Chapter 7

Dad may have felt he was just about finished paying back for how he had treated his first family. He hadn't and the next payment was going to have a lot of physical pain in it. I hadn't planned on coming down from law school during the week. I received a call from Mom at three Tuesday morning. "Your father has been shot. Sandy was injured as well. They are in the emergency room at the hospital right now. Don't worry too much because we are told that the injuries aren't life threatening."

"What happened?"

"Aden and Sandra went to the late show at the movie theater. They went into the bar next to the parking garage where their car was and stayed there until it closed. Aden was unlocking the door on Sandra's side when this guy said something to him and then fired at him. He is hit in the stomach on the lower left side and another bullet smashed his elbow. Sandy has a broken right arm. I don't know the particulars."

"Did they get the guy who shot Dad?"

"Yes. He ran from the third level down the ramps and out into the street just as a car came by. He was hit and knocked down. The driver got out of the car and kept him there while his wife in the car called 911 and the police were informed. When the police came, they saw a gun partly under the car. Just then Sandra staggered out of the garage and told the police that your father had been shot and was on the third level somewhere. No one knows yet why Aden was shot. Would you call and inform Andrea?"

"Sure. You think Dad is going to be okay?"

"Yes. He is conscious and Sandy is in the room with him. Sandra is going to call me back after they fix her arm. If you come down, be careful and don't hurry."

"Okay Mom, I'll be careful. Have the kids been told yet?"

"No. I was kind of hoping you would be here when we did. Sandra asked me if I would inform you. I think she is depending on you to make sure the kids don't get too upset."

"I'll be there in a couple of hours. Before they get up, for certain." I made the arrangements to leave, having my roommate inform the professor why I wasn't in class. I called Andrea and headed south. It came to me as I was driving that this had to be connected to the deposition that Darcy was to give today. I couldn't say anything or get involved. Unless--

I made Brattleboro before six. Rena was up, of course, and welcomed me with open arms. "I'm so glad you are here. I think we should let the kids sleep until the last minute before waking them. Barbara will be over to help get them ready for school. We are depending on you to keep them calm, but I think they should go to school the same as usual."

"Good idea. I think I can handle it okay. Have you heard anything more?"

"Sandy called back. Her arm is going to be set early this morning. She thought the doctor would let her come home before noon. The way she got injured, Aden was in front of her unlocking the car door. Sandy heard a man ask if he was Aden Hunter. Your father confirmed that he was. Almost immediately a gun was fired. Aden lurched back into her, knocking her down. She landed in an awkward position and that is when she broke her arm. Sandy's other hand is messed up with some cuts and abrasions from a broken beer bottle that she landed on.

"When she realized what had happened, she crawled from under your father and staggered down the ramps to the entrance. The cops were already there. Rescue went right up to care for your father. She was so lucky that there were people around at that time in the morning."

"She say anything more about Dad?"

"Not much, except he was moved to a room and is heavily sedated. They will examine his elbow more closely later. They are still saying there isn't much to worry about and he will fully recover."

Mom came in and we had coffee together. She had little to say. When it came time to get the kids up, I went into the girls' room and said it was time to get up. They were excited to see me and bounced out of bed. I stepped in and spoke to Rich. He smiled and said he was glad to see me. He was a lot slower to get out of bed and I had to speak to him again, telling him he was going to be late.

Mom put pancakes on the table. This was a better than usual breakfast for them, so they knew something had happened. "Kids, your mother and father had an accident last night. Both are going to be okay. Your Mom will be home this morning and your Dad will be out of the hospital in a few days."

"How bad are they hurt?"

"Your mother has a broken arm and your Dad has a bad elbow. He also has a small puncture wound in his side. Your Mom arranged for me to take you to school this morning and I'm going to pick her up and bring her home from the hospital before noon. She'll be here just like always when you get out of school. Now hurry up and get ready. It is almost time to leave for class."

The two youngest kids ran to get dressed. Phyllis waited a minute. "What really happened? You didn't tell me how they got hurt."

"They were attacked downtown in the parking garage as they were getting ready to get into their car. Someone called Rescue and they were there to take care of your parents almost immediately."

"You're not telling me everything are you?"

"I don't know everything. Your Mom can tell you when you get home from school. Now get dressed, it is getting late."

Just then the phone rang and it was Sandy. She spoke to the kids just a minute, telling them she would see them after school. When she finished talking to them, she asked if I would pick her up at eleven. I agreed to.

When I returned from the school, Rena and Mom had both left. Mom's car was gone and I assumed she had left for work, tired as she must have been. Rena, who had watched the kids all night, I'm sure was sleeping. I wasn't that wide awake myself. I brought the alarm clock from Sandy's room and set it so I could get her at the agreed time. I had an hour and a half that I could doze on the couch.

I reached the hospital and asked for the room my father was a patient in. He was awake, although quite doped up. "Hi Son, you came to see me. Guess this proves you love your old man."

"I don't know what my feelings are for you most of the time. How are you?"

"The doctor tells me I'm going to be okay. He did say I am going to have an elbow that I won't be able to use much. My arm will be locked with a partial bend to it. Not straight and not where I can bend it closed. He said if the bullet had been of a larger caliber than a .22, it would have taken my arm off."

"What about the other wound?"

"That's no problem. I'm getting antibiotics to prevent infection. There again it was a small bullet and didn't do much damage. Are you here to pick up Sandy? She has almost as many injuries as I have."

"Yeah. I haven't found her yet. Is she on this floor?"

She is still in the operating room I think. She is supposed to come back here when they finish. She has her right arm broken and some nasty gashes on her left hand. She won't be able to do much for a few days. Rena is going to care for her until she gets better."