Bedlam Boyz(72)

"I like it this way," Kayla said. "Wow . . . college. I never thought I'd really be able to do it."

"We'll get you there," Elizabet said. "Just you wait and see. Well, we do have a few hours before I need to head into the city. Shall we go visit Billy?"

"You bet," Kayla said immediately. "And I'd like to go looking for Liane, too. I know that no one's seen her around, but I'd like to try to find her. I don't know where she'd be exactly, but we could go back to Suite 230. Maybe she went back there."

"The police have been checking there once a day or so," Elizabet said. "There hasn't been any sign of your friend, but we can go look if you like."

"Yeah, I'd like that."



Walking into the hospital was easier this time. It was the same, the overwhelming pressure of pain and emotions pouring down on her, but she was able to push it back, to hold it away from her almost without thinking about it. She moved it away from her, closing it off to where it was only a quiet, distant clamor rather than an overwhelming wave. She caught a glimpse of Elizabet's smile as they walked through the hospital lobby.

Maybe I am learning. Maybe I'm getting better at this.

"They've moved him to the third floor," Elizabet said as they walked to the elevators. "He's doing fine, last I saw him."

"You've been here?" Kayla asked, surprised.

Elizabet nodded. "I asked that they assign him as one of my cases. I also asked that they keep him here for a little while longer even though he could have been discharged from the hospital a couple days ago. Downtown, they're still trying to figure out what to do with this young man, but Billy has his own ideas. I'm sure he'll tell you."

Kayla only followed Elizabet from the elevator down the hall to room 341. Through the closed door, she could hear an exuberant yell: "Yeah, go Niners!" She grinned, recognizing Billy's voice.

"Come on, Billy!" someone else shouted. "They're history, they're toast, they're outta here!"

Elizabet opened the door, leaning inside. "Is there room for two more Niners fans in here?" she asked.

"Elizabet! Come on in!"

Kayla walked in after Elizabet, a little nervously. Billy, wearing a San Francisco Forty-Niners shirt over his hospital gown, was sitting up in bed. Another boy, very thin and pale and wearing a baseball cap, was in the next bed. Both of them were watching the game on the television set high on the wall across from them.

Billy winced as one of the Niners fumbled a catch and glanced at Kayla and Elizabet. His eyes widened, and he let out a yell that filled the room. "KAYLA!"

"Hiya, Billy," she said. "How's tricks?"

"You're looking all right," he said, grinning. "The 'do is awesome. Did you do your hair with a knife? Can I get your leather jacket if you get hit by a truck?"

"In your dreams, dude," she said, grinning back at him.

"Shhh, come on, guys, put a cork in it, the Niners are trying for a touchdown," the other boy said, lying back so that he was only half-visible behind the row of IVs and medical equipment.

"Chill out, Rick!" Billy shook his head. "He's stressed out 'cause tonight's dessert is riding on this." He added more quietly, "An' the chemo's got him down today." Billy glanced over at Elizabet, a little hesitantly, Kayla thought. "So, Elizabet . . . any news?" Using both hands, he shifted his leg, encased in a heavy white cast, so he could sit up straighter. "You got any news for me?"

Elizabet sat down on the edge of his bed. "Oh, nothing much. Just a new home for you. It's up in San Francisco and your foster parent is an engineer, just like you asked for."

"Really?" Billy's eyes were wide. "You did it, Elizabet! I knew you could do it!"

Kayla glanced between Billy and Elizabet, not understanding. "An engineer?" she asked.

Elizabet nodded. "We've been trying to do that, match kids with parents who are in the profession the kid would like to pursue. Billy told me that he wants to study civil engineering; if he can get into college, that is," she added, giving him a stern look. "After talking with your teachers at your last high school, that may be tougher than you told me. But I think you'll like this lady, Billy. I talked with her on the phone. She's been working on old buildings, making them more earthquake-proof."

"Cool!" Billy said. "That's great. We'll have something to talk about over dinner."

"I didn't know you wanted to be an engineer," Kayla said. When did he decide he wanted this? It couldn't have been when we were at the foster home; he never talked about it, never said anything about it. . . .