You're nobody 'til somebody kills you

Fifty-seven

When we got to the hospital parking lot I got out of the Caddy and ran to Otash’s car.

“Come on, we’ve got to get inside.”

“What’s going on?”

“I’ll tell you on the way!”

While we ran into the hospital I tried to tell him what I found in the basement. He wasn’t following me, so I said, “Somebody’s going to make another try at Jerry.”

We ran past the front desk, the nurse shouting after us. Jerry was on the second floor. Instead of waiting for the elevator I took the stairs adjacent to them. When we got to the second floor I led the way to Jerry’s room. Nobody was on duty in front of it.

“There’s no cop on the door!” I shouted.

I drew Jerry’s gun and ran into his room. There was a cop in uniform standing next to his bed, looking down at him. I started for him with Jerry’s gun, but Otash grabbed me from behind and pulled my gun hand behind my back as the policeman turned to look at us.

“Can I help you gents?” he asked.

“Yes, Officer,” Otash said, “I’m Fred Otash and this is Eddie Gianelli.”

“Yes, sir,” the cop said, turning to face us. His hands were empty. The part of his forehead I could see beneath his cap brim was smooth and unscarred. “They told me you were allowed in the room. Is something wrong?”

“We heard something tonight that led us to believe this man is in danger.”

“Here? In the hospital?”

“Yes, sir,” Otash said. “I suggest you call for backup.”

“I’ll have to check that with my watch commander, sir.”

“That’s okay, son,” Otash said, “and you better check with Detective Stanze, as well.”

“Yes, sir.”

As the cop left the room, I turned so the gun was still behind me. When he was gone I returned the gun to the back of my belt.

Otash turned on me and said, “I told you about that gun! You almost pointed it at a cop!”

“I know, I’m sorry,” I said. “And thanks for stopping me.”

“We’ll have to stay here while he’s checking on backup,” Otash said.

“I wonder why he was in here and not out in the hall?” I said.

“There was no scar on his forehead,” Otash said. “But still …”

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“I want to see where he went.”

I stayed at Jerry’s bedside until Otash returned. During that time the big guy didn’t move or make a sound. I wasn’t used to Jerry being so silent and still. It was unsettling.

When Otash came back in he said, “The cop’s on the level. He radioed for backup and then used the phone to call Stanze.”

“Still, what was he doin’ in here?” I asked.

“When Stanze gets here,” Otash said, “ask him to ask the cop. Meanwhile”-he lowered his voice-”why don’t you go out to your car and stash that gun before the room is crawling with cops.”

“That’s a good idea.”

When I left, Otash was at Jerry’s bedside while the cop had returned to the door.

Stanze made good time, arrived just before the extra officers did.

“What’s going on, Eddie?” he demanded.

“I have information that someone might try for Jerry again while he’s in the hospital.”

“And where did you get this information?”

“I’d rather not say, but I’m sure what I heard was legit.”

“So you’re asking me to act on information you overheard somewhere?”

“That’s exactly what I’m askin’ you to do.”

Stanze shook his head slowly. “You’re pushing it, Eddie.”

“I haven’t even started,” I said.

I told him about finding the cop in Jerry’s room, and wondering what he was doing there.

“I’ll ask him,” he said, “but I’ve known Officer Chester for five years. He’s legit.”

“Okay,” I said, “if you vouch for him, that’s okay with me.”

Stanze hesitated, then said, “I’ll ask him anyway.”