Page 49 of Small Sacrifices

"But Itoldyou!" Another shove. "I told you his kidneys were bad. He's a little kid in the hospital. He waspoisoned,for fuck'ssake. And you didn't stop to think that this might be an option? He's tiny!"

She shoves him again, but this time he barely even shrinks back. Nothing feels real anymore. His arms aren't substantive enough to raise them to protect himself from her touch.

"I'm really sorry," he says.

"Well, that's not gonna bring him back, is it?" A lone tear runs down her cheek. She doesn't seem to notice it. "So how about you tell your governor this: He killed my son, and that's exactly what I'll be telling the press tomorrow."

"He—I—" His thoughts are trying to fight their way through molasses. "My deepest condolences. I'm so sorry that your son died."

That's what people are supposed to say to grieving family members, right? Although maybe not when said grieving family member is also verbally attacking the governor. Reid doesn't have a script for this. The only thing he has is a strong feeling that he's doing this wrong. What if he's making it worse?

Her laugh is harsh and cold. "Oh, I'm sure you are. His death must be very inconvenient for you."

"No, that's not what I—"

"I don'tcarewhat you mean." Her voice is so loud that it rings in his ears. "Don't you get it? My son isdead!"

"I'm so sorry." There isn't really anything else he can say. Or maybe there is, but he just can't think of it right now. Almost his entire body is numb, except for his eyes. His eyes are burning.

"Shut up!"

This time, she screams so loudly that he can't help but flinch. It's also loud enough, apparently, for other people to hear. A few paces behind him, there's the hissing sound of the hospital doors opening.

"Do you need some help out there?" someone calls.

Ms. Greene chuckles darkly. "Everything's okay," she answers. Now her voice doesn't sound so strong anymore.

"Do you need help? We can call the police."

Intense eyes flicker over Reid's face. He doesn't know what she sees beyond wide, unblinking eyes—but it seems to satisfy her.

"No," she says and takes a step back. "I'm just gonna go home. Can you make sure that he stays here for a few more minutes?"

It sparks something small and indignant in Reid. He won't hurt her. If anything, she just assaultedhim.But he can't move anyway, so that's a moot point. It's going to take a while until he can leave.

He watches her walk away with her head ducked and her hands shoved into her pockets. Even after she turns a corner and isn't visible anymore, Reid is stuck looking in that direction. He doesn't know how long it takes until he unfreezes enough to call himself a taxi. But by the time it arrives, his teeth are chattering.

He tells the driver the address of the hotel. Then he texts Briana. Relaxing isn't an option yet. He needs to update Mr. Wright about what happened without getting himself invited to an emergency meeting. There is no way he can face that man right now. He still doesn't feel real.

Reid’s sister is outraged that he didn't call the police on Ms. Greene, but she folds quickly enough and helps him draft an email that should buy him the reprieve he needs.

Now, he just has to make it up to his room and collapse into bed. Briana makes him promise to call once he's in the room, to check on him. He doesn't have the energy to argue. When the taxi pulls up, he hands over a twenty-dollar bill and stumbles out without waiting for change.

Chapter 17: We said we'd talk

The hotel lobby is empty, and so is the elevator. When he arrives on his floor, Reid is prepared to nod in greeting at the PPO stationed opposite the elevator. What he isn't prepared for is Everett sitting next to his door. As soon as he sees Reid coming, he gets up.

Reid wants to scream. How long had Everett been waiting there? And, more importantly: How can Reid get rid of him? Just seeing his eager face makes him want to cry. He can't deal with that kind of energy right now.

"What took you so long?" Everett asks.

Reid clenches his jaw. "I'm sorry. I can't talk right now."

He doesn't want to open his door while Everett is standing there, afraid the other man might take it as an invitation. But he also knows that they can’t talk in the middle of the hallway.

Predictably, Everett walks into his room like he owns it. Reid is left standing at the door, wondering if he can leave it open while he convinces Everett to leave.

"What do you mean, you can't talk right now? We said we'd talk now."

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