Today’s excerpt is from How
‘bout Both, the third book in the Bader Trilogy. Elmer tries to make a deal with a doctor on
when he’ll leave the hospital after being involved in the terrorist bombing. Then has the problem of who will drive for
him and Maine solved. Enjoy and have a wonderful day.
m.j.
The doctor
nodded, “You’re not going anywhere, Lieutenant.
You’re here for observation for at least three days. You took a good knock on your noggin. I know that doesn’t sound doctor-like, but
you get the message. You almost surely
have a concussion. You are not leaving
here until I’m sure you’re out of the woods.”
Elmer grumbled,
“Never been in the woods in my life.
I’ll make you a deal, doc. I’ll
wait until morning, then I’m gone—with or without your blessing.”
Ruth shook her
head. “That’s my husband, the idiot,
speaking.”
Just as the
doctor started to say something, Helen’s cell phone rang. She saw it was her station calling. She answered, “Make it quick…I’m in
Lieutenant Bader’s room at the hospital.
The doctor is trying to run us all out of here, as it is.”
Helen listened
for a few moments, then nodded, “Get the information to Captain Wilcox at LAPD
Homicide…pronto.”
She listened a
bit more. “Know just who to get for the
job. I’ll handle it—the station paying?”
She listened a
bit more, and smiled, “Good. Get it to
Captain Wilcox.”
Off the call,
she looked around the room.
“Someone—probably the killer, from the message he left—called. Told the operator at my station to tell me he
had only begun. Also said my ‘boyfriend’
was on his short list of cops he was going to kill. Mentioned he might just kill me, too…after my
comments on the air earlier. I’m
assuming he meant you, Elmer. In case
you missed it—being knocked out and all—I had a few pointed words for this
jackass, and also said nice things about you.”
Elmer looked
hard at the doctor. “Ten in the morning,
I’m outta here. Or do you want to risk
this guy blowing up your hospital to get me?”
The doctor, now
white as a sheet, nodded, “We’ll see how you are.”
Then he turned
and left the room, passing FBI Special Agent Homer Spradling on the way
in. He exchanged greetings with everyone
there. The doctor just sighed, as he
didn’t even bother making any more comments about the number of people in
Elmer’s room. After Homer finished
saying hello to everyone, he looked at Elmer.
“Was in San Francisco when all this went down, pal. Got back as fast as I could. Just wanted to stop by to pay my respects to
our wounded hero, before telling you we’re at your disposal on this deal. Anything I can do?”
Elmer
nodded. “Yeah—check in with Alan and
Reggie. See where they’re at. They might could use your computer to check a
few things. Our computer is good, but
yours is better—sorry, Chief. The City
gives you more money—I’m sure ours would be updated to match theirs. One thing you could do, Homer, is check out
the possibility of this guy using the ‘I’m gonna kill cops’ stuff for cover, in
case he’s actually a terrorist…or part of a terrorist cell. Oh, wait—you weren’t here when we just got
word he called Helen’s station. Said he
wasn’t done killing cops. Mentioned I
was on his short list—as was Helen…or something of the sort. Anyhow, we should try to find out if we’re
dealing with a guy with a hard-on for cops, or with a terrorist.”
Ruth asked, “How
‘bout both? Guy could be all pissed at
the police, but also be a terrorist—maybe the home-grown variety.”
Elmer looked at
Ruth. “That’s my honey…always a step
ahead. Good thought, Ruthie. Thanks.
I’m sure Reggie and the guys are checking out recently released ex-cons
with a grudge against LAPD. Homer, how
about checking out any who might have picked up the Muslim religion while in
the joint…or were already Muslim’s when they went in. Coordinate it with Reggie and Alan, until I
get back in the shop tomorrow…about noon.”
Homer raised an
eyebrow, “You gonna be okay to go so soon?”
Ruth grunted,
“No, but you can bet if he can get out of that bed, he’ll be there.”
The Chief
touched Gordon’s sleeve. “Let’s get out
of here to let the real cops do their work.
Damn guy’s flat in bed, solving the stinking case. Should’ve made him Chief of Detectives.”
Gordon
laughed. “Yeah—you’re on to something, Chief. Let’s go.”
After those two
left, Elmer looked at Maine. “Well, with
me in the shape I’m in—you with a busted arm—we’ll have to find a driver.”
Ruth
volunteered, “I’ll do it.”
“No thanks, dear.”
Maine pouted, “I
don’t think so. You with us would knock
off all the flirting.”
Ruth, with fake
pout of her own in place, asked, “What flirting?”
“No flirting,
dear. Maine was just trying, without success, to
be funny. We’ll just have to get Maine a neckers knob.”
Maine asked,
“What’s a neckers knob?”
Homer
laughed. “It’s a knob attached to the
steering wheel of a car. Swivels so you
can drive one-handed, while necking with the other arm. An uncle of mine had one.”
Elmer
grinned. “You’re older than I thought,
Homer.”
Homer laughed
again. “Yeah, so it would seem. Actually he was a great-uncle. He only had one arm. Man, could he drive good with his one
arm. What’s the deal with you knowing
what one is, Elmer?”
“My dad bought a
car with one when I was a kid.”
Maine shook her
head. “Never ends—the things I find out
working with you, Elmer. But failing us
finding one for me to use, what are we gonna to do about a driver?”
Elmer laughed,
“I’ll ask for a uniform to drive us around, like we were big shots—or I’ll
manage somehow, until you get better, Maine.”
Just then two
uniformed officer came into the room.
One nodded in Elmer’s direction.
“Hi, Lieutenant—got orders from the brass to babysit you until this deal
is over. Got two more outside the
room. We’re gonna rotate.”
Elmer
grinned. “See, Maine, how things have a
way of working out? Meet our new
drivers. Guys, it’s Elmer here in
bed. The one-armed gal is
Maine…Bobbitt—but Maine is good enough.
You two are?”
