Arya heard the
buzzing again. “It’s very polite of you to put your phone on vibrate,”
Arya said to Zacharia, “but it’s okay if you answer it. Sounds like
someone really wants you.”
Christian
desperately wanted to answer it, but knew bringing Kim into this scene
would compromise his effectiveness. “It’s probably just a business
matter that can wait,” he said as he peaked to see who called.
“Must be very
important business since they’ve called that many times. I would be
worried it was an emergency.”
Christian,
wanting to avoid any further distractions, said, “No, it’s not an
emergency. If it were they have a special way of reaching me.”
“Ah, should have guessed that. So what is it you wanted to share with me?”
“It’s quite
simple, actually. We have a problem. Apparently you have been helping
out the Iranians with your nuclear knowledge. The problem is this: If
you continue I will have to terminate you….”
Christian/Zacharia was caught off guard by Arya’s calm response. “Wow.
You plan on killing me if I don’t stop? I had thought we were friends….”
“My assignment is to stop you and if that means terminating you then I will.”
“You tell me this knowing full well that I will have to do something to prevent you from killing me.”
“Yes, but you won’t be able to do that, and you could choose to stop helping them.”
“You are very confident in your work.”
“Yes, I am,
which is good for me but not good for you. So, what do you think about
not working for the Iranians?”
“That would be difficult. Iran is my country.”
“I realize that,
but you are not going to do anyone any good dead, so why not think
about living a little longer?”
“You have a point. How much time do I have to consider your proposition?”
“Tomorrow at the latest. I have some other things I need to deal with besides you.”
“All right. I’ll think it over and get back to you.”
“Don’t bother,
I’ll get back to you — and I hope it wont be the last time we meet.”
For some reason they shook hands and parted.
By now Christian
had 6 messages from Kim. He hesitated to listen to them but couldn’t
resist. The first several were frantic, asking where he was, and Kim
said she wanted to help him no matter what kind of trouble he faced.
(Sure, he thought, but how is a cute little squash teacher going to
help absolve a murder charge and then help terminate a bad guy?) He
held his emotions under control… that is, until he heard the fifth
message. “Christian, I don’t know what has happened!” she cried into
the phone, “and I don’t really care. I have a limited time to live!”
she gasped through her tears, “and I want to spend it with you. PLEASE
call me!” The sixth message was different: “Dying is going to be hard
enough, but with you gone it will be unbearable. I need you more than
ever,” she said, sounding remarkably sober.
What the fuck?
thought Christian, what is she doing to me? Did she hear something from
the doctor after I left? Shit. Not now. He tried to return to his
professional demeanor to contain his emotions, but it wasn’t working.
Against his better judgment, he
made the call. Three rings later he thought he
would just leave a message, but then she answered. “Christian…, are you
alright? I’ve been scared to death. Where are you?”
“I’m fine. I had to take care of some business. Forget about me, what in the world is going on with you?”
There was a long
pause as Kim tried to gather her breath to speak. “My cancer has come
back and they say it doesn’t look good.”
“What do you mean it doesn’t look good, you haven’t even finished all the tests.”
“I don’t know,”
she said, choking on her words. “They found something that told them
they didn’t need to do all the tests to know things weren’t good. Where
are you? I need to see you. I need you by my side.”
“I have some business here tomorrow and then I will be there,” he said, gathering his professional demeanor.
“Is it about Shay?” she asked, not wanting to hear the answer.
“No, it’s
something else. Look, I’m sorry I can’t leave right now, but tomorrow I
will be there and we will figure this out.”
“Figure what
out? I am dying!! They told me there is little hope except for this one
thing and it costs an outrageous amount of money.”
“What’s the one thing? Tell me what it is!”
“I don’t really
remember, it was so outrageous. It had to do with nuclear medicine. Who
cares? I am dying, don’t you get it?"
“Who can I talk to about this?” he asked, agitatedly.
“What are you talking about? You are not listening!”
“Kim, now you
listen to me. I need to know who I can talk to about your one shot at
life. Just give me a name,” he said, returning to composure.
“I knew I
shouldn’t have fallen for you! I don’t know what is going on but you
are being no help. The one thing you can do for me, you can’t do till
tomorrow. Don’t even bother! I’ll go to Shay.” She hung up sobbing.
Kim immediately gathered herself enough to call Shay. She needed someone she could trust.
Shay didn’t
waste a moment. “Where is your boyfriend?” he asked in a sarcastic,
accusing tone. But when he heard nothing but tears, he quickly became
the older brother. “Kim, what’s wrong? I’m sorry about the comment
about Christian, but it’s my job.”
“Fuck your job! I’m dying. Doesn’t anyone get it? I am fucking dying!”
“No way. You just saw the doc and he said it would be awhile before there were any results.”
“That’s old news.”
“Oh my god. Where are you? Have you told Christian?”
“I’m in my car.
I just talked to him. He says that he can’t be here till tomorrow. He
has some fucking business to take care of. What is it with men that
they always have something else to do? I can’t take this, Shay.”
“OK. I’ll come and pick you up.”
“Thanks.”
“I have to ask, did Christian say anything about why he ran from the club?”
“No. He just
said he would be here tomorrow and that he wanted to talk with someone
who recommended this crazily expensive nuclear treatment for me.”
