School of Fish (Fish Out of Water #6) - Amy Lane Page 0,49

seemed to exhaust him. “My taste in criminals is almost as awesome as my taste in boyfriends.”

“I cannot comment on that,” Jackson said, and Ellery returned his speaking glance. Whatever had gone on between them, it had not looked like things were going well. Jackson turned back to Kryzynski, and Ellery noticed that the skin around Jackson’s eyes was so tight, Ellery could see a vein throbbing in his forehead.

Great.

“I don’t have the breath,” Sean wheezed. “Rivers, not your fault. You warned—” He took another struggling breath. “—me.”

“We dragged you into this bullshit,” Jackson said grimly. “We’ll do you right. You should see the waiting room. Wall to wall cops. They love you in there.”

Kryzynski smiled faintly. “That’s sweet. My partner has been yelling at me in text for two hours. Seems to think—” Long breath. “—I left him the boring stuff to do something… exciting.”

“Little does he know of the enforced boredom of the next two months,” Jackson told him grimly. Ellery tapped him on the knee, and Jackson nodded. “Look, Sean, we’ve got about a minute before Lance here drags us out by the ear.”

Lance grimaced and nodded, but at that moment, he spotted someone beyond the door.

“You’ve got two now,” he said, and Ellery watched as a tall, muscular man with pale brown skin and dark pinpoint freckles walked into the cubicle. Lance nodded at Henry, who waved him out and then took a moment to smile and wink at one of Jackson’s favorite nurses.

“Dave,” Jackson said. “How you doing?”

“Shocked,” Dave said, holding an elegant hand to his heart for a moment before beginning his activities at Kryzynski’s monitors. “I am stunned and shocked that it’s not you lying here, baby. But not disappointed.”

Kryzynski’s mouth opened in what would normally have been a short bark of laughter. “He keeps hogging… all of the attention.”

“He does,” Dave told Sean. “Damned inconsiderate of him. But I’m betting you wish he’d found other ways to share.”

Sean actually managed a full smile. “Damned… straight.”

“We shared the case with you before you got shish kebabbed,” Jackson told him. His voice was steady, chiding even, but Ellery could see how every heartbeat in this place was taking its toll. “Is there anything you can tell us about this guy before we go?”

“Good teeth,” Kryzynski said. “Super straight. Smelled… like a businessman. And chalk.”

“Wow,” Jackson said, admiration tinging his voice. “You are a good detective.”

“Don’t… be an ass.”

“No,” Henry said from his place by the wall. “That’s good info. Jackson and I can put together some things with that.”

“Was there anything else?” Ellery urged.

Sean’s eyes were at half-mast, and he was gazing at Ellery with dreamy focus.

“You’re so pretty,” he said.

Ellery gave Dave a pointed glance. “Did you up his morphine?”

Dave shrugged, unrepentant. “He was about fifteen minutes past due. We don’t like post-op patients to hurt, right?”

“Not a problem,” Jackson said, pulling in a shaky breath. “Another hit for my friend here.” Jackson stood up, bent over, and squeezed Sean’s hand gently. “We are friends, right?”

Sean gave one of those dreamy smiles. “I’m in the club. Did you hear that, Nurse Dave? I’m in the club!”

Dave gave him an isn’t-he-precious look. “I know, sweetie. But I gotta tell you, the dues are a bitch.”

“But I’m in the club.” Sean’s eyes were almost closed, and Jackson gave a “follow me” nod. They all paused outside the door, waiting for Dave to record his vitals and make sure he was sleeping comfortably before he came out too.

“He’s going to be okay, right?” Jackson asked as Dave was sliding the door shut behind him.

“He should be,” Dave murmured back. “You know how these things go, baby. Barring infection and embolism and all the other nasties that can attack post-op, he should be just fine.”

Jackson swallowed and nodded. “Good. You know, he’s—”

“In the club,” Dave said softly. “I’ve met him at your house, Jackson. We’ll do him right.”

“Thanks, Dave.” Jackson gave a weak smile. “I’ll take any updates you or Alex can give me.”

“Thanks for the food, sugar.” Dave gave a wink, and Jackson shrugged.

“That was all Henry. He’s like a mama bear, I swear. Feeding everybody. It’s embarrassing.”

Henry gave him a killing look, and Dave shooed them off. “Go. We’ll tag you later.”

Ellery turned to follow them, but Dave stopped him with a look. “Your boy okay?” he asked, eyes flicking to Jackson.

“Hospitals,” Ellery said briefly. “But he had to come.”

“Yeah. You know, you could have a shrink prescribe half a valium for him—” He broke