Skeller: A Jack Trevally Mystery by Mike Hill

Author:Mike Hill [Hill, Mike]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2025-03-14T00:00:00+00:00

29.

Hanlon swerved hard to the left, just enough to miss the pickup truck on his right. “Asshole! I got the goddamn lights and siren going!” he shouted as he sped through the intersection. “Goddammit, you’d think that idiot would’ve seen us coming.”

“Jesus, Hanlon,” said Jack, clutching at the car’s handle above his right shoulder. “What happened to Sprinkles? And where the hell are you taking me?”

“Caouette General,” said Hanlon, his head twisting left to right before he raced through another intersection. “There was an accident at your house. Neighbor or someone called it in, said they heard a huge explosion and ran outside. The garage was demolished and the whole place was on fire. He saw Sprinkles inside your Bronco and managed to pull her out before the garage collapsed.”

Jack shook his head. “How … I mean … how did—”

“That was one big fuckin’ explosion, Jack,” said Hanlon. He glanced toward Jack. “Did you have anything in there that might catch fire? A propane tank, gas can, anything?”

“No, Jimmy, no,” said Jack, his eyes moving as if searching for an answer right in front of him. “The grill uses propane, but it’s out back. And I don’t have any gas or anything else in the garage that would explode.”

“Well, the CSI and fire department guys can sort it all out,” said Hanlon. “We’re here.” He slowed and swung the car to the left, stopping in front of the emergency entrance of Caouette General Hospital.

For over four agonizing hours, Jack didn’t notice anyone else in the waiting room. He was too busy fighting the horrific images racing through his mind as he waited for news, any news, of his beloved Sprinkles. He refused to give in to the what ifs, the thoughts of what could have happened. But the agonizing wait … he felt alone even in the crowded room, surrounded by people, but all alone in his thoughts.

A set of double doors finally opened and a smallish figure entered the room. The doctor was thin, almost lanky, with a small frame and narrow hips. She removed her mask and surgeon’s cap to reveal unkempt, short gray hair. She looked around before settling on Jack and Hanlon, then approached.

“I’m Dr. Perlmutter,” she said, reaching out to shake Hanlon’s hand. “Chief trauma surgeon. I saw your badge, so I take it you must be here about Ms. Murphy.”

“Yeah,” said Hanlon. “Detective Jimmy Hanlon. This is Jack Trevally, her boyfriend.”

“Ah, Mr. Trevally, it’s good to meet you, though I wish the circumstances were different,” said Perlmutter. “Dr. Soto speaks highly of you. You must be going through a lot at your club, and then this happens. I am so sorry.”

“Thanks, doctor,” said Jack. “How is she?”

“Please, come over here and sit,” said the doctor, pointing toward a vacant corner of the room. “We can have a little more privacy.”

Hanlon’s phone rang as he and Jack followed the doctor. “I gotta take this,” he said as he looked at it. “I’ll catch up in a sec.

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