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Mary was absolutely exhausted by the present situation. She wanted no trial, no vengeance Mason called justice. The only thing she wanted was to be left alone… So she made up her mind to talk to Mark.
Mason rushed to seek Mary. For some reason he was possessed with a foreboding of evil.
When he got to the Orient Express he saw his father at the bar stand.
"Have you seen Mary?" Mason asked him grimly.
"She's on the roof. She needs to talk to Mark," CC replied.
"What?! And you've let her go with him?" Mason started to the exit but CC caught his son by the shoulder.
"Mason, let them talk. There is nothing wrong with it, they are not alone there, there's Julia. Leave Mary alone. You pressure her too much. Let her decide for herself!" CC said strictly.
"Alone — with Mark? Are you crazy? He's dangerous!"
Mason dashed out. "Out of my way!"
"Mason, look—"
"I said — get out of my way!" Mason cried and throwing his father off rushed upstairs. CC followed him.
Mason got on top the stairs and flung the door open. He saw Mark, Julia and Mary there. Mary was desperate and she did not notice how the metallic letter "C" was swinging violently behind her back. As if in a slowed movement in a film, Mason saw one of the steel ropes give way and burst.
A black cold swept over Mason.
"Mary!!" he cried desperately and rushed to her.
In a moment he covered the distance between them and pushed Mary from behind the falling construction.
"Just in time," Mason thought with relief, and the next moment he was struck unconscious by the powerful blow on his head and back.
"MASON!!!" was the one cry that escaped Mary, CC and Julia.
CC felt his heart drop and then ricochet back to his throat hitting the breath away.
CC and Cruz lifted the metallic letter and took it aside. Julia ran to call the ambulance.
Mary leant over Mason and, biting her lips not to sob, felt the artery on his neck with her hand. Feeling the feeble pulsation, she cried, "He's alive!"
Cruz helped to turn Mason onto his back. Mason was bleeding.
Mark attempted to approach but Mary stopped him violently, "Get away! All you can do is kill him! — Mason! Mason!"
There was no reaction.
"Oh God… please…" Mary whispered in despair.
The ambulance men entered the roof and leant over Mason. After a brief examination one of the doctors said, "He needs to be rushed to hospital. His state is rather serious. It's a wonder he's still alive."
Mary grew pale. CC hugged her, "We'll go there with him."
Mason was put onto the stretcher and taken down to the car.
When they got to hospital, Mason was in the examination room. The nurse asked them to wait in the hall.
Mary collapsed onto the sofa, closed her eyes so as to stop tears, and started praying. CC looked at her with a sigh: he had no such faith.
The doctor soon walked out. Mary ran up to him, "Dr Roberts!"
"His state is really serious, Mary. Mason has a major brain injury and the spine is injured, too," the doctor answered.
"Is he… is he going to be paralyzed?" CC asked with terror.
"Right now it's more about mere survival," Roberts said. "It's a question of 48 hours. If Mason survives, then there's hope."
Mary sighed convulsively, and then said with determination, "I'll stay with him. You know I'm a certified nurse. I worked here once…"
"I know," Roberts nodded gently. "But you need a rest."
"No!"
"Ok," Roberts yielded, seeing that his attempts'd bring no fruit. "Go to the nurses' room. And as to the others — I'd ask you to go home. You'll be immediately informed if anything changes."
CC nodded, "Ok… But can I see him?"
"You can…"
The doctor stepped aside.
CC entered the ward.
Mason was lying in a tall bed, his face covered with an oxygen mask. There were many apparatuses around, a medicine dropper…
CC was watching his son's pale face, the long lashes, and his memory obligingly came up with the vision of Channing dead. CC gave a start and shook his head. He wanted to say something but the words stuck in his throat. CC reached out and cautiously patted his son's cheek.
The doctor peeped in and made a sign to leave. CC nodded, hesitated a second and then walked out.
All Mason's family counted minutes in the term given to him by the doctors. Every phone call made them start in fright mixed with hope.
Mary never left Mason's side, serving on him as a nurse as she felt his state better than any meters. She discussed their future with him and never let herself believe there would be none.
It took Roberts much effort to talk her into having just a little rest.
When he got home, CC was restless. He could not sleep as every time he closed his eyes he saw the tragedy on the roof again and again, and he could not get rid of the feeling of guilt. He felt guilty of what had happened to Mason, and he felt he was responsible for what had happened to Mary, because he had been pushing her to Mark; for his own stupid obstinacy and for that damned construction…
In the next 24 hours, whenever he got to the hospital, he saw one and the same picture: Mary by Mason's bedside.
Not to get crazy, CC visited Julia and asked her to show him the evidence they had against Mark.
"There's not much," Julia said, "but I believe Mary…"
"Can I take it with me?" CC asked.
"You can… The case's closed. Just give it back to me when you don't need it."
CC locked himself in his study and analyzed the papers. When he saw a document written in Mason's familiar angular hand, CC's heart started aching and tears came upon his eyes.
There was little evidence, indeed, but it was all CC needed. It seemed to him that if he did it Mason would survive.
CC picked up the phone. "Michael? Yes. I've got a task for you. Mark McCormick. I want him out of this city, out of the state. Do whatever you can, and I can supply some papers. I want him out, at any cost, as soon as possible."
CC hung up, waited a little and then dialed another number.
"Cardinal O'Brian's residence."
"Channing Creighton Capwell speaking. I need to talk to the cardinal, he knows me."
The 48 hours the doctor mentioned were as good as over but Mason stayed immobile and lifeless. Mary felt desperation sweeping over her. Once again she visited the chapel at the hospital and lit up a candle. After she prayed a little, she hurried back to Mason's ward.
Every machine worked well, all was normal; no changes.
Mary rearranged the blanket and sat by Mason's bed leaning onto it. She was peeping into the familiar features and could not keep from crying. Mary hid her face in her hands — and suddenly she felt a light touch. The familiar hand patted her hair again. And, like a gust of wind, she heard, "Mary…"
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