CHAPTER FOURTEEN
The Pittsburgh airport wasn’t anywhere close to Pittsburgh. It was at least twenty miles from the city but it was somewhat close to where Mr. Myers lived.
Tanner and AJ took the front seat of the SUV, while Everest was in the backseat.
“So, Everest, Mike said you were married before. Can we ask what happened?” asked Tanner. She looked at the two men and smiled a gentle smile.
“You’re worried I’m going to hurt Mike,” she said softly.
“Mike’s a big boy. He can take care of himself.
But we’re his friends. He’s helped us on a lot of cases over the years involving arson and other things connected to the fire department.
When he was in the Army, he worked with one of the Ranger teams and met several of our men. He’s a solid man,” said AJ.
“You don’t have to sell him to me,” smiled Everest. “I was concerned at first about our age difference. Twelve years seems a big gap.”
“It’s not for Eagle and Tinley. It’s not for Faith and Ian and at least a half-dozen other couples. Age doesn’t mean anything if you love someone, Everest.”
“I know. I know that now,” she nodded. “I was married before. We didn’t have children.
I couldn’t have children. My ex-husband seemed to be fine with that but after about twenty years of marriage, I found him drifting away.
He was playing more golf, hanging out with the guys, playing cards, trips to Vegas.
“At first, I didn’t mind at all. I was happy being by myself.
What did that say about me?” she frowned.
“Then one day I suspected he was cheating. I didn’t have proof and honestly, I didn’t want it.
I wanted it to end before anything did happen.
He walked in from playing golf, I said let’s talk and I asked for the divorce.
He agreed, the lawyers split everything and I walked away. ”
“I’m sorry,” said Tanner. “Are you happy?”
“I was happy the minute I’d uttered the words,” she said shaking her head. “It made me sad that I hadn’t said them sooner. Nearly thirty years with someone because you’d grown comfortable. Don’t ever let yourself grow comfortable. Comfortable makes you stay ‘just because’.
“I told Mike I thought I was too old for love,” she laughed. “I think what I really meant is that I thought I was too old to fall in love with someone his age. But none of that mattered to him.”
“Nor should it if you’re a secure man,” said AJ.
“My mother is older than my father. They have shown me more love, more examples of love than I could have ever hoped for. It’s just a number, Everest. You’re still young, beautiful, and obviously Mike loves you or he wouldn’t have threatened us with a firehose. ”
She laughed in the backseat, nodding at the two young men.
“There. That’s the address,” she said pointing to the rundown apartment complex. “Oh, this makes me sad.”
“Come on. Stay close to us,” said Tanner.
“Tanner, this is very stereotypical of me to ask a question like this but does your Asian decent mean, and I’m praying for this, that you’re good with martial arts should we need it?” Tanner laughed at her, nodding.
“We’re both good with self-defense, which includes the martial arts,” said Tanner. “Just stay close.”
She nodded as they stepped over bicycles that had lost their wheels and trash bags that seemed never to have made it to the dumpster. When they reached the small apartment, they gently knocked.
When they knocked a second time, AJ heard the distinct sound of a gun being cocked.
“Oh, God,” whispered Everest.
“Mr. Myers? Mr. Myers, we’re not here to hurt you,” said AJ. “We work for an investigative firm and we’re trying to figure out what happened to you.”
There was silence, then the sounds of chains and deadbolts being undone. He opened the door just a small crack, seeing the pretty face of Everest he seemed to relax.
“Sir, we’re not here to hurt you,” said Everest. “We just want to ask you some questions.”
He nodded, then opened the door a bit farther. Inside, the house smelled stale, as if windows hadn’t been opened in years. The small kitchenette had a stained countertop, pots and dishes in the sink.
“If you’ll show me the way,” smiled Everest, “I’ll make us some coffee.”
“Don’t have any,” he said frowning. “Can’t afford coffee anymore.”
“Don’t you get social security? Medicare?” asked Everest.
“Doesn’t do much when your whole life has been taken from you,” he said with a sad, bitter expression.
“I saw a store on the corner,” said Tanner. “I’ll be right back.” Tanner left the apartment and Myers stared at AJ and Everest.
“Mr. Myers, we think that Med-Tech gave you the wrong prescriptions and forged authorizations for surgeries,” said AJ.
“Med-Tech? I don’t know them,” he said frowning as he shook his head.
“I thought everything came through the hospital. Then the doctors said it was all bullshit, that the hospital was totally responsible, then the hospital said it was the doctors. In the meantime, I’m sitting here with more medical bills than you can afford in a lifetime, no income other than my social security, and I’m still sick. ”
“We hope to change that,” said Everest.
AJ stepped away, typing frantically on his tablet, then making a call, his soft voice whispering in the tiny kitchen. When he returned, Mr. Myers was crying, telling Everest about all the things he’d been through.
“Mr. Myers, I’m so very sorry you went through this,” said Everest shaking her head.
“I don’t understand it,” he said. “My meds were working just fine and then suddenly the pills were a different shape.”
“A different shape?” asked Everest.
“Yep. I’m colorblind, so color ain’t no help. The pharmacist always tries to let me know what shape things are so I know what to take in the morning or at night. I mean, the labels help but for backup, shape is always helpful.”
“I understand,” nodded AJ. Tanner walked in with four cups of hot coffee plus four bags of groceries.
“Don’t put those away just yet,” said AJ. “Mr. Myers is going to be moving today.”
“Wh-what? You’re kickin’ me outta this dump?” he asked with tears.
“No, sir. We are not kicking you out. We are happily moving you to a senior living facility where a very generous benefactor has paid for your residence for the next ten years. If everything goes as planned and you live beyond that, it will be covered for another ten years.
“All of the furniture is included, dishes, cookware, everything. If you have anything special here, we’ll be happy to take it with us when we leave.”
“You’re not serious,” he frowned. “This is a joke.”
“No joke,” said AJ. Everest stared at the two men and smiled, tears in her own eyes. Mike was right. These were special people.
“Mr. Myers, when you were told about the surgery, what did they say?” asked Everest.
“I was shocked. Hell, the doctor was shocked. He said there was no time for additional tests. I thought to myself, what fucking additional tests? There were never any tests to begin with. When the lady at the hospital said there’d been a bunch of tests done before that, I thought I was still groggy from the anesthesia.
“Those pills were supposed to help me and they made me worse. Doctor said it most likely damaged my heart.”
“Mr. Myers, let’s continue to talk as we move you,” said AJ. “Tell us what you want to go with you.”
With three sad boxes of old photos and mementos piled into the SUV, and the one lonely suitcase of Mr. Myers’, they left the dungeon he called home. Everest continued to pepper him with questions, all the while piecing together what most likely happened on the end of Med-Tech.
When they walked into the new apartment for Mr. Myers, he nearly cried. An open kitchen and living space that was clean, fresh, and lit with sunlight. Neighbors walked by his door waving and introducing themselves and he smiled back at them.
In the bedroom was a queen-sized bed with fresh linens, a dresser, a television mounted on the wall and a recliner in the corner.
“This is all for me?” he asked in a choked voice.
“Yes, sir,” said AJ. “Refrigerator is stocked, as we said, rent is paid for ten years, and a bank card will be delivered this afternoon with enough on it that you’ll never have to touch your social security for anything. Oh, and your medical bills have been paid.”
“Why? Why would you do this?” he said staring at them. Tanner smirked and stood, saluting the man, AJ doing the same.
“Semper Fi, Mr. Myers. Semper Fi.”