The hospital was on a hill in a rural area outside Clifton, New Jersey. There was a long, winding, circular driveway that led to the big colonial mansion that housed the sanitarium. Halfway up the drive Andy stopped the limo just long enough for Lowell and Mort to jump out behind a giant azalea bush. They scurried for cover as Andy continued up the driveway.
There were few lights on the property and no visible security. Lowell and Mort were able to reach the building without being seen. Cameras were a possibility, and they kept a watch for any mounted hardware, but didn’t see any. There was a locked door on the side of the hospital that took Mort less than two minutes to pick.
“How do you do that?”
The strange man chuckled. “I don’t know. It’s just obvious which way to turn the pick.”
They entered the hospital through a large vacant room with a fireplace. It appeared to be a gathering place, perhaps for the staff. There was a bar and a number of couches and leather chairs. They tiptoed to the door and Lowell slowly opened it, peering out into the hallway. He checked his watch. Any second now.
Right on time, Sarah began her acting.
“What do you mean my brother isn’t here?” She was shouting at the admitting nurse. “I was told he was taken to this hospital! I demand to know what’s going on.”
The nurse picked up the phone and a few moments later several people scurried past their door. Lowell and Mort waited a few moments, and then quickly exited the room, turned right, away from the fracas, and found an unattended staircase. They hustled up to the second floor, turned the corner, and just missed running into an intern who was hurrying down the front staircase. They waited a moment until he was out of sight.
“We only have a few minutes,” said Lowell, “so let’s spilt up.”
Mort went to the left and Lowell to the right. They opened each door and looked in. On the third try, Mort whistled a low, brief tweet. Lowell rushed over.
“He’s in here,” Mort whispered.
They quietly entered the room closing the door behind them. It was nicely furnished, with bright curtains and several comfortable chairs. The late afternoon sun poured through the half-opened curtains casting eerie shadows on the walls. There was a large, flat-screen TV on the wall that was turned off, and a number of flower bouquets and get-well cards on the dresser. Except for a graphic novel for teens that sat on the night table, and a poster of a young female singer Lowell didn’t recognize, there was little to interest a teenager.
In the bed lay the boy. Lowell walked over to him. His eyes were closed, and he seemed asleep. He looked to weigh perhaps eighty-five pounds. Although he was gaunt and pale, his features were so much like his brother Kevin’s it was unsettling. Lowell thought he looked like a Xerox copy that didn’t come out quite right. He had IVs in both arms and was attached to an elaborate mechanism that beeped every few moments. There was a monitor with a continuously moving line that would jump every couple of seconds. Lowell stared at it, momentarily mesmerized. Then he shook his head.
“I want some pictures,” he said, motioning to Mort. “Get some shots of him and these devices he’s hooked up to.”
Mort took out a small digital camera and took several shots of the boy and the machines he was hooked up to. It took only a few minutes to complete the process. When he was done, Mort put the camera into his pocket and nudged Lowell.
Having seen what he came to see Lowell turned to leave when a frail voice stopped him.
“Who are you?”
Lowell turned to face the boy. “I just came by to see how you were doing.”
“Oh. Are you a doctor?”
“No, just someone who’s concerned.”
The boy nodded, and then closed his eyes once more and fell back asleep.
As they sneaked out of the room they could hear Sarah wailing. They ran down the same staircase and out the side door, carefully staying in the shadows when possible. Lowell took out his cell phone and dialed Sarah.
“It’s okay,” he said, “we’re done.”
“Yes mother…You mean to tell me you sent me to the wrong hospital? Do you know how upset I’ve been and how much trouble I’ve caused these good people?…Alright I’m on my way there now.”
She hung up and turned to the admitting nurse.
“I’m so dreadfully sorry for this terrible mix up. It appears my brother was taken to a hospital a few towns over. Please accept my apologies.”
The nurse frowned and nodded—her displeasure quite apparent.
Sarah hurried out of the hospital to the waiting limousine and jumped into the back. Andy slowly drove her down the driveway, stopping once again by the azaleas to pick up the boys.