School of Fish (Fish Out of Water #6) - Amy Lane Page 0,29

nurse in over her head. It was nothing.”

“Yes, but I wasn’t there. That was all you—you can’t say there was no drama,” he goaded.

“Man, all I’m saying is after you almost died, I was pretty much spending my days running license plates and juvie records and increasing my Google-Fu. Now we’re heading for the police station when the one cop who doesn’t seem to hate your guts is….” His teasing note dropped. “Well, he’s not there to help us.”

“Yeah,” Jackson said, wishing Henry had left this alone for another hundred years. His pocket buzzed, and he pulled out his phone.

Your boy’s going into surgery—give him an hour or two. No cops in the waiting room.

Jackson looked at “Nurse Dave’s” text and swore softly.

“Well, he picked our side, so we’re on his,” he said and texted back. We’re trying to find who did it. We’ll be there this evening. Tell him we’re coming if he wakes up.

Knew you wouldn’t let him down, Dave texted back. Alex would like to request chicken wings and pizza if you can grab some on your way.

Jackson smiled, thinking fondly of the two nurses who had kept him sane when he’d been incarcerated, erm, stuck in the hospital ten years ago. Depends on when Sean wakes up. But if we don’t get them before, we’ll get them after. Deal?

You’re a good man, Rivers. We’ll take care of your boy.

Thanks. Tell him we’re on it.

Jackson tucked his phone in his pocket again and pounded his head back against the headrest.

“He’s okay?” Henry said with a worried frown.

“Yes, sorry. Didn’t mean to panic you.” Jackson had forgotten that Sean Kryzynski had been one of the first people besides Jackson and Ellery who Henry had met when they’d been defending him against a murder charge. Henry had been pretty new to town then, and he only had so many friends. He’d be as worried as Jackson. “He’s going into surgery. They probably have to reinflate his lung at the least. He should be out and stable by the time we get there this evening.”

He hoped so. He knew there were complications, chances for the body to give out. That knife could have nicked an artery, punctured an intestine, hit things in the body that no knife should be around. Just because the front of Jackson’s body looked like a patchwork quilt didn’t mean that Sean Kryzynski had the same sort of luck.

“You don’t sound too sure,” Henry said, and Jackson hated himself.

“I’m worried,” he burst out. “Guy went down, held my hand, trusted me when I said I’d get in touch with his boyfriend. There aren’t any cops there. Why aren’t there any cops there? God, that pisses me off. I know his partner is doing guard duty, but this is… this is boys in blue. Someone should be relieving him so he can come have Kryzynski’s back. Kryzynski’s CO should be there, making sure he knows people care. Our office should have been swarming with cops. Swarming. It is driving me batshit, and that kid is all by himself in the hospital. It’s not fair.”

“No,” Henry said softly. “It’s not. But don’t worry. I texted Lance while you were changing. You’ve got your guys, I’ve got mine. Kryzynski’ll know we’re worried about him, and he’ll know we’re on his case.”

Jackson grunted. “I forget you have someone there too. Lance freaking out yet?” As Jackson remembered it, Henry’s doctor boyfriend hadn’t been too thrilled by Henry’s new and dangerous vocation, and Jackson couldn’t blame him. But Henry had been career military before he’d been forced out by a vindictive ex, and he didn’t mind a little danger.

He was also bright, and interested in seeing the world in a different way than his father had seen it, and that kind of perspective was really useful when it came to dealing with law enforcement.

“Not on text,” Henry confirmed. “He saves the real freak-out until I’m home.”

Jackson spared a moment for envy. “That’s only because he doesn’t see you at work.”

“Hey,” Henry said grimly. “From what I can see, Ellery’s nagging is the only reason you’re still breathing, so don’t knock it.”

“Wasn’t planning to,” Jackson returned, voice mild. “Where are all the fucking cops, though? I mean, maybe the two yahoos were right. They could just be stretched thin. But maybe they didn’t call in the right code either.”

“Who are we looking for when we get to the station?” Henry asked, negotiating Richards Boulevard with ease. They both noticed the homeless encampments