Mayhem in Margaux Read Free Page B

had been in tears all the way to the hospital, and Benjamin feared he would have to stop the car to let her vomit. She was still feeling nauseated. Benjamin pulled his wife closer, but there were no words that would help. He didn’t even think she could hear them.
    They waited for more than an hour, oblivious to everything around them: the others waiting for news of their loved ones, the nurses passing through, the ringing of cell phones. They responded only when the surgeon appeared, still in his scrubs. He needed a shave, and he looked tired. But he was smiling.
    “Your daughter is a fighter,” he said.
    “Thank God!” Elisabeth let out. She released Benjamin’s hand to dab her eyes and mouth with a tissue.
    “The operation was a complete success. We repaired the tibia and fibula fractures in her left leg. She’ll have some screws and bolts, but that’s a small price to pay. I must warn you, though: the recovery might be long, and she’ll be wearing a cast.”
    “How long?” asked Benjamin, finally able to breathe normally.
    “A month, maybe longer. I want to be cautious. Your daughter also suffered a mild cranial trauma, and we need to keep an eye on that. It doesn’t appear to be anything serious. No skull fracture, just what appears to be a mild concussion. She may have some headaches in the next few days, but she should be fine. At any rate, she’s a very lucky young woman. The outcome of that accident could have been far worse.”
    Benjamin gave the doctor a faint smile. Margaux had always had a stubborn streak. Now it had served her well. She had been bullheaded enough to refuse to die.
    “She was ejected at the moment of impact,” the doctor continued. “Her head struck the top of the windshield, so her face wasn’t lacerated by any of the glass. She would have needed a plastic surgeon if she had struck the windshield a few inches lower. As I said, she’s a lucky young woman.”
    “And the driver?” Benjamin asked, biting his lip.
    “The prognosis is less optimistic for her companion. He was transferred to a burn unit, where he was put in an induced coma. It’s the only way to make the treatment tolerable.”
    “So it’s serious,” Elisabeth said.
    “Yes, I’m afraid so. He managed to extricate himself from the fire, but his clothes were in flames. At the very least, he’ll be disabled and disfigured after years of skin grafts, provided they aren’t rejected. But we aren’t there yet. We’ll have a better idea of how he’s doing in a few days.”
    “What a shame,” Elizabeth sighed. “Can we see our daughter?”
    “She’s in recovery right now. You can see her as soon as we take her to her room. That should be in about two hours.”
    They thanked the doctor. Benjamin, usually reserved with people he hardly knew, gave the man’s arm a warm squeeze before shaking his hand.
    The doctor seemed embarrassed and said he had merely been doing his job.
    They decided that Elisabeth would stay at the hospital and wait for Margaux to get out of recovery. Benjamin needed to stop at his office to take care of some pressing matters. He would come back as soon as possible.
    A wave of heat struck him as soon as he stepped outside. Wiping his forehead, which was already wet with sweat, he scanned the street for shade. Choosing the side lined with a few stunted trees, he checked his cell phone for messages while walking toward his car.
    He immediately recognized Virgile’s worried voice.
    “I just spoke to Jacqueline. She told me what happened. I can’t believe it. Whatever you need, I’m here for you, boss. Just let me know. I’m thinking of you. And please give Mrs. Cooker a big hug for me.”
    There was a second message. This caller’s tone had more authority. It was almost demanding.
    “Hello, Mr. Cooker. Inspector Barbaroux here. I heard about your daughter. Call me at the office. I have some information for you.” Benjamin had helped the police inspector on some investigations in the