David pulled a rolling stool to the side of the table as close to Colin as possible and pressed Joshua onto it.
The doctor examined Colin and then hooked him up to an IV. “It’s normal saline,” he told them. “It’ll get him back on his feet pretty quickly. To be on the safe side, I want him to stay here until the IV’s finished. Then you can take him back to your stateroom, though I want to see him tomorrow. Call if you need anything. I’ll be right there in my office.”
When the doctor left, Colin waved the security officer to his side. “What’s the law on this kind of thing? Are we talking about a felony here? Who has jurisdiction?”
“You a cop?”
“I was a cop for ten years. Now I’m a prosecutor in Charlottesville, Virginia.”
The security officer nodded and held out his hand. “Blake Sinclair,” he said.
“Ex-police?”
“Retired Marine. MP.”
“You train at Leonard Wood?”
“I did.”
“Good to meet you.”
“He’ll be charged with reckless endangerment,” Sinclair told Colin. “Class A misdemeanor.”
Colin wrinkled his nose and grimaced. “Damn! I was hoping for a felony.”
“He could still get up to a year and a $25,000 fine.”
“But he probably won’t,” Colin muttered.
The officer shrugged. “Hard to say.” He patted Colin’s shoulder. “Could you come and see us tomorrow?” He nodded toward Joshua. “Youandyour husband? We need statements from both of you.”
Colin closed his eyes and nodded, reaching to take Joshua’s hand.
Officer Sinclair shook hands with Joshua and left the infirmary.
“How are you feeling?” Joshua asked. He lifted Colin’s hand to his lips and kissed it.
Colin’s brows arched, and his shoulders lifted in a slight shrug. “Hell, babe, I dunno. I still feel dizzy… disoriented, like I can’t focus.” He turned his head and met Joshua’s eyes. “I feel like some motherfucker roofied me.”
“Is Josh going to get into trouble for decking that guy?” Nate asked.
“It doesn’t seem so,” David offered. “Ship security would have detained him if he were in trouble—or at least questioned him.”
“They know what happened,” Joshua said. “And more than that, they knowwhyit happened!”
“How will that guy get home?” Nate asked.
“Do you care?” Colin countered.
“No. I’m just curious.”
“I suspect he’ll be on his own,” David said, shrugging.
“Think he’ll ask for a refund?” Nate asked, then nudged Colin’s arm.
“I think he canask,” Colin muttered. “But I’m guessing the answer will be a big, fatno.”
“Listen,” Joshua said, turning to David and Nate. “You guys don’t have to stay. I’ll wait here until the doctor releases him, but you two should go back to the stateroom. It’s been a long day.”
