Murder in the Marsh by Ramsey Coutta Page B

him back down on the bed. Rachel began to think about his diagnosis. She knew a person with stomach flu experienced nausea, vomiting, fever, and cramps, but she thought it unusual he experienced such sharp abdominal pain when trying to sit up. Stomach cramps shouldn’t cause the intense pain that Andre was experiencing, she thought.
                  She asked Adele if Andre experienced any pain when she touched his abdomen. She didn’t know. She told Andre she was going to put a little pressure with her hand on his stomach. When she did so, Andre groaned pitifully. Adele quickly pulled her hand back, apologizing to her son, and looked to Rachel for an answer. Rachel motioned to go in the next room.
                  “Adele, I don’t know for sure, but Andre’s symptoms are similar to appendicitis. I know the doctor said he had stomach flu, but he shouldn’t have such sharp and intense pain when he is barely touched like that.”
                  “You tink appendicitis?”
                  “I don’t know for sure, and I hate to second guess a doctor, but it sure seems like a possibility. I’m concerned that if we try to move him, his appendix could rupture. If it ruptures while we are moving him to the boat or during the trip, it could be very dangerous for him.”
                  “What do you tink we should do?”
                  “I think maybe we should try to call 911 again and see if we can get help.”  
                  Adele agreed, so Rachel dialed 911 and spoke with the emergency dispatcher. The dispatcher took down their information and stated that all emergency help was tied up. She said that a Sheriff’s patrol boat was reported to be in their area, and she would see if it could be contacted. She also stated she would contact the Coast Guard to find out if any helicopters were available. She placed Rachel on hold. When the dispatcher came back on the line, she said the Sheriff’s patrol boat did not respond. She also stated that the two Coast Guard helicopters were still dealing with the offshore helicopter crash. The dispatcher told them to remain near the telephone, but to go ahead and make preparations if they absolutely had no other choice but to evacuate on their own.
                  Rachel hung up the telephone with renewed apprehension. She explained the situation to Adele, and suggested they make final preparations and then grab something to eat. They removed Michelle’s life preserver and explained to her and Andre that they were going to have to wait a little longer for help to come. Adele turned on the TV to check the weather. The hurricane track still showed it churning in a westerly direction, while the forecaster continued to warn residents to evacuate. Rachel and Adele’s concern grew, but they tried to remain calm around the children.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
    Eighteen
     
    Daniel cleared Socola Canal and jetted out into Bay Sansbois. The bay was large, rounded, and shallow, about two miles wide and a few feet deep. It was a popular location for oystering, crabbing, and shrimping. Long white shafts of PVC pipe poked up out of the water to mark oyster beds. Sometimes cane poles or tree branches were used. Crab traps were normally scattered about the bay, identified by the round white floats that bobbed about. Many of the crabbers had already hauled in their traps so they wouldn’t lose them during the storm. Though the bay was only a few feet deep in most places, when the wind kicked up the waves could wreak havoc on a small boat. During windy days, smaller boats would have to take side canals to reach their destination.
                  Daniel had progressed only a third of the way across the bay when he caught sight of something out of the corner of his eye to his rear. He turned his head and was surprised to see another boat, similar in size