Page 171 of 1001 Dark Nights: Bundle Forty-Two

He shook his head, then looked at her and smiled.

“I remain amazed.”

“About what?”

“A tree. You found a man in a tree!”

“Hey, I like documentaries. You learn all kinds of coolstuff. Oh, by the way, there’s also the internet. Idid some quick reading this morning. The common ring-tailed possum ismonogamous. They create their home together and look after theirlittle ones as a couple. As for vampires, there are differing opinions, ofcourse, but as far as I could find, and given what I’ve seen in the movies,vampires like to fool around.”

“I guess we’re possums, then.”

“Hm. You like to fool around.”

“True. But only with you.”

She grinned. “Good answer. But... I don’t know. It’s a toughcall. The possums sound like loving little creatures—other than the fact thatthey eat insects. But they only live for a handful of years. Vampires, well, ifyou go by legend, they live forever.”

“Until they get a stake in the heart.” He winked.

An unexpected giggle escaped. “True,” Angela agreed as shesmiled at him, appreciating her husband so much in times like this. Especiallythe levity he’d purposely brought to her worried mind.

They reached the hospital and grew serious as they headedin. Patrick and Jordan were seated in a hallway, their position betweenWhittaker’s room and that of the still unknown shooter. There were policeofficers posted at both doors, too.

Jordan’s head was on Patrick’s shoulder, but she seemed toshake herself awake as Jackson and Angela arrived. She stood to greet them,along with Patrick.

“No change,” Patrick said. “But Bryan and Bruce McFadden aregoing to come in and relieve us. Brodie McFadden is doing a shift at the safehouse now. We’ll take all the dogs back to the woods and see if we can findanything else there—or find any more of those trees that might be hidingsomething. The dogs will be especially helpful, though we’re all still amazedthat Angela found Whittaker.”

“Documentaries,” Jackson explained forher.

“So I heard. Anyway, we’ll let the dogs use their expertisetoday. If that works with your plans, Jackson.”

Jackson nodded. “Sounds excellent. Kat is working with ourlocal MEs on the new victims discovered in the ground.And Will is working on identifications.” He shook hishead. “Tomorrow is Halloween. I hope like hell...”

“Yes, we all do.” Angela smiled at Jordan and then said toher and Patrick, “No matter what, you two need to get some sleep tonight.Otherwise, you’ll be worthless.”

“By the way,” Jordansaid, “Debbie apparently asks for you anytime anyone goes to the safe house,Angela. I think she sees you as her lifeline now. Understandable, since you dohave a great way with people. As for the sleep... your wish is our command.”

“How cool. It’s great to command,” Jackson said.

Patrick laughed. “Well, you are our field supervisor. Sotonight it will be nice to heed the command of sleep.”

“There’s Marie, the charge nurse. Come on. I’ll introduceyou,” Patrick said.

They met Marie. Their shooter still could not respond,though the doctors believed they could soon bring him out of his coma.

Officer Whittaker was in and out, but at least his conditionwas stable.

“He was lucky you found him when you did, and even luckieryou had a medical man on your team,” Marie told them. “You are welcome to go onin. Of course, please do not upset my patient.”

“We promise,” Angela murmured.

Patrick and Jordan said their goodbyes and headed out.Jackson and Angela headed into Officer Whittaker’s room.

His eyes were closed, and he appeared to be sleepingpeacefully. Angela and Jackson quietly found another chair in the room andmoved it closer to the bed, setting it by the one already there.

They sat in silence to wait, but they didn’t wait long.Whittaker soon opened his eyes. When he saw them, he frowned but then smiled.

“Oh. You two... thank you.”