Empty Places by Martin Roy Hill

Author:Martin Roy Hill [Hill, Martin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: 32-32 North via Indie Author Project
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 17

THE SMALL BULB GLARED like a searchlight in my eye. It went out, then flared again in my other eye. It went away again, and the doctor stepped back, placing the penlight in the breast pocket of his white smock.

"You're fine," he said. "From the looks of that scar, I'd say you've been hit harder."

"It seems to be an international pastime these days." I sat up in the hospital bed, propped on my arms. “Can I go now, doc?"

The tall, balding man in the white smock pushed heavy-rimmed glasses back up onto his hawkish nose and scribbled in a chart.

"Sure," he said, a smile twitching at the corners of his lips. "But stay away from dark streets from now on."

"Sounds like good medical advice, doc."

Matt's voice boomed in the quiet of the hospital ward where I spent the night for observation. He put a big paw on the physician's neck. "Thanks for taking care of the lad, doc."

"No problem." The doctor slid the metal folder containing my chart into its holder. "That's why they pay me the big bucks."

He nodded at me, patted Matt on the arm and left, his smock trailing behind him like a cape.

I got up, found my clothes in a closet, and started dressing. The side of my head still ached from the beating, and my stomach felt as if I tried to set the endurance record for sit-ups. I sat back on the bed and put my pants on slowly, one painful leg at a time.

"I don't get it, Matt," I said. "People keep beating me up."

"Yeah, well I've been meaning to talk to you about your attitude, lad."

Matt handed me my shirt. The front of it was covered with blood stains caked with sand. I hurt more just looking at it.

"How's Laurie?" I asked.

"She's okay," Matt said. "Scared, but not hurt. The doc gave her some tranquilizers and sent her home with her folks." Matt held my socks out. "You know what these guys were after?"

"Something about a tape. They didn't think it necessary to explain what they meant."

I took the socks and inched them onto my feet. "And where the hell did you come from last night, anyway?"

The big bear shook his head and shrugged sheepishly. "I sensed you were in trouble," he said. "So, I rushed into the nearest phone booth, put on my cape with the big S and flew to the rescue."

I stared at him and said nothing. He shrugged again, his brow arching with the gesture.

"I was behind you all last night," he said. "As soon as you walked through the door, I checked your room and found the guns under the mattress. I caught up with you on 111 and stayed with you the rest of the night."

"Even when I was in Tinnerman's?"

"I parked at the foot of his private road. Some guy in a private security car tried to roust me. Had to show him my shield to make him go away. I saw those two goons pick you up as you left the party and trailed behind them as they trailed you.

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