Lesson 5-Climax

Oldies from the fifty's and sixties were blasting from the radio in the 1970 Ford LTD. Vila was singing along at the top of his lungs, the vehicle going faster and faster as the beat of the music became faster. He was feeling euphoric and filled with confidence Mindy was so dependent on him she would once again believe he'd just come in off of a trip. There was no way she'd ever know the lie he'd continually told her about him and Tonya breaking up was a lie.

"Oh, no!" One scream, then only blackness.

Juan Cordova, a policeman with the Taylorsville Police Department, was listening to his scanner even though it was his day off. When law enforcement is in your blood, you have to know what's going on even on your days off. Addictive, compulsive, whatever you want to call it, you don't stop being an officer on or off duty.

Dispatch was sending two ambulances and two units to take care of the wreck at the edge of town. Juan recgonized one of the tags being run as being on the vehicle owned by Vila. He called dispatch to verify he was right. Dispatch told him it was the vehicle Vila drove and one of the individuals being transported to the County Hospital was Valentin Vila, a hispanic male. The other individual was a female who had been driving a Chevrolet S-71. Dispatch told him the accident had caused significant damage to both vehicles.

"The Vila's are friends of mine," Juan told the dispatcher. "I will call the home and tell his wife about the accident and where he is being taken. Please advise the officers working the accident."

The phone rang as Mindy was leaving to go to Wal-Mart to get cigarettes and gas, "Hey, Juan. What?"

"Mindy, listen to me carefully. Vila has had an accident. He is injured, but I don't know the extent of his injuries. I heard it on the scanner and checked with dispatch to be sure it was him. He is being taken to Ross General."

"What happened, Juan?" Mindy asked with her voice trembling.

"I don't have any details, Mindy. Just where they were taking him. I knew you'd want to get there as fast as possible."

"You're sure he's alright?" Fear permeated Mindy's shaky voice.

"I don't know for sure, Mindy. All I know is he was in the accident and was transported by ambulance to Ross."

"Okay. Okay. The kids will be in from school soon." Panic was overtaking Mindy by the second.

"Don't worry about that. I'll call Linda at school and have her bring the girls home with her." Juan told Mindy.

"That's good. I am glad Linda is a teacher at their school. You two have been such good friends. I am going to get off this phone and go to the hospital now. Thank you, Juan."

Mindy broke every traffic law possible on her way to the hospital. Her mind was racing ninty miles a minute with every horrible scenario possible evading her brain.

The emergency room was overrun with patients. Nurses, gurneys, orderlies, and doctors all going at warp speeds in an attempt to care for everyone. "We have two more ambulances unloading," RN Hollis called down the hallway.

RN Hollis found the In Case Of Emergency card in the young Puerto Riccan man's wallet. Tonya Reese was listed to call. Ms. Hollis had contacted the young lady who fell apart on the phone.

"Ms Reese, Mr. Vila has you listed as first to contact in an emergency. You need to calm down before you try to drive here."

Calm down! How can I calm down? Vila is unconcious. Oh, my God he can't die, God he just can't die.

The blast of a horn brought Tonya back to reality. She had almost hit another vehicle. Okay, you want be any good to Vila if you have a wreck too. Calm down. Deep breath. Another one. Okay, watch what you are doing. Watch for the right exit. Ross General, did that nurse say the first or fifth street to the right. Dickens, that's it Dickens street.

Tears streaming, Tonya parked her car and raced to the emergency room doors.

"I am here for Valentin Vila. He was involved in a vehicle accident. A nurse from here called me," Tonya explained to the receptionist in the emergency room waiting area.

"Let me see where Mr. Vila is," the woman told Tonya.

"Mr. Vila is in exray now, but will be in room 216 West shortly. You may wait there if you wish."

"Yes, I'll do that," Tonya said. "Who is his doctor and when may I speak with him?"

"I believe Dr. Jonas is the attending physician. I'm not sure about when he'll be available for a conference. Maybe the nurses at the nurse's station can give you more information."

Tonya was agast at Vila's appearance as he was brought back from exray. His face had several lacerations and was swollen.

"He has been unconcious since before leaving the scene of the accident," the nurse revealed. "His vital signs have been irregular. He doesn't have any broken bones and that's good. He must have hit his head on the windshield. He does have a deep bruise on his chest, probably caused by the steering wheel."

"Why isn't he awake? Is he going to be alright?" Tonya questioned the nurse.

"I'm sorry I don't have any more to add. Dr. Jonas will have to discuss that with you. I wish I could help. I know it must be a shock. Dr. Jonas will be around in a couple of hours if not before. You can stay here in the..."

A deep cough coming from Vila interupted the nurse.

"Vila, " Tonya immediately reached and stroked his face.

"My name is Mindy Vila and my husband was brought in from a vehicle accident, " Mindy told the receptionist in the emergency room.

"You're sure you are Mrs. Vila?" the receptionist had a puzzled look on her face.

"Yes. I am sure I am Mrs. Vila? Where is my husband? Is he going to be alright?" Mindy exclaimed. Panic was beginning to overtake her with the receptionist's strange behavior. "He has to be alive. He just has to be alive," she thought.

"I think there has been a mistake," the receptionist began.

"What kind of mistake? Where is my husband? I want to see him right now!" Mindy exploded.

"Let me get our administrator for you. He can help you and answer your concerns."

What is going on. Why won't they tell me what is happening with Vila? He has to be alright! He just has to be alright. We are just getting things back together. Oh, God, please let him be alright. Mindy was having trouble breathing from pure fear.

A tall dark haired slender man entered the waiting room. "I am Ronald Heiman, administrator for Ross General, Mrs. Vila."

"Why won't anyone tell me where my husband is and what his condition is?" Mindy blurted out.

"Mrs. Vila, do you have some form of identification on you?" Mr. Heiman asked.

"Yes, but why do you need my ID for me to see my husband? He's not dead is he?" Mindy's heart was in her throat. "Tell me! You have to tell me!"

"Calm down Mrs. Vila. Mr. Vila is alive. He has been taken to room 216 West. There just seems to be a conflict of information here. Do you know someone named Tonya Reece?" he asked.

"I do, but why?" Mindy asked, anger creeping in her tone.

"Mrs. Vila, that person was listed as first emergency contact on a card in Mr. Vila's wallet," he began.

Mindy raced down the hallway toward 216 West with Mr. Heiman rushing after her. She opened the door just as Tonya reached out to touch Vila's face.

"Bitch!" Mindy screamed. "You get away from my husband!"

The nurse and Mr. Heiman stood eyes round with astonishment.

Mindy whirled around facing Mr. Heiman. "I'm the wife, she's the whore and here is my I D to prove it!" she said handing him her military dependant I D card.