Private Dublin

Chapter 14

It was late by the time I got to the hospital. I was still in my tux from the previous night, and it was now grimy with the residue of a traumatic day. I desperately needed a shower, but I’d arranged to meet Mo-bot and Sci and wanted to check on Justine.

I’d been interviewed by Captain Brooks and a Detective Philips, who was seething at what the shooter had done to Sal. I gathered he was a popular figure in the department. I gave them the same account I’d given Brooks when she’d spoken to me at the scene, but with much more detail. While I was being deposed at the precinct, Brooks got word Sal’s condition had stabilized enough for surgery. The news had buoyed the cops’ spirits, and I could understand why. I know about the camaraderie people develop when serving together or while working dangerous jobs. Today it was Sal who had fallen victim to a shooter. Another day and it could have been a different colleague whose life was brutally disrupted, carted away in an ambulance to fight off the cruel grasp of death. Plus, Sal seemed to be a genuinely good guy. I’d warmed to him during our brief time together.

Finally, when Linda was satisfied she had everything she needed, I was told I could go. I immediately caught a cab to Cedars-Sinai. Mo-bot was due to hand over to Sci, but said she’d wait for me so we could discuss what had happened.

“She’s awake,” Mo-bot told me, as I neared Justine’s room. “She wants to see you.”

Mo-bot and Sci were seated either side of the low table directly opposite the door. Mo-bot was on her laptop, and Sci was reading a book on classic motorcycles called The Art of Speed.

“Boss,” he said with a nod. “You look like you’ve been in the wars. A stylish war, but a war nonetheless.”

I tipped an imaginary hat at him. “It hasn’t been the best day. Give me a few minutes.”

He and Mo-bot nodded, and I opened the door to Justine’s room carefully in case she was resting.

She was lying with her head at an angle, so she could see past the frame that kept the blanket off her belly. I was pleased to see she was no longer on supplemental oxygen. The mask had gone.

“Hey,” she said quietly.

“Hey,” I replied. “How are you?”

“Okay. They say it’s going to take a while.”

I knew from experience that the mental aspects of recovery could be as challenging as the physical.

“There’s no rush. Take all the time you need,” I said.

“Mo told me about the cop who died,” Justine responded. “Poor guy. Are you okay?”

I nodded. “I was lucky.”

“LAPD will be all over this,” Justine remarked.

“Yeah. And the guy just went for another cop too.” I took her right hand and squeezed it gently.

“I changed my mind,” she said. “I don’t want you ending up like me. Or the cops. This guy is far too dangerous.”

I nodded. “I get that.”

I hated the idea of giving up on a chase, but my place was at Justine’s side, and the cops would hunt this man to the ends of the earth. There wouldn’t be a rock he could hide under in this whole city or the world beyond.

“My ally in the department got taken out, so I’m probably not welcome in any case. I’ll go home, have a shower, grab a change of clothes and see if the hospital can set me up with a cot in here.”

“I already asked,” Justine revealed. “It’s against policy. Visitors need to leave by nine. Security personnel are permitted to be present by special arrangement, which is why Sci and Mo-bot were allowed to loiter outside for so long.”

“Then I’ll join your team of loiterers,” I told her. “And when I’m not here, l’ll stay at the Four Seasons down the street.” The upscale hotel was only a few hundred yards from the hospital.

Justine smiled and squeezed my hand in reply, making a point of showing her returning strength. Her grip still felt weak, but I was encouraged by the effort she’d made and pretended it hurt.

“Ow.”

“Wuss,” she replied, and I leaned down to kiss her.

“Get some sleep,” I said. “I’ll be here when you wake up.”

She nodded and watched me leave.

I joined Mo-bot and Sci in the corridor.

“News reports say it was carnage,” Mo-bot revealed, turning her computer to show me the sensational coverage of the Ecokiller’s latest violent rampage. “You okay?”

I nodded. “Another cop just got shot up pretty bad, but I was lucky.”

“I doubt that,” Sci remarked. “Experience tells me luck doesn’t come into it with you.”

“What now?” Mo-bot asked.

“Cops run with it,” I replied. “We stand down.”

They exchanged glances of surprise

“Justine doesn’t want me in harm’s way.”

“But she told you to—” Mo-bot began before I cut her off.

“She was coming out of anesthetic then. She was scared and angry. Confused even. And that was before two cops were mown down. I get where she’s coming from now. This guy is dangerous, and half the cops in the city are hunting him. I’d only get in the way.”

“Makes sense,” Mo-bot remarked.

“I’m going home to shower and grab some stuff and then I’ll take over here. We can split the days and make sure she’s got someone with her all the time until she’s discharged.”