17 – This Gift, This Curse

 

 

"You know they're not going to let us go upstairs," Mick said, looking around the busy reception area of the hospital.

 

Will merely nodded before crossing the room to where a police officer stood talking to one of the security guards. As Mick watched, Will said something to the officer. A few words were exchanged. The officer shook his head as he escorted Will to the side of the room away from everyone. Whatever Will said next caused the officer to take out his phone and place a call. He talked for quite a long time, stopping occasionally to say something to Will. When he finished, he looked at Will with something akin to respect. At least, that's how Mick interpreted it.

 

Will turned, beckoning for Mick to join them. When he did, the officer took them to one of the elevators and moments later, they were exiting on the third floor of the hospital.

 

The officer went over to the nurses' station in the center of the area. He talked briefly to one of the nurses, nodding toward Will. She looked at Will and Mick, her expression obviously saying she thought the officer was out of his mind. However, she pointed down the hall.

 

The officer nodded and came back. "He's in room 306. I'll come with you to let the officer manning the door know it's okay for you to go in."

 

"They have him in protective custody or something?" Mick asked.

 

"For the moment, at least, yes. Until he's able to talk and hopefully tell us who did this to him." The officer glanced at Will then said to Mick, "You must be someone damned special that he trusts you."

 

"What?"

 

"Not now," Will said sharply.

 

By then, they were at room 306. The officer told his counterpart that Will and Mick were allowed inside then left.

 

The remaining officer looked them over with a trace of disgust as he opened the door. The first thing Mick saw was the figure on the bed. The young man—Kevin, he guessed—was hooked up to several machines. Given how he looked, battered and bruised on those parts of his body Mick could see, he wasn't surprised. 

 

Then Mick realized there was a second person in the room.