Officer Jenkins was still in the hallway, as he had been when Will and Mick entered the room. But this time when he saw Will, there was a look of respect in his gaze. "It's an honor to meet you, Mr. Reynolds," he said quietly.
Will smiled tightly. "Now forget that you did."
"Yes, sir. I understand."
Mick listened, trying to figure out what was going on, but he held his peace until they had left the hospital and were several blocks away. Then he rounded on Will.
"Who the hell are you? And why didn't you tell that officer what the man who attacked Kevin really said? All of it."
"Who I am… who I was"—he paused as if debating his reply—"is a long story. Why I didn't say anything to Officer Jenkins should be obvious. It would have let him, and Kevin, know that I've got the ability to see the future. That is not something I broadcast, as you well know."
Mick frowned when something occurred to him. "She knows, doesn't she? Kevin's mother."
"She does," Will replied tersely.
"Because…" Mick thought back to when she'd first seen Will in the hospital room. "Because of something to do with her brother."
"Danny. Yes." Will sighed deeply and started walking rapidly down the street again.
"Is he part of the story?" Mick asked when he caught up with him.
"He is."
Mick pondered that. "The same thing happened with him. You saw something but it was too late." When Will remained silent Mick decided to drop it for now. Instead he asked, "Are you going to let Kevin know you're his father?"
Will shook his head.
"But… damn it; he has a right to know!"
"How would you feel if you found out some bum was your father?"
"You're not a bum."
"But he doesn't know that. I'm homeless; I live hand-to-mouth on the streets. In his eyes, I'd classify as a bum."
"Then set him straight."
Will smiled slightly and continued walking.
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