“Don’t worry,” Sangster said. “I can safely say the last thing I want to do is get into your business.”
Telemaco stared at Sangster intently, as if he was trying to read between the lines.
THREE
Sangster waited around for them to get Burke into a room.
While he was waiting he went and talked to the billing department. He told them he’d get Burke’s Medicare information and that the bills for anything not covered should be sent to Burke’s address. That was because he didn’t want to give out his own.
That done he found out what room Burke was in, took the elevator to the right floor and found him out cold in a bed. There were tubes attached to machines that were beeping, and would keep beeping as long as Burke was breathing.
“Excuse me,” a middle-aged nurse said, slipping past him.
“Oh, sorry.” He stepped aside.
“Are you family?”
“His friend,” Sangster said, “and neighbor.”
“You shouldn’t be here, then.” She went to the machine, checked the connections, and then turned to face him.
“Where’s Nurse O’Malley?” he asked.
“She’s an emergency room
nurse,” she answered, “so she’s in the emergency room. She’s through with this case.”
“How is he?”
“Resting,” she said. “That’s the best thing he can do.” She pointed her finger at him. “Five more minutes. Understand?”
“I understand,” he said. “Thank you.”
She left the room and he walked to the bed. Burke was breathing evenly, the machine beeping rhythmically.
Talk to Polly was all he had. “I need more, old man. Come on, wake up.”
He didn’t.
“How’s he doin’?”
He turned, saw Telemaco standing in the doorway.
“Resting,” Sangster said. “They tell me that’s the best thing he can do.”
“Has he said anything?”
“No,” Sangster said. “He hasn’t come around.”
“And downstairs?”
“I told you what he said when you bought me that great cup of coffee.”
“I know,” Telemaco said. “I just thought maybe ya’ll might have something to add.”
“No,” Sangster said, “I’ve got nothing.” He turned and looked at Burke. “I was hoping he’d wake up and talk to me.”
“Well,” the detective said, “I’m gonna leave a man on the door in case he does wake up and say something.”