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I needed to get Viktor’s job done, handled, and off my desk so he and work didn’t mix anymore. I couldn’t deal with the conversations that would arise otherwise.
When I finally landed back at my desk, it was past six, and the only person remaining was Marcie. She smiled and waved as she saw me walk in. Then her smile faded as she saw my face.
“Oh crap. He didn’t go with somebody else at the eleventh hour, did he?”
I blinked at her, then realized what she was talking about and forced my smile back on. “Oh, no, all of that’s going ahead just fine. I’ve just been caught in traffic for the last hour and a half.”
“Oh! That’s what your text was about. I get it.” She dug in her drawer and offered me a caramel.
I went over and took it, genuinely grateful. The roast beef, mushrooms, and greens I’d had with Viktor had felt like a snack after all that…exercise.
“Thanks. I’m starving.” And I still had to let Anna know how late I would be.
I did it as soon as I was back at my desk and pulled out my phone.Finally got back from Salem. Need an extra hour to handle my paperwork. Is that okay or should I get the little guy and just have him here?
She replied,It’s fine, bro’s not coming over after all. I could use the company.
“Crap,” I muttered. Marcie lifted an eyebrow, but didn’t pry as I replied.Another argument?
Yeah. Just before you texted me. Someone he used to go to school with got shot at Boston General. He’s dead. But the thing is, I looked up the news on it, and the guy is suspected of killing one of his patients.
My eyes widened.Jesus.
It’s really weird, and when I asked Luis about it, he wouldn’t tell me anything.
I sat back in my seat, my eyes so wide that Marcie took one look at me and said, “Okay, what kind of crazy shit is going on?”
“You, uh, hear about that shooting over at Boston General? I didn’t have the radio on.” I kept texting while I talked to Marcie.That’s really messed up, I guess it’s a shock for him, can you imagine finding out an old school buddy turned into a killer? I’ll pick up some chocolate on my way over, we can hang out a while.
Thanks, sweetie. I’ll see you when you get here.
Marcie shifted in her seat. “Yeah, I got some phone alerts about it. They said the guy was a suspect in one of those Angel of Death type murders.” Her eyebrows rose. “You don’t know anyone involved in that, do you?”
“No, but a friend of mine is neighbors with that dead suspect and now she’s freaked out.” The lie came out smoothly, though I felt bad about telling it. But Anna’s brother’s drama and his tie to this guy wasn’t Marcie’s business.
“Holy crap.” She popped one of her caramels into her mouth, shaking her head as she did so.
I nodded as I booted up my computer.
***
“Boston General have confirmed that the suspect, David Sanchez-Rivera of Cambridge, was not employed by the hospital nor any nursing agency that they use. His last known work address was with an automobile repair shop shut down in 2020 for suspected money laundering. Authorities have not been able to determine what his connection was to the man he killed, or how he was able to infiltrate the nursing staff undetected.” The newscaster’s voice rattled on calmly as I fought the after-dinner traffic. “No one has come forward yet with any information about this case, and the coroner’s office has not released any further details. The victim, Mr. Ivan Petrovich, who was fifty-seven years old, leaves behind a successful accounting business and does not appear to be known to his killer. As yet, any motives are unknown,” the newscaster concluded.
I huffed out a sigh, mind wandering a little. The deeper questions of the case would probably never even make their later soundbites, because the only person involved who was not dead was whoever shot the killer.
What had it been? A serial killer targeting someone completely unrelated? A hit? And who had then turned around and shot Luis’s old school friend in the hospital basement?
I couldn’t expect any kind of answer to any of that, not from the news. Maybe three months from now, or later, some online analyst with a wild hair up his ass about mysteries would lay out every bit of the case, and I would finally get closure.
When I finally got to Anna’s place, she was sitting on her front steps with Gina in her arms, enjoying the last of the daylight. Pookie was playing with Michael out on the sidewalk while she watched.
“Hey!” I called as I stepped out of my car. She smiled and waved, and my son ran over for a hug. My back got a twinge when I lifted him. “Oof, you’re getting so huge. One day soon you’ll be picking me up.”
“Really?” He blinked at me as I bounced him in my arms, trying to ignore how the effort made my stiff muscles crack. “Will I really get that big?”
“Big and strong.” And dangerously quick, and smart as the edge of a razor. Just like his father.
God. I wonder if I have to worry about what happens if he turns out to look too much like Viktor. Someone in his line of business must have enemies. What if someone makes the connection and targets us?The thought made me go cold as I turned to follow Anna back inside.
