A Time for Mercy (Jake Brigance #3) - John Grisham Page 0,135
spend the day at Becky’s house. She needed to get a quick bath and change clothes. She reluctantly left the kitchen, and Carla asked Mrs. Brigance, “What did you tell her?”
“Not much, just that her dad had been injured, was at the hospital, but would be home soon and everything was okay.”
Mr. Brigance said, “We weren’t sure what to say but she knows something is up.”
Carla said, “She can’t see him for a few days. It would be too much of a shock.”
“When can we see him?” Mrs. Brigance asked.
“Today. We’ll go in a minute.”
The waiting room was getting crowded. When they arrived, they met Portia, Harry Rex, Stan and his wife, and their minister, Dr. Eli Proctor. Carla hugged them all and said she would see Jake and report back. Dr. McKee appeared and motioned for her to join him. They went to Jake’s room and found him sitting up and arguing with a nurse who wanted to treat his face with cold packs. Carla spoke to him, took his hand, and he said, “Let’s get outta here.”
Dr. McKee said, “Not so fast, Jake. The scans and X-rays look good, but you’re not going anywhere for a few days.”
“Days? Are you kidding me?” He moved a leg and flinched sharply in pain.
“Does it hurt?” Carla asked.
“Only when I breathe.”
“Where is the pain?”
“Pick a spot. My nuts feel like grapefruits.”
“Don’t be crude, Jake. Your mother will be here in a minute.”
“Aw come on. Keep them away for now, okay? I can’t even see them. I can’t see anything.”
Carla smiled and looked at Dr. McKee. “I think he’s doing better already.”
“He’ll be fine. The concussion is mild. Everything else will mend, but it will take some time.”
“So no additional brain damage?” she asked.
“None whatsoever.”
“Thanks, dear,” Jake said. “Where’s Hanna?”
“At the Palmers’, playing with Becky.”
“Good. Keep her there. I don’t want her spooked by a zombie.”
“I’ll get your parents, okay?”
“I don’t want to see anybody.”
“Relax, Jake. They’re worried sick and they’ll just stay a minute or so.”
“Whatever.”
Carla and Dr. McKee left the room as the nurse eased forward with the cold packs. “Let’s try this again,” she said sweetly.
“Touch me and I’ll sue you.”
* * *
—
LATE IN THE afternoon, Jake was napping when Dr. McKee gently shook his arm and said, “Jake, you have some visitors.”
He tried to sit up, flinched again, and mumbled, “I’m tired of visitors.”
“It’s Sheriff Walls. I’ll step outside.” He left them and closed the door.
Ozzie and Moss Junior stepped to his bedside and tried to ignore the shock of his face. Ozzie said, “Hello, Jake.”
Jake grunted and said, “Ozzie. What brings you here?”
“Hello, Jake,” Moss Junior said.
“Howdy. I can’t see anything but I’m sure you guys look as stupid as always.”
Ozzie said, “Well, probably so, but we won’t comment on your looks right now.”
“Pretty good ass-kicking, wouldn’t you say?”
“One of the best I’ve seen in a long time,” Ozzie said with a laugh. “So, the obvious question is: Who did it? Did you get a look?”
“There were at least two of them. I never saw the second guy, but the first was one of the Kofer boys. Either Cecil or Barry. I’m not sure which one because I don’t know them. Just saw them in court last week.”
Ozzie glanced at Moss Junior, who was nodding. No surprise.
“And you’re sure?” Ozzie asked.
“Why would I lie?”
“Okay. We’ll pay ’em a visit.”
“Sooner rather than later. I nailed the Kofer guy in the face with a fourteen-ounce can of tomato sauce. Square in the face, probably left a mark, but it’ll heal in a few days.”
“Attaboy.”
“They jumped me, Ozzie. I didn’t have much of a chance.”
“Of course you didn’t.”
“They would’ve killed me if somebody hadn’t started shooting.”
“Mr. William Bradley pulled up, saw it, and whipped out his pistol.”
Jake shook his head as a moment passed. “He saved my life. Tell him I’ll say thanks when I can.”
“I’ll do that.”
“And ask him why he didn’t take a few shots at them.”
“We’ll go see the Kofers.”
33
As uncomfortable as they were, the cold packs were working and Jake eventually stopped complaining about them. By Wednesday morning, the swelling had gone down enough so that he could open his eyes and see blurred images. The first was the pretty face of his wife, who, though unclear, looked better than ever. Jake kissed her for the first time in forever and said, “I’m going home.”
“Oh no you’re not. You have appointments this morning. First the eye doctor, then a dentist, then some more doctors,