That private place turned out to be the hospital chapel not far from the front entrance.As soon as they were inside, Rhyne pulled the empty bag out from behind him and shoved it into the young man’s hand.“I got a big favor to ask you.Abigfavor.”
“Okayyy.”Norris looked at the bag, then back up at Rhyne.“What is it?”
“I need you to give me the name of the person who donated the blood that was in this bag.”
Norris’s eyes widened.“No way.Nuh-uh.That’s a big no-no.I could lose my job or worse if I was discovered doing shit like that.”
Rhyne cocked his head to the side.“Just like you could lose your job for slipping us those used bags like you’ve been doing for a while?”
He had the man there, and Norris knew it.Still, the guy tried to object.
“I…”
“Just this one time,” Rhyne promised, shoving a Benjamin into the man’s other hand.“I’ll never ask you again.But it’s urgent I find out whose AB negative blood this was.”
“Why?Did it make you sick or something?”
Rhyne nodded.“Or something.”
Norris checked the empty blood bag in his hand.“When do you need the information?”
“As soon as you can deliver it.”
Norris checked the bill in his other hand and sighed in defeat.“I’ll do what I can, but I can’t promise anything.You have to know that.”
“I know that I’ll have to be satisfied with whatever information you can give me.Oh, by the way, I was tapped to come by tonight to pick up the next batch.”
The guy gave him an incredulous look.“You couldn’t give this to methen?”
Rhyne answered with a chagrined smile.“I was sort of hoping you might be able to find out something between now and then.”
Norris’s expression never wavered.“It’s that important to you, huh?”
“Yes.It’s very important.”
The guy took a deep breath, letting it out with another loud sigh.“Awright.I’ll see what I can do.”
“Oh, and one more thing.If there’s any more of that AB neg…”
This time the young man straightened.“You don’t know when to quit, do you?”When Rhyne didn’t answer, he nodded and stuffed the bag under his shirt and the money in his pants pocket.
Rhyne smiled.“Thanks, Norris.”Giving the guy a pat on the shoulder, he left the chapel and walked out of the hospital, but not without a final glance at the now dark and empty admissions office.
Grace Lockhart.He finally had a name to go with the face.The discovery almost made up for his earlier disappointment regarding Elias Treech’s death.
“Let’s hope Norris can find out who my mysterious benefactor is, and that person is my miraculous cure for colorblindness,” he noted to himself as he unlocked his bicycle and climbed on it to return to work.
CHAPTER8
Awareness
“Wonderland Amusement Center.Yeah, he’s available.Hold on.”Andy held the receiver out to Rhyne.“It’s Nash.”
Rhyne set the box of tickets on the counter and took the phone with a word of thanks.“Yeah, Nash.Wassup?”
“Hey.Just letting you know the boss gave a me break and let me leave a little early.”The man snickered.“Guess he didn’t want to dole out the time and a half overtime this week.Anyway, I’m letting you know I’ll go over to the hospital and pick up the next haul tonight so you don’t have to cut out early.”
Rhyne was about to okay the suggestion when he remembered.“No, that’s all right.I’ll go get it.Don’t worry about it.”
