Page 87 of Castle

“Devin did it.”

“What?”

“Don’t say a word, just listen to me. Do not tell anyone that we are alive. Theo, do you understand what I’m saying?”

“Yes.”

“Devin sent us on this trip to get us killed. The car had a bomb attached inside, the brakes weren’t working! We are supposed to be dead, but we survived since we jumped off the speeding car.”

“But Austin...”

“Austin was on a murder-suicide mission. His family is getting money and his kids are going to some Ivy League college.” I told him, and then turned around to find the nurse hovering over me, “I need your help.”

“Anything.”

“I need money.”

“How much?” He asked without hesitation.

“Twenty thousand dollars.”

My request was met with silence and then he whisper-shouted, “Are you insane? I can’t give you that much! It’s not that I don’t have it. I have plenty, but Devin checks my card statements. I wouldn’t be able to explain where I spent that much money.”

He had a point. He sighed. “What are you planning to do with the money?”

“Disappear with Castle. Start a new life, anything, until he gets his memories back.”

“I can give you five thousand for now.” He offered.

“I’ll take it, and I’ll return it as soon as I can,” I promised him. “Also, I think you’ll need to pay for the hospital bills anonymously.”

“Done. Tell me where and how. It’s going to be difficult, but I’ll figure it out.”

“Thank you and please be very careful. I’m worried about you, too.”

After I hung up on the call, I went back to my room. I wanted to see Castle, and I was desperate. I had to beg the nurse to let me see him because I wanted to make sure he was okay. It took tons of arguing on my part, and some tears to gain sympathy, and then finally she agreed.

Castle’s eyes were closed, and he appeared to be sleeping peacefully. There was a large gauze wrapped around his bare chest, but he was breathing easily. Not wanting to disturb his rest, I let the nurse guide me back to my room.

On my way back, I noticed the chaos that surrounded me.

Paramedics brought in a young man for a drug overdose, and another one was an unsuccessful surgery which led to the death of a woman, and the loud ear-piercing wail of the young man’s mother.

These melancholic feelings were taking a toll on me.

“Mrs. Johnson, your husband is awake!” The nurse announced the next afternoon.

I rushed out of my room, almost running, galloping towards Castle’s room.

He’s okay.

We’re fine!

We survived!

My mind continued to scream.

This is all I wanted for now. For Castle to be safe.

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