There Must Be A Mistake Ch. 23

"Yes sir, Jack, and I have this under control. You take care of Margaret, that's your job for now. Did you take care of her flowers?"

"Shit, I forgot. I don't have a key for her apartment."

"Her doorman does."

"Lucius, do you know everything about everything?"

"Yes sir, why do you ask?"

"Can I have the numbers to this week's lottery?"

"Sure, do you have pencil handy?"

"Go ahead Lucius, this ought to be fun."

"3, 18, 21, 24, 47, 52. Powerball number is 19."

"I'm going to lose a dollar on these numbers."

"You could win more than $270 million on those numbers. Remember, I think the betting closes at 8 PM tonight."

"I will get there before then. Let me know what happens with these people."

Dan left the pencil and paper on the counter. He took a shower, set the alarm for 5PM, and lay down to rest.

He felt like he was asleep for three minutes when the alarm went off. He groused at it, got out of bed shaved, dressed, and left for Margaret's apartment.

On the way there, they stopped to pick up a vase for flowers, hoping they had not been destroyed. The doorman let him in to the apartment, watched as he put the calla lilies into the vase and added water.

As Dan was leaving the doorman said, "You have to put ice cubes in with the flowers to help preserve them."

Dan looked at him. "You do it. I would probably screw it up."

After putting in 20 ice cubes, the doorman locked up Margaret's apartment. Dan gave him $100 to make sure her apartment was secure, while she was in the hospital.

As they were driving to the hospital, he saw a sign for the lottery. He reached into his pocket, and the piece of paper was not there. He realized he left it on the counter.

"The hell with it; I just save myself a few dollars."

He arrived at the hospital and went up to the intensive care unit. Margaret was not in her bed. He panicked. He ran to the nurse's station, which was unattended.

He yelled, "Where is everyone?"

"We have patient, be quiet."

"Where's Margaret?"

"She's taking a short walk to see if we can send her to a telemetry room."

"Okay, I'll find her."

He left the ICU, and looked down both hallways to see where she was. There were several people taking walks, while holding on to the poles holding their medications. Only a few were being assisted, and none of them was Margaret. He looked his right, and saw a small convoy of aides and nurses walking very slowly, and every once in a while, they would start laughing. He knew instinctively, his Margaret was there.

He walked quickly to catch up with them, and heard Margaret telling stories about him, when he was a young First Lieutenant.

"I have no idea how he made it through West Point. If I wasn't his secretary, they would have busted him down to private."

"You know that's not true Margaret. The lowest they could have put me was back at the Point, as a Plebe, and started to train me all over again."

"It might have helped you Dan, at least you would've learned how to spell."

"The Jesuits taught me how to spell at the end of the yardstick. How do you think I got to the Academy?"

"Your uncle was a congressman, that's the only reason you got in."

"When we get married Margaret, I am going to have to teach you some manners. You are no longer a corporal, who could yell at me at will, because you knew I wouldn't send you to the brig."

"If you sent me there you would still be a First Lieutenant."

"Ladies, as you can see, we are going to be a perfect couple."

Margaret, the nurses, and the aides, burst out into laughter.

Suddenly Margaret faltered. Eight pairs of hands reached for her, and held her steady, while she was placed into her wheelchair.

"Do you see the effect you have on me Dan? I can't even stand straight when you're here."

"Do you want me to leave?"

"Absolutely not, who else would I torture?"

"Let's get her back to her room. We have to check everything before she calms down."

After they hooked her back up to the machines, and listened to her heart, her nurse asked, "Who's on call?"

"Doctor Romotar."

"Get him up here now."

Margaret asked, "What's wrong with me?"

"I think you've developed a heart murmur."

"What is a heart murmur?"

"It's a problem with a valve in your heart. It can range from innocent, to requiring surgery. If it requires surgery don't have it done here."

Dan was on the phone instantly.

"Mister Zabo, I may be using our helicopters for a private reason. Margaret may need heart surgery. I will be flying her down to Austin, if she does."

"Dan, you don't need my permission to do something like that, just get it done. Give her our best. I will make sure the best heart surgeons are available for her when she gets there."

"Thank you Mister Zabo, I will keep you informed."

His next phone call was easy.

"Lucius get our helicopters ready to go to Austin. Margaret has a heart murmur. She may need surgery. I need one set up for a stretcher, a nurse and for me. The other set up for security."

"What the hell did you do to her this time?"

"I didn't do anything. They had her up for a walk, and she collapsed. They took her back to her room, hooked her up to the machines, and the nurse found it."

"I will arrange for a police convoy to get you back here safely, and the armored cars for you to bring Margaret here. You take care of her; I'll keep everything here in the control."

"You got it Lucius, thank you."

Doctor Romotar was at Margaret's side within moments. He looked at the telemetry, and listened to her heart. He called for an immediate CAT scan. The technician had left the hospital to pick up her child at daycare, before they closed for the night. There was no one to replace her.

He took another look at the telemetry, and didn't have a choice.

"Miss Post, if I could perform the test I need, I could be better equipped to make this decision, but I can't. In an abundance of safety, I want to transfer you to Austin immediately. I will call for an ambulance to take you there."

"Doctor, don't worry about the ambulance; she's going by helicopter. I have it all arranged. Call the University, and tell them she is on her way. We will be there in 40 minutes."

"We will have her ready in 10 minutes to leave the hospital."

"Five minutes would be better Doctor."

"We will give it a try."

***************

They took Margaret out of the helicopter, placed her on a gurney, and rushed her through the doors and into the hospital. They ran so fast, Dan was hard-pressed to keep up with them.

They took her into preop, cut her gown away, poured liquid anesthetic over her chest, abdomen, and arms; they hooked her up to the electrocardiogram, while the anesthesiologist asked her questions. The cardiologist listened to her chest, while nurses inserted intravenous needles into her hand and elbow. They were ready to take him take her to the operating room, when she insisted on seeing Dan.

They threw a gown, gloves, mask on him, and let him in to see her.

"Danny, I know I'm not going to make it this time. I don't want you to be sad, or angry. We finally made it. We finally agreed that we have loved one another for more than 30 years. It just took us a long time to get here."

"Baby, don't you talk like that. This operation is done every day. It's a simple valve replacement, and your heart is strong. I will be waiting for you in recovery. I will be in the chapel praying, and waiting for you."

"I'll see you on the other side Danny. I'll be waiting for you."

"Don't you leave me Margaret; fight for your life, fight for us."

"I will try my best."

"Miss Post, the doctors are waiting."

"I love you Margaret, I always have."

"I love you Danny."

**************

Nine hours later, Jayden found Dan in the chapel meditating. He tapped him on the shoulder, which startled him.

"Dan, the surgeon wants to talk to you. From the look on his face, I don't think its good news."

Jayden made sure that the security team stayed close enough to keep Dan from killing the doctor, as he explained what happened to Margaret.

Dan was surprised by the greeting he got. "Hello General Morgan, my father served with you for nine years in Germany and the Balkans. His name is Major Alfred Goodman; he was a Doctor in your medical corp. When I heard you were coming, I googled your name, and realize you commanded my father's outfit. I called him to verify it, and he said yes."

"Now, I am sorry to say we lost Ms. Post, while she was on the operating table. It was not just a leaking valve in the left ventricle. She had a tear the size of a nickel, between the left and right ventricles of her heart. We had her on the heart-lung machine, and even through our best efforts, we could not seal it tight enough to hold. There is too much pressure in the left ventricle. Anything besides a new heart wall between the two sides of the heart would have ruptured in a matter of hours. They don't make those.

There was nothing we could do to save her. I'm amazed the hospital in Temple, didn't pick it up. I'm sorry general, we did our best, but our best wasn't good enough today."

Dan had lost so many men in battle; he didn't cry. He would do that in private. He thanked Doctor Goodman for his efforts on Margaret's behalf, and asked when he would be able to take her home.

"General, the paperwork will be finished tomorrow. You can take her home the following morning."

"Thank you very much Doctor, I appreciate you trying to save her."

"Jayden, I don't feel much like talking. Would you call Lucius, and tell him what happened. Have him call Mister Zabo and Mister Valentino, and give them the news."

"Yes sir, I'll take care of it."

*****************

Lucius screamed 'NO', as if he had been hit by a hot branding iron. When he regained his composure, he asked, "Does Danny have his gun? If he does take it away from him. I don't care if you have to handcuff him to do it, but get that gun away from him. I want two men with him at all times, no exceptions. He is not allowed to give orders, which are not approved by me, or Mister Zabo. He is on indefinite leave of absence."

"I understand, and agree completely, Colonel."

"Did he cry, Jayden?"

"No sir he did not."

"That asshole, he's going to blow like a volcano."

"I know this is going to sound funny at a time like this, but ask him if he played the lottery tonight."

"How far away should I be standing sir?"

"I would have a door between you and him for safety."

"Remember I'm married. My wife will come after you if I'm dead."

"We have great insurance plan remember?"

"She will still want a piece of your hide Colonel."

"General Morgan, Lucius wants to know if you played the lottery tonight."

"Only that man could ask a stupid question like that at a time like this."

"Tell him I heard that, and ask him if that means no."

"The Colonel heard that sir, and wants to know if that meant no."

"Give me your phone for a moment; I want to ream a new ass hole into that bastard."

"Lucius, I'm in pain over losing Margaret. How could you possibly ask me about the lottery?"

"I know you're in pain over losing Margaret, so am I. If you had played them, as I told you to, you would be $285 million richer."

"You are a lying sack of shit."

"Use your smart phone and look up the lottery numbers."

"I left the sheet of paper on the counter in the kitchen."

"You are an absolute idiot Dan."

"Lucius, you are back on my shit list."

"Margaret would not be happy to hear that Dan."

"Okay, you're off it again."

"It takes you a while, but you do learn. Are we going to bury her here or in Massachusetts?"

"I never looked through her records that far, but I guess I'm going to have to do it. We will have a service for her here, and whatever her preference was we will take care of it then."

"Do you want me to take care of it Dan?"

"No this is something I have to do."

"Good boy Danny, you are growing up. Tell me when you're coming back, and I'll arrange a reception for her. I'll call everyone concerned."

"One more thing Dan, I knew your mind would be with Margaret, so I took the precaution of buying that lottery ticket for you. You are a very rich man. I was hoping to give it to Margaret and you as a wedding present. I'm sorry it didn't work out that way."

"You bought it Lucius, keep the money."

"Danny, I've worked for William for almost 30 years now. I'm successfully invested all over the world, because of him. This money is like a drop in the bucket compared to what I have."

"You and I have to talk Lucius; we have to have a long talk."

**************

William and Jemma were heartbroken when they heard of Margaret's death. William knew what she meant not only to Dan, and to Lucius, but to many other members, who held her in such high regard. He became determined to give her a sendoff as a member as a Member of the Team.

It was 4 o'clock in the morning, but no one refused to call from William Zabo regardless of the time.

***************

All scientists, staff, and security team members, except those on guard duty at the main building were to be at the NEST at 4 P.M. that afternoon. No reason was given.

*******************

At 1 PM, two tractor-trailers left a warehouse in Dallas. The drivers were begged not to get into an accident, and please don't be late. Their arrival time was scheduled for 3:45 PM. Their every move was tracked on GPS, and the bosses breathe when the trucks arrived at the gates to the NEST, at 3:30 PM.

"Where do you want me to bring this stuff?"

"Follow the SUV in front of you, and don't deviate, unless you want to be blown up driving through a minefield."

"A minefield, are you guys nuts? What the hell are you building here?"

"A spaceship."

"Oh, so this is the place they are doing it. Can we see it?"

"Only if you don't want to go home tonight."

"I don't think our wives, and kids would like that very much."

"Follow the truck, and don't go either side of the road. Your wives and kids will not like that either."

As the trucks drove off, Mel asked Steve, "When the hell did we put in a minefield?"

"Probably when you were out to lunch."

"You always tell me I am out to lunch."

"There's a reason for that Mel, trust me. If you weren't so deadly with that rifle, you would be working at Burger King."

"Remember that Steve, it could always go off by accident."

"That's why we don't give you real bullets."

"You're kidding, you gave me blanks?"

"I'll stand by that tree, and you can try to shoot me. You will only embarrass yourself in front of everyone here. Let me call the guys over so they can watch you make an ass out of yourself. Do you want to try?"

"No, but when do I get my real bullets?"

"When we are under attack, which will be soon, very soon from what I've heard."

Everyone from the main building started showing up at 3:55, and proceeded towards the meeting point. Nearly the full contingent of 630 people were there waiting for instructions.

Stephano Valentino knew what was coming, because he cut the purchase order, and knew it was not coming out of company funds. He looked down at Patti and grinned.

"What are you grinning at Steph?"

"You look like a gnome with all these normal people around."

You would think after 24 years of marriage he would've known better than to say that to her. She could not reach his chin, but her foot could reach his ankle very easily, and it did.

"Ouch, you bitch."

"The next time you call me a gnome, I'll break it."

William and Jemma walked up to the front of the audience. William asked for quite.

"For those of you who do not know, I'm sorry to inform you that Margaret Post passed away last night, while Doctor's were performing heart surgery. Our hospital did not have the equipment to see her problem early enough to save her. It will have soon. Margaret was loved by many of us, and a friend to all of us.

Margaret and General Morgan were to be married on Valentine's Day, here on this open field. Instead, tomorrow we will hold her funeral here.

These trucks contain everything you will need for tomorrow. Many of you have never worn black camouflage outfits in your life, and it will be new to you. Ask those amongst you who have, and they will help you. There are sizes for everyone, including Patti Valentino, which we had to fly in from Borneo, because a lot of short people live there."

"I'll get you for that William."

"You stay away from my husband Minnie Mouse."

"If you're not careful woman, I'll take you back to New York with me."

"Not now ladies, we have business to attend to. Gentlemen if you would unload the racks from the back of the truck and bring them inside we can get the process started. Ladies you can help with the boxes of shoes, because we all know how ladies love shoes."

*******************

The procession bringing Margaret's body home arrived shortly after 1 o'clock. Dan was in the hearse with her. He was amazed to see what had happened apparently overnight.

As they raised the main gate, he saw a 10-man honor guard waiting on both sides of the road. The men and women were dressed in black, from their boots, to their necks. Their helmets look like polished brass.

As the procession continued slowly towards the NEST, one rank moved out, to be joined by another, and another, leading the hearse in the direction of the stage.

Margaret had an honor guard of 30 men and women on each side of her, but that is not all. Every man and woman in the field was dressed exactly the same. Dan worried only him and his security team would be inappropriately dressed.

As the hearse came to a stop, and he exited, his security team was no longer behind him. He realized they were no longer necessary.

Lucius stood at attention, as the six pallbearers took Margaret's casket and hoisted it up onto their shoulders.

Lucius yelled, "Company: ATTENTION."

Everyone in the field stood straight as an arrow.

As they were approaching the stage area, Jemma and Patti pulled Dan behind a screen.

"You have 90 seconds to change general, move it."

If you've ever been in the military, you know you can do a lot in 90 seconds. Changing uniforms is one of them. Dan had no problem making that time limit.

He walked out and exchanged places with Lucius, while William Zabo was still eulogizing Margaret.

Something was bothering Dan, and then it hit him.

"Lucius I want you to call Doctor Goodman, and ask him if the tear between the right and left side of Margaret's heart could have been caused by the automobile accident."

Lucius didn't bother answering him; he just disappeared into the hangar. He was connected to Doctor Goodman's office, while he was seeing patients. When he heard the phone call was in reference to Margaret Post he accepted the call.

"Doctor, this is Colonel Lucius Canyon, I am General Morgan's adjutant, and he has a question for you. Ms. Post was in a car accident 12 days before the heart murmur started. Could the accident have caused the hole between the two sides of the heart?"

Doctor Goodman did not hedge. "Yes Colonel, if the accident was severe enough. Were there any other passengers in the car?"

"Yes Doctor, one person died, and the driver had a punctured lung and a bruised heart. She was on the same side Margaret was. The car was hit broadside, by a drunk driver in a truck. The SUV she was in rolled over three times before it came to a rest on her side."

"There is your answer Colonel. You have one bruised heart, and another heart that couldn't withstand the torque of the spinning. I'll go over the x-rays and my notes. I'll send a copy to the Temple police, and to you. At the very least, it's vehicular homicide, or negligent homicide. In my book, it's murder."