Good News, Bad News....

Nothing's happened in the past few weeks that has any effect on these entries. As I've mentioned before, I've reached the 2 year mark with the transplant. Now there are certain tests that I had to go through to make sure everything is still good. Besides the usual blood tests, that is.

They decided to put me on the brand name Progrof instead of the generic tacrolimus, and to add Celcept. These can be controlled better, and will provide more protection against rejection. Since that happened, my tac level has been consistently where they want it. At the end of January, I went through a Stress Test. I expected to be on a tread mill, but they use drugs now so I spent the time on my back while they caused my heart to race artificially. I gotta say I was pretty shaky when it was over. They called me the next week to tell me I'd passed.

At the beginning of February, I had a CT Scan, and a Bone Density Scan. The CT is standard, but the Bone Density is done every 2 years. The first one I'd had - two years ago - caused them to put me on Fosomax for Osteoporosis. I was hoping there'd be no change, but I anticipated the worst.

They called me yesterday saying, "We've got good news". The Bone Density came back better then it was 2 years ago. How about that. Of course I have to go for blood work on Monday to make sure this change hasn't decreased my Vitamin D level.

I was feeling good, and things were getting better since the weather reports show a warming trend with no storms on the horizon. After 9 pretty bad ones, we could use the break. I went out this morning, just to take a drive around in the sunshine.

I headed up Main Street with the idea of ending up in Metuchen. Just passed Amboy Avenue, a black SUV pulled up behind me. Normally, I don't pay too much attention to the car behind me, but the DHS guys use black SUV's and it caught my eye. Of course, the trackers on me wouldn't get this close. And he was close. Too close.

I passed under Route 9 with the SUV on my tail. We were in the right lane, and when the road opened up to 2 lanes I'd hoped he'd pull to the left and pass me. He didn't. Instead, he put on his lights - high beams - almost blinding me.

Trying to get away, I turned right into the strip mall where Lowe's and Wegmans is. He stayed right behind me, not giving an inch. Through the mall and out onto Woodbridge Center Drive we went, turning right.

The next light, I took a fast right into Woodbridge Center, and a another fast right around onto the Fortunoff side. I thought - as I turned - that I could see another black SUV catching up to us.

My pursuer didn't budge, just kept coming. As we rounded the first curve, he started to blast his horn. Between the bright lights and the blaring horn I was getting disoriented. Pulling out of the curve, it would be an almost straight run past J. C. Penny's towards Sears. 2 lanes on both sides, with both of us now in the left lane.  I still couldn't see through the lights, but I took a chance and pulled suddenly into the right lane.

He didn't react as fast, but shot by me. As he passed, he stuck his hand out of the driver's side window and gave me the customary gesture. I raised my hand and gestured back...

Point, press, Flash.

I didn't expect anything to happen, to be honest about it. It was just a knee-jerk reaction to the situation. But something did happen.

The SUV suddenly spun to its right, into my lane. I stopped, heedless of anyone behind me. He kept spinning. Back into the left lane, then into the oncoming ones. Luck was with us, as the only car coming towards us was far enough away to turn into one of the other lots.

He didn't slow down. Just kept spinning, with no obvious attempt at correcting the skid. He hit one of the snow mounds piled up at the ends of the various parking lots. He hit at top speed, and at an angle. The momentum flipped him on his side, and the SUV just lay there, wheels spinning.

Just then, the black SUV that I thought I'd seen earlier pulled up beside me, and the DHS agent who'd saluted me at the Givings site got out.

"You OK, Mr. O'Neill?" He really did look worried.
I realized that I was shaking, but otherwise unhurt. I rolled down the window, turned off my car, and leaned back in the seat.
"Yeah....yeah....I'm OK. Looks like the cavalry showed up a little too late this time."
"What? I'm afraid I don't understand. Are you sure you're OK?"
"Never mind. Bad joke. I'm OK. Just shaken up is all. This is, like, the 3rd time we've met and I still don't know your name."
"Craig, sir."
"First name or last?"
"Yes, sir." He said, smiling.

An ambulance had arrived, probably part of the tracking team and notified by Craig. The EMT's and Craig's driver were at the overturned SUV.
"Please wait here, Mr. O'Neill. I'll just be a minute." He walked over and spoke to the other guys. Then he made a phone call.

When he came back, he looked very, very serious.
"Mr. O'Neill, I have some bad news."
"What? Is there a problem?"
"No. Well, not here, but overall, we think so. That driver and vehicle are ours. They're DHS."
"Jeez!..Are you kidding me? DHS? I thought you guys were on my side!"
"We are, Mr. O'Neall, but we now have reason to believe that there are some people who weren't too happy about what happened to Givings after all."
"Givings? Are you serious? I thought we were good with that."
"Apparently not. This is something that's just now coming to light. We don't know how wide spread it is and we're trying to get a handle on the situation."
"What about the guy in that car?" I said, pointing to the wreck.
"He's dead, so the best we can do is find out who he is and, if we're lucky, why he did it. But we're trained in hiding things, so it won't be easy."
"How could my using the Flasher have caused this?"
"It's possible that you hit his mirror and blinded him, or maybe you caused some kind of electrical short. We just don't know, right now. As I said, we're trying to get a handle on the situation"
"Oh great...Trying to get a handle on it, are you? What about me? What am I supposed to do?"

He was quiet for a minute or two. Running through the options in his head, I supposed.
"We don't think this is widespread, but we are going to double up on your security. We'll go round the clock, and move the tracker units in closer. Possibly close enough for you to see. I'm not sure yet. I have to talk to my superiors."
"The People Upstairs?"
"Oh, no, Mr. O'Neill. I'm not that high up. Probably someone on Agent Doyle's level. I'll find out when I get back. Reports have already been filed, and I'm sure actions are being taken. You'll just have to be a little more aware of your surroundings."
"Great. Just great. I guess I have no choice, right? Since Doyle isn't around, who should I contact if I have a question, or a problem."
He took a card out of his inside pocket.
"This has my cell number. Call me, for now. It may be that they'll pull Agent Doyle back, since that other operation seems to have gone south."
"What? Now I don't understand."
"Sorry. I can't say anything else. If you're feeling better, I would suggest that you leave the area. We've got it closed off for now, but we're going to have to let the local cops in soon. Apparently, someone called in the accident."
The other car I saw earlier.
"OK. I'm going. Do me a favor and keep a real close eye on things, OK?"
He smiled, nodded, and walked back to the wreck.

I drove home. Not feeling like a drive on a sunny day anymore.