Relentless Read Free

the scene surrounding him earlier. Even his great legal mind wasn’t able to explain away the obvious. There was no one at his side, no one doting on him. He was alone. He rubbed the bandage above his eye and shook off the slightest bit of despair. There was no time for pity, no tolerance for weakness. His convicted father had taught him that much. Shake it off. Get healthy. More work was the cure.
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    The phone rang, startling Maxwell into consciousness. Scanning the small room, it took a second to figure out where he was. He searched around the bed for his cell phone with no success. He suspected it must be in his suit jacket, which was out of arm’s reach. He rolled over ready to ignore the noise until it stopped temporarily and then began again. Finally he realized the ringing was coming from the phone resting on the nightstand situated off to the side. The volume seemed to get louder, with each ring intensifying the throbbing in his head. Irritated he snatched the receiver determined to keep the conversation short. “This is Maxwell,” he said without softening the edge in his tone. The person on the other end should get the message quickly.
    â€œPaul, it’s Christine.”
    He didn’t respond. His sister was the last person he expected to be on the call. It had been at least a year since they’d last spoken.
    â€œAre you okay?” she asked.
    â€œI’m good,” he said, intentionally not elaborating.
    â€œI was watching the news and saw you drop to the ground. They played it over and over. I’ve been frantic trying to find out what happened to you,” she said speaking very rapidly. “Mom is worried to death too. You should call and let her know you’re okay.” There was no reason to reply. She knew that wasn’t an option for him. “You are okay, aren’t you? I mean really okay?”
    â€œI’m fine.”
    â€œSo, why are you in the hospital?”
    â€œAh, don’t worry about that. I’ll be out of here tomorrow morning, no big deal. Getting hit by a rock isn’t going to put me out of commission. I have a pretty thick skull.”
    â€œThat’s true.” Her tone was lighter.
    â€œHow did you know I was here?”
    â€œOh my goodness, that’s a long story. I called the news station. They told me the name of the ambulance company who took you to the hospital, and I called them to find out where they’d taken you. I’ve been on the phone all afternoon making at least thirty calls.”
    â€œI’m surprised the ambulance company gave you the name of this hospital. That’s violating a patient’s privacy.”
    â€œDon’t worry; I’m not going to stalk you; although if it were left up to our mother, she’d have me rush over there to check on you.”
    â€œNo need to do that.” Maxwell gently rubbed his forehead.
    â€œDon’t worry, I’m only joking, at least partially. I’m not going to bother you unless it’s an emergency.” Exactly what Maxwell wanted to hear. “But, Paul, I am concerned about you and what you’re doing with the churches. It seems really dangerous, and we’re worried about you.”
    The edge which had softened in his tone was sharpening again. Twenty-two years and she was still calling him Paul. The day he received the letter confirming his full scholarship to college, he’d walked out of the tiny apartment in Chester, PA, leaving behind respect for his parents, any support that they might be willing to give, and his name. Spending the last three months of high school in a shelter was one of the best decisions he’d ever made, except the part about having to leave his little sister. Christine was as much of a victim during their childhood as he’d been, but she was grown now and too connected to their parents to have a meaningful relationship with him. Distance had to be maintained. “Can you