Can We Really Get Away

Chapter 8

Max watched with pride as Iago took the vital signs of the newest patient to arrive at the hospital facility. According to the triage nurse, the young woman seemed to be suffering from heat exhaustion after having tried to care for her property and livestock alone, her husband having left to get better paying work in a more industrial city.

Laboring on the land could be brutal, and most of the locals didn’t think about staying hydrated. Their only goals were to maintain the small bits of land they managed to own and keep them productive. Unfortunately most residents in the immediate area didn’t have the funding to support even part-time workers, so they had to do the chores on their own, a state of affairs that ultimately brought many to the hospital.

Staying back to make sure Iago knew he wasn’t hovering, Max watched as Iago gently and carefully took and recorded the woman’s blood pressure, pulse rate, and temperature as she lay on the gurney. Max couldn’t hear exactly what he was saying, but Iago elicited a smile from the patient; his tone soft and sincere. Max grinned when he realized he would have been jealous had it been a man Iago was tending.

Knowing he would be needed shortly, he opened the medicine cabinet and removed some oral drugs and an IV bag, thinking the patient would need to have her fluids replaced quickly after working too hard without replenishing her food or water intake. As he was instructing one of the nurses to prepare cool compresses, the nurse grabbed Max’s arm and placed a finger over her lips, indicating he stop speaking immediately.

Lifting a small mirrored tray frequently used to carry medications for distribution, the nurse held it at an angle, allowing Max to see the figure of a man who had just entered at the far end of the tent. Kevin rapidly approached the new addition and it took all of Max’s willpower not to gasp when he saw Sergi’s reflection in the glass.

Shit! That bastard from the Barcelona police department. How could he warn Iago without drawing attention to either one of them? Max began to panic until the nurse put down the tray and walked double-time toward Iago.

Picking up the tray discreetly, Max watched in the reflection as the nurse placed her arm around Iago’s waist and guided him to the large cabinet containing linens. Opening the doors she and Iago leaned inward as she whispered in Iago’s ear. He suddenly stood up tall and glanced over his shoulder. Max knew he’d also spotted Sergi. He wanted to take Iago by the hand and drag him away -- run until they both collapsed from exhaustion -- as far away as possible. It was too late now. Any sudden action would draw unwanted attention.

Iago started moving the stacks of linens, keeping his face turned toward the interior of the cupboard.

Max placed the tray back on a nearby table and stood still, not knowing what to do next. Rob came up from behind, startling him.

“Relax. I didn’t mean to take you by surprise.” Rob patted Max’s shoulder.

“What are we going to do?” Max pleaded with Rob, hoping his friend and mentor would have the answers that seemed to be eluding him. “We’re trapped in here. Any sudden moves and he’ll spot us.”

“Just keep talking to me as if we’re discussing a case.”

“What about the patient Iago was caring for? We just left her alone.”

“Max, I appreciate your concern, but don’t worry. Nurse Grace is with her, setting up the IV you prepared. It’s good to see you can diagnose from a distance now.” Rob smiled at Max. “You really are going to be a great doctor soon.”

“Only if I can stay in one place long enough to finish my education.”

“I don’t think you’ll have to worry about that.”

Max looked at Rob, hoping for a more concrete explanation of his confidence. “Trust me, kiddo. Kevin has this under control. Iago’s following the plan and keeping himself uninteresting, avoiding attention as he organizes the towels and sheets in the cabinet.”

“But, what if--”

“No what ifs. This is going to work. Have I ever let you down before?”

Max tentatively shook his head and bit his lip, wishing he could turn around. Rob must have sensed his need to watch and slowly lifted the tray and handed it back to Max.

“What’s Kevin telling him?”

“He’s actually singing your praises and our deep distress at losing you. Kevin’s winning an Academy Award for his performance. I think you’ll owe him one when he’s through.”

Daring to brave a half-smile, Max looked at Rob hoping he could somehow convey his gratitude. “If he gets rid of Sergi, I’ll owe him a lot more than one thing.”

Giving back the tray one more time, Max balled his fists. “I can’t stand that man. He’s had his moments where he’s helped, but in most situations, anything he was involved with after he met my mother has always led to disaster. I don’t trust him. I didn’t in Barcelona, and sure as hell don’t now.”

Closing his eyes, Max remained virtually motionless.

“Hey.” Iago came up from behind and kissed him on the neck.

“What the!” Max turned briefly. “What the fuck are you doing? Sergi will see us!”

“Not anymore. He’s gone.”

Max spun around so fast he nearly lost his footing. Kevin was shaking Nurse Grace’s hand as Rob visited with their newest patient. “Where did he go?”

Kevin approached the couple, a huge grin plastered on his face. “I don’t think we’ll be hearing from him soon. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if he never returned to Mozambique; certainly not our little corner of it.”

“What did you say to him?” Max could detect the extreme confidence in Kevin’s voice and was anxious to find out what he’d said.

“I actually didn’t tell him too much. I simply explained that you two were asked to leave due to the outbreak and Iago not being sure whether he had the proper vaccination in Spain to keep him protected. He definitely believes you won’t be coming back either.” Kevin smirked.

“What outbreak?” Max raised an eyebrow. “The only outbreak we’ve had is that of overburdened locals collapsing from dehydration and exhaustion.”

Kevin squeezed Max’s shoulder. “You know that, I know that, all of us know it, including Iago now, but Sergi doesn’t know that. However, he does think it’s pitiful that this backward village has been plagued with recent new cases of smallpox.”

“You told him that!” Max spontaneously hugged Kevin and then turned to embrace Iago who instantly returned the affectionate action.

The two clung together silently until Iago finally braved uttering a few words into Max’s ear. “We’re free. We’re finally free to live our lives together. I love you, Max.”

“Oh, Iago. We really made it. It’s over.” Max and Iago stood as one.

Kevin chuckled. “I can’t believe that moron thought we’d let something like smallpox take hold of this fabulous community.” He waited until Iago faced him and continued. “The first thing we do whenever we set up a facility is inoculate the entire population in the surrounding area. No one needs to deal with that awful disease any more, least of all those of us working here.”

Iago took Kevin’s hand and shook it vigorously. “Thank you. You have no idea what this means to us.”

“I think I do. And it was a pleasure to help you. That guy needs to focus on fixing any problems building in his own part of the world and leave us alone.”

Max remembered his kidnapping and near execution-style murder less than a year and a half earlier. The events that transpired ultimately led to his separation from Iago. “He’s an asshole. His lack of focus nearly got me and my mother killed. Instead he let a criminal mouth off, and next thing I know Clara is plugging the bitch with bullets and she’s slapped with a prison sentence that drove her to the edge. I’ll never forgive him for ruining my life in Barcelona. His inability to truly protect was the last straw. I wanted to stay there with Iago forever, but there are too many bad memories.”

Iago put his arm protectively around Max. “Nothing like that will ever happen to you again. I’ll take care of you.” Iago looked toward the tent’s ceiling, blinking. “I’ll never forget the panic I felt, not knowing if I would ever see you alive again. If she had... I couldn’t have gone on.”

His emotions carrying him farther than usual, Max cupped Iago’s face and kissed him deeply. The fear he experienced at the hands of his kidnapper had never truly disappeared but now he knew, with Iago by his side, he would feel safe. “Your actions and decisions saved my life back then. I trust you completely.” Max looked deeply into Iago’s eyes. “I love you so much.” His voice was soft and husky.

Rob walked over. “I think it’s time for you both to return to your apartment and resume your interrupted welcome to Mozambique. We can handle it from here. Besides, the evening medical team will be here shortly. It doesn’t look like you have any more worries.”

Max thought briefly about Gonzalo, but trusted that Rob and his friend, the chief of police, had everything under control. Wrapping his arm around Iago’s waist and resting his head on his lover’s shoulder he felt whole. “Let’s go home. It’s time we finished our interrupted house-warming.”

Iago nodded, his eyes leering at Max.

“You have a one-track mind.”

“At the moment I certainly do, so let’s get home quickly.”
 

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