Page 125 of Strangers in Time

Oliver explained what he had done, and that Charlie had the rest of the day off.

“You must come home with us, Charlie,” said Oliver.

“I can’t. That copper.”

“Charlie,” said Molly. “Your friend Lonzo is in the clinic. It looks like he was beaten.”

“Beaten! Can… can I see him?”

“Yes, but I’m afraid he might not recognize you.”

& LOST

MOLLY LEDCHARLIE TOthe ward where Lonzo lay on his bed.

Charlie took off his pillbox hat and sat down in a wooden chair next to his friend. He hadn’t seen Lonzo in quite a while, and his old mate looked near death.

“Lonzo, it’s me, Charlie.”

Lonzo didn’t react to him at all.

Charlie looked over at Molly and Oliver, who were standing by the doorway to the ward.

He turned back to Lonzo and pulled something from his pocket. It was the journal. He had taken to carrying it with him. He would write in it when he stopped to eat his lunch.

Charlie opened it. “‘Sorry, Eddie,’” he said, holding the book up so Lonzo could see it. “You wrote that, Lonzo, toEddie, your best mate.”

Lonzo’s right eye twitched and then his left one seemed to shiver a bit in its socket as the pupil focused on the book.

“E-Eddie?” he said in a frail voice.

“That’s right, Lonzo. Eddie, our friend.”

“He’s d-dead.”

Charlie lowered the book. “Yeah, he is.” He looked Lonzo over. “Who did this to you? Who beat you up?”

“C-coppers done it.”

“Coppers?”

Charlie looked over at Oliver, who had clearly heard this.

Lonzo said, “That… that Will-bee bloke. He and that constable wh-what-is done it. Hit me in the head. P-put me in de cl-clink, then they th-throwed me in the s-street.”

“DI Willoughby,” Oliver grimly said to Molly. “Excuse me.” He stepped away.

Charlie gripped Lonzo’s hand. “They had no call to do that. We never wanted nothin’ to happen to Eddie or that copper. And I bet it ain’t no hangin’ job, either. He was lyin’.”

“I’m s-sorry, Charlie. I t-tol’ him ’bout you.”

“It’s okay, Lonzo. You rest easy now. I’ll be right here, mate.”

Lonzo closed his eyes and his breathing actually seemed a bit steadier.

Charlie looked over at Molly. “We never meant no harm, Molly. We just run ’cause we was scared.”

“I know, Charlie, I know. I’m just glad you’re safe.”

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