Lost Lake

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Vanessa knew that Dr. Ganett would be in his office at six in the evening because she’d called earlier, posing as Sheryl Neidig, to tell him that she had exciting news that she wanted to tell him in person. Ganett had been eager for her to come over and had agreed to wait at the hospital. Vanessa put on her wig and dressed in black slacks and a blue silk blouse that showed off her figure. She was also wearing sunglasses and hoped that Ganett would assume that they were a Hollywood affectation.

When Vanessa conceived her plan, she did not realize how nervous she would be when the time came to execute it. When she knocked on Ganett’s office door, she felt slightly nauseated, and her hand was shaking. The doctor told her to come in and motioned her to a chair.

“I just received fabulous news from LA,” Vanessa said, fighting to keep a tremor out of her voice. “Fox is crazy about doing a made-for-TV movie about Daniel Morelli and the whole problem of Little League parents, and they are very hot about you consulting for us. They’re also considering-very seriously, I might add-the possibility of a role for you, and I don’t mean a cameo.”

Ganett brightened. “That is exciting.”

“Here’s the thing, though. When you do these movies based on real events you have to move fast so the events are still fresh in the viewer’s mind when the movie airs.”

Ganett nodded knowingly.

“Bob Spizer-he’s my boss-Bob wants me to start location scouting right away.” Vanessa fished a digital camera out of her large purse. “I’ve already taken pictures of the hospital, but I need a few of the secure ward to send to LA. It’s for the screenwriter.” Vanessa leaned forward and lowered her voice. “Nick Battaglia is on board. We were so lucky to get him. Usually he’s impossible to tie down, but he’s between projects.”

Ganett nodded again, even though he’d never heard of Nick Battaglia-which was not surprising, since Vanessa had made up the name.

“Nick visualizes the scenes before he writes them. He’s like that, a real artist. Tough to work with sometimes, but his finished product is always first-rate. Anyway, I know it’s late, but I was wondering if you could take me up to the ward where they’re holding Morelli.”

“I couldn’t take you into his room,” Ganett said.

“Of course not.” Vanessa paused as if she’d just gotten an idea. “Are there any empty rooms on the ward that look like his?”

“Yes. I could let you see one of them.”

“Terrif. I’ll have a contract for you in a day or so. You may want to have a lawyer look it over. I can’t tell you how much they’re going to offer for the consulting fee, but I put in a good word for you.”

On the way up to the ward Vanessa asked question after question to keep Ganett occupied and to give herself time to review the plan that had come to her after Ami told her how easy it had been to get in to see Carl.

When the elevator stopped, Vanessa let Ganett lead the way. She felt light-headed and she hoped that the doctor would not notice that she was perspiring.

“Hey, James,” Ganett said to the slender black man who was manning the desk.

“Evening, Dr. Ganett.”

“This is Sheryl Neidig. She’s with a production company in Hollywood. They’re going to make a movie about the Little League thing.”

“No kidding?”

“Dr. Ganett is going to be our technical consultant,” Vanessa said, flashing James her brightest smile.

“Let us in, will you?” Ganett asked. “Sheryl has to take a few photos of the ward for the screenwriter.”

Vanessa wondered if the guard would want to search her purse. She was certain that she could get to her gun before he could react.

“Sure thing,” James said. He grinned at Vanessa. “If you need an extra, I’m available.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she answered as James talked into his radio. A moment later, another orderly-this one tall and blond with a weight lifter’s physique-opened the door from the inside.

“What’s the routine for getting out?” Vanessa asked with a laugh. “I’d hate to be stuck in here.”

“Mack’s got the keys to the kingdom-right, Mack?” Dr. Ganett said.

“Don’t worry,” Mack answered with a grin, “we’ll probably let you out.”

Vanessa laughed and asked Ganett another question. Ganett answered it, then gave a running commentary about the type of patient who was treated on the ward as Mack led them down the hall toward Carl Rice’s room.

“How do you open these doors?” Vanessa asked when they had almost reached the policeman who was guarding Carl’s door. It was all she could do to keep her voice even.

The orderly pulled out a ring of keys. “Like the doc said, I’ve got the keys to the kingdom.”

“Do those keys open all the rooms?”

“There’s a master key,” Mack answered as he showed it to her.

They arrived at Carl’s room and Ganett introduced “Sheryl” to the officer and told him why she was in the ward. The officer seemed impressed.

“Can I look in the room?” Vanessa asked the policeman.

“Sure.”

Vanessa looked through a small window that was inserted a third of the way up the door. Carl was lying in bed staring back at her but he gave no sign that he recognized her. She stepped back from the door.

“Could I see inside one of the empty rooms?” Vanessa asked. Mack looked at Gannet. He nodded. The orderly opened the thick metal door of the room next door. It was identical to Carl’s except for the bed, which had only a bare mattress. As they walked inside, Vanessa asked Ganett and the orderly a few questions. Then she paused as if she’d just been struck by an interesting idea.

“Officer,” she called to the policeman, “could you step in here for a moment so I can get a shot for the screenwriter? He’ll want to be able to describe Morelli’s guard for the costume department.”

“Sure,” the policeman answered. He was ripe for anything that broke up the monotony of guarding a locked hospital room.

Vanessa’s breathing was so rapid that she was certain the policeman would hear it as he walked by her. As soon as the three men were in the room Vanessa closed her eyes for a moment to regain her composure, but she was still shaking like a leaf when she took her gun out of her purse.

The men stared uncomprehendingly. Then the officer started for his weapon.

“I’ll kill you if you touch that gun,” Vanessa said, surprising herself by how calm she sounded. “If you cooperate, no one will be hurt.”

Time stopped as the three men decided what to do. Vanessa prayed that they wouldn’t attack her, because she wasn’t sure that she could pull the trigger.

The officer froze, but Mack looked as if he was tensed to spring.

“Don’t do it, Mack,” Vanessa said, shifting the gun so it pointed at his stomach. “I don’t want to leave you dead or crippled.”

Mack hesitated, and Vanessa knew she’d won.

“Get down on your stomachs with your hands and feet spread wide.”

The men did as they were told, their eyes never leaving her weapon.

“Sheryl, what’s going on?” Ganett asked as he lowered himself to the floor.

Vanessa ignored him. “Mack, push your keys and radio over here, and no sudden moves.”

Mack did as she was told.

“Officer, please slide your gun to me.”

The officer complied.

“Cell phones next.”

Vanessa could see Ganett calculating the odds and she shifted her weapon toward him.

“Leroy, I’d hate to see you die for your cell phone. I promise it will be right outside the door. I won’t even use any of your minutes.”

The doctor slid the cell phone to her.

“Okay, here’s the drill. I’m locking you in, but I’ll check on you before I leave. If you’ve changed position, I’ll kill you. If you don’t cause trouble you’ll be okay.”

As soon as she locked the door, her legs almost gave way from relief. After a brief look through the window to make sure that the men hadn’t moved, she unlocked Carl’s door. He stared at his visitor.

“Get up, Carl, we’re leaving.”

“Who…?”

“I’m Vanessa. Now, move it. We don’t have time to talk. I just locked your guard, an orderly, and your doctor in the room next door. We’ve got to get you out of here.”

Carl struggled out of bed. He’d been walking for the past few days, but his legs were still stiff from inactivity.

“Stay next to the wall when we get close to the front door,” Vanessa said. “The orderly on the other side is about your size. You’ll switch clothes with him once I lure him into the ward.” She pulled a second weapon from her purse and handed it to Carl butt first. “Take this.”

Carl checked the weapon, chambered a round, then held it at his side with the muzzle pointing down. When they were at the entrance to the ward he pressed himself against the wall so that he would not be visible to someone looking through the window in the door. Vanessa was amazed at how alive she felt now that Carl was with her. She used the master key to open the door. James looked surprised when she walked out alone.

“Where’s the doctor?” he asked.

Rice stepped out. James’s jaw dropped when he saw the prisoner training a gun on him. He started to get up and Rice cracked him across the temple with the gun barrel. The orderly’s legs wobbled from the blow and he almost fell. Vanessa blanched when she saw the blood, but she kept a grip on her emotions. Rice grabbed the dazed orderly by his collar, shoved him through the door, and swept his feet out from under him. James fell to the floor.

“Strip, and do it fast,” Rice ordered. He grabbed the orderly’s pants and shirt as they came off. While Vanessa kept her gun on James, Rice put on the outfit. Then they took the orderly down the hall and locked him in the room with the other prisoners, who were still on the floor.

“Why are you doing this?” Carl asked when they were headed down in the elevator. “Don’t you know how much trouble you’re in?”

“I know that you’ll be dead if you stay here. If I could break you out this easily, think how easily my father’s men will be able to break in when they learn you’re alive.”

“I wish you’d left me on my own. I told Ami Vergano that I didn’t want you involved.”

Vanessa smiled. “When did I ever do anything anyone ordered me to do?”

Carl smiled back. “Point taken. So, Captain, what’s the plan?”

“My car is gassed up and we’re going to get out of town. After that, I have no idea.”