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“FUCK! Are you kidding me? What the hell was that for?”
“I've dealt with some crazy shit dealing with you over the years. Don't you ever do that to me again! We thought something happened to your dumb ass.”
Ryder’s in the background laughing it up.
“Didn't think you had it in you, Big Guy,” Ryder tells Graham. He then looks at me, “You want to tell us why we're here?”
“Yeah. I'm hoping you're still friends with one of the clerks here. I need access to a file that's not mine.”
“Obviously. What file?”
I look at Graham then at Ryder before taking a deep breath.
“I need access to Brooklyn’s file from the day before I left to for California six years ago.” I’m watching their faces to gauge their reactions before I continue. “I also need her file from a year and a half ago.”
The two share a look before Ryder nods and heads towards the nurses’ station.
“You going to clue us in to what’s going on?”
“Yep. As soon as I see the file. I need answers before I share.”
“Good enough. How’s the nose?”
“It’s felt worse. Hurts like a bitch. You didn’t pull that punch.”
“Like I said, I’ve seen a lot of shit and had some whoppers come my way being friends with you.”
I snort and have a seat as an older black woman with a full face of makeup and curly hair walks up to the counter. Ryder leans down to give the woman a hug. Not what I expected but hopefully that works in our favor.
Twenty minutes later, Ryder and the woman signal for us to follow them. The woman leads us around the corner to an empty office space. She closes the door behind us.
“Hi. Nurse Aretha Tillman or Auntie Angel. Ryder tells me the two of you are friends of his. What he didn't tell me was you were connected to Grandma Elle.”
That surprises me. Not many people know I was close with Brooklyn's grandmother. This woman must’ve been really good friends with her too.
“Yes. How did you know that?”
“Grandma Elle spent a lot of time here at the hospital. Very few many people were aware of the extent of her illness.”
“Wait ... Brooklyn's grandmother was sick? When was this?”
Nurse Aretha or Auntie Angel, as Ryder calls her, silently signals for us to have a seat. Once we're all seated, she explains.
“Grandma Elle had cancer. She’d been diagnosed about six years ago.”
Well. Fuck. Me.
I catch bits and pieces of the rest of what Nurse Aretha tells us about Brooklynn’s grandmother’s illness and the care she received. My thoughts center around one question and one question only.
“I’m sorry. Do you mind if I ask you a question?” I ask as the words thump around in my head. Nurse Aretha nods. “Do you know when her granddaughter found out about her grandmother’s illness?”
“Brook was there the day Elle got the news. I stayed with them until they were ready to go home.”
“Damn,” I hear Graham mutter.
I second that.
“I’ll leave you to your search. Rye, have one of the nurses call for me when you’re ready to return the files. Okay?”
