Page 103 of Facing the Enemy
He opened his eyes at half-mast and his lips turned up slightly. “My favorite people.”
“How are you feeling?”
“Better than yesterday.”
I touched his shoulder. “Your color is better.”
“Yay.” He closed his eyes. “Cartwheels next.”
“I still owe you a real steak dinner,” Gage said. “I’m sure it beats IV juice.”
He forced a chuckle. “At the moment, broth sounds good.”
Jack needed rest, and I doubted he could stay awake for the full five minutes. “Do you remember when I visited before?” I said.
He sighed. “Vaguely.”
“You tried to tell me something about Luke.”
“Talk to him.” Jack paused, and his weakened body alarmed me. “He ... has a theory about the Zonner case ... Thought he might visit me.”
I wasn’t about to tell him about Luke. Glancing at Gage, he shook his head. “Luke’s been busy,” I said. “Did you two talk about his theory?”
Jack’s eyes slowly opened. “I don’t remember, but I’ll work on it. We argued.”
I patted his shoulder. “Sounds good. We’ll be back tomorrow. Can we get you anything?”
“Only thing I’m good for is sleep.” Jack closed his eyes, and we said goodbye.
In the hallway, we stopped at the nurses’ station. Gage recognized a head nurse, a woman who could have played defense for the Dallas Cowboys.
“We just came from Jack Bradford’s room, and he’s very weak. Can you give us an update on his condition?”
The woman paused and picked up a chart before responding. “We nearly lost him twice yesterday, but he rallied this morning. Agent Patterson, your friend is a fighter, or he wouldn’t be here.”
“Agent Jacobs and I have been praying for him.”
“Something is keeping him alive. I’m not much of a religious person but keep it up because he’s still with us.”
In the elevator, Gage massaged his neck. “Do you feel like everywhere we turn a barricade stops us?”
“Which tells me we’re getting closer to a breakthrough.” I didn’t feel so optimistic and yet I wanted to think we were narrowing the investigation.
Too many suspects.
Too little information.
Too many bodies.
No wonder Gage faced discouragement.
57
I took my car to the extended-stay hotel and packed my belongings. Although I wanted to return to my home, the memories soured my stomach. Gage’s presence would keep my mind occupied, and with the surveillance team listening to our every word, I didn’t feel like I’d break a moral code. SAC Dunkin approved the arrangement. He wanted this ended too.
At my apartment, I set my overnight bag in the living area and walked back to the bathroom. Not a trace of blood anywhere, only the telltale odors of disinfectant and the haunting memories. Those were the worst. I hadn’t slept at the hotel, and I wouldn’t now either. What kind of pain had Luke suffered before his death? How many more would die at the hands of the killer before they made an arrest?
Two hours later, while poring over reports, the front desk requested permission for an electrician to check out the heating in my apartment. Gage followed up with a text. When my doorbell rang, I confirmed Gage through the peephole before I opened the door. He was barely recognizable.
