Rock Her(13)

But Kip knew, again from experience, that it would not take an entire lifetime to solve this minor situation. No one was hurt except him, and there really was nothing else to be done about it. A few questions, and send them on their way. As soon as Kip thought this threw while he paced, he calmed and his demeanor became more relaxed. Annie saw the transformation, and took note of it. She cocked her head to the side, trying to make sense of it. Yes, a very remarkable man, Kip is.

“Look, officer, Capuli, was it? Sir, I spent 12 years in the Marine Corps, I have been shot before, several times actually. And I have treated more wounds than Marcus Welby MD.”

The two cops looked at each other, not getting the reference. Kip saw their questioning looks and explained.

“An old TV show about a doctor. Anyway, I took full stock of my wound and knew it was not serious. When I came to my senses, the shooter had disappeared. I am not too keen on dramatic publicity,” and Kip looked down, thinking how strange that must sound coming from a rocker. “Off stage, that is. There really was nothing else to be done. I helped Ms. Beecher here up, and we carried on with our… date.” Kip winked in her direction. Not a single lie was told there.

Annie shifted her beautiful eyes from the two cops to Kip, and gave him a questioning smile. Date? How did that become a date? Have I ever been on a date so full of excitement? No, I am sure I haven’t.

“Look,” the one who called himself officer Capuli said, “Mr. Jones, you can’t just leave the scene of a shooting, especially when you’re the one who was shot.”

Kip shook his head in mock confusion, narrowing his eyes at the cop. “Why?” he asked.

“Well, uh,” The cop started.

“Is there a law against being shot?” Kip asked.

The two law enforcement officers looked at each other. One of them, the one who was not Capuli, raised his eyebrows at the other. He was the one who so far had not said a word. Capuli shrugged.

“No?” Kip asked. Annie saw that he was a genius at controlling a situation. She thought for sure that there were laws against leaving the scene of a crime. At least, she thought it would apply here, but she was not lawyer. But the two cops never said anything about it.

Kip spread his arms. “Am I under arrest?” he asked.

“No. No you’re not, Mr. Jones.” Capuli answered. “We just want more info. Why did this man want you dead?”

Kip shrugged. “I refused him an autograph?” Kip said. It’s as good a reason as any I can think of.

It wasn’t that Kip wasn’t mildly curious about it, it’s just that gunfire and being shot and hurt was such old hat to him. While some may lay awake at night worrying about finances or even where their next meal was, Kip’s life experience had made him hard and cold to worrying about anything. And it was true that his experience in the mid-east had made any risk to his life as normal as getting up and deciding what to eat for breakfast. That is, if Kip actually ever got up in time to eat breakfast.

“Gentlemen,” Kip said to them. “I’ve got a busy day.” Annie looked at him then. This was the first lie she heard him tell. She knew for a fact that Kip did not have a damn thing to do today. “So, if I am not under arrest…”

Capuli pointed to his shoulder, which was clean, but still red and swollen. “I highly recommend you get that looked at by a doctor, Mr. Jones.”

“It’s Kip, officer Capuli,” he said, “and I’ll go get it looked as if it looks like it might be getting infected.”

The two cops looked at one another again. Capuli closed his little notebook that he took from his breast pocket. “Okay,” he said. “There is nothing more we need, then. Have a great day, Mr…. Kip.”

Kip followed the two cops to the door and showed them to the hall, giving a quick wave before the door closed. When he turned around, his eyes fell upon Annie, show stood leaning against the doorframe to the bedroom, her arms crossed.

“What?” Kip asked.

“Kip,” Annie said. “Getting shot is not a normal occurrence, even if you might think so. It’s just not.”

Kip shrugged.

“I don’t understand your reluctance to getting police help. Or, for God’s sake, a doctor’s help. This is not a war zone. This is New York City.”

Kip cocked his head. “Everywhere is a war zone, Annie.”

Annie pursed her lips. “Alright, Kip. Whatever you say. All I am saying is, I just don’t understand.”

Kip walked to her and put his arms around her. “Well, you will. Like I told you last night, I’ll tell you everything. Even my biggest secrets.” He said to her.