Finding Sheila

Chapter 2 - All Fouled Up

Chapter 2 - All Fouled Up

“What do I do, Mel? They’re insisting they’ve got no one else available today that can go on a long trip,” Dana whispered into her cell from just outside the ambulance. “And, because she’s a prisoner, they won’t even let me bring her inside.”

“That’s B.S.”

“Tell me about it!”

“And that warden just let her go?”

“Well, that’s the thing. He didn’t exactly know the way they had it set up, or,” Dana started thinking out loud, “maybe he did know, and he wanted to be done with her so bad, he set me up.”

Mel sighed and rubbed at her temples. “It sounds like she’s our problem now. Man, it’s going to be a hell of a day.”

“What else is going on?”

“They’re arraigning Dale Walters this afternoon, but we just got an avalanche of phone records in that may...well, you know.”

“Prove something different?” Dana asked and then answered her own question. “Yeah, I get that.”

“Do you want me to try and make some calls? Maybe the Tennessee Department of Corrections will step up.”

Dana tried to stifle a scoffing sound and ended up coughing into her phone. “I don’t know what to do. This Caleb guy says he’s authorized to drive, stay overnight in Ohio and then drive back down here tomorrow but he isn’t even a paramedic; he’s just an EMT. What if something happens to her on the way up there, Mel? What did they tell you was really wrong with her? I mean, I was under the impression it wasn’t just a mobility issue.”

“I admit, I didn’t ask for details. I’m sorry.”

Dana couldn’t be mad. She knew Mel had a lot on her plate.

Mel continued, “It’s your call. I can call Tennessee and ask them where they want you to drop her off or you can go ahead and bring her up here with just the driver. If you do that, just make sure you take the Interstates, so you can get to hospitals quickly and so State Patrol in Tennessee, Kentucky and Ohio can get to you as fast as possible.”

“Yeah. You’re right. We’re not going to get anywhere with the Tennessee folks. That chance passed us by when we rolled through the last sally port.”

“Well, now that that’s settled, I hate to cut you short, but I want to help my folks go through this stuff and then get over to the courthouse. I’ll stay here tonight until you get here with her, so I can see her settled in. Please be careful.”

“I will.”

“I love you.”

“I love you too Mel.” With that, she hung up, walked around to the driver’s side door and said to Caleb, “Let’s get a move on. We’re wasting daylight.” It was something her father-in-law Jesse said all the time. She smiled to herself and climbed in the back.

At least I can sit in the chair the paramedic would have used...