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"Charlie called," Alex said. "Wants to know what's up. They don't know about any of this stuff with Harry and I was hoping to not have to tell them until it was over. Now they'll be worrying about us. But we have to do it." "Yeah," Jessica replied. "At least they're eighty or so miles away from it." "Luckily we don't have much to move," said Alex. "Charlie said it's an Airbnb, one of those things they call tiny houses. There's a little village of them south of town, a place that used to be a trailer park. We just need to take clothes and stuff, like staying in a hotel."
Remember this place. Some of the old mobile homes still down there. Couple dozen of those little houses. Jessica had booked the place for ninety days. He hoped it wouldn't be that long but the wheels of justice turn slowly. Assuming they're turning at all. The place was much better than any Alex had ever stayed in. It triggered memories of business trips back in the day. The one at Lake of the Ozarks, one in Vegas. This one was in a sixteen by about thirty feet and had a sleeping loft at each end. They unpacked and set up the computers checked connectivity. They made contact with Harry and updated him. It was getting late. "Dinner?" Jessica asked. "If we don't have to fix it," Alex replied. "I noticed a Pizza Hut and Mcdonalds," Jessica said. "Taco Bell and Dominos." "That Pizza Hut's been there for forty years," Alex replied. "That stuff Brenda gave me is still working." "The same one?" asked Jessica. "Wynne had the same Wal-Mart store for over forty years," Alex said. "Funny what memories are in there and I'm still finding them. I worked at the Wal-Mart store when I was in high school." "I'm glad you're still improving. Maybe someday it will all come back." "Hope so. I think." "Tacos or pizza?" "Tacos sounds good. Those things with hard and soft shells." "Double Deckers? I believe they still have those." "Cool. Let's go."
Alex woke up when Jessica left but almost immediately went back to sleep. He woke up again when she returned with breakfast. McDonalds. Could use some coffee. "I was just beginning to cook again," Jessica said. "And then we had to move. We can go get groceries since there's not much else to do." "Might as well. It could get boring." "We could take a trip," Jessica replied, "but we probably should stay close to home in case there are developments soon." "I need to visit Sam and Charlie," Alex said. "I need to let them know where things stand." "Good idea. Why don't you give them a call? And we probably don't need to be going on road trips - we need to be close to our computers. Trying to do some of the things we need to with phones is not easy."
They met with Charlie and Sam at Sam's place. Jessica briefly explained the situation. "I sensed something wrong there," Sam said. "Almost from the beginning. I guess I didn't want to believe doctors were so incompetent or so crooked. Even though you hear about it all the time. Here though, you don't expect it." "We don't want to believe it can happen here," said Charlie. "Jonesboro is a pretty big place now, and there's a lot of money to be made. It only takes a few bad apples to really screw things up. "What are your plans?" Sam asked. "Wait and see what happens," Jessica replied. "It may be a while. Months maybe." "At least something is finally happening," said Sam. "Maybe this will come to some sort of resolution soon." But what sort? It ain't been going too good so far. Sam and Jessica both noticed his mood. "Waiting is the hard part," Sam said. "But it seems that something good may be about to happen. If they're finally getting scrutiny from some higher authorities there's hope." "We hope so," Jessica said. "I don't want to alarm you but it seems some of the people the hospital are involved with are pretty nasty - possibly in organized crime. They know about Alex's place in Jonesboro but probably don't know he has a place here." "Probably?" asked Charlie. "We hope not," Jessica replied. "But the right people - or the wrong people - could find out easily enough. Finding the place we rented in my name wouldn't be as easy." "I hope you can get things sorted out soon," said Sam. "I'd like to see you have a normal life at some point." Me too. But can I? Jessica's phone chimed for an incoming text. "Harry," she said. "It's moderately urgent." Something tells me that ain't good. Especially the urgent part.
Jessica's RapidRadio beeped. "Didn't want to interrupt your vacation," Harry said, "but we probably need to meet. Not where anyone knows where we are. Where are you?" "An Airbnb in Cross County," Jessica replied. "South of Wynne." "That should be secure enough," Harry said. "I'll be there in.... lessee, you're about 40 miles from Jonesboro, fifty from where I am. I'll be there in an hour. What's the address?" "3200 Highway 1 South," Jessica replied. "I was about to go for lunch - want something?" "Yeah, whatever you're having. See you in a few."
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