Page 43 of Protecting Silver
“Good for you. I’m going to get right to the point. Where are you right this minute?”
“Sitting in my truck in the employee parking lot at the hospital. I just finished my shift and am heading home.”
“Okay, how long does it take you to get home?”
“Thirty minutes, but I need to stop and pick up some groceries.”
“That’ll work. I’m going to send you some papers to your e-mail. When you get home, if you have any questions call me on the number I just called you on.”
“Okay, but can you give me the heads up?”
“You have any contact with the woman who gave you her ex’s numbers?”
“I am, we’re dating. Did you find out anything?”
“I did, I will not tell you how I got it, but it’s a very reliable source. Why don’t you get your groceries, go home, shower, then read what I send you? I’m sorry, but it’s around fifty-seven pages of information.”
“Damn,” Patch said as he rubbed the back of his neck. “Any word on why I originally contacted you? About my former caseworker in the foster-care system?”
“Not yet, but I have some feelers out, and the information is trickling in. I don’t want to do anything rash, not until I have everything.”
“I understand. Thanks, Tex. You’ll have to send me a bill.” Patch frowned when a laugh came over the line.
“Yeah, like that’s ever going to happen.” Then, the line went dead. Shaking his head, Patch buckled in, started his truck and drove to the grocery store.
Chapter 21
By the timePatch made it home, he grinned when he saw his best friend Finn standing before his apartment door. He gave a whistle, and Finn came out to join him, Patch loaded up his arms, and together they took all the groceries inside.
“Hey,” Patch said, and grinned at his best friend. “I’m in desperate need of a shower, can I trouble you to put this stuff away?”
“Not at all.” Finn nodded and began to do that, while Patch went to his office, accessed his e-mail, then printed the papers Tex had sent him. While they printed, he headed to his bedroom. Thirty minutes later, he rejoined Finn in the kitchen.
“Thanks for everything, man,” Patch said as he saw Finn folding the last of the bags.
“Everything might not be as you like, but I gave a good guestimate of where things go.”
“Again, thanks. So, what brings you here on a Thursday night?”
“Veronica’s at that PTSD support group, and I didn’t want to go home alone. I’m meeting her at nine, then we’ll catch a late dinner before we head home.”
“How’s that working out for her?”
“Good, she doesn’t wake up screaming as much as she used to. I’m all for letting her go if it helps her. I just find myself at loose ends some evenings, especially if I don’t have a lot of work to do.”
“Want a steak dinner?”
“No, like I said, I’m taking Veronica out after her meeting. If you want to eat, go ahead. Don’t let me stop you.”
“Thanks, I will.” Patch grinned as he opened the refrigerator and pulled out a steak, a potato, and a bunch of asparagus. In no time he had it cooking. He jerked his head toward his best friend when he swore.
“What the fuck is this?” Finn demanded as he held up the sheaf of papers Patch had tossed on the counter when he came back from his shower.
“No clue,” Patch shrugged. “First, I’ve been practically living at the hospital for the last two weeks. When I left today I don’t have to return for two whole weeks. I plan on spending as much time with Silver as I can. You do know that we’re a couple, right?”
“Not officially, but yeah, I assumed.”
“Thank god she understands my schedule, and isn’t demanding of my time. I also kind of remember that she had a fundraiser a few days ago. I so wanted to be there, not to be gross or anything, but I was elbow deep inside some guy’s gut after he took a header off a ladder at work. Landed on some equipment down below, and punctured his gut.”
