“Direct order from Julian,” Troy sighed. “He insisted on telling her about the calls. He felt strongly it had to come from him.”
“Does that bother you?” Tim stopped at a traffic light.
“Yes and no. Yes, because I was finding every reason to delay telling her. Yes, because I’m afraid for her. No, he took it out of my hands.”
“Afraid?”
“I want to pull her into my arms and take her away from all of this. Pretend nothing is wrong with me and live in a fantasy world. And before you panic and think I’m delusional, it’s only a fantasy,” Troy sighed.
Tim checked his review mirror before hitting his Bluetooth. “This is Dutch Boy; I’ve got a cement mixer two clicks out, closing fast. My next possible off ramp is three clicks ahead.”
Tim changed lanes. The mixer swayed and followed.
“3-Romeo Leader to Dutch Boy, we will initiate a slowdown.”
“Roger, Romeo Leader, starting a speed increase. Exiting at next available and looping around,” Tim said.
Troy placed his gun in his lap. “3-Romeo XO, move around to lead. Dutch Boy will draft your bumper, if necessary,”he added.
“Roger, Cat’s Meow. Dutch Boy, coming up fast on your left,” the 3-Romeo XO said.
“Roger,” Tim confirmed.
“Mixer appears to be slowing.” Troy turned his head to check his passenger mirror.
“They’ve stopped the mixer,” Tim said. “This is Dutch Boy, 3-Romeo Leader, sit-rep.”
“Detaining driver, passenger and Honda sedan behind mixer. Four potential tangoes total.”
“3-Romeo XO to Dutch Boy, 1 will continue with you. 3-Romeo Car 1 dispatched and will rendezvous at planned location.”
“Roger, 3-XO,” Tim sighed.
“Dutch Boy, you won me over there. Any advice about James?” Troy had watched Holland’s interview with the medical directors and read his personnel file. He’d served as a PJ in Afghanistan. The facility medical directors approved him unanimously.
“I was about to say, before we were interrupted, I can’t reconcile a real inability to speak with the initial trauma. I’d put my weight on four things: the parents, the hospital staff, their use of meds, and the investigators.
“I was speaking with Trask. He said you’re one of the best with special victims. He thinks if anyone can, you can get a statement,” Tim said. “I’m going to ask, as your medical team head, are you up to this?” He hit the turn signal and entered the driveway to the hospital.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.” Troy rubbed his temples with his thumb and forefinger.
Tim parked while Troy stored his weapon in the safe in the center console. “We have to walk through a metal detector.”Tim nodded and did the same.
After checking in with their backup, the pair went inside. On the allowed visitor list, they passed through a set of locked doors and approached James’s room.
The Richmonds were outside his door. “It’s breaking my heart; he just stares into space,” his mother said.
His father looked annoyed. “Maybe he did something to deserve this. He clearly feels guilty about something, or he’d be talking.”
The father made the hair on Troy’s neck rise. “Mr. Richmond, at this point, we know little of what occurred. You and your wife retained Chase Security to get you some answers. Let us do our job.”Troy shot Tim a look and a nod.
Tim smiled. “Mr. and Mrs. Richmond, why don’t you come with me to complete the paperwork and let Mr. Bremen introduce himself to James?”
Troy walked into James’s room. The young man’s face was covered with bruises. The shades were pulled closed, and the room was oppressively warm. The windows were sealed to prevent suicide attempts. A tray sat with uneaten food—Troy supposed it was food, anyway. The first thing he did was take the tray and its smell out of the room.
Back inside, Troy found a washcloth and ran it under cool water. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see James track his movements.
“Hi, James, my name is Troy Bremen. I am the Assistant Executive Director of Chase Security, San Diego. Your parents wanted Chase to get some answers. I’m here for two reasons. My first is to help you through all the confused feelings you have about what happened to you, and my second is to catch the predators who hurt you.” Troy placed the washcloth across James’s forehead and sat in the chair beside him.“It’s really warm in here. Would you like some of this ice water?”
