in the mirror as he tied his ninety-dollar tie and thought of spending the next six months in New Orleans with the press at his beck and call.
This was why he went to law school!
THE SCENE WAS FRIGHTENING AT FIRST. THE IV HAD BEEN
removed because Dianne was in the bed clutching
KacKy ana ruoomg nis neau. one and wrapped her legs around his. He was moaning and grunting, twisting and jerking. His eyes were open, then shut. Dianne pressed her head to his and spoke softly through her tears. “It’s okay, baby. It’s okay. Mommy’s here. Mommy’s here.”
Greenway stood close by, arms folded, rubbing his beard. He appeared puzzled, as if he hadn’t seen this before. A nurse held the other side of the bed.
Mark entered the room slowly and no one noticed. Reggie had stopped at the nurses’ station. It was almost noon, time for the FBI and all, but Mark knew immediately that no one in the room was remotely concerned with the cops and their questions.
“It’s okay, baby. It’s okay. Mommy’s here.”
Mark inched to the foot of the bed for a closer look. Dianne managed a quick, uncomfortable smile, then closed her eyes and kept whispering to Ricky.
After a few minutes of this, Ricky opened his eyes, seemed to notice and recognize his mother, and grew still. She kissed him a dozen times on the forehead. The nurse smiled and patted his shoulder and cooed something at him.
Greenway looked at Mark and nodded at the door. Mark followed him outside, into the quiet hallway. They walked slowly toward the end of it, away from the nurses’ station.
“He woke up about two hours ago,” the doctor explained. “It looks like he’s coming out of it slowly.”
“Has he said anything yet?”
“Like what?”
“Well, you know, like about what happened yesterday.”
“No. .He’s mumbled a lot, which is a good sign, but he hasn’t made any words yet.”
This was comforting, in a sense. Mark would have to stick close to the room just in case. “So he’s gonna be okay?”
“I didn’t say that.” The lunch cart stopped in the middle of the hall and they walked around it. “I think he’ll be okay, but it could take time.” There was a long pause in which Mark worried if Greenway expected him to say something.
“How strong is your mother?”
“Pretty strong, I guess. We’ve been through a lot.”
“Where’s the family? She’ll need plenty of help.”
“There’s no family. She has a sister in Texas, but they don’t get along. And her sister has problems too.”
“Your grandparents?”
“No. My ex-father was an orphan. I figure his parents probably dumped him somewhere when they got to know him. My mother’s father is dead, and her mother lives in Texas too. She’s sick all the time.”
“I’m sorry.”
They stopped at the end of the hall and looked through a dirty window at downtown Memphis. The Sterick Building stood tall.
“The FBI is bugging me,” Greenway said.
Join the club, Mark thought. “Where are they?”
“Room 28 It’s a small conference room on the second floor that’s seldom used. They said they’d be expecting me, you, and your mother at exactly noon, and they sounded very serious.” Greenway glanced at his watch and started to walk back to the room. “They are quite anxious.”
“I’m ready for them,” Mark said in a weak effort at boldness.
Greenway frowned at him. “How’s that?” “I’ve hired us a lawyer,” he said proudly. “When?”
“This morning. She’s here now, down the hall.” Greenway looked ahead but the nurses’ station was around a bend in the corridor. “The lawyer’s here?” he asked in disbelief. “Yep.”
“How’d you find a lawyer?” “It’s a long story. But I paid her myself.” Greenway pondered this as he shuffled along. “Well, your mother cannot leave Ricky right now, under any circumstances. And I certainly need to stay close.”
“No problem. Me and the lawyer will handle it.” They stopped at Ricky’s door, and Greenway hesitated before pushing it open. “I can put them off until tomorrow. In fact, I can order them out of the hospital.” He was attempting to sound tough, but Mark knew better.
“No, thanks. They won’t go away. You take care of Ricky and Mom, and me and the lawyer’ll take care of the FBI.”
REGGIE HAD FOUND AN EMPTY ROOM ON THE EIGHTH
floor, and they hurried down the stairs to use it. They were ten minutes late. She closed the door quickly, and said, “Pull up your shirt.”
He froze, and stared at her.
“Pull up your shirt!” she insisted, and he began pulling at his bulky