“You’re at the hospital.”
Because you shot me.But the words don’t make it out of my mouth.
“I want Mom.”
Dad clears his throat.At least I think that’s what he does.I hear some kind of rumble.
“I need to talk to you first before you see your mother,” he says.
I say nothing.
“You need to know, Hawk, that what I did… I did it to protect the family.”
“Is he dead?”I say through my throat that won’t open all the way.
A pause.Then, “Yes.Ted is dead.”
Rage hurls through me.“You’re a murderer!”I scream, though it comes out more like a dry rasp.
Something beeps.
It’s a machine in the room.
“Hawk, please.”He grips my shoulders.“I need you to understand.”
A nurse runs in.“Sir, please move out of the way,” she says to my father.
“What’s happening?”Dad asks.
“His pulse rate is up.His blood pressure is up.”The nurse touches my forehead.“Sweetheart, you need to calm down.”
My dad is a murderer…
My dad is a murderer…
My dad is a murderer…
“I’m just going to give you some medicine,” she says.“It will help you relax.Feel better.”
My dad is a murderer…
My dad is a murderer…
My dad…is a…murderer…
* * *
Present day…
I’m a murderer…
I’m a murderer…
I’m a murderer…
At least if Eagle dies, I am.
God, Ted Tucker.
