Page 2 of A Play for Love

“Aunt Barb?” Christian spoke.

“No, we can’t,” Jackson said. “He needs to go to the O.R. at the hospital where there’s blood in case he needs it.”

“Yeah, Aunt Barb. I don’t feel comfortable fixing him up at the medical center,” Conner said.

“Fine. Simon, call your police friends and an ambulance.”

“Barb, wait!” Henry shouted. “Just call an ambulance, and I’ll tell them I was playing around with the gun and shot myself.”

“Smart man,” Grace said. “You better start thinking about how the gun went off twice. I brought the medical kit from the house for Barb. Simon, we were never here and must leave before the ambulance arrives,” she said as she wiped down the gun and placed it in Henry’s hand. “This is your gun, right?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Make sure your fingerprints are all over it. Sam. Shaun. Help me clean up this room so it doesn’t look like there was a struggle. Christian, Conner & Jackson, you three stay since you’re doctors. He called you because you’re surgeons, and he panicked. Got it? The rest of you need to get in your car and meet us at our house. Henry, Barb was never here. She’s been out shopping and having dinner with me. Got it?”

“Yeah, I got it,” Henry moaned in pain.

“Where’s your phone?” Grace asked him.

“I don’t know,” Henry said.

“It’s in the kitchen,” Aunt Barb said as I stitched her head.

Grace entered the kitchen, grabbed Henry’s phone, and set it beside him.

“How much longer until you’re done, Nathan?”

“Give me five minutes,” I said.

“Okay. As soon as you’re done, take Barb’s car and drive the two of you to our house. Everyone will meet there.”

“Okay. I’m done,” I said. “Come on, Aunt Barb.” I helped her up from the couch.

“We are going to have a serious discussion!” Simon pointed at her.

“Jackson, call an ambulance now,” Grace said.

“You do know that I have to report this,” Conner said. “Especially if I’m the one treating him.”

“I know, and don’t worry. Simon and I will write up the report.”

“You’ll write up the report, Grace!” Simon spoke with irritation.

“I’ll write up the report. Just come on. Call us when he’s out of surgery, and we’ll head to the hospital,” she said to Conner.

I helped Aunt Barb into her car and drove her to Simon and Grace’s house.

“What the hell is going on?” I asked her.

“I’ll explain everything when we’re all together.”

“You could have killed him, Aunt Barb.”

“I could have.” She glanced at me. “But I didn’t.” A smirk crossed her lips. “I really should have, but death would have been too easy for that bastard.”

When I pulled into Simon’s driveway, I helped Aunt Barb into the house, stepped onto the patio, and called Sofia.

“Nathan, what is going on?” she answered.

“I’m down at Simon’s. Aunt Barb shot Henry.”

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