Fox just stared at her.

“ You know…you’re sorta cute. But, do I know you?”

Fox sat down next to Simone.

“ I’m Nicholas.”

” Ok, Nicholas. How does a stranger wind up in my hospital room?”

” I’m the one who pulled you out of the water.”

Simone thought about it, and lowered her eyes to the floor. “ Oh. Thanks.”

“ It was my pleasure.”

” How long have I been asleep?”

” A few weeks.”

” Wow. How is it that you’re sitting here when I woke up? Where’s my family?”

” Don’t get all paranoid. I sent your sister to get some dinner.”

” Whitney? She doesn’t give a golly about me.”

“ That’s not true.”

” You don’t know my sister.”

” That’s right. I can only judge her by her actions in the hospital. And, I believe she really loves you. Take it from someone who only speaks to his siblings occasionally – she loves you.”

” SHE’S the reason I’m in here!”

” Honey, don’t kid a kidder. YOU are the reason you’re in here.”

Simone stared at Fox. “ Who the golly do you think you are?”

” Someone who saved your life and who thinks you need a serious reality check. Suicide is stupid.”

” I didn’t..”

” Girl, please. You threw yourself off a pier into freezing water. If that’s not suicide, what is?”

” You don’t know me!”

” That’s true. But, I’d like to.” Fox smiled.

Simone was stunned. She looked at Fox with curiosity. “ Why?”

” Because I think we have a lot in common. Plus, haven’t you heard about the Chinese proverb about saving a life? And, I need friends since I’m new to town.”

Simone tried using her personal radar, but it was fuzzy and unclear. “ I guess it would be ok.”

” You guess…well, I’ll take that ringing endorsement then.” Fox laughed. “How about I go get a nurse or two to check you out.”

Simone nodded. “ That would be nice.”
 
 

As they turned the corner, on the street where the Blue Note was, it was Julian who saw flames.

” Oh my God! Fire!”

TC fumbled for his cellphone and dialed 911.

“ Hello, there is a fire at the Blue Note night club. On Peniston street. Please hurry. I think my wife is in there.”

TC then called Sam.

” Chief Bennett.”

” Sam, it’s TC. I think Eve’s in trouble. I’m on my way to the Blue Note. We see fire, Sam. I think she’s in trouble.”

” Ok, Buddy. I’ll be down there with some men right away.”

Julian had stopped the car and both men jumped out. Julian went to the trunk. Opening it, he pulled out a fire extinguisher.

TC called out, “ Eve! Eve! Are you in there?”
TC went to open the door, and the knob was hot. He recoiled.

Julian went and got a garbage can. TC did the same. They threw the cans at the window and shattered it. The flames shot out. TC went to the trunk where Julian had a blanket, and a gallon of drinking water. He poured the water over the blanket and brought it to the window. He put it over himself and Julian, who held the extinguisher.

“ On Three…”

They jumped into the burning club, with Julian using the extinguisher to help along a path. TC spotted her first. “ Over there!”

Eve was almost surrounded by fire, but Julian went to work, and TC made it to her. He pulled her into his arms. As he lifted her up, he saw the blood.

“ It’s gonna be ok, Baby. Julian!” Julian put the blanket on Eve and TC, and led the way for them to get out. They made it out and to the alley.

“ Is she ok, TC?”

” She..she’s been shot! There was blood!”

” Blood! Let’s get her to the hospital!”

” Fine.” TC got into the backseat with Eve, as Julian got in to drive. Just then, Sam drove up. He jumped out of his car.

” TC!”

” Sam, she’s been shot. We need to get her to the hospital!”

” Julian, follow me!”

Sam got into his car and put his siren on. They drove past the firetrucks on their way to the Blue Note.

” Eve, Baby, please wake up. Please don’t leave me. Just hang on, Eve.”

The lump formed in Julian’s throat. He was worried about Eve. “ Hang on, My Darling.”, Julian whispered.

They made it to the hospital in a hurry. Sam had already radioed the ER, and they were waiting for them.

Whitney was winding up her dinner break when she saw the two cars drive up. When TC got out, she called out to him, only to stop when she saw he was carrying someone. Once the blanket dropped away, Whitney saw that it was her mother.

“ Mom! MOM! MOM!” Whitney ran towards the gurnee, and Julian stopped her.

” Daddy, what happened to Mom!”

TC held Eve’s hand and ran with the gurnee as long as he could, but then they pulled Eve away and rolled her into the cubicle. They closed the curtain and worked on Eve.

TC stood there, in shock, and Whitney came up to him.

” Daddy? Daddy?”

Whitney looked at her father, who was covered in Eve’s blood. Whitney looked from her father to Julian.

” Your mother has been shot, Whitney.”

” Shot? Why? Who?”

Just then Sam came up. Sam looked at TC, and knew he was about to collapse. Sam came to the aid of his friend, and helped prop him up, walking him to the couch in the Emergency Room waiting room.

” Yes, who do you think shot Eve, Julian?”

” I think it was Liz.”

” Liz? Why would Liz shoot my mother?”

” Because she’s a spiteful, evil bitch.”

“ Julian, please explain to me what motive Liz would have to hurt Eve.”

” Because, she’s Eve’s sister – bent on revenge.”, TC spoke.

“ Daddy, Mom doesn’t have a sister.”

” Yes, Princess, she does. Liz is her sister. Liz has been after Eve since the moment she saw her again in Harmony. She hates your mother, and would as soon see her dead.”

” But, why?”

” Whitney, it’s a long story. Princess, please. No more. Not now. “ TC lowered his head and looked at all the blood.

” Whitney, go to one of the nurses and get a surgical scrub for your father.”, Sam ordered.

Whitney nodded. Sam turned to TC, “ well, if you think Liz tried to kill Eve, where is she?”

“ I don’t know. I don’t care.”, Julian replied. “ All I care about it is Eve.”

Sam stared at Julian, then TC. “ What the hell is going on?”

” Sammy, it’s a long story.”