Unnatural Acts (Stone Barrington 23)

“Sure, I got her the Combat Cross. The sons of bitches downtown wanted to give it to me, but I told them I wasn’t taking a medal for getting myself shot.”

“Good for you. What else?”

“What do you mean, what else?”

“Come on, Dino.”

“All right, I got her transferred to the Seventeenth Precinct. It’s right next door, and it’s closer to her apartment. And she’ll be promoted.”

Stone found a parking spot in front of Dino’s building and flipped down his sun visor with the police emblem on it. “What, are you coming in?” Dino asked, as his doorman opened the car door.

“I’m walking you upstairs.”

“The hell you say. I’m fine.”

Stone walked around the car and caught Dino’s right arm, just as he staggered a bit. He steered his friend through the front door and onto the elevator. “You’re going to have to take it easy on the Oxycontin, unless you want to fall down in the street,” Stone said.

The elevator arrived at Dino’s floor, and Stone steered him to the front door, took his key from him, and opened the door.

“This is fine,” Dino said.

“I’ll walk you to the bedroom. You need a nap.” They walked down the hall.

“I don’t need a nap,” Dino said, sitting on the bed.

Stone helped him off with his coat and shoes and took the sling from around his neck, then lifted his feet onto the bed and tucked a pillow under his knees.

“You should have been a nurse,” Dino said.

Stone spread a blanket over him, and Dino closed his eyes.

“Don’t get up until dinnertime,” Stone said.

Dino made a gruff noise and let out a deep breath.

Stone bent over and kissed him on the forehead, then closed the bedroom door behind him. He got out his cell phone and called a number.

“DeCarlo,” she said.

“Viv, it’s Stone. I got him home, and he went right to sleep. I’m leaving his door unlocked for you, so bring him some dinner about seven. He’ll be a lot better by tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Stone,” she said. “I’m on it.”

“There are some things Dino won’t tell you, so I will.”

“Okay.”

“You’re going to get the Police Combat Cross.”

“Wow.”

“Is it your first commendation?”

“Yeah.”

“It’ll look good on your record. You made detective second, too.”

“No shit?”