Jay held David's electronic tracking device in one hand and a local map in the other.
“Did Nel say what they needed?”
“Just that they needed us to come get them.” David answered tensely, keeping his eyes on the road.
“Jay, they're not answering the phone.” Kim said from the back seat.
“Aren't you going to tell us to relax? That everything will be fine?” Jay asked David anxiously.
“It's a high priority for me to relax people in these situations. But the truth is always first priority. I can't guarantee that everything will be fine. Please, don't ask me more than you need to. Try to relax.”
Jay tried to ignore the grainy discomfort of the dry roof of his mouth. He felt like launching into a long, melodramatic train of thought, but he felt empty and weak. There was nothing there but a cold numbness.
The Bellevue Hospital Center was quiet, and the nurse at the front desk was taking advantage of the silence and trying to finish the romance novel she was reading. Her eyelids were drooping a little; it was almost the end of her shift, and she couldn't wait to get home and go to bed. She had it all planned out: she would go home, kick off her tennis shoes, take a long, hot shower, and then climb into bed with her book and the left over cheesecake.
A man was approaching her desk. Sighing, she set down the novel and looked up.
Yikes. The man looked horrible.
“Are you alright, sir?” she asked. “Do you need me to call a nurse?”
He glared at her. “Why do you ask?”
“Oh...no reason.” she bit her lip and looked him over. “What can I do for you, sir?”
“I need to see a patient.” he growled.
“Alright. Name?”
“Carlton Fog.”
She didn't need to look up the name to know the answer. She didn't need to look up the name to get nervous.
“I'm sorry sir, what is your relationship with the patient?”
“He used to live next door to us...Tyler and I grew up together.”
“Wow.” the nurse shook her head. “Are you having a hard time with this?”
Tyler turned away.
“I'm sorry. It's none of my business. Follow me, please?”
The nurse bit her lip and led him to an exam room.
“Please, wait here. I'll go get the doctor. He'll give you the update on Mr. Fog.”
The man nodded, but remained standing.
The nurse chewed on her nails as she rushed down the hall.
“Doctor Peters? There's a man asking to see Carlton Fog.”
“Do you think it's Tyler?”
“There is no way on earth. This guy says he was neighbors with the Fogs, but it looks more likely that he was homeless." She smirked a little. "I don't know how Carlton Fog fit into his life, or how he hasn't seen the news, or...”
“Alright, I'll go talk to him.”
Tyler finally sat down. He didn't want to look nervous.
“Sir?”
Tyler stood up and shoved his hands in his pockets. “Yeah?”
“I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name.” the doctor smiled.
Tyler was ready for this. “Ben Hopkins, sir.”
“You said you used to live next door to the Fog family?”
“Well, it was actually just Mr. Fog and Tyler. But yeah, I did.”
“May I ask you a personal question?”
Tyler hesitated, but nodded. “It's about Tyler, isn't it?”
“I'm sorry. You must be so sick of questions.”
“It's okay, really. I've come to terms with it.”
“Did Tyler ever show signs that something like this would happen? I know that the media is saying that both Jay and Tyler had violent backgrounds, but what is your personal stand point?”
Tyler felt a small glow. This was a chance to get some truth out.
“Tyler liked to mess around, yeah. He was always good for a joke or a wild night out. He was always very patriotic though. Very smart.”
The doctor nodded, but Tyler continued.
“I think he was capable of what happened at the Drexler. But I know that he was too smart too get involved in something like this.”
“Interesting.” Doctor Peters said.
Tyler hadn't lied. Ben Hopkins had lived next door when they were teenagers.
“So do you have news on Carlton Fog?”
“Yes, sir. You are aware that he sustained a gunshot to the chest two days ago?”
Tyler felt like a lump of rock had hit his stomach. He'd known that his dad was in the hospital, but couldn't find out why.
“Yes, of course. What condition is he in?”
“He's in surgery as we speak. It's been a long one. They've been in the OR for seven hours so far.”
Tyler swallowed. “Okay. I understand.”
“I'll let you know as soon as I know something. Can we get you anything?”
“No, thanks. I'll wait.”
He did wait. For three hours.
A different doctor came into the room and held out his hand.
“Mr. Hopkins, I'm Doctor Black, Chief of surgery. You're a friend of Carlton Fog?”
Tyler nodded.
The doctor rubbed his hand over his balding head.
“I'm so sorry. We did all we could.”
He put a hand on Tyler's shoulder.
“Is there anything we can do?”
“No.” Tyler managed. “May I see him?”
Tyler had been standing with his back against the door of the OR for the last five minutes. He couldn't move; only stand and stare at the body still on the table.
His father was dead. He was still trying to let it sink in, but it wasn't working.
Dad is dead. Dad is dead. My worst enemy is dead...
He smiled a little. This man was not his father. This man was an enemy who had tried to have himself and Jay killed.
Tyler swaggered forward confidently and pulled the sheet away from the face.
“Dad...”
He bent over the body, shaking from shock and sorrow.
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