Harlan's Haven by Sandra S. Kerns

Author:Sandra S. Kerns
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: memories, military, family, colorado, bar, mob, witness, flood, shame, wounded warrior
Publisher: Sandra S. Kerns

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Chapter Ten

Harlan glared down at the clerk behind the check-in desk at McKee’s ER. “Larry Granger. ER.” That was as much information as he could get out. He was lucky breathing was an involuntary function. Otherwise, he’d be blue in the face by now. Nothing penetrated his brain. All he could hear was Mick’s voice repeating over and over, Larry’s been in an accident.

“I have a Lawrence Gran--”

“That’s him. Where is he?”

“I’m sorry, sir, but only family is allowed in the ER.”

“Who the hell do you think I am?” he bellowed. “My brother’s back there bleeding to death. I want to see him now!”

In his peripheral vision, he saw security officers push off from the wall and start walking toward him. Well that was just too damn bad. Nothing was going to keep him from seeing his brother now. Before security reached him, he heard a familiar voice talking to the clerk.

“I apologize,” Rilie said, pulling his fist from the counter. “My brother just got back from Afghanistan and now we received a call telling us our other brother was in an accident. I’m sure you can understand he’s very worried. If we could just see Larry, I know he’ll calm down.”

Harlan clenched his jaw tight enough to crack a walnut as he stared down the clerk. It was obvious the clerk didn’t believe them as her eyes ping-ponged back and forth from him to Rilie. Of course, she was going to call them on the lie. Who wouldn’t? She didn’t look anything like them.

“I’ll need to see ID, Miss . . .”

Harlan’s hand stopped halfway to his back pocket.

“Lazar, different dads,” she said offering the woman a smile while she dug her wallet out of her bag.

Even while the lie irritated him, he knew it was the only way they would both get in to see Larry. He’d already screwed up by running inside the minute she stopped the car, leaving her to cross the lot by herself. Damn it. Whoever ran Larry off the road might have been watching and hurt her as well. Swallowing his guilt, he pulled out his wallet and opened it to show the clerk his ID.

“Thank you. I’ll call back and someone will meet you at the double doors around the corner.”

Harlan didn’t waste time thanking her. He grabbed Rilie’s hand and dragged her along with him to wait at the doors. The second the doors started to open, he pushed them wide. The person on the other side started to talk. Ignoring him, Harlan stepped through. “Where is he?”

“The doctor will be with you in a few minutes.”

A quick military about face and Harlan had the man up against the wall. “I said where is my brother?”

“Harlan, this isn’t helping. Let the man go. This isn’t a MASH unit. It’s a hospital,” Rilie said, easing his hand away from the man. “He’s just doing his job.”

While she talked him down, again, he noticed the man stand a bit taller and nod.

“Just back from overseas?” he asked, but didn’t wait for an answer.

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