She had dark liner around both eyes and pink mascara which drew attention away from the multiple hoops and piercings in her eyebrows, lips, and nose. If forced to admit it, I really liked the prickly physical therapist. She was a take no prisoners type of woman who was happily married to a gorgeous redheaded woman with baking skills that were beyond compare. The first time I’d met Theo’s wife, Darla, she’d given me a basket of homemade banana muffins that were the best I’d ever tasted.
“You gonna do the whole floor this time, Rex?”
“I guess,” I said, reaching out to shake the hand she offered.
She smiled at Alain before giving me a sharp nod. “Glad to hear it. Carry on.” She spun on her heel and walked back to the nurse’s station, where she picked up a chart.
I glanced up at Alain. “Well, let’s do this.”
When he put a large hand on my shoulder, giving it a little pat, I simply nodded, grabbed both wheels, and began the long, arduous trek around the floor.
I was dripping in sweat and my arms were burning in agony by the time I got back to the room an hour later. Several times, I’d had to stop and rest, shaking out my arms and hands to get the feeling back. My back and shoulders ached worse than when Candy took us down to the beach for ocean training. Alain had walked by my side, telling me all about the effort the team had been putting in to find and eliminate the threat to Cachi, his family, and that of the other valets.
I’d listened in silence, wanting to hear what progress was being made, and at the same time, not wanting to focus on Cachi at all. It hurt too much to think of what I’d thrown away, but ina way, I hadn’t regretted doing what I’d done. He needed to try to move on with his life because he deserved it. It might take him time, especially if he was being truthful when he told me he loved me, but eventually, it would happen. He would move on without me. It was better than the alternative, knowing that he would be tied to a man with paralysis who could never love him the way he needed.
I nodded to the two agents who retook their chairs outside my door. Luisa Morales and Vance Dailey were two of the nicest agents I’d met but unlike my teammates, Morales and Dailey looked at me with expressions of pity every time our eyes met. I hated it.
My close friends—the men on my team, who came every day—didn’t do that. They smiled and joked with me, bringing me food from home or in the case of those who didn’t cook much like Patsy, food his partner, Wes, had cooked. As it turned out, Wes was a damned fine cook, so I always looked forward to his visits. Mickey was another one who couldn’t cook at all, so when he turned up, it was usually with takeout bags from local restaurants and fast-food joints.
As I pushed my way into the room drenched in sweat, the scent of burgers hit my nostrils almost immediately. I spotted the strawberry shake and the covered box of In-N-Out before Mickey and Candy, who both rose from their chairs as soon as Alain and I rolled in.
“Hey there,” Mickey said, grinning widely as he walked over. The minute he got close, he wrinkled his nose and waved a hand in front of his face. “Hell, you stink like a barn.”
I snorted. “What would you know about a barn, New York City boy?” I asked, shaking his hand and then Candy’s. The boss was holding a file folder which could have boded either goodor bad, depending on what was in it. I could only assume it contained good news since the expression on his face seemed relaxed and not tense. I’d known him long enough to know he liked delivering both kinds of news in person.
“Hey, Rex,” Candy said. He looked me up and down. “Mickey’s right. You are a little gamey.”
“He made it around the entire floor today,” Alain announced.
Candy glanced at him and then at me, smiling broadly. “That’s good.”
I nodded. “Probably won’t be able to feel my damned arms tomorrow, but Theo says I gotta learn to use the wheelchair, much as it pains me.”
“How about a shower before you eat, Rex,” Alain said. He glanced at Candy. “Unless it can’t wait.”
Candy hefted the folder. “It can wait. Go get clean, Rex. We’re not going anywhere.”
Alain went into the large bathroom with its walk-in shower and I heard the water turn on a few seconds later. I sniffed the air and grinned, looking at Mickey. “The burger is from you, I take it?”
Mickey nodded. “Only the best for my brother.”
“Thanks, Way, I really appreciate it.” I hit the wall station call button, and when Andy’s voice replied, I was relieved.
“Ready, Rex?”
“Sure enough.”
“Be right in.” Andy Clemmons was a huge man…a registered nurse who usually assisted me with showers since he could deadlift more than I weighed. He was a former military nurse who’d recently finished up a tour in the Army where he’d beenstationed at LRMC in Landstuhl, Germany, near Ramstein Air Base. The military hospital was world renowned for helping U.S. military recover from wounds. Now, an employee of the VA hospital here in Los Angeles, he laughed and smiled all the time, happy to be Stateside now he was a civilian.
“That’s my cue, old bean,” Alain said, patting me on the shoulder. “I’ll leave you in Andy’s rather capable hands.”
I smiled at him. “You don’t wanna stick around to see what’s in that folder?”
He shook his head. “I know what’s in that folder.” He glanced at Candy. “Unless something’s changed?”
Candy shook his head. “Nope. It’s the same as we discussed yesterday. Just working out logistics. I’ll fill you in on everything pertinent when we have our briefing in the morning. Go get some rest, Joy.”
“Will do, Captain.” He turned to me. “See you later, Rex.”
