Page 105 of Private Exhibit
Crawford waved a hand. “Let's just focus on him, alright?”
They got to Devon's room, and they both paused in the doorway. Despite his worry, Andy couldn't help standing there in silence for a moment. A strange sort of reverence for life. For the delicacy of Devon's situation.
Finally, they both stepped into the room. Andy stopped at Devon's side while Crawford went to the head of the bed, quickly checking the monitors before he framed Devon's face with both hands.
“I have to warn you,” Crawford said gently, “if the barrier is still there–”
“I know.”
Crawford gave a sharp nod, then closed his eyes, his face pinched with concentration.
Andy held his breath, staring from Devon to the monitors and back.
A gasp sounded behind him. Andy turned to see Oliver in the doorway, his eyes wide as he took in the scene. “What's wrong?” Oliver asked. “Did something happen?”
Andy shook his head. “He's trying something–”
Crawford grunted and straightened up. “It's no use. Whoever put that barrier on his mind did it too well. I don't think even my wife could pull off something like this. And she'sgood.”
Andy hung his head.Damn it.
“So there's nothing you can do?” Oliver asked, his voice trembling with emotion.
Crawford adjusted his glasses as he slowly shook his head, looking thoughtful. “I could try to force the lock, but…I'll be honest: that alone could kill him. Or damage his brain.”
Oliver gasped and covered his mouth with both hands.
Andy held his breath as he stared at Devon. Was it worth the risk? Devon was dying anyway. If there was even the slightest chance that Crawford could break the lock and get in…
“Hold that thought,” Oliver blurted out, holding up a finger while he used his other hand to pull out his phone. “Don't do anything yet.” Oliver tapped something on the screen, then held up his phone to his ear. He turned away and said, “It's time.”
Andy blinked.Time? For what? Who the hells is he talking to?
“Uh.” Oliver whirled around and scanned the room. “He's got a machine breathing for him, and he's hooked up to bypass…Yeah. His heart's not beating. Like, at all.” Oliver fell silent, staring into space as he listened intently. “Understood…Second floor. Right off the garden exit…Got it. I'll text you right back.” He ended the call and lowered his arm.
“Who–” Andy started to ask.
But Oliver barreled over him, pointing at the bypass machine. “Do you have another one of those?”
Andy frowned. “Yeah. A few. Why?”
“How quickly can you switch him over to a new one if this one fails?”
“Fails?” Andy gasped. “Why–”
“A few seconds,” Crawford cut in. “Why?”
“Have one ready,” Oliver ordered. “Just in case. But keep it at least ten feet down the hallway until I say it's clear.”
Crawford gave him a nod and breezed out of the room, calling out orders as he went.
“What is going on?” Andy demanded. “Who was that on the phone?”
Oliver bent over his phone and quickly typed out a text. “Someone who might be able to help,” he answered cryptically.
Crawford came back, hovering in the doorway as he looked down the hall. Andy leaned past him to see what was going on. Two nurses stopped about twelve feet away, bracketing a bypass machine, looking ready to spring into action the moment they were called. “We're good,” Crawford announced.
Oliver took a step back. “Stay away from the doors.”
