The two figures silently followed Dr. Aaron Shutt down a crowded hallway. Passage was made easy for the two for the reason no one could see them. Aaron turned a corned into his office and left some papers on his desk. The two figures sat down in two felt chairs near the desk. Aaron went about his normal business
without once feeling the presence of the two women. The elder, an African-American woman, finally turned to her younger protegee.
"What do you think?" she asked. She was Tess, one of the more experienced angels in her field.She arraigned herself in the seat so she would be more comfortable. Her streaked gray/black hair displaced itself
in the light breeze the motion caused. "Do you have a first impression?"
Monica shuddered. She thought for a minute. "He looks like he lost his best friend," Monica replied, letting her Irish accent flow through her words. Monica was one of the newer angels, having been promoted from
search and rescue some time ago.
"You hit the nail on the head," Tess said while watching Aaron, who had just spilled hot coffee on a file. "Aaron Shutt's ex-wife and his friend were killed in a senseless act of violence six months ago."
"Have they found the killer?" Monica said.
Tess grimly nodded. "Yes, it was his medical student. A very twisted story of lies and obsession."
"But that's not why we are here," Monica stated firmly. "Otherwise we could have prevented this whole mess."
"True," Tess said, getting up. Monica turned to watch. "There is something more immediate."
"What?" Monica said as she rose to join Tess at the doorway. Aaron had just left to go on his rounds.
"Our boy Aaron has been depressed lately. Plus..." Tess turned. "I also saw Andrew in the hallway while we were coming upstairs."
Andrew was one of many Angels of Death. Monica looked out into the hallway hoping to see him.
"Maybe it's a coincidence." Monica spoke hopefully.
Tess nodded. "We have to get to your assignment," shesaid, walking out of the room.
"Are you here for someone too?" Monica asked as she followed Tess.
"Yeah. Something about a custody hearing."
The two got on the elevator the doors closed. But as the elevator opened on the
next floor it was completely empty.
Aaron was at the front desk nursing a steaming-hot cup of coffee. Too hot for his taste anyway. He set the cup down and checked his watch. Aaron was waiting ur could have handled the case. Custody hearing."
"Careful. Those have unexpected results."
Tess nodded. "I'm going to go. I'll see you after my next meeting. Get acquainted with Dr. Shutt."
"He's already asked me to called him Aaron."
"Fine; well, see you later." Tess got up and left.
"Maybe things are not so bad after all," Monica thought she finished lunch. She then picked up things and left the cafeteria.
Later.
When Monica arrived at Aaron's office minutes later, he was at his desk reading a file. She put her purse on the floor next to the desk. When she set it down it made a loud thump. Aaron looked up surprised.
"You're back already?" Aaron asked as he put down the file. He checked his watch. "I usually give people the whole hour off for lunch."
"Well, I must have eaten faster that I thought. I could hardly wait to be your assistant," Monica said happily.
Aaron looked spooked. It must have been something Amber had said to him before.
"I'm glad. The first assistant I had went home early. I had no work for her." Aaron stood up and walked toward Monica. "But that's changed. Today we have four procedures.Actually, I'm glad you're back," Aaron said as he picked up his files. "You will get a chance to sit in on these procedures. We can talk about them
on the way to the patient rooms."
Monica tried her best to follow Aaron. He walked with very long strides. She passed Tess on the way. Tess apparently had been stopped on her way out of the hospital by Kate Austin.
"It's terrible!" Kate yelled. Tess could tell she had tried to keep this inside for a long time. Only now did this tiny crack in her armor appear. Tess felt both lucky and unlucky that it happened while she was around. "He
just called me on my cell phone. He wants to take away all my rights!"
"He can't do that. He has no legal reason to take the kid before or after the hearing. I can have someone watch her if you want."
Kate looked up relieved. "Really?"
Tess nodded. "In fact I know just the person for the job." She looked up and spotted Andrew in the corridor. He was wearing a lab coat.
"Here he is." She got up and dragged him over to the couch. "This is Andrew. We have been friends a long time. He'll take care of your little girl." She looked at him hopefully.
"Sure. I'm not married and I don't live far from here. And I'm great with children," Andrew replied.
Kate opened her purse and took out a Post-It pad. "I am going to give you a note giving you permission to pick her up," Kate said, scribbling. When she finished she gave it to Andrew, who folded it and put it in
his pocket."Show that to anyone who asks. I'm not exactly on the PTA but they'll respect that signature." Kate rose. "I'll see you tomorrow. Sorry for the trouble. I have been emotional lately." She glanced at the
two and walked toward her office.
As Tess was volunteering Andrew's baby-sitting services, Aaron was running Monica through the patient rooms. She briefly chatted with most of them, telling them who she was. She detected something pleasant with each one of them. They all felt infinitely better knowing she was there. Like they knew she was an angel.Monica was then whisked away to a surgery in progress. It was a chance for her to see the inside of the operating room. Although Monica had a partial understanding of what went on in there, she didn't say
anything. She was enjoying Aaron's explanation of the procedure and their instruments that did what they were supposed to do. After it was over she followed him out. They then returned to the office. He took a more somber tone on the way up. She suspected he was planning to say something important.
"I suppose you know what went on here a couple months ago." He said it flatly, with no emotion.
"I read about it in the paper," Monica said.
"Then you'll probably understand. I am still feeling the loss. And I'm still a little..well...paranoid about this whole student assistant thing. I'msurprised that Phillip managed to talk me into taking another chance. But
that's the past. People want me to move on. It's hard so I hope you just be patient with me over the next
couple of weeks. Okay?"
"Okay," Monica said as they went into the office.
Tess met Monica outside the hospital. She looked tired. She smiled weakly for the benefit of Tess. As they made their way down the walk they talked about their day in the hospital.
"How was your day?" Tess asked.
"Don't ask, don't tell," Monica joked. "To say the least, it was educational."
"I know what you mean. I think I have done eveything that I am capable of doing for the custody hearing." Tess turned around and pointed toward the hospital. Kate was obviously working overtime."I have made sure both of them can't take the kid out of the country or do anything crazy."
"That's good. But why are you still here if you have taken care of Dr. Austin?"
"My mission was in the same place yours was so I could help when I got done."
"Nothing is happening though." Monica looked at Tess. "What if it is a false alarm?"
"Well, you never know."
Monica followed Tess around the corner. They were gone before they even reached the crosswalk.
Aaron was sitting in his apartment. He was asleep in his easy chair in the living room. He twisted fitfully in his sleep, obviously having a nightmare. He could see Amber in front of him, brandishing the blade
that killed Camille. The soft hands had also managed to take Jeffrey away from him. His
friendship taken away when he needed it most. He woke suddenly. Aaron took a couple of minutes to get himself oriented. He then decided to take a hot shower. Aaron was getting the tub ready when
he heard the front door bell. He turned the water off. Aaron wiped off his hand after it slipped off the knob twice.
It was Monica.
"Hi," Monica said. She was dressed in a white cioat and gloves. She was also wearing a white beret.
"What can I do for you? It's pretty late to be out wandering the streets."
"I had a file that was in my bag that I thought you needed." She got out thefile and handed it to him.
"Oh, thanks." Aaron took the file and placed it on the coffee table. "Is that all? Maybe you could come in for something to drink."
"I would if I had more time. I have someone waiting for me." She pointed out Tess. Tess was in the car across the street."If you ever want to talk..."
"I know where you are," Aaron finished.
He then said goodbye and shut the door.
Monica was taken aback when the door slammed in her face. She turned around and
headed back to the car. She opened the door. After she closed the door the car started.
"Well?" Tess asked as they pulled away from the curb.
"Seems all right. But there is a sense that I'm missing something crucial to
this case."
"I'm sure it will come up."
"I hope it does."
As Tess drove the car away from Aaron's home, Monica couldn't help wondering what Aaron was doing at that moment.
Aaron finished his shower. He draped his robe around his dripping body and went
into the living room. He fished a pair of shorts and a t-shirt from the laundry pile. It was slowly piling its way to the ceiling.
He slowly pulled them on and entered the kitchen. As he opened the fridge he heard a noise.
"Aaron," the voice said.
He stood up with a jug of milk in one hand. He looked around the room. After deciding he had imagined it, he heard it again.
"Aaron."
"Who's there?" he asked aloud, then feeling stupid for doing so. Aaron took a long swig from the jug. When he replaced the jug he felt a hand on his back.
He spun around spilling milk on himself and the person who had touched him. It was Jeffrey!
"Jeffrey?" he asked uncertainly. "Yes," Jeffrey said.
Aaron checked the expiration date on the milk."That's it," he deduced."I'm drinking spoiled milk, so I am now hallucinating. My friend is dead."
"I AM dead," Jeffrey confirmed for him. "But you still drank that milk."
"Give me a little credit. I was kidding." Aaron waved his finger. "Just a little bit of you rubbed off onto me."
"I'm not here on a social call, Aaron. Can we step this up a bit?"
Aaron nodded and pointed to the living room. As Jeffrey went out the door, Aaron tried to touch him. When his hand went through Jeffrey, he stopped.
"Are you satisfied?"
"I guess so."
They both sat on the couch. Jeffrey faced him. Aaron's back was to the front door.
"I know you're feeling your loss," Jeffrey said."Imagine how I feel, I died. Anyway, I have a message for you from someone special. Several special someones in fact." Jeffrey looked up at the door. A light, a warm light enveloped the room. "One of them is here right now."
Aaron turned to see Monica standing at the door with the same outfit she had on
before. The source of this warm light seemed to be here.
"Hello again, Aaron," Monica said. Aaron nodded and looked at Jeffrey. He was no longer sitting. He had taken a place next to Monica.
"Aaron. You have to move on with your life," Monica said bluntly. She paused. "I know it will be very painful, but you need a fresh start. I'm not saying to move from the hospital. Maybe a different place to
live. Try and make some change in your life. We'll be there to help you along the way. God loves you Aaron. You may not want to admit it, but in some way you love him some day too."
"What has God done for me?" Aaron demanded. "God took away the only people
I care deeply about. I am alone. If you and your God can tell me how I can move on from that, I would live it if you can tell me."
"Aaron. Time heals all wounds. Your relationship with your father eventually
improved. It can and will happen for you, Aaron. All you have to do is believe."
Aaron sat back down. He closed his eyes. When he opened them Monica and Jeffrey were gone. 'She's right,' Aaron thought and stood up. He walked to the window and looked down. He saw a white convertible drive away. The car turned the corner and it was gone. Aaron turned from the window and sat on the ledge."I'll think about it tomorrow. Tomorrow is another day."
As Monica was driven away from Aaron's apartment she thought,"Just be glad there is a tomorrow, Aaron. Then you can build on it from there." She glanced at Tess and smiled. As they drove out of town a white drove flew by Aaron's apartment window. Only he didn't see it. He was fast asleep on the ledge, dreaming of a better life.
