“Bue…bue…buenos días, Señor Vasquez.”
“Hay una enferma, joven, que se llama Veronica, aqui?”
The front desk receptionists shoot glances at each other. He is asking for the young beauty that came in with the two young men. She was still unconscious and would be defensless against a brute like Vasquez.
“Si, creo que esta aquí.” The receptionist picks up the phone and quickly dials Dr. Jimenez’s extension. After a fe mumbled exchanges, the receptionist says, “El doctor quiere hablar con usted antes que te lleve verla.”
“Bueno. Aquí espero.”
The nurse knows that Dr. Jimenez has done “side” work for Vasquez before. The good doctor had even been flown to the states to tend to a bullet wound El Chulo had gotten from a rival familia while doing business in Juarez. Dr. Jimenez could pacify Vasquez—get on his good side. The last thing she wants is a blood bath in the lobby.
Vasquez takes a seat next to a woman holding a snot-nosed toddler. His heart fills with worry. The last time he had seen Veronica happy was when she was the age of the little one in the seat next to him. He asks the woman how long she has been waiting to be seen. She looks at Vasquez and rolls her eyes. She mutters something under her breath; asking rhetorically why he cares, and stating even louder that he should slum it more often. Vasquez realizes that she must be incredibly poor. Anyone with access to internet, TV, or a newspaper would know not to talk to him like that.
A man in the next row over behind the woman nudges her shoulder and whispers something in her ear.
“Yo si ce quien es! Y a mi que me importa?”
The woman’s eyes pierce into Vasquez. For once, in a long time Vasquez feels intimidated by another person. He respects her for this—her fearlessness. She glances behind him as Dr. Jimenez walks up.
“Hello sir,” interrupts Dr. Jimenez. “The receptionist let me know you were looking for the young woman that just came in?”
“Yes. I’d like to see her.”
The doctor rings his hands. His nervousness makes Vasquez anxious. “Please tell me what wrong Doctor is. I don’t have time to play games.” Vasquez takes a deep breath, “The truth is she is my daughter. I have made a mess of a lot of things and I need to make sure she is safe.”
The doctor looks at Vasquez with shock and fear. His daughter? He knows giving him bad news could mean his life. Stalling won’t work now. Dr. Jimenez motions for them to start walking towards her room, “Sr. Vasquez the head trauma is severe.”
“What is the prognosis?” asks Vasquez has they enter her room. She looks like an angel asleep. Her arm is hooked up to an IV and the room is filled with a chorus of beeps announcing her vitals. Vasquez was not prepared to see her like this and he rushes back out, “let’s talk in the hallway and let her rest. Please, let me know her condition.”
“Well, to be honest, we don’t have the resources to fully assess the extent of her injury. She is in a coma now, but stable. I suggest we air lift her to the United States were they could better treat her.”
Vasquez agrees motions with his hand and one of his men miraculously comes from around the corner. “Ernesto, make arrangements to transport Veronica to Cedars Sinai. Contact Dr. Mollenkopf. He’ll know what preparations need to be made.” Vasquez directs his attention to Dr. Jimenez, “Can you fax her chart to them?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Also Doctor, I want you to personally see that the woman with the small child in the waiting room is cared for next. Send this and any future bills to me. They will be taken care of.”
“Yes I will. Right away,” says Dr. Jimenez confused by the request. “Oh, before I forget. A young man wanted us this to give this to Veronica when she came to.” He hands Vasquez the letter.
Vasquez opens it and reads it.
Dear Veronica,
Jay and I were told we couldn’t see you or get an update on your condition because we aren’t family. We left. I am sorry. I wish I could have protected you from all of this. I failed you as a man.
Jay and I are headed to your mom’s house. I am going to bring her back. If I need a family member to find out that your ok, I’ll move mountains to get one. I wish I was meeting her in happier circumstances but I need to make sure your going to be OK. It is my only focus.
I’ll see you soon—healthy.
Yours,
Garret
“Hay una enferma, joven, que se llama Veronica, aqui?”
The front desk receptionists shoot glances at each other. He is asking for the young beauty that came in with the two young men. She was still unconscious and would be defensless against a brute like Vasquez.
“Si, creo que esta aquí.” The receptionist picks up the phone and quickly dials Dr. Jimenez’s extension. After a fe mumbled exchanges, the receptionist says, “El doctor quiere hablar con usted antes que te lleve verla.”
“Bueno. Aquí espero.”
The nurse knows that Dr. Jimenez has done “side” work for Vasquez before. The good doctor had even been flown to the states to tend to a bullet wound El Chulo had gotten from a rival familia while doing business in Juarez. Dr. Jimenez could pacify Vasquez—get on his good side. The last thing she wants is a blood bath in the lobby.
Vasquez takes a seat next to a woman holding a snot-nosed toddler. His heart fills with worry. The last time he had seen Veronica happy was when she was the age of the little one in the seat next to him. He asks the woman how long she has been waiting to be seen. She looks at Vasquez and rolls her eyes. She mutters something under her breath; asking rhetorically why he cares, and stating even louder that he should slum it more often. Vasquez realizes that she must be incredibly poor. Anyone with access to internet, TV, or a newspaper would know not to talk to him like that.
A man in the next row over behind the woman nudges her shoulder and whispers something in her ear.
“Yo si ce quien es! Y a mi que me importa?”
The woman’s eyes pierce into Vasquez. For once, in a long time Vasquez feels intimidated by another person. He respects her for this—her fearlessness. She glances behind him as Dr. Jimenez walks up.
“Hello sir,” interrupts Dr. Jimenez. “The receptionist let me know you were looking for the young woman that just came in?”
“Yes. I’d like to see her.”
The doctor rings his hands. His nervousness makes Vasquez anxious. “Please tell me what wrong Doctor is. I don’t have time to play games.” Vasquez takes a deep breath, “The truth is she is my daughter. I have made a mess of a lot of things and I need to make sure she is safe.”
The doctor looks at Vasquez with shock and fear. His daughter? He knows giving him bad news could mean his life. Stalling won’t work now. Dr. Jimenez motions for them to start walking towards her room, “Sr. Vasquez the head trauma is severe.”
“What is the prognosis?” asks Vasquez has they enter her room. She looks like an angel asleep. Her arm is hooked up to an IV and the room is filled with a chorus of beeps announcing her vitals. Vasquez was not prepared to see her like this and he rushes back out, “let’s talk in the hallway and let her rest. Please, let me know her condition.”
“Well, to be honest, we don’t have the resources to fully assess the extent of her injury. She is in a coma now, but stable. I suggest we air lift her to the United States were they could better treat her.”
Vasquez agrees motions with his hand and one of his men miraculously comes from around the corner. “Ernesto, make arrangements to transport Veronica to Cedars Sinai. Contact Dr. Mollenkopf. He’ll know what preparations need to be made.” Vasquez directs his attention to Dr. Jimenez, “Can you fax her chart to them?”
“Yes, of course.”
“Also Doctor, I want you to personally see that the woman with the small child in the waiting room is cared for next. Send this and any future bills to me. They will be taken care of.”
“Yes I will. Right away,” says Dr. Jimenez confused by the request. “Oh, before I forget. A young man wanted us this to give this to Veronica when she came to.” He hands Vasquez the letter.
Vasquez opens it and reads it.
Dear Veronica,
Jay and I were told we couldn’t see you or get an update on your condition because we aren’t family. We left. I am sorry. I wish I could have protected you from all of this. I failed you as a man.
Jay and I are headed to your mom’s house. I am going to bring her back. If I need a family member to find out that your ok, I’ll move mountains to get one. I wish I was meeting her in happier circumstances but I need to make sure your going to be OK. It is my only focus.
I’ll see you soon—healthy.
Yours,
Garret
Good chapter Inez, good luck in Vegas!
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