Page 24 of Blood & Honey
“She had a second cell phone,” I blurt out, and Blood taps his brakes and pulls off a few blocks before the hospital.
He motions out the window for the guys to go ahead without us.
“Shelby had two phones, and you’re just now telling me?”
“I’m sorry.I didn’t think about it until just now.I thought it was for talking to you on a secret line because of the club or something.I guess I never thought much about it.”
“It’s something.”He squeezes my hand.“If you remember anything else, no matter how insignificant it may have seemed at the time, let me know.”
We meet up with the rest of the club at the hospital, and I can’t help thinking how ominous it must feel coming to a place called Deadman’s Medical Center as a patient.
Blood leaves me standing awkwardly near the vending machines while he speaks with Hemlock and Graves.I’m close enough to overhear most of their conversation.
“Security guard came back from his lunch break and found him knocked out by the ATM,” Goose says.
“Where?”
“Bank by Piggly Wiggly.”
“What time?”
“Your guess is as good as mine.Buford is questioning him now.Could have been a robbery attempt or something else.”
“You thinking it has anything to do with his call to you last night?”Hemlock asks Blood.
“Maybe.I’m sure Buford already has a call in for the parking lot surveillance, but see if Hash can tap into their system.”My man gives out orders, and his men fall into line.
He takes my hand in his, and no one questions it.We go through the double doors and down the corridor to the exam room where Slasher is being checked out.
Our local sheriff exits the room and nods to Blood.
He releases my hand.“Go on in and see if he needs anything while I have a word with Buford.I’ll be right behind you.”
“Yeah, sure.”I hesitate just inside the exam room, hoping to overhear their muted conversation, but am unable to with the sounds of the hospital.I’ve always hated this place.It’s cold and reminds me of death.
The last time I was in this trauma center was when my mother passed away.A shiver passes over me at the reminder.
“You lost,” Slasher’s hoarse voice sounds.
“Hey, Blood will be right in.He wanted me to check on you.Can I get you anything?”
“Not unless you’ve got a joint and a beer.”He grins.
“Afraid I’m fresh out.”
“Don’t make me laugh.”He coughs and holds his left side, wincing in pain, like maybe he has a broken rib or two.
I take in his battered appearance.There’s bruising under his left eye and some scrapes on his nose and chin.Looks like he got in a fight with the asphalt and lost.
“Blood said you may have seen Shelby last night.That true?”
“Sure as shit looked like her, but hell, darlin’.I can’t say for certain.”
“Sometimes I think I see her, but then it’s like I blink, and she’s not there and never was, ya know?Like maybe I’m seeing what I want to because I miss her.With you, it’s different.You don’t particularly miss her or long to see her.”
“You have any reason to believe I saw her?”
“I don’t know.It’s strange that all I’ve wanted since she left was to see her again.You’d think she would make contact with me over anyone other than her son.”
