Part I-Chapter 14: SUNDAY MORNING SHIFT

Chapter 14

Sunday Morning Shift
(Ó 2007)

Romana Alexiev had just finished buttoning up her maids uniform to start the Sunday morning shift at the Michigan Avenue hotel where she was employed. She was on her way to the Housekeeping Office to receive her daily schedule, which informs her of which rooms to clean for either the normal morning service, or for the patrons who where checking out. However, she was met in the hallway by her friend and fellow employee of the hotel, Ellyian Krupskya.

Ellyian seemed very excited and exasperated. She ran up to Romana swiftly and grabbed her by the wrist. “Romana! You must come with me quickly! Hurry, you must see this!” She said to her in their native Russian language, and began to lead Romana from the employees towards the main floor.

“What is it Ellyian?” She asked her friend.

“Shhh! Just hurry.” Ellyian said then lead her friend briskly down the hallway to the main entrance that lead to the grand lobby of the hotel. She then lead her past the front desk, past the bar and to the lounge area. The lounge area had fine sofa and chairs that were arranged around a large television set. There were some hotel patrons watching the television, some were having coffee and pastries from the large continental breakfast buffet that was set up along the wall behind them.

The television showed what was now the final seconds of a commercial for a car dealership. Ellyian pointed to the television screen and then stood close to her friend. She placed her arm around her shoulder and held her close to her side, bracing her for the news broadcast that was just about to return.

“Ellyian tell me please,” Romana said, “I have a busy schedule and . . .” She froze as she saw the news anchor return. In the upper right side of the television screen was a picture of Jared Bartholomew.

“Returning now to our top story, “ the news anchor said, “Jared Bartholomew, the heir to the Bartholomew media dynasty and vice-president of MB Media, was found in his Kenilworth home early this morning apparently the victim of a serious accident. We now return to our correspondent Jennifer Kell, live from Evanston Northwestern Hospital. Jenny.”

 

The television screen then switch to a young red haired woman standing in front the Emergency Room entrance of a hospital. Below her image was a graphic that read: JARED BARTHOLOMEW HOSPITILIZED. In the upper left hand corner was the word: LIVE. Romana now crossed her arms, stood rigid, and her eyes were now piercing toward the television screen. Ellyian felt the muscles in her body become tense, and she heard slow, angry breathing coming from her nostrils.

“Yes Jose,” the girl said as she started her report, “all we can tell you at this moment is coming from the Bartholomew family spokespeople. Apparently Mitchell Bartholomew and his wife arrived home around 1:30 AM this morning from a formal fundraiser held in downtown Chicago, to find that their son had been a victim of some sort of terrible accident. Kenilworth Police and Fire departments responded to a desperate 9-1-1 call from the home by Mrs. Bartholomew and arrived to treat Jared Bartholomew at the scene and immediately transported him here to Evanston Northwestern Hospital. Police and Fire at this time can not release any information to us on Jared’s condition, which has been reported to us as ‘extremely serious’. We do know that Jared Bartholomew is at this moment now being prepared to undergo surgery, details not available at this time.”

“No idea what the surgery is for at this time, right Jennifer?” The anchorman asked.

“No Jose, I’m sorry. The Bartholomew family spokespeople are making it difficult for any of us here to get any information about what happened and what’s going on. They claim that the family values their privacy and all details on Jared Bartholomew’s condition will be given to us in a statement. When that statement will be given is a mystery also.”

Romana then broke from Ellyian and walked away. She quickly walked back past the bar and front desk through the doors where she and Ellyian first came. There was a sign on the doors that read: EMPLOYEES ONLY. Romana pushed the doors open angrily and took a few steps in. In a few seconds she was joined by Ellyian.

Romana stood there with her arms crossed around herself with tears welling up in her eyes. Ellyian took her in her arms to comfort her. Ellyian then asked her speaking in Russian, “Are you going to be alright Romana?”

Romana answered her while her face was pressed against Ellyian’s shoulder, “I hope he is dying,” she said coldly, “I hope he is dying slowly … and that he is in much pain.”