'Get him to the hospital. He is fitting. He could choke on his own vomit', Homicide Detective Rachael Myerson said. Jacob wasn't speaking. He didn't think about the bank robber. His death was a stain on the community. The blaring sirens wailed; Homicide Detective Vic James, a Wisconsin Homicide Detective, smoked a cigarette.
He looked at the dead body.
'Gordon West. A well known bank robber in the 1960's, and 1970's. Apparently this man was in the way of a crime. He had a seizure...'.
'I know that. I haven't checked his ID'.
'Why are you in Wisconsin?'.
'I have family in Wisconsin. I left to go to New York'.
'I see. I got his ID. Jacob Robertson is his name'.
'I don't know him', Homicide Detective Myerson said.
'Neither do I. Look, he is a nobody. People don't just go anywhere and have a medical condition. Truckers have drug problems, and sleep rarely. As a result, there's a lot of accidents; a lot of deaths. The Night Road is deadly, and scary at night. Once we've interviewed him, and get his story, then it'll be fine', Homicide Detective Vic James said.
'Okay, everyone off', Thomas Graham, the ambulanceman said.
They did as they were told, and headed inside the Emergency Department.
***
Doctor Ray Sanderson looked at the detectives.
'The patient is epileptic, and is being treated with Tegretol. He has recovered. This is a good sign. The criminal picked the worst time to hold up a bank. My brother, Al Sanderson, is a detective as well. In my years in medicine, there's a lot of seizures by people. Mr. Robertson is well taking care of. His car is in the carpark. A lot of cars, jeeps, vans, and other vehicles, are on the Night Road all across America. Mainly the sleep deprived suffer from nightmares. Our Psychiatrists can attend to them. Now, it is late. You can come back in the morning. There's a Motel nearby'.
'Fine', Homicide Detective Myerson said.
'Fine', Homicide Detective Vic James agreed.
They checked their purses and wallets.
$200 were inside.
Enough for one night.
***
Jacob awoke.
It was Midnight.
Yawning, the night nurse appeared.
'You are to be discharged in the morning'.
'I don't remember'.
'There was a bank robbery. You haven't eaten food'.
'Oh...My head hurts'.
'I can give you medication'.
'Thanks...Roberta'.
He saw the name on her right breast of her uniform.
'I just wanted to go to the Roadhouse'.
'Yeah, do you have your Mom and Dad?', Roberta asked him.
'They're in Wyoming', he answered.
'That's a long way from Wisconsin'.
'Yeah, they're in their seventies; they're retired'.
'I see'.
'Get some sleep. See you tomorrow. By 7:00 AM, you can sign the discharge papers to leave the hospital', Roberta said.
He nodded, and slept for a long time.
***
The morning sun illuminated the Wisconsin glass windows of the hospital. Jacob was seeing the nurse with his breakfast. 'Good morning. I'm Elena'. Jacob knew she was from the Soviet Union; she wasn't like the other Russian women he knew on his travels. The United States wasn't getting along with Vladimir Tchikovsky, the Prime Minister of the enemy country. 'I heard about what happened', Elena said. Jacob nodded, he sighed.
'I haven't had a seizure for a month. I just wanted to be having dinner at the Roadhouse'.
'The one up the road'.
'Yes'.
'That's my favorite place to eat'.
'Really'.
'Yes. I am a US citizen since 1973'.
'Oh'.
'Yes'.
'Your English is good'.
'I take night classes at Harvard University'.
'My sister, Elizabeth, studied there from 1971 to 1973. She is a Child Psychiatrist. There's a new field called Behavioral Science'.
'I heard about that. Kelly Rae, a girl I knew in seventh grade, had psychological problems; she was given ECT'.
'My God! Electronic Convulsive Therapy'.
'Yes, that is terrible. Are you working tomorrow?'.
'Yes'.
'I can meet you at the Roadhouse if you like for lunch. Say, Midday to 1:00 PM'.
'I'd like that'.
Jacob smiled, as he gave her the discharge papers.
He changed in the other room.
Then he grinned.
'Got a boyfriend?'.
'No. Sergei died seven years' ago by the KGB'.
'KGB'.
'Yes, I don't want to talk about it'.
'That's fine. I am single'.
Elena kissed him.
Jacob walked to the door.
'I have your personal details, Jacob. My phone number is 555-335-993'.
'I'll write that down, Elena'.
She smiled, and they walked outside of the busy Hospital to his car. 'I'll meet you at the Roadhouse. Good bye'.
'Good bye, Jacob', Elena said.
And waved at him, as she walked back inside.
***
Homicide Detective Rachael Myerson, and Homicide Detective Vic James filed the report. They were tired from the exciting evening on the beat. 'We have to sleep', the female Detective said.
'Good night, Racheal'.
'Good night, Vic'.
And they went home.
***
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