This story was just getting longer and longer so I finally decided to end it. I hope that is okay. I have other long tales in the works so look for them in the near future.
Cheers
-Dys
Chapter Nine
Tragedy struck a week later. Typical, it was as sudden as it was horrific and, just like 911, he would always recall exactly where he was and what he was doing when he received the news. In this case he was in Otis' shop working beneath a large Ford diesel King Ranch truck. Since big diesel engines were his specialty, Oty often called him for help when they came in. This one was a pretty straight forward job, and he was wrapping it up when a voice disrupted his concentration. It was one of the other mechanics named Mike.
"Hey Chad! Telephone!" He yelled from the office. "Sounds important!"
With a grumble he pushed himself out from under the rig on his creeper and rose, wiping his hands with a rag. He entered the office and took the land line. He always kept his cell in the glove box, so they were unable to reach him immediately.
"Chad!" It was Jessica and she sounded hysterical. His blood froze. "Get to Mercy General right now!"
He felt a deep pressure in his chest robbing him of breath. "Wha—what happened?" 'Please not Bobby.' He prayed.
"It's Paul!" She wailed. "There was a shooting at the Courthouse. Oh God babe! It's really bad! Get here quick!" He closed his eyes and his throat tightened.
"I'm on my way." The line clicked and he hung the phone up, looking blankly around.
"You okay Bro?" Mike asked with sudden concern.
"I—I need to get to the hospital right now." He stammered. "Jess says that there was a shooting at the courthouse."
"C'mon!" He grabbed the big man's arm. "We'll take my Jeep."
The breaking news flashed on the radio indicated that the shooting occurred as Franky D was being escorted from the Courthouse after his arraignment. He was pleading for a deal apparently and several gunmen opened up on the crowd as they followed the group out. It was confirmed by eyewitnesses that there were several deaths including Franky D himself, and several agents. There were several seriously wounded who were taken to the three different hospitals in the area. Speculation was rampant as the talking heads debated rumors, facts, and conjecture. Rumor had it that the civil lawsuit for wrongful death was entered that day as well. Which would explain the presence of Paul at the courthouse.
Mike drove like a lunatic and reached the Emergency Room entrance in time that would make the paramedics cringe. Chad jumped out and ran into the building without even acknowledging the favor. Not that it was needed between friends.
He was directed to an elevator bank that took him to the 4
th
floor. From there he found a well-marked waiting room and walked in to find Jessica and Spencer hugging each other crying. She looked up and met him halfway across the room, clinging to him desperately and crying with great racking sobs. He gestured to the young boy who came forward to join in the group hug.
No one spoke for several minutes as the tears flowed and bodies trembled with grief.
"What happened?" He asked almost with a whisper.
Jess sniffed and shook her head as she wiped her eyes and nose on her sleeve. "I don't know!" She replied trying to compose herself. "Paul was rushed straight to the OR and Jen asked me to pick up Spence." She hugged the boy to her tightly. "I have been here waiting for some kind of word." She shook with emotion. "I just know that things were looking terrible. They said CPR was happening as they rolled him in..."
"Oh God." Chad breathed as he shook his head in disbelief. Why Paul? Of all people. He wondered horrified. "Where is Jen?"
"I—I think she's back there with them." She sobbed and waved at the NO ADMITANCE double doors on the other side of the room.
They only had to wait another 10 minutes before one of the side doors opened and Jennifer was led out by a woman in scrubs and an elder man with an ecclesiastic look to him. One glance at her face said it all and Jessica began shaking her head and crying anew as she went forward to grab her twin. They dropped to their knees in the middle of the room and sobbed into each other's arms.
Chad held onto Spencer and the young boy hugged his leg fiercely, his terrified expression was heartbreaking to everyone coherent enough to see it. When his trembling knees started to give, Chad lifted him effortlessly into his arms and held him tightly. He wanted to offer something to the boy, any words of support—but his throat felt so constricted he couldn't make any sounds other than a broken rumble deep in his chest. He felt his eyes stinging from the terrible sense of sorrow and loss that permeated the room.
'Oh, good God, what do we do now?' He thought to himself with deepening dread.
***
The evening news coverage offered more clarity into the events that led up to Paul's tragic death. His final seconds were even caught on video but blurred out due to respect for the family. It was leaked that Frank Discarsio jr. was going to turn state's evidence (presumably against his father) in a plea deal and part of that deal was for federal prosecutors to try and talk the parents of Florence Ruston to drop their civil suit for wrongful death. The results of the grand jury hearing were unclear but when all parties left the courthouse, they were gunned down by at least three assailants with automatic weapons.