Читать книгу Triple Double - James Lewis - Страница 22

*****

One week later, Isabel introduced her parents to Abron. After small talk, and as if on a sign, both ladies visited the restroom just down the hall. Jack Davis stayed and asked Abron about his injuries and his background. He knew he hadn’t much time and tried to balance his questions to not sound like an investigator. Jack used some sleight of hand in his questioning, asking Abron about Huskies football and his military duties before questioning him about his parents, his siblings, and past marriages. Abron tried not to show he was on to him, answering every question while infusing signs of still being groggy from all the meds. Kelsey was struggling with his head and neck brace when the ladies returned, and the questioning took a back seat. Isabel’s clearance through the guard allowed her to enter and exit as needed, with or without guests.

Jack wished Abron a speedy recover. He and Grace departed to the waiting room. Abron’s mind was much sharper than the week before. He smiled and asked, “Would it be too bold of me to ask if I can call you Izzy?”

“Since you obviously can’t do me any harm in your condition and I enjoy talking to you, I think cop jargon would be ‘That’s an affirmative.’”

Finally, Abron thought, first base. Who would have thought it would take nearly two months to arrive here?

Isabel then asked, “How are you feeling today?”

With Abron, talking to young ladies was not his greatest attribute. “Much better, thank you. I was able to stand and walk on my own earlier. The doc assigned a rehab specialist for my recovery. I start this afternoon with all muscles below my shoulders.”

Izzy chimed, “I thought most of a policeman’s muscles were located above the shoulders next to the doughnut storage.”

Now he laughed out loud and quipped, “Izzy, sheriff’s department employees are deputies, not policemen.” Changing the subject, he said, “How about yourself? Can you still bartend? Do you have to go into rehab? And are you free for dinner the day I get this contraption off my head and neck?” He caught her off guard.

“I don’t know where to start, Abron. Good, yes, yes, and I’ll look forward to dinner. I do bartend seven nights a week. My doctor had a walking cast fitted. Behind the bar, I’m now hell on wheels.” Then she added, “Both jobs owe me some time off. Seriously, if you’re asking me for a date, yes, I would love to.”

Abron was smitten. To himself, he thought, What a beautiful woman.

Izzy quickly changed the subject and asked, “Can you remember anything about the day you were attacked?”

“Izzy, I think there were two of them because I’m sure I heard a gun go off as I was going into unconsciousness. I think the culprits were there searching for something. I noticed a lot of dirt had been shoveled, raked, and generally moved around where they clobbered me. But, Izzy, I’d rather talk about you.”

“Ask away,” she replied.

“How young are you?”

“Twenty-two and old enough to know better than to give my real age.” She smirked. Then she asked, “How old are you?”

“Fair enough, I’ll be twenty-seven in two months.”

“Officer, I mean, Deputy, you’re twenty-six and not giving me a straight answer. It wasn’t a trick question,” she said.

Abron said, “I’m a very young twenty-six in all ways except thinking. Education forces me to act older in keeping up with the career.”

To which Izzy replied, “Well, act your age, and don’t ever ask a woman hers.” Isabel then queried him about a next-day visit. Kelsey smiled and nodded assent. Isabel departed to join her parents, who were waiting down the hallway.

Riding the elevator down to the main lobby, Isabel spouted an abrupt “Damn, I forgot to give him the book.” She stayed on the elevator and headed back up without her parents. As the door opened, a loud bang went off. The officer guarding Kelsey’s room fell off the chair, hitting the ground while grabbing his midsection. A moment later, as nurses, patients, and visitors were panicking and running away from the shot fired, an armed security guard, weapon drawn, started yelling orders as he ran toward the scene. “Get back, clear the area!” he yelled as he slammed through the confused workers and visitors.

“Freeze,” he shouted. “Hands where I can see them.” Isabel, in shock, raised her hands. Izzy was positioned on her knees next to the two bodies. The floor was turning a crimson red when the guard backed Isabel away. She was trying to talk, trying to explain, but her words weren’t making much sense. The guard was the first to see the movement. He grabbed the gun lying next to the bodies. Slowly the patient, wearing a neck brace, began to push the shooter off him. With a sorrowful pain-induced voice, Abron spoke. “Don’t hurt her. She’s my friend.” Isabel began to sob.