“Now. Come now, Israel…”
There was an eeriness to the voice, an unearthly quality that sent a chill down his
spine. “Noelle?”
“Now…”
“For Christ’s sake,” he exploded. “I won’t do it. It’s too late. You’ll die, and I’m not
going to be responsible. Get yourself to a hospital.”
There was a click in his ear, and he stood there holding the phone. He slammed the
receiver and went back to his room, his mind churning. He knew that he could not do any
good now, no one could. She was five and a half months pregnant. He had warned her
time and time again, but she had refused to listen. Well, it was her responsibility. He
wanted to have no part of it.
He began to dress as fast as he could, his bowels cold with fear.
When Israel Katz walked into her apartment, Noelle was lying on the floor in a pool
of blood, hemorrhaging. Her face was dead white, but it showed no sign of the agony that
must have been racking her body. She was wearing what appeared to be a wedding dress.
Israel knelt at her side. “What happened?” he asked. “How did—?” He stopped, as his
eyes fell on a bloody, twisted wire coat hanger near her feet.
“Jesus Christ!” He was filled with a rage and at the same time a terrible frustrating
feeling of helplessness. The blood was pouring out faster now, there was not a moment to
lose.
“I’ll call an ambulance,” and he started to rise.
Noelle reached up and grabbed his arm with surprising strength, and pulled him back
down to her.
“Larry’s baby is dead,” she said, and her face was lit with a beautiful smile.
A team of six doctors worked for five hours trying to save Noelle’s life. The
diagnosis was septic poisoning, perforated womb, blood poisoning and shock. All the
doctors agreed that there was little chance that she could live. By six o’clock that night
Noelle was out of danger and two days later, she was sitting up in bed able to talk. Israel
came to see her.
“All the doctors say that it is a miracle you’re alive, Noelle.”
She shook her head. It was simply not her time to die. She had taken her first
vengeance on Larry, but it was only the beginning. There was more to come. Much more.
But first she had to find him. It would take time. But she would do it.