Finding Sheila

Chapter 3 - Break Time-1

Chapter 3 - Break Time

Dana felt the squad slowing. She looked through the window between the back and the cab, at Caleb. He was headed down a ramp, off the interstate. She figured they were in Kentucky, but she didn’t know where.

She glanced at her watch. 1:55. They’d been on the road for nearly three hours. Caleb probably needs a break.

She looked over at Sheila as she stretched her own legs out in front of her. The older woman was still asleep. She had been for at least an hour. Once they were on their way, she hadn’t needed any assistance or made any demands. She’d said, before she drifted off, “First decent bed I’ve had in eight months.” Her lack of medical need was a relief to Dana.

When the vehicle lurched to a stop, she peeked up front again. They were at the bottom of a ramp.

Caleb’s voice came over the intercom. “I need a quick break...use the facilities.”

She pressed the button and replied. “No problem. Me too.”

“The Pilot Center up here will have handicapped access. Do you think she’ll need to...ah, to go?”

“Just a minute.”

Dana let go of the button and called softly to Sheila. “Rest stop, Ms. Ford.” There was no response. She touched her shoulder lightly and called to her again, “Ms. Ford? We’re stopping at a rest stop.”

Sheila stirred and muttered she was fine then seemed to settle right back into slumber.

As Caleb turned off the ramp and then into the travel center lot, Dana thought about what to do. She was glad Ford didn’t need to exit the vehicle, but she wasn’t sure if she should leave her either. She felt for her cuffs at the small of her back.

“Hate to do this, but nature calls,” she said in a low tone, close to the other woman’s ear. She picked up Sheila’s left wrist and snapped a cuff around it then snapped the other around the frame of the gurney. Sheila tugged lightly at the restraint once and then stopped. She didn’t bother to open her eyes.

––––––––

* * * *

“Where are we?” Dana asked Caleb.

He ran a hand through his high and tight haircut. “Just off of I-65; the Sonora Exit is what the sign said. We’re just south of Elizabethtown, according to the map on the GPS.”

Dana wrinkled her nose. “We lost a lot of time working out around the back-up from that pile-up in Nashville.” Mel’s not going to be happy.

“I...I was hoping to get north of Louisville before...well, before I needed to stop. That’s about half way. Sorry. Couldn’t...ah, wait.”

Dana realized what he meant. “Go...go. I’m sorry. I’ll wait back here with her and go myself when you get back.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes. Go.”

Caleb tipped his head in her direction then locked the back of the ambulance. “We can both go. She can’t get out of there.” He turned and went on his way.

Dana debated what to do, but now that she was up and moving around, she realized she really did need to use the facilities herself. She tested the door. Locked. Nodding to herself she set off to find the ladies room.

––––––––