The next morning Cole sat on the side of the hospital bed. The doctors had come by earlier and released him to go home. He had just gotten his street clothes back on and was trying to decide whether to try and go up and see Melissa or wait for Angel to get here.
The door opened, and he glanced over expecting it to be Angel. It wasn’t. In strolled two uniformed police officers—their dark blue uniforms neatly pressed, their silver badges reflecting the overhead lighting, their radio’s crackling with muffled communications.
“Morning,” the first one through the door greeted Cole.
“Morning,” Cole responded, wondering what this was about.
“I understand you’re Melissa’s father.”
“And you are?”
“We’re friends of Angel’s father. Worked with him.”
Cole nodded. “I see.” He glanced at the nametag on the officer’s shirt. Sgt. Harmon.
“Just came by to see how Melissa was doing.” The officer stared him down.
Cole stayed silent. He had a feeling he knew where this was going. He’d been through this type of scrutiny enough times in his life.
“You gonna be headed back to…where was it, California?” Harmon asked him.
“Yeah. Sure.”
“And when would that be happening?”
“Not sure yet, Sgt. Harmon. Is there a problem?” Cole spoke calmly, although he was seething on the inside.
“No problem. As long as you get back to California quickly.”
“And if I don’t?” Cole replied tersely.
Harmon looked him over. “I checked you out. I know all about you, your club, and your record.”
Cole stared back at him. “I bet you did.”
“Just see that you don’t overstay your welcome.” He stared down Cole.
The door opened, and all three men’s heads turned toward it.
Angel walked in. She stopped short when she saw the officers. “Bill. Mark. What are you doing here?”
They both smiled back at her. All Mr. Nice Guys, now, Cole thought with a smirk. He shook his head and looked away.
“Just came by to check on Melissa. You know she’s in our prayers,” Harmon told her, touching her shoulder.
“Why are you down here?” Angel wasn’t going to let it go.
“Oh, just came by to let the donor know how grateful everyone is that Melissa’s getting her transplant.” He turned and smiled back to Cole. “Well, you both take care. Angel, you let us know if there’s anything you and the kids need, okay?”
“Yeah. Sure. Thanks.”
Cole could tell she was uncomfortable with them being in his room. He wondered if she was embarrassed for them to find out who the father of her children was.
The two officers walked out.
When the door closed, Angel turned to him. “What did they really want?”
The corner of Cole’s mouth lifted. “Mornin’ to you, too, babe.”
She walked over to him. “I’m sorry. Good morning. How are you feeling?”
“Sore. Ready to get the hell out of here.” He smiled and took her hand, pulling her close for a kiss.
“What did they want?” she repeated when the kiss was over.
“How’s Melissa doing? Have you seen her yet?” He changed the subject.
“She’s doing good. Now tell me what they were doing here,” she insisted.
He blew out a breath, realizing she wasn’t going to let it go. “Damn, baby, you’re like a dog with a bone. Won’t ever let it go. That was just the welcome wagon.”
“What did they say to you? Tell me.”
“Angel, it’s okay. They just wanted to welcome me to Arizona.”
“Bullshit.”
“Not a big fan of you swearin’, babe.”
She stared at him with her hand on her hip.
He sighed and shook his head. “What do you think? They probably already have a file started on me.”
“A file?”
“Babe, it’s no big deal. Just the usual drill. They want to make sure I find my way back to California, ASAP.”
She shook her head and looked away. “I can’t believe they did that.”
“Said they worked with your Dad. They friends of his?”
She nodded.
“Have they been helping you out since he died?”
She looked at him. “How did you know?”