Target: No problem. I’ve spoken to Axel, and he’s good with Jack working here. Get Jack set up and watch your girlfriend, ha ha.
I mumble, “Fucker,” under my breath but can’t hold back the smirk because girlfriend is feeling okay with me. Just will have to sweet-talk Victoria into the same thinking.
****
“Come on, Jack. I’ve got something to show you.”
We walk over to Meat’s place and inwardly I am smirking because Jack just doesn’t know what the fuck is going on, but he’s holding back his curiosity and not questioning.
Meat opens the shed as we reach him, and he’s giving Jack a serious look, which I notice has Jack squirming a little. We all, however, turn when we hear Star shouting as she walks towards us. “Jack, you are a lucky boy. You have all of us and a mentor like Chaos.” She kisses Jack’s cheek, which has Meat grunt, grab hold and drag Star to him.
“What do you mean, Star?” Jack looks so confused that I slap his back, causing him to take three steps forward with the shock of it.
I step into the shed and slide the Harley Electra Glide out. It’s got some rust showing and needs a new seat. It’s a fixer-upper if ever I saw one. “This is a gift from Target. He said to do it up and use it. It’s yours and the title is here for you.” I take the title out of my back pocket and hand it to him, while Meat pushes him toward the hog.
“Come on, Jack, close your mouth and grab your girl,” Star says as she’s hopping from one foot to the other with excitement.
“Jesus. Fucking. Christ. Mine?” Jack who I’ve never really heard curse before, drops this out. Star and I laugh at the shocked look on his face. Meat pushes him out of the shed, locks the door, and grabs Star. She is over his shoulder and as Meat heads back to his house, Star is waving at us over his shoulder while her other hand is playing with Meat's ass.
“Come on, Jack. You need to get this girl working so you have a vehicle to get to and from the shooting range.” I slap hisshoulder once more and walk away, leaving him to push that heavy ass machine down the compound. Good physical exercise I think to myself, but don’t stop the smirk that crosses my face.
****
Three hours later, and much earlier than I expected I walk into the corridor with the nurses' station where the kid had been admitted. Two nurses are at the station, and they both give me interested looks as I walk over to them.
“Hi, can we help you?” Nurse One asks.
“I’m looking for a little information on the kid that was brought in after nearly drowning. My girlfriend was the one who dived in and saved him. We are waiting for her to wake up, but I thought I’d best check because you and I know she’ll ask how he is as soon as she does.” I give them the ‘you know what I mean’ look.
“Corey Plaskett, nine years of age,” the nurse is mumbling to herself as she searches the system. “He was released the day after and was fine. No aftercare needed.” She looks a little closer at the monitor in front of her, then looks at me. “He has been admitted twice before, once with a broken finger and once with a concussion from a fall.”
The second nurse walks behind the first and looks at the screen. She is frowning and purses her lips. “We should have picked this up. Flag it, Pauletta, if he comes in again it needs a follow-up.”
“You think skullduggery is afoot?” I ask, but keep it as light as I can, without it looking flippant or too interested.
“I don’t know,” the second nurse answers, but I can see she’s not happy with what she has seen.
“Do you remember what the mother was like with the kid?” I ask and watch them both intently because first reactions to questions are always hard to hide.
Nurse One frowns. “She wasn’t very loving. In fact, she only came back once to pick him up when he was discharged. The father came one time, and after he left, the kid didn’t speak a single word. We couldn’t get anything out of him, but up to then he had been quite okay to speak to us.”
“None of you thought that was a red flag?”
“I didn’t even realize it until this minute when you asked the question.” The nurse looks embarrassed, but she looks upset as well.
“Thanks for the information,” I throw out as I turn and head out of the place. I quickly make my way to check on Victoria, but message Specs.
Chaos: Pull up the camera at the hospital and find out what happened with the kid and his father. I want to see what the father looks like, too.
Specs: Will do. Leave it with me.
Stepping into Victoria’s room, I take a seat, hold her hand, and tell her all about my day. Now and again, I feel a finger move, and I’m not sure if she can hear me or not, but I keep talking. “So, I’ve just been down to the kids' ward, and I found that something happened with his dad. After he’d been to see thekid, the kid didn’t speak again. That says he was told to keep his mouth shut about something. Very suspicious, and we’ll get to the bottom of it. But I need you to wake up so you can tell me what you saw.”
Another twitch, and it felt stronger than the last. I study Victoria’s face and no change as yet. But I know I’m not imagining it. “Anyway, I’m going to speak to Sheriff Forest and get him to look into the family. Something doesn’t add up. Oh, and I know you are a software developer. Pretty darn clever, I’m thinking. You helped Wells Fargo Bank get rid of a nasty bug or something, which had other banks chasing you down. It’s fucking impressive, Victoria.”
The door opens and a male nurse walks into the room. “Hi, you Victoria’s family?”
“Boyfriend,” I state clearly.
