Read Online Ethics of a Thief by Mary Gale Hinrichsen - Free Book Online

flower.
    She searched her son’s face and said, “Are you all right? You look dreadful.”
    He sat on a kitchen chair and motioned for her to join him.
    “What’s going on? Are you okay? What’s wrong, Son? Is Dad alright?”
    “Dad’s fine. He’s in the living room. But, Mother, please come and sit. We need to talk.”
    Her eyes were as round as her face. “Are the grandchildren okay? Did something happen to Lisa or Danny?”
    “They’re fine. Mother, please, come sit.”
    “You’re scaring me, Son.” She wobbled toward the table, pulled out a chair and sat. “Now, tell me what’s going on.”
    “We just got a call from the police department.”
    “Did something happen to Abigail or Alisa? What happened?” Tears started to well in her eyes. “Oh my God, what happened?”
    Steven told her about the car accident, Alisa’s coma and David’s death.
    “But, that can’t be. We just talked last night. Everything seemed fine. My God. How could she be in a coma? That’s not possible -- it can’t be so. When, Steven?”
    “Today, late morning. The sergeant said it happened around eleven.”
    His heart hurt to see his mother’s anguish. At the same time, he felt guilty for being glad it wasn’t Alisa who died. He wondered if his mother was having the same thoughts.
    Tears streamed down her face. Steven stood and walked behind her to embrace her.
    “I just can’t believe this. David’s dead? Does his mother know?”
    “The sergeant asked for her phone number, so I doubt she was notified. I’ll call the police department later with her number.”
    Quickly, she stood. “Does Dad know?” Steven nodded. Elizabeth staggered into the living room weeping. “John. I can’t believe our Alisa is in a coma.” She knelt on the floor before him and placed her head on his lap as she cried. He patted her head without speaking. His tears ran down his cheeks as he listened to his wife sob.
    Not knowing what to do to help, Steven decided to find his mother’s personal phonebook. First, he checked their bedroom without luck. Then, he looked in the living room and saw it on a table. He looked up the number for David’s mother, wrote it down, went into the kitchen and called the police department.
    When he returned to his parents, he said, “I called the police. David’s family was notified. So, I called David’s brother, Bruce. He said his mother didn’t know yet. She’s still at work.”
    Elizabeth got up and walked to the phone, called and spoke to her pastor. “This is Elizabeth Wilson.” Silence. “Not good.” Tears fell as she told the man what happened. “Please ask our church family to pray for Alisa and David’s family.” Silence. “Thank you.” She placed the phone back in its cradle.
    Next, she phoned the hospital. Steven stood by his mother’s side during her short conversation. She hung up. “There’s no change in Alisa’s condition.” Her sad eyes glanced at her son. “The doctor on duty will call back within an hour.”
    For the first time, Steven knew what it felt like to be powerless.
    When they returned to the living room, Elizabeth paced. “Were there any other cars involved? What did the policeman say?”
    “The sergeant didn’t give me any details.”
    John looked down at his hands. “All I know is they were in a taxi. Bad weather. The driver hit his breaks. They saw the skid marks. Apparently, the driver lost control, and they rolled down a mountain.”
    They sat in silence.
    “Mom, when I spoke with Bruce, he said he didn’t want to be alone when his mother heard about David. He was crying. He asked if we would go over before she gets home.” He searched his mother’s eyes.
    “I’m not sure. John, are you up to that? I don’t want to leave you home alone. Do you think you can make it?” She turned to her son. “What time is Ruth expected home?”
    “Around five-thirty.”
    “John, what do you think? Want to go?”
    “I can’t be alone right now.” He stood