Randy White - Dead of Night

I saved the message as I stepped through the whoosh of automatic doors, into the hospital.

His voice sounded strained, the sentences rehearsed. Too many oddities.

I checked my watch again: 7:31 P.M.

If the sheriff’s department couldn’t find the phone, why hadn’t they contacted me? The detective from the special crimes division had my number. He had already threatened to come looking for me if I’d given him bad info.

Instead, I hear it first from some imitation hipster?

Something else: There were only two plausible reasons why they hadn’t found the phone. They were searching the wrong place, or someone had removed it before they got there.

… drive back to the canal, win some points…

A deserted road. Only one way in or out. A perfect little ambush point if someone wanted to get me alone and ask about Applebee’s computer files-files that several people now knew I possessed.

My boat shoes squeaked on sterile hallway floors, medical staff in scrubs streaming past, as I listened to the message a second time.

… give me a call from the hospital…

How did Reynolds know we were still at the hospital?

He was either guessing, or someone was doing drive-bys, keeping an eye on the Magic Bus, which I’d parked in the rear lot, near the ER entrance.

The waiting room was separated from the main hall by hydraulic double doors, shatterproof glass. Lake was inside with a magazine-it looked like Scientific American-slumped in the plastic chair, bored but dealing with it. I stood and stared for a moment, feeling pleasure in the shape of his face, wanting the image to stick with me, enjoying an awareness of heritable bonds.

When I stepped through the doorway, he looked up, grinned, raised an index finger-his characteristic greeting.

“Any word on Tomlinson?”

“Naw. Doctor said it’d be about an hour. She’s funny. I like her. We had a pretty good talk.”

“In her business, I guess a sense of humor’s required.”

I noticed that when the boy grinned, his eyes glittered, familiar as my own. “Know what she told me? She said, ‘When adults tell you that adolescence is the best time of your life, they’re full of shit.’” He lost it for a moment, chest bouncing as he laughed. Hilarious. “Said she didn’t really start feeling comfortable, having fun, until she was in her late twenties. Hated her teens.”

“A smart woman; she’s right. I was a little older. Early thirties.”

“No shit?” Lake had been experimenting with profanity. I had to force myself not to smile.

“I shit you not. Early thirties.”

There was something else on his mind. A sly look. He was about to share a secret. “Dr. Shepherd told me she’s single, made a point of it. The only reason I can think of, she wants you to know.”

I said, “Really? I must have missed something.”

My son said, “I’m the same way with girls. I can’t ever tell, either. She asked me some questions about you, then told me she’d lived alone since doing her residency. I think she’s really pretty for a woman her age.”

“Very attractive. She’s got character-it’s in her eyes.” A passing observation said without real interest. The conversation with Dewey had congealed as a knot in my chest. I felt it there now; pain that would last.

The leather-bound log book Lake had given me was on the table next to his backpack-he carried the thing everywhere-and near to the keys to the van.

I sat, opened the log, noted date and time, as I told my son where I was going and why. I added, “I don’t have a choice,” as I wrote:

Tomlinson, I’m driving your van to the canal where you found Frieda’s phone. If I’m not back by morning, call a guy named Hal Harrington at the number below. Tell him to have your new pal, Jason Reynolds, questioned. Here are other names he should check…

“You seem to enjoy that. Keeping a journal.”

Still writing, I said, “Yeah, my memory’s getting so bad, it helps.”

“I know better.”

“The book’s from you. There’s the main reason I like it.”

That made the kid smile. Nice.

… there’s a fireproof locker under my bed. You’ll find an envelope addressed to you. It contains information that’ll keep you safe for a long, long time. If I don’t make it back, keep a weather eye on Lake…

My son asked, “You think there’s a chance you’ll get down to Central America after the holidays? Tomlinson says the surfing on the Pacific Coast of Panama is unbelievable.”

My turn to smile. “I’ll make a point of it. Lake Nicaragua-you need to see that place. We’ll go together.”

I tore the page out, folded it. I’d leave it for Tomlinson with the receptionist on the way out. I told Lake, “I called the limo guy. He’s under way. You’ll be back on Sanibel by ten-thirty. Still time to get something to eat, then pack. Jeth’ll take you to the airport tomorrow.”

I hate good-byes. I saw that my son was no different; both of us not eager to part but eager to get this process over with. He stood facing me, holding the magazine.

“In the lab, I printed out a couple of sample pages from Dr. Applebee’s documents. Six pages, paper-clipped, next to the computer. Take them to Central America, work on the code. But do not copy the files. And don’t tell anyone you have those pages. Understand?”

Lake nodded.

“I’ll talk to the hospital security people. They’ll let you know when the car’s here. I’ll make sure they check out the driver.”

“You don’t have to do that, Dad. I can take care of myself.”

“I know. But you’re valuable property.” He stuck out his hand but I pushed it aside. Gave him a hug; my cheek tight against his head. “Crack the code, son, and I’ll buy you something very cool. You’re one of the few people smart enough to figure it out.”

As I picked up the keys, Lake said, “You don’t have to buy me anything. I’ll do it because it’s what you want me to do.”

I exited at the front of the hospital, not the ER entrance, which was closer to where I’d left the Magic Bus. I walked through the parking lot to a side street, then began to jog, using tree shadows as cover when I had the chance.

An adult male walking alone at night, or sprinting, draws attention. But joggers are part of the landscape-local jocks who own the street no matter the time of day or night.

My fishing shorts and T-shirt weren’t a perfect disguise, but close enough.

I circled the hospital, crossing the street to avoid the brighter lights of a strip mall, then crossed again to a sidewalk that fronted low-income ranch houses in a subdivision that was once middle class. Ficus and oak trees, probably planted in the fifties, had outgrown their domino lots. They hung dense over concrete that was in slow upheaval because of the roots beneath.

There was an ambulance sitting at the ER entrance, lighted sign above-EMERGENCY ONLY-and I began to slow in the gloom of trees, scanning the parking lot. I spotted a wedge of the Magic Bus beneath security lights. Could see its camper top, plus surfboards, above nearby cars. Could see its VW logo on the blunt front end, a peace sign painted there; white paint that became strawberry in the sodium haze.

The parking lot was half full, but felt deserted because of the absence of activity. There were EMTs in their blue coverall uniforms busy at the back of the ambulance, floodlights there, three people in scrubs watching, but no other movement. No security people in gold carts, which was unexpected.

I stopped, keys to the VW in my hand. I stood alert to anomalies-a car parked on a nearby side street, an inhabited vehicle, people waiting in shadows. Maybe Reynolds’s Tropicane truck, but that was unlikely. If this was a setup, he wouldn’t be that obvious. Or stupid.