Page 74 of Distant Thunder

“Has anybody reported the cruiser?”

“No, sir. It’s a Toyota four-door, gray.”

“Let’s go,” Dino said to Stone and ran down the stairs. “Lenox Hill ER,” he said to his driver.

“What about the cruiser?” Stone asked.

“With a one-car search party, we’re not going to find it. Leave it to the net; I want to see Rosie.”

They got out of the car at the ER entrance and ran inside. Dino brushed a nurse out of the way and started looking in examining rooms.

Another nurse stopped him. “She’s on her way to the OR with a small puncture wound to the heart and a concussion.”

“Was she conscious at all?”

“Briefly. She said something about a hatpin and a headache, then she passed out.”

“What are her chances?”

“Good, but they’ve got to crack her chest, so she’ll be down for some time.”

“No point waiting,” Dino said. “Tell her I was here, and when she shows signs of waking up, call me immediately.” He handed the nurse a card. “No matter what time it is.” He stalked out of the ER with Stone on his heels.

“As I recall,” Stone said, “you and Rosie were sort of an item a while back.”

“A long while back,” Dino said. “But she’s a great person, and I love her as much as I love anybody but Viv. She didn’t deserve this, and I’m going to find out why my instructions weren’t followed to the letter.”

They arrived at Stone’s house and the driver pulled into the garage, per Stone’s instructions.

“Do I have to tell you to watch your ass?” Dino said. “I mean, she came for you.”

“No, you don’t have to tell me.”

“I’m going to put a uniform on your front and rear doors, until you can get Mike Freeman at Strategic Services to get some people over here. I hope I don’t have to tell you that shewalked into a crowded bar, suckered us both, and damn near committed two murders.”

“Why would she go after you?” Stone asked.

“Because I was there, and I made her. She wouldn’t have hesitated. This is who you’re dealing with.”

“I understand, believe me. You want to wait here for the call?”

“I may as well. Viv is in the Far East somewhere for another couple of days, and I’m glad she is.”

“Coffee?” Stone asked.

“Nah, I’ll catch forty winks on your office sofa. You go to bed. I don’t want you cluttering up the ER when Rosie comes out of it.”

“All right. Call me after you’ve seen her, and give her my best.”

“Yeah, sure. She’ll like that.” Dino headed for Stone’s office and slammed the door behind him.

Stone went upstairs, stripped, and fell into bed.

42

Stone came downstairsthe following morning and was surprised to find Dino still in his office. “Have you seen Rosie?”

“She’s awake, but they won’t let me see her until the surgeon has conducted his post-op examination. They told me to come at ten o’clock.”

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