Читать книгу But Inside I'm Screaming - Elizabeth Flock - Страница 17

Nine

Isabel had been friends with Casey since the third grade. They were close in the way a rose befriends the stake that is meant to help it stand tall. As time passes stalk and stake become interchangeable: they take turns propping each other up, bending into each other with every gust of wind.

When Casey found a lump in her breast it was Isabel she called first.

“Will you come with me for the biopsy?”

“Of course.” Isabel stifled her tears and nodded into the phone.

“You’re crying, aren’t you?” Casey asked.

“No,” Isabel lied. “I think I have a cold.”

“You can’t cry. You’re not allowed to cry right now. I need you to be the strong one. If you cry I’m gonna start freaking out. And you’ve seen me freaking out. It ain’t pretty.”

“Okay, okay.” Isabel sobered up. “When’s the appointment?”

“Tuesday. I’ve got to be there at eight in the morning. I think they said it’d only be a couple of hours.”

“You’re staying in the hospital, right?”

“No. It’s outpatient. I’m going to need you to drive me home and put me to bed. They said I’d be really groggy.”

“Tuesday. No problem. I’ll be there with bells on. Where are you having it done, by the way? UCSF?”

“Yeah.”

“So, what’re you doing tonight? Want to go to a movie? Your pick, Lumpy.”

Casey laughed. “No, thanks. I think I’m just going to take a nice long hot bath until my fingers get all shriveled.”

“I’m coming over.”

“Okay, bye.”

“Bye.”

* * *

“Isabel? I’m assuming you’re on your way. It’s 7:50. If you’re not on your way, you’re in big trouble. I think I just heard a car door slam. That’s probably you. Bye.”

* * *

“Okay, it’s 8:05. Where are you?”

* * *

“I’ve called a cab. I hope you were in an accident or something. That’s the only thing that’s going to keep me from killing you later.”

“After the crash of TWA Flight 800, the FAA intensified its scrutiny of center fuel tanks, not only in 747s but in other, older, aircraft with similar design. Then, an alarming discovery. On Sunday, Boeing notified the FAA that recent inspections had turned up a high degree of wear and tear on wiring in and around fuel tanks in three 737s. Now, airlines have a seven day deadline to inspect and replace wiring and conduits in certain pieces of equipment. Sixty days for others.”

—Isabel Murphy, KXTY, San Francisco.

“Okay, great job, guys,” Isabel said, rubbing her cold hands together. “I’m heading back to the station for the conference call.”

“Fine,” said Mike, her cameraman. “But you’ll have a lot of time to make it there. The conference call isn’t till tomorrow.”

“What’re you talking about? It’s always on Wednesdays. When did they change that?”

“Since today’s Tuesday they didn’t have to.”

“Today’s Tuesday?”

Oh, my God. Casey.