcoat before he finally located his cell in his sport coat pocket,, and put a quick end to its ‘rule britannia‘ ringtone.. 

“english heah’” he spoke into his phone in a thick british accent which he reserved solely for calls marked by the “rule britannia’ ring tone, as he had assigned it to both winnifred and priscilla's cell numbers, and thus knew it would be one or the other of them on the line. 

“algie??” winnifred  queried..

“at your service!!” algernon responded in a tone of voice that suggested he was clicking his heels and offering up a crisp salute..

“algie, i am afraid we have trouble.. big trouble..” winnifred advised him in a somber tone. “it seems as if we have competition,, stiff competition.. according to priscilla there is a band of thugs in hot pursuit of the stone as well..”

“thugs??” algernon queried, “as in, american thugs?”

“yes, yes of course as in american thugs!!” winifred was clearly becoming distraught, “now let me finish!! as it turns out, this according to priscilla,, they are evidently tied into some larger network,, very possibly an organized crime family. this is certainly a turn i was clearly not prepared for this case to take.."

“nor was i.” algie responded, as he thoughtfully stroked his goatee, the way he always did when he was contemplating a matter of great significance.. 

“to further complicate matters,, one of the boys that we believe to be in possession of the diamond,, has taken desperately ill.. it’s the boy, elliot, and he just happens to be the son of that despicable woman detective miller insists on keeping company with,, trudy hunt.."

“oh my!!” algie exclaimed.. “that indeed complicates matters further.”

“i’ve got a bad feeling about all of this algie.. when i spoke to priscilla just now,, she was on her way to the hospital,, she claims she is headed there to extract some further intel from the boys as to the whereabouts of the diamond.. but if i know priscilla at all,, and i do believe i do,, she has much more on her mind than that..  and i am afraid that 'much more that she has on her mind', is going to include a confrontation with that awful hunt woman.. i could tell by priscilla’s omniscient tone of voice,, that she has taken it upon herself to sink her womanly talons into my detective miller!!”

“oh, my!! this certainly does complicate things..” algie still stroking his goatee spoke,, although winnifred could tell he was lost in thought and very possibly not paying attention at all.. 

“algie!!” she heightened the tone of her voice in order to snap him back into the moment. “this is a situation that must be diffused,, and diffused  immediately.. i don’t know exactly how you are going to go about it,, but you must see to it that priscilla not only puts a reign on her womanly wiles,, but in the name of all that the crown stand for,, that she is promptly replaced at the miller household by someone more suitable until i am able to resume my duties there!! i told you she would bring trouble algie!! i hate to say ‘i told you so’,, but i did!! oh how i wish you had consulted with me first..”

“now, now, winnie,, you can count on me.. i got us into this,, and i will get us out!” algernon summoned his most authoritative intonation,, although he knew from experience winnifred would see right through it.. 

“that is quite what i am afraid of!!” a clearly exasperated winnifred announced. 

“algie,, now listen to me, and listen to me well,, you must, i repeat must, find a way to withdraw priscilla from this case.. she has created a situation here, in which she has caused herself to become a liability,, and at this point….”

“yes, yes, “ algernon interjected as he tried his best to assure her, “i have it in hand.. i have it in hand, i tell you!! no need for worry on your part, winnie,, you just concentrate on getting yourself out of that hospital!! the crown needs you’re expertise now more than ever!!”