Page 23 of Cross Down
Another smile from Dr. Babak. “Even when a patient is unconscious or unresponsive, sometimes he or she can still hear. When you’re in there, be upbeat, hold his hand, kiss his head, tell him all sorts of good things. Trust me, it’ll make a difference.”
Nana Mama says, “Fine. I’m gonna tell him that he’d better heal up and get his butt out of here soon or he’ll have to answer to me.” And we all laugh through our tears.
Chapter
25
Any other day,seeing Ali leave half a cheeseburger and plenty of French fries on his plate would have had me concerned about his health, but not today. Bree told me to get some food into him, so we’re in the hospital’s cafeteria, but Alex’s youngest child obviously doesn’t feel like eating.
Truth be told, I don’t have much of an appetite myself.
An hour ago, a fellow detective, Javier Sanchez, came by for my statement. After I gave it to him, he said, “Word to the wise, Big John: Everyone knows how you feel about Alex, but you not returning to HQ after the shooting is gonna come back to bite you bad.”
I replied with a creative obscenity I had learned in Iraq, and that was that.
Now to AliI say, “How are you holding up, big guy?”
“Okay, I guess,” he says, looking down, slumped in the chair, eyes red-rimmed from all the earlier crying.
“Good,” I say. “Bree and your sister and even Nana Mama are going to need your help over the next few days.”
Around us, hospital staffers are eating their meals, chatting away like it’s just another day. But here and there in the cafeteria, there are family members worrying about loved ones who are being cared for somewhere in this huge complex.
In a trembling voice, Ali says, “Can I ask you a question?”
“Absolutely.”
“Is Dad going to make it?”
I look into his dark, serious eyes. The boy, as young as he is, doesn’t deserve any bullshit. “He should make it,” I say. “This is one of the best hospitals in the city, he’s getting top-notch care, and he should make it, Ali.”
“But there’s a chance he might die.”
I sigh. “Always that chance, Ali.”
He crosses his arms and holds them tight against his skinny chest. “When you and Dad went on that camping trip to Montana, Dad said I was too young to go. He said maybe next time. Do…do you think if he gets better, he’ll take me this year?”
“Absolutely,” I say. “And I’ll be there too. Maybe with Willow, if she’s up for it.”
Tears are trickling down his cheeks. “If Dad’s…not around…will you take me?”
I stand up. “He’ll be around,” I say. “And he’ll be going with us. Come on, let’s go up to his room.”
Chapter
26
Outside of Alex’s roomin the trauma ICU there’s a visitor: FBI supervising special agent Ned Mahoney. I go up to him and give him a big bear hug. “Damn, it’s good to see you.”
He slaps me a couple of times on the back and grunts, then says, “Hey, how about leaving my spine and ribs intact?”
I pull free and look at him. There’s exhaustion on his face, along with a few bits of stubble he missed shaving this morning. His tie is askew, and there are coffee stains on his normally crisp white shirt. “You look like crap, Ned,” I say.
“Right back at ya,” he replies, glancing around the busy ICU. “Look, we need to talk.”
“I’ll find an empty room.”
He shakes his head. “Not going to work. Come with me.”
