There was a long pause. It sounded like the doctor was driving. “Oh, Pat! What a surprise.”
“I need your help.”
Pat explained his symptoms and what was happening. He kept his voice low when talking about Justice just in case she still was hanging around.
“We’re going to need to meet.” Clive said when he had listened to everything Pat had said. “I can’t explain everything on the phone but I am heading to a safe place. I will be at the boat ramp at German Park. Meet me there as soon as you can and we can figure out a treatment plan for you.”
Pat didn’t like the uncertainty. He already thought Clive was a pompous snob and Pat had to swallow all of his pride just to reach out to this man for help. Now this “professional” was asking him to meet at a boat ramp.
“Why are we not meeting at the hospital?” Pat pressed.
There was another long pause and all Pat could hear was the whooshing of the car. “I am meeting a man at German Park who I think has the resources we may need. I want to be able to get you the best and safest care.”
“Okay.” Pat suddenly heard rustling in the other room and realized that Justice might have returned. He was still skeptical of Dr. Evers but it was his only chance right now for immediate help. “See you soon.” Pat hung up quickly and quietly gathered himself together to leave.
***
Before Pat had called, Clive had been racking his brain for a safe place to go. Most of his colleagues were connected to the hospital or law enforcement in some way. It never entered his mind that he would be on the wrong side of those establishments someday. Now he wasn’t even sure how much longer he’d be safe in his car or using his phone. Each device had GPS trackers embedded. Maybe he had seen too many cop shows, but he was almost certain they would be able to track his movements if they tried.
That’s when he was reminded of Arrow Tzur. Back when Clive had first begun shadowing doctors at the hospital, he became fast friends with a pharmaceutical salesman. He had been informed Arrow was the best man to work with. He was charismatic, thoughtful, and always able to get samples of medicines that had just hit the market. Unfortunately, he ended up on the wrong side of the law, which made everybody wonder if he was only good at his job because he was cutting corners and manipulating the system. After that time they lost touch, but Clive still remembered Arrow had transitioned into the life of a sailor. Clive had been one of Arrow’s many calls he had made once he got out of prison. If anybody knew about being on the wrong side of the law, it was Arrow.
The number of residential buildings became fewer and fewer as Clive neared German Park. The pine trees were thick and clustered together along the road which made everything appear darker and gloomier with the oppressive gray sky above. It didn’t feel like fall in this part of Kimber; it felt like the deepest part of winter.
As he turned down the drive to German Park, he could see several boat masts crowding each other against the dark sky. The wooden docks stretched out to cradle each boat. Some boats were covered by tarps, while others were still being used for fishing. Clive breathed a sigh of relief when he could see the top of a houseboat with peeling white paint and the name “Straight as an Arrow” written on the side. When he parked and glanced into the car beside him on the left, he was pleased to see an exhausted-looking Patrick Sherwood. Clive raised his hand in greeting, but Pat merely returned it with a jerk of the head.
The two men exited their cars. It didn’t seem possible for two people to be more different. Despite running from the cops, losing his job, and being estranged from his wife, Clive’s eyes sparkled. His hair and facial hair were perfectly groomed and his clothes were exactly what was fashionable for the time. Pat, on the other hand, had dark circles under his eyes, a noticeable bed-head, and simple jeans under a black t-shirt that had seen better days.
“I’m glad you could make it.” Clive said, flashing a crooked smile. “We’re going to that houseboat down there.” Clive inclined his head to “Straight as an Arrow”. He hoped that his charm would enable him to get both him and Pat on board.
Without access to the hospital, it would be harder to get Pat the help he needed, but Clive figured that would simply be a small bump in the road. If he could figure out a way of helping Pat, he just might be able to get his job back and convince Mayre about what a good man he was.
“Let’s go!” Clive rubbed his hands together and smiled.
Pat had a very tired and unfathomable expression and Clive had no idea how to interpret how Pat felt, but Pat didn’t argue as they trudged down the gravel hill until they were walking across the sand. There was a ladder that led up to the dock which they climbed and walked to the very end where the houseboat rocked gently. With no hesitation, Clive knocked.
“Whaddayouwant?” Came a gruff voice from inside the boat.
“Arrow?” Clive ventured, raising his voice a few octaves to be heard above the water lapping against the side of the hull.
The door swung open and in the small entrance stood a very tall man. His arms were covered in tattoos and curving with muscle. His hair was short and pitch black, framing a face that wasn’t ugly, but asymmetrical. His nose looked like it had been broken multiple times. Paired with watery eyes that were struggling to focus, he was quite a sight to behold. “Yeah, whose askin’?”
“Dr. Clive Evers. From the hospital? This is Pat Sherwood, CEO of Sherwood Servers.” He gestured to Pat who seemed very small in comparison. “You look…well. Can we come in?”
“Oh...yeeeeeaaaah. Hey, buddy! C’min.” Arrow staggered out of the way and gestured for Clive and Pat to come inside. “You wanna beer?”
“Oh, no thank you.” Clive waved the idea away and Pat stood awkwardly in the middle of the sitting room.
Clive was disappointed by the happy drunk residing in the houseboat. His confidence in his poorly constructed runaway plans was starting to ebb away. A happy drunk might be fun to socialize with, but was not somebody who could guarantee your safety or security.
“It’s been forever, man.” Arrow said genially as he sat down. “I’m so glad you guys came over.” His smile revealed a missing molar on the left side of his mouth.
“Well, we’re glad to be here.” Clive started, glancing at Pat who looked like he was not happy to be present.
“Sit down, guys!” Arrow insisted, flapping his hands up and down.
Pat reluctantly sat on the fuzzy brown couch under the window and Clive made a beeline to the kitchen. After taking a moment to locate cups, he found one and filled it with water. As he came back around the corner, he shoved the glass into the inebriated man’s hand and insisted he drink deeply. Arrow obliged.
Pat’s eyes nervously surveyed the whole room and seemed to startle every time the boat rocked. “Why are we here?” He said finally, looking as if he was going to snap in half.
“Right.” Clive grimaced. He was hoping that his one hope for salvation from the law wasn’t drunk, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. “Arrow…”
“Yes, Doctor?” Arrow smiled and cocked his head to the side mockingly.
Clive gritted his teeth. He had forgotten how annoying Arrow could be. Taking a calming breath he started again. “Arrow, I am in danger.”
Pat whipped around, his eyes boring into Clive’s temple.
“What kind?” Arrow asked, trying to keep his eyes focused, but it was a struggle.
“I have been let go from my position at the hospital and now the police are after me. I don’t know all the reasons, but I think it is a philosophical difference about microchip care.”
“The privacy issue?” Pat chimed in.
“Yes.” Clive turned to meet Pat’s critical gaze.
“They cannot hack anybody’s chip.” Pat ran thin fingers through his messy hair thoughtfully. “There are procedures in place to ensure each customer’s privacy.” This was a rehearsed phrase Pat had to throw around quite often because he didn’t even pause to draw breath.
“Several of the people I spoke with were on board with instituting new policies to protect society as a whole. The ability to hack chips is already out there.” Clive glanced over at Arrow meaningfully but he did not meet the gaze. He was peering at the tip of his left foot intently. He was either ashamed of something or sick to his stomach. Clive couldn’t tell which.
