“A video game.” She sounded more convinced this time. “But who would do such a thing, and why?”
Lucky shrugged, about all the motion he could manage without agony. “Dunno. But I’m trying to find out.”
The sobs began again. “All these years! All these years we haven’t spoken to you, for something you didn’t do.”
“I still broke laws, got thrown into jail. What I did do was bad enough.” And if he ever got charged for all his sins, he’d never be a free man again.
The edge returned to his mother’s voice. “And you turned on Victor. He’s dead. I might not have agreed with how he made his living, but he was good to you. He was good to the whole family.”
True. And he’d turned a dumbass redneck into a slightly smarter dumbass redneck. “I can’t tell you Victor’s story, but I don’t believe he’s holding any grudges against me.”
Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she managed to say, “Then he’s still alive too?”
Damn. Bo wasn’t the only one who should give spoiler alerts. “Forget you heard that. He’d dead. Deader than dead, and not working with international drug enforcement.”
Mama glanced at Bo and back to Lucky.
It took Lucky three tries to say, “Old news. This here’s…” His energy gave out.
Bo held out his hand. “I’m Bo, Lucky’s partner. His off the job partner. Why don’t we finish this conversation somewhere else and let Lu… Richmond get some rest? Can I buy you a cup of coffee?”
Twin kisses landed on Lucky’s cheeks.
Lucky let his consciousness fade. Bo had this.
Maybe.
Chapter Sixteen
Lucky jerked awake. Crap. Someone here. And Bo’s movements no longer disturbed his sleep. Not Bo. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Why wasn’t Moose growling? He slipped his hand over the side of the bed, inching toward the nightstand and his .38.
Rails. Bed rails. Oh. Hospital. Not home. Darn the luck. Dim lights didn’t give him a clear view, but someone definitely stood over him.
No drug-induced hallucination either.
Playing asleep might be the best option. He scrunched his eyes closed. After an eternity, he cracked open one eye, to a dark silhouette. Too short for Bo. Too tall for Mom or Charlotte.
Just right for Nurse Andy. But the creeper had never been subtle.
And not a weapon at hand. The intruder had to hear thebang, bang, bangof his heart.
Ever so slowly, he worked his fingers toward the nurse call button.Jab!
A disembodied voice asked, “Can I help you?”
The silhouette shot out the door. Oh shit! Bright hallway lights! Darkness again.
Damn it! He didn’t get a good look.
“Sir, is everything all right?” the voice asked.
“Um… Can I get a cup of decaf?” No way he’d go back to sleep now.
***
Nurse Andy whistled while taking Lucky’s vitals.
In a moment of quiet, Lucky hummed The Police’sEvery Breath You Take, getting louder on the part about watching.
