Page 129 of After 5

He raised his eyes to the ceiling, then turned them back on me. “Should have known Elma would choose her greatest love.”

I stood and moved next to him. Held the key up for him to see. “It’s pretty, like it’s owner.”

“You found her?”

“Yes, and I found you.”

He began to cough, and his face drew up in a painful scowl.

“You want some water?”

He nodded. I laid the key and the box down and held the plastic jug of water up for him to sip through the straw.

“Thanks.” He dropped his head down on the pillow and closed his eyes. “You were there.” His eyes popped open. “The doctor.”

“Dr. Seuss at your service.” I sat the water jug down on the bedside table and bowed.

He smiled. “Clever, I should have picked up on it, but I had other things on my mind.” His eyes searched mine and I looked away.

“I’m sorry I got you shot.”

“I shouldnae have kept secrets from ye.”

Our eyes held for a moment.

“Speaking of secrets, I’m going to tell Jake that Victory threw the puzzle box down before she left with Toecheese. And I found it.” It was a tiny white lie. She did throw the box…at Caiyan’s head. If the WTF knew Caiyan had the puzzle box all these years, and he had information about a seer, it couldn’t turn out good for him.

He gnawed on his bottom lip, then agreed. “Toecheese would have brought her to our time.”

“Most likely, I haven’t been to the debriefing, yet.”

“’Tis good. I thought I’d never see her again. I dinnae kin what weel happen now.”

My head bobbed, but I wanted to ask him why he didn’t tell me he had a kid somewhere, past or present. The reality was that he didn’t have a kid, not yet. I didn’t want to have that talk with him hooked up to machines. My query could wait.

He muttered something in Gaelic, closed his eyes again, and drifted off.

I scooped up the box and the key, and left him, stopping by medical to have the doctor look at my leg.

I’d caught a piece of grapeshot. The round ball had left a perfect indention in my leg. My first bullet wound. The doctor bandaged my leg and gave me an antibiotic, no questions asked.

On the way out of the infirmary, I passed Marco cursing at the nurses as they redressed his leg. I pitied them, but, like Caiyan, he’d been in the infirmary many times.

“Mr. Ferrari, that sassy attitude is gonna cost you. Don’t be sending us no Snickers either. We want the ones from Belgium with the delicious centers,” a rather sturdy nurse told him as she held down his leg so the doctor could stitch his wound closed.

I chuckled as I left the hospital. Tomorrow, the nurses would receive flowers and chocolates to make up for his bad behavior. They knew him well.

Chapter 24

Ipicked up my things from my locker before I headed to the blue room. I wanted to text Eli and make amends.

I’m back, I texted.Gertie and I are fine. Sorry, I outed you. Can we talk later?

He replied immediately.Glad you came back in better shape than your boyfriend. I didn’t know I had that kind of power. Let me know when you get home. The pizza and beers are on you.

I smiled. He wasn’t mad at me.

Ace met me in the hallway. I launched myself at him, throwing my arms around his neck and embracing him tightly.

---