Page 86 of French Escapade

Jimmy

Ken’s always said that my superpower was to be able to sleep anywhere no matter what. Lately, though, I’ve had a hard time falling asleep.

Life would be so simple if I could grab some shuteye and snooze the hours away. I feel like I’ve been waiting forever in this hallway insideLa Timonehospital. The smell of disinfectant, the noise of the medication carts on the linoleum floors, the regularbeepof monitors, everything is beginning to sound way too familiar.

I’m not waiting for news of a loved one. Actually, if the one I’m here to see were to pass on, it would almost make me happy. I’m not cruel, but the fact remains that someone like Arkady Oushkin cannot bring anything good to this world. But, before he leaves it to go rot in hell, I need one last piece of intel from him.

I don’t make many promises. I made one, to serve my country, and I’ve been true to my word. That’s my sole commitment.

Unkept childhood promises have scarred me enough that I will not inflict such pain on anyone. This is who I am. My friends, those who know me well, like Ken, know they don’t need to ask for anything.

The women … well, that’s a different story. Some have wanted me to talk about the future. Truth be told, I have never felt the need nor the urge to do so. Some days, I think I’ve yet to meet the right girl. Others, I think this is just the way I am.

And yet, I’m here because of a promise I made. A promise to a pretty blonde with whom I’d spent less than ten minutes.

I don’t know anything about her. Well, very little. I know she fell into the hands of the man who’s battling for his life a few feet from me.

She said she lived in New York, and she has the most amazing eyes I’ve ever seen. A strange color at the border of green and blue. Eyes that must have cast a spell on me, because for the first time in forever, I made a promise. I said I would take her home.

And I failed. Miserably.

But unlike my mother, who disappointed me way too often and walked away, I’m not about to fail Tiffany, even if it means I need to threaten a man on his deathbed.

“You’re still here?” asks the nurse on duty as she walks by.

I smile. I noticed she seems to find me interesting, so I may as well take advantage of it.

“Yes, is he awake?”

She hesitates, so I spill my guts to her.

“Please, Laurie, I really need to talk to him. The life of a young woman could be saved if he spoke to me.”

I can see she’s torn between her feelings and her duties. I press her again. “Five minutes, that’s all I’m asking for.”

She looks around the hallway and then says, “Go. But if anyone asks, I never told you anything.”

“Thank you.”

I’m about to enter Arkady’s room when she stops me. “He’s very weak. Go easy on him.”

I don’t want to lie to her, so I just smile. She’ll think what she wants. Two seconds later, I open the door to his hospital room.

What would happen to his tough-guy reputation if his men were to see him like this, in his hospital gown, pale as a ghost? His eyes are closed, but as soon as I come close, his eyelids flutter open. No emotion in his eyes, no fear, no defiance.

I take a stool and sit by his bed.

“I’m not going to waste your time, or mine, since I feel it’s of the essence for both of us.”

He doesn’t answer. I’m not even sure he can talk. I sure hope so. If he could sing for a minute, that would be perfect.

“There was a girl at Palm Peach. Tiffany. She was to be sold.”

I’ve seen a lot of foul things since I enlisted, and still, the very idea of selling girls like cattle makes me sick.

“She’s tall, about six feet, thin, a blond with green eyes. I want to know where she is.”

Arkady stares. He knows who I’m talking about; it’s written all over his face. Yet he doesn’t answer.

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