“Let’s just say it’s something I have always wanted to do, and I finally got a chance to put it on film. And it’s a surprise. So, how are you?”
“I had a very strange conversation with Doc Wall this afternoon, and I really don’t know what to do. I was wondering if you could meet me at the hospital when you get a chance.”
“Sure, whereabouts?”
“How about the playground in an hour? The children will all be in by then.”
*****
Shelly sat on one of the playground swings, her back to the parking lot. Thoughts—some angry, some painful—bounced around in her mind.
“So, what’s up with our resident clown?”
Shelly turned to see Nick. She looked away quickly, hoping to conceal her tears.
“Shel, what’s wrong?” He wiped away a lone tear from her right
cheek.
Shelly mustered the strength to tell Nick about her talk with Dr. Wall. She realized what hurt most was that she had considered herself a once-in-a-lifetime miracle and that her job—her mission, her raison d’être—was to prove it could happen again. She felt betrayed, yet fortunate, just not in the same way she did a couple hours ago.
“Now,” she said, “I find out there’s a guy named Hans who may be the key to all of it, and I have no idea whether he is dead or alive. Dr. Wall believes he went into hiding years ago in fear for his life.” Nick sat on the edge of the slide next to the swing. She could tell he was upset that Dr. Wall hadn’t said something sooner, but instead, he consoled her. She’d had the script of her life rewritten
in an instant.
“Look, I can check with some contacts in DC and at least see how
legit this is. Maybe your world hasn’t been changed.” “Where do you start?”
“Well, I have this guy who lives in this big, ol’ white house that
still owes me favors, remember? Besides, I have a couple of old