Wilt in Nowhere

Chapter 22

But it was in the Starfighter Mansion in Wilma that the real battle was about to begin. Auntie Joanie had woken from her pill-induced sleep determined to visit Wally and had driven down to the hospital only to learn that he was in Intensive Care and could see no one. Dr Cohen and the chief cardiologist broke the news to her.

‘He’s not unconscious but his condition is exceedingly grave. We’re thinking of having him transferred to the South Atlanta Heart Clinic,’ the cardiologist told her.

‘But that’s where they do heart transplants!’ Joanie shrieked. ‘He can’t be that bad.’

‘It’s just that we haven’t the facilities here in Wilma. He’ll be a heap better off at the Clinic.’

‘Well, I’m going there with him. I’m not having him have a heart transplant without my being with him.’

‘No one is talking about a heart transplant, Mrs Immelmann. It’s just that he’ll get the best treatment possible down there.’

‘I don’t care!’ she screamed inconsequentially. ‘I’m going to be with him to the end. You can’t stop me.’

‘Nobody’s going to stop you. You’re entitled to go where you like, but I won’t take responsibility for the consequences,’ said the cardiologist and ended the argument by going back to Intensive Care.

As she drove back to the Starfighter Mansion in a blazing temper she made up her mind what she was going to do. Tell Eva to get herself and her brats out of the house.

‘I’m going down to Atlanta with Wally!’ she shouted. ‘And you’re going back to England and I never want to see you, any of you, ever again. Pack up and go.’

For once Eva agreed with her. The visit had been a disaster and besides, she was frantically worried about Henry. She should never have left him alone. He was bound to have got into trouble without her. She told the quads to pack their things and get ready to leave. But they had heard Auntie Joan shouting and were way ahead of her. The only problem was how to get to the airport. Eva put the question to Auntie Joan when she stormed downstairs.

‘Get a bloody cab, you bitch,’ she snapped.

‘But I haven’t the money,’ said Eva pathetically.

‘Oh, God. Never mind. Anything to get you out of the house.’ She went to the phone and called the cab company and presently the Wilts were on their way. The quads said nothing. They knew better than to talk when Eva was in this sort of mood.

In the Surveillance Truck Murphy and Palowski were uncertain what to do. No trace of any drug had been detected in the effluent coming from the Starfighter Mansion. Wally Immelmann’s heart attack had made the situation even more difficult and what they had seen and heard in the house didn’t suggest any activity connected with drugs. Domestic murder seemed more likely.

‘Best call Atlanta and tell them the sumo with quadruplets is coming and let them decide the action,’ said Murphy.

‘Affirmative,’ Palowski agreed. He’d forgotten how to say yes.