Revenge

Professor Coldham Fintan Noose I was at Logan International Airport and waiting for his turn at passport control. He handed over his document. The officer frowned. "Sir, this is not your ID!" "What?! But I ...." Coldham F. had a look and identified the passport as his deceased wife's. Coldham F. was shocked and sad. She had only died eight months earlier. When he had prepared for the trip, he had made sure to have the correct documents. It was unexplainable to him. "Sir, can I see your passport or another form of identification, please?" Coldham F. searched everything, but couldn't find his own. He was told he would have to step out of line and organize his travel documents. Coldham F. was embarrassed. Of course everyone was staring at him. He called his son Stamford to ask him, if he could drop everything and bring his drivers license. It took Stamford ages to find it. Coldham F. was nearly loosing his composure, because the flight was closing. Stamford arrived too late. Coldham F. kicked the wall in frustration. He had to give a guest lecture at a college in California, so he had to inform the organizer he was unable to attend, and the lecture had to be postponed. It was a big disappointment. Besides looking forward to talk about his experience, he had been excited about the travelling part. Coldham F. couldn't explain where his passport had gone. They weren't able to find it. Stamford was worried his father was going senile.

A month later Coldham F. was on his way to Los Angeles. This time Stamford and his wife double checked he had really everything with him. Security and boarding went smooth, so Coldham F. relaxed in his seat. Soon a gentleman roughly his age took a seat beside him. The man had very short, thick fingers, grey hair and brown eyes. Coldham F. hoped for a peaceful flight and quietness. It wasn't meant to be. "Hi, I'm Monday Scannell, visiting my son and his family in L.A. Want to see a photograph of them? I love them to bits!" Before Coldham F. could refuse, Scannell was already fumbling clumsily in his jacket. He found what he was looking for and showed Coldham F. a photograph, depicting a roughly thirty year old man, his slightly younger wife and two little girls and a boy. "Do you have grand children yourself?" Monday asked. "Yes, but they are much older." "Hm. What brings you to Los Angeles?" "I've been invited to give a lecture how pain management during and after surgery has changed from the fifties till now." Monday Scannell talked through most of the flight. Coldham F. was peed off. Not rested at all, he grabbed his briefcase and tried to get as much distance between Scannell and himself. Even at the baggage claim, he managed successful to avoid his seat neighbor. Coldham F. breathed a sigh of relief, when he was in the taxi on the way to his hotel. Check in was a breeze. To Coldham F.'s surprise he had been upgraded to a suite. It came with a butler and Coldham F. enjoyed he didn't have to bother with the unpacking of his suitcase. He held on to his briefcase, though, containing some copies for his lecture. Coldham F. was wondering why his butler was slightly red faced, when he asked what he should do with the content of the luggage. "Please hang it into the walk in closet. Thanks." The butler coughed discreetly and said: "That could prove a little bit difficult, sir." Coldham F. was puzzled. What could be so difficult to use hangers for his few suits and shirts? Was this butler really trained at the same school as the Queen of England's? "Do I have to show you how to do it?" Coldham F. asked disgruntled. "Well, sir, I don't have any problems with the ladies underwear and the strap ons aren't a problem either, but I don't know what to do with the..." Coldham F. raced to the suitcase and found sex toys in it. Now it was his turn to be embarrassed. "That is ... impossible!" He didn't understand it. The butler had his facial features under control, but thought he had an idiot in front of him, not knowing what was in his own suitcase and behaving as if the butler was stupid. Again Coldham had no explanation for this. He must have taken the wrong suitcase. Coldham F. contacted the airline to inform them. They promised to look into it. Coldham F. tried to figure out, what he should do next. Both choices weren't attractive. He could request to have his smelly shirt laundered or buy a new outfit. In the end he went for a new outfit, meaning he had less time to enjoy the suite and prepare for the lecture.

The next morning Coldham F. was nervous. He always had stage fright. Coldham F. double checked he had all the documents with him he needed.
The limousine ride to the college was quick, and he was greeted by the head of the department and shown the facilities.
Soon the first students were filing in. Coldham F. went a last time through his notes. His stage fright had increased. The head of the department introduced Coldham F.
The professor stepped into the lime light after taking a deep breath. His eyes were gazing along the front rows. He nearly swooned, when he saw one of his grandsons grinning broadly at him from the middle seat in the first row. Coldham Fintan Noose III, who was nicknamed Fin, was cheeky and waved at his namesake as if they were on good terms. In reality they hated each other. It wasn't a good sign Coldham F.'s grandson was there. Sweat beads developed on Coldham F.'s forehead. Suddenly the strange situations Coldham F. had found himself in made sense. Fin had been behind it. He was a criminal. All the family members had cut their ties with Fin, when they found out he had worked as a burglar, while pretending to study business and architecture.
When Coldham F.'s wife had an accident and was declared brain dead, Fin had somehow found out and arrived at the hospital. He wanted to see his grandmother a last time. The rest of the family refused. Coldham F. didn't want a criminal in the same room as his beloved wife. After Fin had shown up Coldham F. warned all staff at the hospital that they shouldn't let his grandson in. Coldham F. was satisfied, when Fin didn't return.
Fin was at the funeral, but like a stranger kept his distance to the rest of the mourners and was isolated. Coldham F. had felt vindicated. He never thought Fin would take revenge.
Coldham F. swallowed hard, not knowing what to do. He was worried what else Fin had for him in store. The lecture began positive, so Coldham F. started to relax. Too early as it soon proofed.
Coldham F. had prepared some statistics for the students and made copies for them. They were distributed. Murmurs started, when the students turned to the second page. Coldham F.'s own copy showed what he had selected and was wondering what could cause such a tumult. He continued with the speech. The murmurs grew louder. Coldham F. was irritated and concerned. He drew himself up to his full height and asked authorative for quiet. The atmosphere had changed from eager anticipation to puzzlement and hostility. The students obeyed, but the question and answer session turned to Coldham F.'s professional life instead of pain control.
"Is it true you overlooked a patient was allergic to penicillin and she nearly died?" The incident had happened around fifty years earlier. Coldham F. had worked a double shift and had been way too tired to think straight. The patient had developed an infection and was burning with fever. Coldham F. asked the nurse to give the antibiotic, overlooking the allergy advice. The patient had been weak already and Coldham F. wanted to ease the patient's discomfort. The female soon developed breathing difficulties and wheezed. Thank goodness a nurse had been checking on her and alerted another doctor. Epinephrine, oxygen, dopamine and an antihistamine saved the patient's life. When Coldham F. heard the news he felt guilty and relieved at the same time. The mistake had been costly for the hospital. The patient and the hospital settled outside court. There was also a hearing. Coldham F. was lucky his father Allman Gregory Noose was influential and instead of getting fired, Coldham F. was suspended for six months. Because it had been official, Coldham F. couldn't deny it. He explained why he had overlooked it and what he had learned from the past.
Another student was more aggressive, asking about the second incident: "Why did you show up drunk to work? Do or did you have an alcohol problem?" "That's not true! I never showed up drunk!" Coldham F. was lying. He once reported intoxicated to work. He had been celebrating the birth of his second son Stamford. There had been no reprimand or entry into his personal file, because a friend of his agreed to switch shifts, when he realized Coldham F. was slightly drunk. The influence of Allman also helped.
Coldham F. wondered how Fin had found out about the incidents. They lay way back in the past, and Coldham F. had learned from his mistakes and never repeated them.
Coldham F. was outraged. He lost his temper and shouted: "It's his entire fault!" indicating Fin with his finger. Fin shrugged. Both would have never admitted it, but the family resemblance was high. Fin looked nearly the same as Coldham F. had, when he was the same age. While Fin's hair was light ash blond, Coldham F.'s had been the color of ripe wheat. Both had blue grey eyes, the same facial features and roughly the same height.
Fin smiled. "What?!" Fin asked in mock exasperation. "I wasn't even born when all this happened. I came here to listen to your lecture, but I see I'm as welcome as a hole in the head." "Stay!" Coldham F. shouted. "I want my passport back!" "I haven't got a clue, what you're talking about." Fin stood up and left. Coldham F. was out of control and tried to get to Fin, still screaming for his document and clothing. Security restrained Coldham F., letting Fin vanish as quickly as he had appeared. Security threatened to call the police, if Coldham F. didn't calm down. Coldham F. realized he had screwed up and to avoid more embarrassment forced himself to calm down.
His outburst had cost Coldham F. his credibility. Fin achieved what he wanted. His grandfather was never again invited to the lecture circuit.

You want to know how Fin managed to organize the whole shebang? There is going to be an explanation how he did it in the next installment.

©2012