Forgotten Place Read Online Free PDF Page B

Devlin's curiosity was
understandable.  I'd have been in just as dark a closet if I
hadn't twisted Briscoe's arm and demanded a history lesson right
out of the gate six months ago.
    "Fill him in. 
I'm walking to the
x-ray department to have this shoulder examined, and then I'm going
home."
    "Seriously?"  Crevan's eyebrows
arched.  Though I'm not sure if it was suspicion I saw, it was
reasonable to believe he didn't trust a word I said after my
behavior in both the investigations I took an active role in with
the police. 
    "Yes, I promise."  Words that seldom
fell from my lips had an impact.  "The great thing about
adrenalin is that it gives you a boost when you need it the
most.  The bad thing about it is when it's spent, you're wiped
out.  That's where I am right now.  Wiped out.  And
since I'm not on active duty yet, I figured it would be wise to bow
out of this as soon as Ned took my statement."
    "I'm not sure Shelly's gonna be happy about
that, Helen."
    My right shoulder rolled upward. 
"Doctor's orders are doctor's orders.  I'm not slamming the
door on consulting on this one, but honestly, if witnessing one
little attempted murder wears me out like this, I know I'm not
capable of a proper investigation, Crevan.  Besides, it's like
you said.  Downey closed the old Ireland case.  I have
every reason to believe you'll close this one too."
    Before I could step away, Crevan clasped my
hand and trailed along behind me.  "Helen, you can't be
serious.  That case was only technically closed, and you know
it.  The man most directly responsible for David Ireland's
murder is still walking around like he owns the city.  Now
that the cat is out of the bag regarding Johnny's position, it's
only made Datello rabid.  I think it makes perfect sense that
this happened now."
    "Crevan, you said it yourself.  There's
a good reason I look like shit.  I'm not well yet."
    "I meant you look like you lost twenty
pounds you couldn't afford to dump.  You'd better hurry up to
x-ray before Johnny gets here and sees you.  We've got enough
to deal with already without him going ballistic about starvation
and vitamin deficiencies."
    The pin-pricks of fear stabbed into my heart
for a second time today.  "Right.  Call me later. 
Like afternoon later.  I wasn't kidding, Crevan.  I'm
exhausted."  Hung-over.  Depressed.  Yeah, even
malnourished, though I had no idea it showed so much.  It
couldn't be twenty pounds.  Maybe eight or ten. 
    "You won't be able to avoid him forever,
Helen."
    Him.  Nice code word for he who stayed
away when I asked.  I wasn't as worried about it as Crevan
was.  "You're wrong, but thanks for the concern.  Let Ned
know that I couldn't endure more excitement, would you?"
    I walked up to the x-ray department. 
Heather, the kind little nurse with the wheelchair, accompanied
me.  I'm not sure, but I suspect she thought I might faint
from pain or something, because she kept one of my arms hooked
through hers.
    It's good to have friends in high
places.  That's one benefit of breaking Dad's notoriety
rule.  I was in and out of x-ray before I could say boo. 
Stand, face one direction, hold breath, shoot.  Repeat for the
alternate views.  It's called anterior, posterior and lateral
and gives the radiologist the best view of any damage my boneheaded
fellow detective might've caused when he pushed me out of the
way.
    They let me wash my hands while the
radiologist took a quick look at the films.  When I came back,
Heather was waiting with Dr. Scott (his first name – apparently
radiologists aren't stick-up-the-butt physicians like my orthopedic
surgeon is). 
    "Dr. Eriksson, please, step into my
office."
    It was more of a cubby that would've made a
pathetic closet, but I stepped inside with Heather and Dr. Scott –
Chesney, as his surname turned out to be from the degrees on the
walls.  He popped the recently taken x-rays onto the wall
light and pointed to the areas where hardware still affixed