Page 81 of More Than a Fling

Cal and Kip entered the room quietly.

“Stand outside the room, this won’t take long, alert me if anyone comes close,” Kip said.

“I still think you should wait and see how this turns out on its own. He probably won’t pull through anyway. I like the old coot. I didn’t sign up for this,” Cal said.

“I don’t pay you to think. Just do as you’re told.”

“You,” said Slim in a small weak voice. “Yer nothing but scum, I saw yer at the barn, it was you,” he said faintly, looking right at Cal.

“You were at the wrong place at the wrong time. Too bad you couldn’t mind your own business.” Kip said coldly. “Unfortunately, you have become a loose end that needs to be tied up.”

Slim tried to yell, but his voice was too weak, and it came out little more than a whispered, “Help.”

“You call that a scream? Nobody likely to hear that and come running,” Kip said. “What are you waiting for?” he snarled at Cal.

“I’m having second thoughts Kip; a fire was one thing but murder?”

“Get your fucking ass out in the hallnow!”

Cal reluctantly left the room and Kip approached Slim with a syringe in his hand. “You won’t feel a thing. You’ll just go to sleep and die knowing you had a good long life. Nobody will be the wiser. It’s just too bad you had to go and wake up.”

Slim pressed the nurse’s button and ripped the IV out of his arm, causing the alarm to go off. “You’re an old fool, don’t fight it,” Kip snarled. A struggle ensued but Slim had no strength and knew this was the end of the road for him.

Suddenly the door burst open and a security guard ran in with two nurses right behind him. “Put the syringe down and your hands up!”

Kip charged the guard, knocking him into the two nurses, who all lost their balance and went crashing onto the floor. The guard quickly scrambled to his feet and set chase. The nurses recovered and went to Slim’s side.

Kip had almost reached the stairwell when Cal stepped in front of him and blocked his exit. It was just enough time for the guard to catch up and with Cal’s help they managed to restrain him.

“You’re going to pay,” Kip said ominously.

“There’s no doubt about that, but one day when I die, I won’t have to meet my maker as a murderer. I’ll take my chances with your wrath,” Cal said.

Backup was already on its way thanks to Cal’s last-minute attack of conscience. In the end he had grown attached to Slim, really everyone at the farm, and he hadn’t been able to go through with it. He knew he would have to pay for his sins, but fortunately no lives had been lost and he was grateful for that.

* * *

Since Slim had no next of kin, Pepper and Gabe’s phone numbers had been given to be notified of any changes in Slims condition. Pepper got the first call and immediately headed back to the hospital. Annie and Gabe arrived right behind her. They all rushed to Slim’s room where they were stopped just outside his door.

A police officer stood guard, causing the three to look at each other with concern. “What’s going on? I’m a nurse here and a good friend of the patient. Can I get in to see him?”

“The police are in questioning him right now. If you show me your hospital ID I can let you in. Just you though.”

She pulled the cord out from under her shirt and showed him her credentials.

“Go on in then.”

Pepper looked back at Gabe and Annie and said, “I’ll keep you posted.”

“We’ll be in the waiting room down the hall. Come get us the minute we can see Slim,” Gabe said.

“Of course.”

Pepper entered the room and felt like crying when she saw Slim awake and talking to the investigators. He looked like he weighed about one hundred pounds soaking wet and he was as pale as a ghost, but he was alive, and awake, and talking.

“Slim, thank God!” she said interrupting the officer to rush to Slims side and gently hug him. “We’ve been so worried.”

“Ya hain’t getting rid of me that easy,” he said, his voice a smidgeon above a whisper.

---