Drummer In the Dark by T. Davis Bunn

Author:T. Davis Bunn
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Fiction
ISBN: 9780385504799
Publisher: Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
Published: 2002-03-05T06:00:00+00:00

THE GYPSY SELLING roses in the church doorway would not give up her position, not even when Jackie left a bloody handprint where she leaned against the wall. But the Gypsy’s cries brought Anna from within. The young woman’s every movement showed that Jackie was not the first to arrive wounded. She led Jackie around to the side entrance to avoid tracking blood inside the sanctuary, then settled soiled towels about Jackie’s chair and called to others for hot water, hand rags, scissors, and a bottle.

“Here, drink this.”

“What is it?”

“Grappa. So you don’t faint.”

Anna watched as Jackie tasted the fiery liquid and coughed, then winced at how the cough pulled at her wound. “Don’t sip. Drink like medicine. Big swallow. Good.”

“That’s strong.”

“Yes. But now you are not so pale like the linen. Can you move up your arms, up like this, over your head?”

“I don’t think so.”

“No matter. We will cut off your T-shirt. Lean forward.” Anna helped Jackie do so. As she snipped she asked, “Who did this?”

Before Jackie could respond, the hall rang with other voices. Two other women rushed in, one carrying a black bag. There was a swift torrent of Italian, then Anna asked, “Was it a gang?”

“I don’t . . . Ow!” The doctor’s probing fingers retreated. She held a bloody finger up in front of Jackie’s face. The message was clear. Don’t move. Jackie gasped as the fingers resumed their probing of her shoulder, and said, “Three men on mopeds.”

This was also translated. Anna said, “They used clubs with knives, yes?”

“Or razors. Something sharp.”

“Yes, this is the gang’s favorite new toy. Every night the hospitals greet their victims.”

Jackie held the T-shirt to her front, aware of how many legs and shoes were crowding about her. Strangers all. “You think we could cram a few more people in here?”

Anna strung together a verbal push, and the room quickly emptied. Jackie lifted a blood-stained shoe and told the doctor, “They also hit my leg.” Sounds of protest lifted her head in time to see the driver being shoved towards the door. “Let him stay a moment, please.”

When calm was restored and the door closed, Jackie said to the driver, “I can’t thank you enough.”

“It is no problem, signora.” He grinned broadly. “We make a good chase, yes? Like the movies.”

She watched the doctor begin to cut away her trouser leg. “My things are all at the hotel. I’d really rather not go back there.”

Anna understood immediately. “They may still be after you?”

“I think so.”

There followed a swift exchange between the driver and Anna. Then she said, “Someone will return with the driver and check you out. We will keep you here. How long do you stay?”

“I’d like to leave tomorrow for America, if I can.”

Another discussion, this one including the doctor. The driver pulled a cellphone from his pocket and dialed. Anna told her, “Your cuts are not too deep. The driver thinks the hotel will not give out your name. The Hassler would not like to say a guest was attacked on their doorstep, you understand?”

“Yes.

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