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“But this was years and years ago,” I say. “If there was any dirty money involved, it’s been laundered and then laundered again. It’s squeaky clean by now.”
“True.” Donny rubs his forehead. “All right. We’re here now, so let’s do what you said. Let’s figure out why Lamone is here and who he’s visiting.”
“If he’s even visiting anyone,” I say. “He could’ve been lying.”
“Absolutely. He absolutely could’ve been lying. Let’s go on the assumption, for just a minute, that he’s not. Maybe there is someone here.”
“And if there is someone here…” My mind races. “He told me he always parks here, at the ER, because it’s easier. Which means…he comes here a lot. Or he’s been coming here for a while.”
“And that means… If there is someone that he’s visiting, assuming he’s telling the truth, then it’s a long-term patient.”
I nod. “Which means palliative care or mental health care.”
“So Lamone has someone—a relative possibly—who’s either dying or mentally ill.”
“Right.” I gaze around the ER waiting area. “Let’s go. He went this way.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
RORY
I’m cold, and then hot, and then cold again—all while feeling numb. It makes no sense, but that’s what I’m feeling.
Callie and I are sitting together on a small love seat across from Jesse, Maddie, and my mother.
“He’ll be okay,” Callie says to me.
“God willing,” I reply.
“I know how close you are to him. We all are, but you and he…”
Good. She stops talking. I really can’t go there right now, or I’m going to explode into tears again. I’ve done that enough for one day. I’m not sure I have any water left in me. In fact… I rise.
“I need something to drink. Do any of you want something?”
Mom shakes her head. “No.”
“Nothing for me,” Jesse says.
“Maybe a Diet Coke.” From Maddie.
“All right. One Diet Coke and a water for me. Callie, come with me.” I pull her out of the chair.
We walk together out of the waiting area.
“I guess we find a vending machine,” Callie says.
“No, we need the cafeteria,” I tell her. “You and I need to talk.”
“Really, Rory? Now?”
“There’s nothing we can do for Dad,” I say. “I wish there were, but we won’t know anything until we know.”
“Well, true.”
“So you and I should talk. Pat Lamone is here.”
Callie stops walking and turns to face me. “What?”
