He didnt see Franklin at the door.  He only heard, Holy *****. And people running.  CALL 911 NOW!! AND THE POLICE!! James yelled.  James also didnt see the Museum security guard come in and handcuff the still out cold woman.  As a retired police officer, he knew enough to leave the knife right where it was.

James ripped off his tie and wrapped it around Bettes thigh.  There was so much blood. Bette had passed out.  Oh my god, he thought, let them get here fast.  WHERE THE ***** ARE THEY?  In what seemed like hours, but only minutes, the paramedics pushed James aside, got Bette on a stretcher and were gone in a flash.  He could hear the sirens as they wailed and then disappeared into the distance.

The police bagged the knife, took pictures, marked Bettes office as a crime scene and closed the door.  They asked him questions and said they would be back in touch with him.

James told the detectives this morning the same as he did yesterday:  That the woman must have gotten here early when the Museum first opened.  He told them he had been coming in a little later since Bette had been off since last Wednesday.  Where she hid he wasnt sure but she definitely must have walked into Bettes office when he left for lunch and Bette went to the ladies room or to see Franklin.  He knows Bettes office door was not locked because he had stuck his head in to tell Bette  he was going to leave to pick up lunch for them.

Then all the what ifs hit him and he kept repeating them out loud to the detectives.  What if I had ordered lunch in, what if I made her go out to lunch with me, what if I had been just a minute or so later getting back  One of the detectives told him if he hadnt acted so fast, Bette would have died from loss of blood.  Then they told him there are no what ifs, only what was, and what was is he acted without thinking of danger to himself and saved his bosss life.  That let him ease up a bit on beating himself up.  ***** go to the hospital this afternoon to see Bette.   I think after Bette returns to work, Im ordering lunch in from now on.

~ ~ ~

Shane stopped by the hospital after her job finished at the studio.  When she got to ICU she saw Tina sitting in the waiting area .  Tina, whats wrong?  Is everything all right with Bette? 

Yes, Shane, everything is okay.  Theyre getting her ready to move her to a regular room.  Tina wiped tears from her face.

Tina, thats great, right?  Why are you crying, sweetie?

Im happy, Shane, just happy.

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Enjoying the view overlooking Central Park from the balcony of her posh New York apartment, Helena Peabody smiled.   God, it had been so easy to add fuel to the burning embers of hate within Faye Buckley.  With just the right words at just the right time you can always get someone else to do your dirty workand they never even realize they just did you a favor

TBC