Part 46 (2/2)
”I understand. Thank you for your time, Officer.”
Jack nodded, and the two men turned to walk out.
”Thanks for coming, Peter.”
”It's what I'm here for.” He smiled. ”Listen, Jack, Cindy thinks there's a chance of you getting reinstated but, between you and me, no. If you want to, you can apply in another county.”
”I don't know how you fixed it so I can. Are you sure that email isn't going on my record?”
”It won't. You apply someplace else, and your record's clean. Don't thank me. You have to be the luckiest guy in the world. The whole email database crashed, and the only account they can't recover is yours? What are the chances?”
Zero, unless you factor in Replacement.
”Thanks, Peter.”
”I gotta run. Cindy is waiting in the hall to talk to you. Are you good for a visit?”
Jack nodded.
Peter's snow pants swished as he walked out of the room, and Cindy breezed in.
Jack's face lit up. You couldn't help but smile when Cindy was around.
”Hi, Jack.” She walked over and kissed his cheek. ”How are you feeling?”
”Fine. Cindy, I really appreciate you coming, but you didn't have to come again.”
She held her hand up. ”I most certainly did. Poor Alice won't leave your side. This is the first day she's away, and that's because she's doing something for you, too.”
Jack rolled his eyes.
”I'm not trying to make you feel guilty, but that's how it is. Don't go getting all down. You'll be out of here in another week.”
”Why a week? Doesn't someone else need this bed?”
”Those doctors must be a bunch of nitwits wanting to keep you here. After all that happened, you nearly died...oh, I forgot. Technically, you were dead when they brought you in. Collapsed lung, shot-what on earth can they be thinking?”
”You're laying it on a little thick.”
”Am I? Jack, if Marisa's brother wasn't on Big Blue, you wouldn't be here. Even with his help, you-” She stopped as her eyes welled up, and her lip quivered.
”Cindy. I'm good now.”
”Sorry,” she muttered. ”It's just...that was horrible.”
She dabbed at her eyes, blew her nose, and then reached down and pulled a book from her bag.
”Hold on. Show me the cover.” Jack lifted his hand.
She frowned and flipped the paperback around so he could see it. On the cover was a s.h.i.+rtless man with six-pack abs holding a beautiful girl in a flowery dress.
Jack's lip curled up.
”You liked the last one.” Cindy grinned.
”I didn't.”
”You did, too. Besides, I promised Alice I'd spend the afternoon with you, and I will.”
”I should have known she put you up to this.”
Jack slowly drifted off as Cindy began to read to him.
She didn't make it Replacement wheeled Jack to the exit of the hospital, but when they reached the door, he shook his head and stopped the wheelchair.
”I can walk from here.” He stood up, and Replacement frowned.
”You heard the doctors; you need to take it easy.”
”I've been taking it easy for four weeks. I don't want 'easy' anymore.”
They walked through the big double doors, and Jack looked for Replacement's Bug.
”Where's your car?”
She shrugged. ”I parked around the corner. I'll go get it.”
”I can walk.”
Her eyes narrowed as she looked him up and down. ”Okay.” She slid her arm around his waist.
”Have you talked to Marisa?”
”Umm...yeah.”
That can't be good.
”Can you elaborate?”
”Well, she said she needed to move.”
Jack looked at the sidewalk as they slowly walked.
She's gone.
He inhaled slowly and nodded. ”She might let us know when she gets settled.”
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