Page 62 of Gideon

Before leaving, he checked on his dad, who was sleeping. His recovery could go one of two ways. Either it would be a big enough event to bring lasting change into his life or it would send his dad spiraling into a drunken hell. At least he couldn’t touch alcohol while he was in here, and it would be another few days before they’d let him out.

Gideon turned to walk back into the hall.

“You leavin’?” Joey said.

“I thought you were asleep.”

“I was. But life has taught me to sleep with one eye open.”

“They’ve discharged me.”

“You heading back to Asher, or…”

The fact that Joey left the latter unspoken said volumes.

“Yeah. I’m not ready to leave yet. Not until you're settled someplace.”

“No need to worry about me. I’ve looked after myself my whole life. You want to leave, then go.” Joey averted his eyes.

“I know you don’t need me. But it will make me feel better to hang around a little longer.”

“Suit yourself.”

Gideon hid his smile until he left the room. That was the closest his dad had ever come to saying he didn’t want Gideon to leave.

He was still smiling when he walked into the waiting room.

“Gideon?” A big man in a suit blocked the path to the exit. He was the same man from the park who had been talking to the crowd after they discovered the missing poles.

“Can I help you?” Gideon said, bracing himself. His dad had successfully dispersed the mob, but that didn’t mean everyone had been satisfied with the outcome.

“We haven’t met yet. My name is Edward Fairfax.”

“Ah, yes. The mayor.”

“Yes.” He smiled in an unfriendly way, accentuated by the fact that he didn’t reach out a hand to shake. “I wasn’t informed you’d be leaving today.”

“I didn’t know it was any of your business.”

“Perhaps not, but nonetheless, would you mind if we had a word?”

“We?”

Fairfax looked sideways at Deputy Cole, who hadbeen leaning against the far wall but headed over when the mayor gave him a nod.

Cole’s face was still swollen from their fight in the alley. “I’m glad to see you’re doing better,” he said. “From what I hear, you almost died. It must have been horrible.”

“Lucky, I guess,” Gideon said. “What happened to your face?”

“I was caught off guard, but don’t worry. It won’t happen again.”

Gideon looked between the two men. “Maybe we should take this outside.”

“If you’d prefer that,” Fairfax said.

“I would.” He looked at his watch as he walked out the door, flanked by the others. Nikki would still be another fifteen minutes away. He needed to wrap this up quickly.

Once they reached the parking lot, he scanned for possible escape routes. It wouldn’t be the first time he’d run from law enforcement, but it would be the first time as an adult.

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