Nine-Tenths (27 page)

Alina’s eyes flew open. “You’re right. That’s priceless.”

Leonard smiled. “What are we waiting for?” He stood up and reached for Natalia’s hand.

“I was waiting for my husband and daughter.”

“Touché.”

Alina joined them, grabbing a stick near the office door. “One thing. There are cameras in the stairwell leading down.”

Leonard furrowed his brow. “That’s a pretty big
one thing.
We should take the elevator.”

“Continuously monitored. Even more risky. However, oddly enough, the cameras in the basement have all been turned up and locked into place.”

“Possibly so security doesn’t spy on the government hotshot?”

“That’s what I was assuming.”

His heart racing, Leonard questioned his wife’s cavalier attitude regarding the cameras. “What do we do about the stairwell?”

Alina held up the stick in her hand. “This extends to about ten feet. We use it to open the sky windows in the cafeteria. I was hoping we might turn the cameras from a distance.”

“I don’t know, Alina. We might be better off sneaking by and hoping someone assumes we’re getting supplies. Security will notice cameras going dark before they worry about a few bodies descending the staircase.”

“Bodies, Dad?” Natalia snickered. “You make it sound like we’re dead.”

He tipped his head from side to side. “That might be a good cover also.”

Natalia giggled.

“Nah,” Alina said, as if they were serious. “But you might be right about leaving the cameras alone.” She looked at Leonard quizzically. “Just amble down the stairs and they won’t assume we’re up to something?”

“Do you have extra lab coats?”

“What about Natalia?” Alina said.

“What about her?”

“We don’t have many child genius doctors wandering around the hospital.”

“Any short nurses?”

Natalia folded her arms and scowled. “I’m standing right here, you know.”

“Be realistic, Nat. Even in a lab coat, it’s obvious you’re a child.”

“A teenager as of tomorrow,” she corrected.

“Okay, a teenager, but not exactly a med school graduate.”

Alina sat down on the chair that had been occupied by Leonard only a few minutes ago. “I should have taken better care to plan this. I was so excited that the MRI was set to go, I didn’t think past turning the cameras.” She tossed the stick aside in frustration.

Leonard straddled Natalia’s rolling stool, while Natalia wandered around the desk and sat in her mother’s chair. She held her head high and swiveled slightly back and forth.

Leonard rolled forward and took Alina’s hands. “We’ll figure something out.” They stared at one another, but no brilliant ideas surfaced.

“Why don’t you wheel me down in a laundry basket?” Natalia suggested. “Like they do in the movies.”

Leonard smiled. “It would look even more ridiculous to carry a laundry basket down the stairwell.”

“But,” Alina said, her voice rising. “It wouldn’t look so weird in the elevator.”

“You said the elevators were constantly monitored.”

“Yes, but after considering your
look natural
strategy, I realized that you’re right. They won’t take much notice of a doctor heading to the basement for supplies. That’s why I wandered down the stairs this morning with little concern.”

Leonard raised an eyebrow. “How about two doctors and a laundry tub?”

Alina thought for a moment. “We have a wheeled basket Natalia would fit in. If I dump some supplies on top of her, it will look like I’m returning surplus supplies. It could work.”

“The stuff you dump on me…can we make that blankets?”

“A couple of blankets to cover you up and some bandage boxes on top. Keep it light. The guys in security aren’t going to care what a doctor is taking to or from the supply room.”

“You hope,” Leonard said.

“They’re just looking for erratic behavior. What’s erratic about two white-coats and a laundry tub?”

“Nothing, I guess.”

“Wait here,” Alina said, as she jumped from her chair and exited the room. A few minutes later she returned with a beige canvas laundry tub on wheels. Two blankets, a white coat, rubber gloves, and five dozen boxes of gauze rested inside.

Leonard grabbed the coat. “A little snug, but it’ll do.” They helped Natalia climb into the basket. “No one will find it odd that you just wheeled a laundry basket into your office?”

“Stop worrying, Leonard. The sooner we get going the better.”

He hesitated. “People will know I’m not a doctor. Someone will stop us in the hallway and ask, ‘Who are you?’”

“Already thought of that.” Alina pulled a surgical hat and mask out of her pocket and handed the items to him. After he put them on, she wet her hands and patted the hat.

“What are you doing?”

“Walk ahead of me,” she instructed. “Slowly, like you’re tired and it’s been a long day. Look past anyone who tries to make eye contact. I’ll meet up with you in the elevator hallway—”

“Which is where?”

“About twenty feet down the hall and to the left.” She carefully covered Natalia with the blankets and bandages. “When no one is looking at your face, take your mask off and wipe your brow. We’ll enter the elevator together and chat about the weather or something.”

Leonard puffed out his cheeks. “Down the hall. Look exhausted. Enter the elevator hallway on the left. Remove mask. Wipe brow.”

“You got it?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go.”

Leonard followed her directions precisely. He avoided eye contact with passing hospital staff. If his ears did not deceive him, Alina and the rolling cart followed several paces behind him. Gaining confidence, he marched toward the hallway. What he had not expected was three giggling nurses waiting for an elevator. He stopped briefly and glanced over his shoulder, praying Alina had a follow-up plan. Then he continued toward the trio of nurses.

Two elevators on either side hummed dutifully. The nurses had pushed the up button, and they chattered among themselves, somewhat oblivious to the approaching doctors. Still, Leonard faltered, wondering if at any moment they might look up and regard him with curiosity. It seemed very unnatural to keep his mask on at this juncture, so he removed it hastily and wiped his brow.

Thankfully, at that moment, Alina waltzed past him and addressed him playfully. “And you owe me, you know that?” she teased as she pressed the down button.

Two of the nurses glanced absentmindedly in Alina’s direction.

“After all, I spent thirty minutes down there searching for your favorite blue Jimnie Gel pens. It’s the least you can do to help me put this stuff away and find the wider gauze.”

Leonard paused only for a moment before catching on. “Dr. Marsh. I’ve had a long day.”

“I don’t want to hear it,” she lilted, obviously flirting.

The up elevator binged and the nurses entered nonchalantly. Not to be outdone, Leonard headed for the same lift as if he didn’t intend to join the dark-haired doctor. One of the nurses put her foot out to stop the doors from shutting.

Alina grabbed Leonard’s arm. “No you don’t. You owe me, and you know it.”

Leonard waved the nurses on and they allowed the elevator doors to close.

Fortunately, the down elevator binged a second later. Alina continued with the charade and the two bantered all the way to the basement. Only when they stepped out and the elevator door closed behind them did Alina drop the pretense and pull the blankets off of her daughter.

“You guys are weird,” Natalia said as she climbed out of the tub. “Is that what you doctors do all day? Gather supplies and hit on each other?”

Leonard raised one eyebrow and scrutinized Alina’s face. “I hope not.”

She swished her hand down, dismissing their frivolous remarks. Pulling three pairs of latex gloves out of the basket, she said, “Put these on and let’s go.”

Alina handed the largest pair to Leonard and the smallest to Natalia. Then she skillfully snapped on her own gloves while the others fumbled with the awkward protective gear. Before Leonard and Natalia were properly gloved, Alina jogged down the hallway to their right. Struggling to straighten the latex over their fingers, Leonard and Natalia followed obediently.

A few minutes later, they entered a small room containing an MRI machine. A gray gurney lay adjacent to a large, white, doughnut-shaped device with a man-sized hole. The rest of the machine nearly filled the entire room. Off to the left, what appeared to be a temporary wall contained a door with a window. Alina led Natalia to the table.

“Okay, lay here, sweetie. It’s noisy, but it doesn’t hurt.”

“Wait.” Leonard grabbed Alina’s arm. “I should go first…In case something happens. Like what if the transmitter melts or explodes?”

Alina rolled her eyes. “I doubt it will explode, but I guess you’re right. Let’s be cautious. Dad’ll go first, Natalia.”

“I heard, Mom.”

“Okay, okay.”

“And I’m not five years old.”

“I get it. Come with me.” She pulled Natalia toward the interior door.

“Should I strap in?” Leonard asked, fumbling on the table.

“Just lie down, Leonard. Head first. And keep your limbs straight. That’s right. I don’t care how much you wiggle. I’m just going to move you through.” Alina and Natalia disappeared behind the door with a glass window.

The machine roared to life and began clanging obnoxiously. Leonard wanted to cover his ears, but the conveyer belt was already rolling and he was pinned. He stretched out, arms at his side, and closed his eyes. As he moved into the machine, his anxiety level rose and a wave of claustrophobia engulfed him. He took deep breaths and tried to remain calm.

What seemed like hours later, the clamor ceased and the conveyer belt glided swiftly in the opposite direction. Alina and Natalia emerged from the separate room as Leonard endeavored to right himself.

“Feel anything?”

He touched his chest and abdomen and shrugged. “Nothing.” He lifted his shirt.

Alina ran her fingers along his spine. “Everything looks normal. No hot spots. Let’s move. Natalia’s next.”

The girl’s eyes widened with fear. “Is it scary, Dad?” she whispered.

“Piece of cake,” he said, trying to sound positive.

“You’re lying.”

He grimaced. “Just a little claustrophobic. And loud. Alina, do you have any earplugs?”

She sighed, reached into her pocket, and pulled out a Kleenex. Tearing and rolling quarter sections into makeshift earplugs, she hastily planted them into Natalia’s ears. “Stop stalling, Leonard. I don’t know how much time we have.”

“Nobody’s going to bother us.”

She scowled at him and helped Natalia onto the table, gently placing her daughter’s arms at either side. She kissed her quickly and pulled Leonard into the side room.

Dark and oppressive, the small space contained two screens and a series of wires connected to computer. The room consisted of three walls — one facing the MRI, one at their back, and one to the right. The left was open and appeared to lead farther into the basement. Alina wasted no time firing up the machine. It rattled back to life, filling the air with its discordant rhythm. Her brow furrowed in concentration, she showed Leonard how to turn the machine on and what options to select so that he could operate the device when it was Alina’s turn.

Fifteen minutes later, Natalia jumped off the table looking relieved. Alina rushed out to inspect her. “Good to go.”

A second later, a faint
bing
sounded in the distance, indicating that the elevator had arrived at the basement floor.

Alina’s face paled. “Shh,” she commanded, flipping off the light. “Probably just someone getting supplies, but we don’t want them to find us here.”

Leonard strained to hear the emerging voices.

“Strangest noise, Ben. Where’s your Taser?”

“Relax, Stan. I’m sure it’s nothing.”

Alina felt for Leonard’s arm and whispered in his ear, “You’ve got to go.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You two need to get out of here.”

“Nonsense,” he said. “Not without you.” His eyes adjusted to the dim light and he saw both fear and anguish on his wife’s face.

She shook her head and spoke gently as if addressing a child. “You have to go and take Natalia.”

“Where shall we meet?”

“No,” she said firmly.

“Where, Alina?” Leonard asked desperately.

The strange voices grew louder. “I don’t hear anything now,” one man said.

“This way,” the other replied.

The security guards seemed to move to one side, walking parallel to the MRI room, and then their voices grew softer again.

“We’ll wait it out,” Leonard whispered. “They’ll leave soon.”

Alina’s face hardened. “Take Natalia and leave. Out through there.” She pointed to the adjacent room in the direction of the missing wall.

“But—”

“Now!”

Natalia grabbed her mother’s arm. “Mom, let’s just hide back there.”

Alina bit her lip and suppressed an outburst of emotion. “God dammit. Leave. Both of you.” She shook Natalia’s arm away but refused to look her daughter in the eye. “I’m a liability now.”

Leonard balked. “Whoa. Slow down. You’re not a liability. What do you even mean by that?”

“You fool. I’ve still got a functioning transmitter.”

“We’ll wait until you go through the MRI.”

“Don’t you see? Even if they leave, these guys are going to rush right back down if they hear any more noise. In fact, who’s to say they won’t spend the afternoon here? It’s too late.”

“Mom.” Natalia sobbed softly, trying to keep her voice down.

Alina continued to ignore her daughter, and she focused on Leonard. “If we all run, they’ll follow, but if they find me here tinkering with the machine—”

“In the dark?”

“These guys don’t know anything,” she said dismissively. “I’ll tell them I’m looking for something that glows.” She pushed Leonard across the room and opened the door to the adjacent room. Shoving her husband and daughter through, Alina attempted to shut the door behind them, but Leonard stuck his foot against the frame.

“We can’t leave without you,” he whispered.

Alina’s face softened. “Yes, you can. Because I’m ordering you to. Because our daughter will go to prison if you don’t.”