Chapter 11
Rebecca, Ari and Martin stood around the bed. A near empty bottle of wine sat on a night stand close to Sherman’s head.
“I think he’s asleep,” Ari whispered.
“For now,” Rebecca said, wiping her hands with a hot towel. She turned and grabbed a needle and thread from a plate on the dresser. “But he’ll wake up the second he feels this. You’re to have to hold him. Ari, get his right hand. Martin, can you hold his legs?”
“Yes,” Martin said, walking around to the front of the bed.
“You sure?”
Martin nodded.
“I will hold his legs.”
Rebecca glanced at Ari and shrugged. She carefully threaded the needle, and slowly unraveled a blood-soaked towel. She grabbed another towel and carefully patted it down around the gaping wound. The gash on Sherman’s hand was deep and long, snaking down his wrist to the fleshy part of his forearm. As soon as she pressed the needle in, Sherman’s eyes opened wide. He moaned and hissed.
“Hold his arms tight!” Rebecca yelled.
Ari leaned forward and put all his weight on Sherman’s good hand and on his arm just above the wound.
Rebecca glanced back at Sherman’s legs. Though the boy attempted to break free, Martin held his feet down without a struggle.
“Remind me to ask you how you can do that, Martin. You’re all of 140 pounds wet.”
“I said I would hold his legs,” Martin responded.
Ari gritted his teeth and looked at Rebecca.
“Didn’t you say that the wine would be like anesthesia?”
Rebecca frowned.
“’Like’ is the operative word, Ari. He’s drunk or else he would be screaming and frothing at the mouth.”
“Just hurry up. I can’t hold him down forever,” Ari shot back.
Sherman gasped and passed out.
“That’s that good, Sherman, go to sleep,” Rebeca said, pulling up a long strand of bloody thread. Just a few more.”
“How did you learn how to do this?” Ari asked.
“I watched a video at police academy.”
“Jesus,” Ari said. “I thought you were trained or…”
“I’m all you got,” Rebecca said, grabbing a wash cloth to wipe her forehead. “So far, I’ve given this kid eight stitches. They’re going to have to come out at some point.”
Ari stood up and stretched.
“I’ll guess we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.”
“Hold him down!” Rebecca exclaimed. “He could wake up any second.”
Ari swore under his breath as he returned to his position. He looked at Sherman. The boy’s head had rolled to one side.
“Listen,” Rebecca said. “This inn has six bedrooms, six medicine cabinets. People stayed here at one time. Maybe there’s penicillin or some other anti-biotic.”
“I thought you EXPLORED this place,” Ari remarked.
“Not every inch!” Rebecca shot back.
“How long ago did people stay here, Rebecca, 25 years ago, 30?”
“I don’t know.”
Ari shook his head.
“Antibiotics don’t last 30 years.”
“He’s young,” Rebecca said in a low voice. “He’ll fight the infection.”
Ari bit down on his lip and struggled to shut the negative thoughts out. He knew better.
Rebecca stepped back and looked at Ari and Martin.
“Done. Let’s clean him up and let him rest.” She glanced at the doorway. “I’ll sleep in the next room.”
Ari frowned.
“I sort of claimed that bed.”
“It’s a queen-sized bed, Ari,” Rebecca countered.
Ari glanced at Martin and blushed.
“Okay.”
“I’m not propositioning you. You can find another bedroom but I need to be close enough to this boy to hear him.”
Ari looked at Martin.
“I could do that, move or…”
“Or we could share the same bed,” Rebecca said, walking into the bathroom to wash her hands.
Ari turned to Martin.
“What do I do?”
“What do you want to do?” Martin asked.
Ari scratched the back of his head.
“Whatever.”
Rebecca emerged from the bathroom wiping her hands with a towel. She looked at Ari. “How tall are you?”
“5’10.”
“What size shirt?”
“Medium.”
Rebecca motioned to her blood-stained shirt.
“I could use another shirt.”
Ari glanced at Martin.
“I have a t-shirt and a business shirt. My suit is on the bus.”
Rebecca tossed the towel on the bed.
“I don’t need your suit. Your T-shirt will do.” Rebecca paused and looked Ari in the eye. “We’re going to share a bed but that does not mean we’re going to fuck.”
Ari drew back.
“Just clarifying things,” Rebecca said.
“Fine by me,” Ari said and headed out the door.
Rebecca looked at Martin.
“I think I pissed him off.”
Martin nodded.