I had missed who Peter was until that very moment.
I had called him names and treated him callously. I had read every micro expression in a vacuum of how it related to Austin Glass. And in return Peter had cared for my wounds, treated me tenderly and assured me that he was HIV negative while bleeding out in a hallway of strangers.
I broke. It wasn’t a visible fracture. I didn’t sob or explode into anguish. I didn’t give in to my vomitus urge that came from the burst of self-loathing. But I shattered nonetheless.
“Well, you look filthy,” I said, hitting redial on his phone and jamming it to my ear. “I’ll find him.”
Can’t Anything Just Be Easy?
Cai’s voicemail clicked on immediately. His phone was either turned off or dead. Mine began ringing again. Letting go of Peter’s hand again was difficult, but I had to. I dodged the other gurney, snatching my cell off the floor before the wheels could roll over it. I didn’t have to see the caller ID to know it was Luis.
“Guess what I found,” I said with fake cheer while staring at Leila’s unconscious form.
“Your career?”
“Is everyone getting wittier, or am I getting more stupid?”
“I’m here with the captain.”
“Great. You can both guess! I’ll give you a hint. It has big hair and a bad attitude.”
“Leila.”
“Ding. Ding. Ding! Wait, were you really guessing?”
“Buchanan called, gave a few names.”
“And then poofed?”
“That kind of thinking proves you’re not getting stupider. I was just explaining to the captain how this case needed two detectives not one. And how there’s only one I know who’s not part of this shit.”
I backed out of the way as the paramedics raised the gurney. Peter’s eyes were fighting to stay open, but in the end they fluttered closed and stayed that way. He looked paler than usual against the dark grey blanket.
“I might actually hump you next Wednesday, Luis. Were Mick and Dick among those names he gave you?”
“Yup. Top of the list. You all right?”
“I’m covered in blood. I watched Peter get shot in the stomach and then the head. Mick and Dick probably have his brother and are torturing or murdering him as we speak. I don’t have my gun or badge, and my best friend is a criminal. Sure. I’m doing great. Thanks for asking.”
“The boy okay?”
“If you mean Peter, I don’t know. They’re getting ready to wheel him out now. I can’t even go to the hospital with him because he’s an asshole and insisting I have to find his brother—his probably dead brother. And I have no badge and no gun. I mentioned that, didn’t I?”
“The brother isn’t dead. Mick and Dick just put a BOLO out on him.”
I covered the mouthpiece and tapped Hutcherson on the shoulder, pointing at Peter. “You with him. No one, not even other cops, get to him without you watching. Leave his side and you’ll have to repatriate to Canada to avoid me. Got it?”
He nodded and gave me a wry grin. I really didn’t have the authority to order him anywhere. I went back to my call.
“They haven’t caught him then?” I said it loudly for Peter’s benefit. His eyes were closed, but I sensed he was listening—or trying to listen between all the chatter from the paramedics and the people around us. His body relaxed, and he attempted a deep breath. I lowered my voice. “Oh, good. Now every dirty cop can Be On The Lookout, armed and ready. He doesn’t stand a chance.”
“Thought the kid was a genius?”
“He is. But he’s also having issues with his medication. I don’t know if he functions well without it.”
“We’ll find him.”
“Before they do?”
“It’s what we do best.”
“Finding people is what you do best. Interrogating them is what I do best. And I may have mentioned that I have no badge or gun!”
“You do now. I’m on my way there with them. Captain is reinstating you. Give me your loc.”
Stepping into the elevator with Peter and the paramedics, I looked down at my clothes and sighed while considering my options. If I stopped at a store I’d have to deal with checkout lines. If I went home, it’d be fifteen minutes out of the way. Jeffrey’s was two minutes from me. I rattled off the address of my tailor.
“You’re buying suits?”
“I can’t even see the color of my shirt through the blood. Press is at my house, it’s lunch hour downtown, tailor’s less than two minutes from here with my wedding suits. You have a better idea?”
“I’ll be there in ten.”