Distant Cousins
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Year 1997
Peter Caine and his distant cousin rushed to the scene of the accident in Henry's car. Mary Margaret was standing near by while two paramedics were loading another person into the back of the ambulance.
"Pop!" Peter tried to rush forward when he was roughly held back.
"Sorry son, we can't let you get near."
"That's my father they're loading in there. I can help."
"Peter," Mary Margaret Skalany called out to the young Shaolin. "It's all right officer. I'll deal with this. The man is his father."
"Skalany, what happened?"
"I don't know. We were driving to the airport. Everything was fine, then suddenly the car swerved. I couldn't control it. We hit the bus shelter broadside. Caine bore the brunt of the hit. Oh, Peter, he's hurt bad. There was blood everywhere."
"Take it easy Mary Margaret. My father is strong. He'll survive this."
"Could you take me to the hospital, please."
"We'll take my car," Henry stated. "It's just down the street."
"Wait, someone's got to stay here and file a report," a young uniformed officer approached.
Skalany gave a deep sigh. Despite her feelings of wanting to be near Caine, the officer was right. She had to stay and make out a report. As a cop, she too, would have insisted on it.
"Peter, you go. He's your father. The doctor may need you to answer some questions."
"Which hospital are they taking him to?"
"County General. I'll call ahead and alert Dr. Sabourin that you're coming."
"Thanks, partner."
Except for Peter giving Henry directions to County General, the drive to the hospital was done in silence. Finally, the driver could not stand it any longer.
"You going to tell me why you called that woman 'partner?'"
"Like I said before, I used to be a cop. We would work together as partners."
"She works for the 101st Precinct?" Henry questioned.
"Boy for someone whose also a cop, you're not very observant," Peter quipped.
"Hey, give me a break. I don't start working until tomorrow."
"Well you may be starting a lot sooner," Peter stated.
"What do you mean? You don't think that was just an accident?"
"A car just doesn't swerve out of control, not unless there are some major mechanical failures . . ."
"Or someone tampered with it," Henry finished Peter's explanation. "Why would someone want to tamper with her car?"
"My father has many enemies. The thing is, I don't understand why I didn't sense that he was in danger."
"I still don't understand," Henry stated. "What do you mean you couldn't sense him?"
"It's a Shaolin thing. You'll get used to it."
Henry wasn't satisfied with Peter's explanation. He didn't have time to question his cousin further when they arrived at the hospital to see Dr. Sabourin waiting out front.
"Peter, where's your father?"
"What do you mean where's my father. The ambulance should have arrived before us."
"Well, the ambulance is not here, so where is he?"
Continues with Part 7
Alisa Joaquin Copyright@2003.
This story cannot be reprinted or sold in any other form without strict permission from
the author. It is being distributed here solely for your enjoyment.
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