Page 31 of Breathless
His brow arched and he came over to the chair near the bedside and sat down. “I thought I’d get back before you woke. I waited until you were in recovery and I knew you were okay before I left. I was covered in gunk from crawling in the ceiling of the boys’ dorm running wiring, getting it ready to put in the security system when Swede and the others get here from Montana.”
“Hannah said that they had a hard time finding you,” Chaney said.
“Yeah. They knew where I was essentially, they just didn’t know exactlywherein the ceiling I was,” Rawlins grinned.
“That’s kinda funny,” Chaney said.
“Dr. Pirelli said you’d tell me how you’re doing?”
“Didn’t they give you an update when I came out of surgery?” Chaney asked.
“Not really. Just that you came out without any complications.”
“Roger didn’t create much of a knife when he formed his weapon,” Chaney explained. “It didn’t go that deep, so no organs were cut. I was very lucky.”
Relief washed over Rawlins, and he leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees and cupping his chin in his hands. He stared at her for several minutes. “I can’t tell you how that makes me feel.”
“I can see it on your face,” she said. “Did they find Roger?”
He nodded. “He’s in jail. There were no ifs, ands, or buts about it. He was arrested on sight as soon as the Colorado Springs men in blue arrived and found him hiding on the property. It was out of Hannah’s hands.”
Chaney nodded. “Do you think there will be a trial? I don’t want to have to testify at another trial.”
“Depends on if he’s charged and how he pleads,” Rawlins said. “The bigger question is are we calling your parents?”
“No. Please no. If we told them, I’d be forced to return to Baltimore no questions asked,” Chaney said. “One or both of them would fly out here and take me back, trial or no trial.”
“I hear you,” he said. “I was just asking what you wanted me to do. The next question is the hospital bill. I’ll see if Hank can cover it for you. We don’t want it sent to them.”
“I hadn’t thought about that,” she said. “I’ll have to get a job for sure once I get back on my feet. I can’t just volunteer.”
“I’ll talk to Hank about that as well. Maybe he will have a suggestion on what you should do,” Rawlins said. “He might be able to guide you in the right direction. I better try to reach him before he leaves for DC. He said he was going to be going in a few days the last time we spoke. I’ll be back.”
“Okay,” Chaney said. She closed her eyes as he left.
In the hallway, Rawlins searched for the best location to make his call. He saw a set of glass doors the led out onto a balcony and he went in that direction. It was a nice eating area for staff who worked on the floor. There were several small umbrella tables with chairs for shade. He walked over to the concrete railing and made his call, thankful when Hank answered.
“Hey, I was just thinking about you,” Hank said. “Have Swede, Taz Davila, and Viper Van Cleve arrived yet?”
“Not that I’m aware,” Rawlins said. “I’ve got some disturbing news. Chaney was stabbed at The Village by one of the male residents. She had to have minor emergency surgery but she’s fine. She’ll be up and about again in a few days.”
“How’d this happen?” Hank asked. “I thought you were there to keep an eye on her?”
“I was damn it, but I was also pre-wiring one of the dorms getting it ready for when the equipment arrived. I couldn’t be in two places at once. We really thought she was safe,” Rawlins explained. “The guy who stabbed her was in isolation waiting to be transferred to another facility when he got loose. But he isn’t the reason why I called.”
“He isn’t?”
“Chaney doesn’t want her parents knowing she’s been hospitalized which means she’ll need a way to pay for her stay,” Rawlins said.
Hank chuckled. “I get it. She’s afraid her parents will fly out here and force her back to Baltimore.”
“Precisely. Which means she wouldn’t be able to testify,” Rawlins replied.
“But she has no way of covering the bill. And since the kid who stabbed her was living at the shelter, he isn’t financially capable either,” Hank stated.
“Exactly,” Rawlins said. “And he’s been arrested.”
A sigh came over the line.
