Stability Island (The Mark Thurman Series Book 3) by Thomas Kelso

Author:Thomas Kelso [Kelso, Thomas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9798986266701
Publisher: Jolly Robin Press
Published: 2022-12-04T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 28

SOLO

As the hospital personnel responded to the new crisis, Hairston and Ingram stayed in the corner where they watched the event unfold. Angie came over to them. “Do you guys always have this effect on people?”

“Only if you lie to us,” Ingram said.

She wiped perspiration from her forehead. “I know you’re trying to do your job, but no more questioning for a while.”

“How long?”

“Check back in a few days.” She escorted them to the TICU door.

Ingram and Hairston walked out of the hospital into the cool evening air. They made their way along the main sidewalk to the parking garage.

“You think he’ll be all right?” Hairston asked.

“Hard to say, but I sure hope so.” Ingram checked his watch. “It’s a little early to go to Morton’s club. You want to get a beer?”

Two hours later Ingram parked the unmarked black Charger next to a dumpster in an alley a block from Anastasia’s. The sweet stench of rancid grease and organic rot greeted them as they exited the cruiser. “If anyone had told me police work was going to be this glamorous, I’d have listened to my mother and become an orthodontist,” Ingram said.

“You should have taken her advice,” Hairston said as he dodged puddles. “The army straightened me out.”

Ingram looked over at Hairston. His eyes had a sad twinkle. “You too? No shit?”

“Military police, five years,” Hairston replied.

They sloshed down the alley approaching Alston Street. “Then what?”

“Howard University on the GI Bill, then here. My wife’s family is from Winston-Salem.”

“Did you always want to be in law enforcement? Why not law or medicine?”

Hairston scanned the area, then shoved his hands in his pockets and walked on. “I lost my older brother to gang violence when we were in high school. I kind of went off the rails and didn’t get back on track until boot camp.”

“What made you straighten up?” Ingram said.

“A drill sergeant at Fort Leonard Wood helped me find my calling. We had a come-to-Jesus moment on the second day of basic training. After that I finished at the top of my class and went into MP training.”

Ingram stopped walking. Hairston turned and halted but continued the story, his words floating down the alley. “They never found out who killed my brother, but I vowed to help others so what happened to him didn’t continue—for Eddie.”

“Wow,” Ingram said. “I had no idea.”

“I don’t talk about it much,” Hairston said.

“Why now?” Ingram asked.

“Sometimes I need to remind myself why I do this,” Hairston said.

Ingram nodded understanding. “We all have those days. You spend enough time watching people dish out the worst shit humanity has to offer, and it takes a toll. Only priests hear more confessions.” They both started moving again. This time, in silence.

They approached the pulsing glow of a neon sign. Hairston held the door and they entered.

“Twenty bucks cover, ten-dollar beers, twelve-dollar drinks, no empty hands,” said the doorman, who bore a striking resemblance to the former Mr. Olympia Lou Ferrigno.

Hairston flashed his badge. “We have an invitation from Mr.

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