Easton’s pal went down without a sound. With all the jostling going on around them, no one noticed his collapse for a few precious moments, long enough for Jasper to put some distance between them. He kept moving, sometimes swimming upstream, sometimes being propelled by those around him.
But soon he heard the exclamations behind him, had felt the disturbance rippling outward from the spot where the man had dropped. Like everyone else, Jasper halted, turned to look back to see what this new source of commotion was.
His jab had been hard enough and so well placed that it would have incapacitated Easton’s buddy. To what extent didn’t matter much. Easton would get the message.
As he’d left the vicinity, he’d felt a groundswell of satisfaction inside his chest. It had been a productive night. Much more so than he’d counted on. He’d wished to mark his success, make it an occasion. But he’d foregone a celebration. He was bold, not reckless.
So he’d prudently returned to his car, added his newest trophy to the velvet bag, and zipped it back into an inside pocket of his tracksuit.
Driving away, he’d passed ambulances racing toward the scene of yet another emergency, a scene of havoc, another of his masterpieces.
He’d cruised through the city, in no particular hurry, on the hunt for new lodging.
Chapter 32
Drex took a roundabout route from the hospital. After twenty minutes of aimless driving and doubling back several times, he was convinced that they weren’t being followed.
He considered switching hotels, but that would involve a check-in process he would rather avoid. He returned them to the suite they’d occupied that afternoon and, once inside, plopped into a chair and sent Mike a text. Seconds later, his phone rang, surprising him.
“I expected something more covert than a call.”
“I’m all by my lonesome.”
“Rudkowski?”
“Went apeshit when he learned that you two had ducked out. He threatened to arrest me. I double dog dared him. I hadn’t absconded with a material witness, had I? I was keeping vigil over my friend who could have died tonight.
“Locke told him that he was being unreasonable. Talia’s hotshot surgeon came to see what all the yelling was about, told Rudkowski to pipe down or he’d have security throw him out. Rudkowski told me to tell you that you were ruined, that he would see to it, then he left with Locke and Menundez. I think both of them are solid.”
“Me too. Have you seen Gif?”
He hadn’t, but he was receiving periodic updates that Gif was holding his own.
There had been no developments in the investigation into the homicide or the assault on Gif. “They’re reviewing surveillance camera videos,” Mike said, “but they have a lot more of them to look at. Out of Rudkowski’s hearing, the detectives promised to keep us apprised. The coroner’s report on the woman killed tonight is expected in the morning. Locke said he’d shoot it to us, along with the one on Elaine Conner.”
“Jasper’s got people working overtime tonight.”
“He must be so proud,” Mike returned drolly. “Anyhow, nothing more we can do tonight except wait.”
“I feel guilty for having a bed and you don’t,” Drex said.
“I can sleep sitting up. Do most of the time anyway.”
“Let me know if there’s any change in Gif’s condition. I’ll come immediately.”
“Okay.”
“I mean it, Mike. Any change.”
“Cross my overtaxed heart.” With that he clicked off.
Drex looked over at Talia. “Did you hear any of that?”
“I got the gist.”
“Talia.” He paused in order to give his next words heft. “Thank you.” She tipped her head inquisitively. “For pulling those strings. If you hadn’t, we might still be in the dark about Gif. I’d still be losing my mind.”
“I believe the lady at admissions thought you already had.”