Chapter 39: Chapter 39: John Leibler's Surprise
"Mr. Kahn, are you all right?" Seeing Josh suddenly cough violently, both Lyndon Schneider and Dix looked at him with genuine concern. After all, Josh was quickly becoming their only hope.
Cough, cough,
"I'm fine, just choked on my own saliva," Josh waved it off, signaling that he was okay. He then turned his attention to Dix, scrutinizing him up and down.
So, it's the good guy.
He mentally kicked himself for not recognizing him earlier.
In fairness, though, the other night, he had been observing them from over 30 meters away in the dim glow of early dawn. The streetlights of this era weren't exactly known for their brightness, so failing to identify anyone's face was understandable.
"Sir, does my situation trouble you? It's all right; I can leave right now. Mr. Schneider and my past actions are unrelated. Let him go and turn himself in," Dix said, standing up when he noticed Josh staring at him.
"That won't be necessary," Josh said, lost in thought. "Your other cases do complicate things a little, but it's not insurmountable. Worst case, I can arrange for a boat to get you to Canada. You can lay low there for a while until the situation cools off."
Normally, Josh wouldn't bother going out of his way to help someone like Dix. Frankly, if Lyndon Schneider hadn't been connected to his father, Josh wouldn't have lifted a finger to help either, especially not after being threatened at gunpoint.
But Dix's actions spoke volumes. Not only had he protected Schneider throughout the ordeal, but the loyalty and camaraderie he'd shown earlier—standing up for the older man—had softened Josh's stance.
After all, as Lyndon Schneider had explained, he and Dix's group had only known each other for less than a week. They weren't close associates, just individuals brought together by a short-term deal. According to their agreement, the heist's spoils—all those valuable jewels—belonged entirely to Schneider. Dix and his team were only hired for a fixed fee of $20,000 per person.
Yet despite this limited arrangement, Dix and his men not only refrained from coveting the jewels but risked their lives to protect Schneider, even now going so far as to advocate for him.
Such loyalty was unexpected. Josh couldn't help but marvel at how, in this era, even hardened criminals seemed to have a strong sense of honor.
"Wouldn't that be too much trouble?" Dix asked, clearly surprised by Josh's suggestion.
"Under normal circumstances, it would be a hassle," Josh replied. "But you're not the primary target here—Mr. Schneider and the jewels are. If he turns himself in, and the pressure from the Leibler family and the insurance company eases, the police will be eager to close the case. Once the citywide lockdown lifts, smuggling you out will be much easier."
Hearing this, Dix—who had been on edge for over 24 hours—finally relaxed a little, sinking back into the sofa. However, as soon as he sat, he winced, clutching his side and letting out a sharp breath.
"Are you injured?" Josh raised an eyebrow and noticed the blood-soaked area near Dix's waist as he lifted his shirt. The entire lower part of his undershirt was stained deep red.
"It's nothing—just a graze from a bullet. I've already dressed it," Dix said, shaking his head.
Josh wasn't buying it. There was no way a simple graze would bleed so profusely or cause such visible pain.
"If you don't stop the bleeding, it's going to get serious," Josh said as he inspected the wound. "But you're in luck."
With that, he walked into the bedroom, returning shortly with a medical kit. Of course, only Josh knew that the kit had come from his system's storage space.
As a time traveler, he made it a priority to stay prepared for any situation—especially in an era as unpredictable as this one. While life in the United States was relatively stable, it didn't hurt to be cautious. Thanks to the system's storage capabilities, he didn't have to worry about space or expiration dates.
Inside the kit were basic supplies: bandages, simple tools, and medications, including morphine and sulfa powder. Unfortunately, there was no penicillin.
Although Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928, it wasn't immediately recognized for its potential. It wasn't until 1940 that its antibacterial properties were confirmed, and large-scale production only began in 1942, after U.S. pharmaceutical companies got involved. Even now, penicillin was still a regulated experimental drug.
For now, sulfa drugs were the best available option.
With no professionals among them, the three men resorted to a straightforward and crude method: Dix bit down on a rag while Josh sprinkled sulfa powder onto the wound, administered 5 milligrams of morphine, and wrapped the injury with fresh bandages.
Yes, morphine had addictive properties, but dosage was key. Modern research showed that doses under 5 milligrams were relatively safe. The rampant addiction seen among soldiers during World War I and II resulted primarily from the life-saving practice of administering large, 30-milligram doses.
"This is all I can do for now. Stay here and rest. Later, I'll see if I can bring in a doctor. Mr. Schneider, you'll come with me to meet Mr. Leibler," Josh said after securing Dix's bandage.
He'd done everything he could for Dix; the rest was in the man's own hands.
"Thank you, sir!" Dix said earnestly.
Josh simply smiled. "Thank yourself," he said cryptically, leaving Dix puzzled.
Without explaining further, Josh and Schneider left.
Before departing, Josh made a quick phone call to confirm John Leibler's whereabouts. Since the theft involved the renowned attorney Emery and the Leibler family's long-standing partner, it was crucial to notify Leibler in advance.
Leibler's stance would be key to reducing Schneider's sentence.
At the moment, John Leibler was swamped with the aftermath of the theft. Although the insurance company would cover the direct financial loss, the stolen gems represented a significant portion of the company's inventory, and replacing them during wartime wouldn't be easy.
Initially, when Leibler's secretary informed him of Josh's request for a meeting, he was reluctant. However, remembering Josh's heroics the previous night and the favorable press coverage that morning, he realized Josh's influence was growing.
After some thought, he agreed to the meeting—unaware that Josh was about to deliver a monumental surprise.
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