CHAPTER 08
It was not so shocking to see blood on Kent Gold. Jake had always gotten the impression that the guy had quite a bit of that substance on him in the past. What was really surprising was to see him wearing all the usual garb associated with a doctor, even a surgeon, and working along side another guy named Dykstra. Jake had come to understand that Dykstra was a doctor yet, as Jake had watched them cut on the guy, he kind of got the impression that Gold was the one running the show. That was why he was hanging around the scrub room and waiting on Gold to finish up and come in. The man seemed a bit exhausted and somewhat frustrated as he began to clean himself off.
Jake should have known better but, he said it anyway, “I thought they only let real doctors operate.”
Kent discarded the scrubs and began washing as he replied, “I am a real doctor, Agent Barton. I thought that was obvious due to my position.”
“Actually,” Jake was ready for that, “I thought you were some kind of paramedic but, not to put to fine a point on it...”
“Agent Barton,” Kent did not act as if he were insulted, “in case you were not aware. Valley does not require someone to have a piece of paper to practice medicine. In fact, they don't require that for any profession. It's actually worked out quite nicely for them.”
Jake wanted to laugh. He peeked into the operating room, through the round window on the door, and then pointed to Dykstra, “I bet he's got a piece of paper.”
“Actually,” now Kent did look back at Jake, “Terry and I went to the same medical school. Yes, he went and completed his residency and I did not. I still have many more years experience on him. For what we were dealing with in there, I have a world more experience.” Silence returned but, Kent detected the question, just before Jake was going to ask, and he went ahead and answered it, “we were removing fragments of an arrow. The projectile was of poor construction and it splintered on impact. Fortunately for Mister Call, in there on the table, nothing touched a vital organ.”
Jake almost laughed even if he knew he should not, “play a lot of cowboys and Indians as a kid, did you?”
Kent ignored the question and responded with, “Mister Call had the unfortunate luck of provoking some of the flock of Brother Jim Dove. I wish I could say this was more uncommon than it actually is but, it happens. In this case, I'd say Mister Call probably deserved what he got.” Kent then began to finish changing as he asked, “I was curious Mister Barton. Are you familiar with Mister Dove? I understand that you two were in a similar line of work at one point.”
“Really?” Jake was not so sure about that but, he had heard of the guy. The only problem was, “somebody over at the consulate mentioned his name. I got the feeling they didn't particular care for him all that much.”
Now it was Kent's turn, “really? That is also curious. Why do you suppose the American State Department would care about some obscure religious leader?”
“No suppose to it,” Jake told him point blank, “the guy's an American. They track everybody out here. I got to figure if he's got a few hundred devoted followers who like dressing for King Arthur's court, like it's Halloween year round, then that would make him even more of interest.”
Barbara walked in the little changing room right then. She had Danni with her and was a bit disturbed, even if it was still not as much as usual. She quickly announced, “we have a small problem. Killian had to take some deputies up there. A few more fights broke out because of this.”
Kent remained unaffected, “it was not to be entirely unexpected Barbara.”
Jake was a little more alarmed, “why is that a small problem? Don't we need to do something about it?”
“No,” Barbara said with absolute certainty and no further explanation.
Kent could see how well that was not going to go over so he explained, “it's best if we leave this to the Sheriff. Our interference would be seen by the Rennies as provocative, at best. Governor Crass is not the most popular person in these parts.”
Jake almost laughed, “is she anywhere? So what's the small problem then?”
Kent continued, “I am afraid it might delay your return to the Arch. If the Sheriff does not conclude this business in a timely manner then the court session will have to be delayed.”
Jake winced in confusion, “why?”
This time, Kent looked to Barbara who just crossed her arms and thought about it before answering, “because Killian is also the judge.”
“Oh fucking great,” Jake said. “Is there anything this guy isn't? You know, I bet this has got a lot to do with these immunizations. The more of them that get...”
“No Barton,” Barbara told him point blank, “this is normal.”
“Oh I suppose we can blame the weather then,” Jake shot back.
Barbara took her turn, “actually I was thinking about blaming you.”
It was Kent who looked to Danni and said, “Agent Nguyen, would you be a love and please go assist Agent Hiller. This might take a few minutes.”
It was worded as a request but, really an order and Danni was somewhat reluctant to comply until she listened to Barbara and Jake for about five seconds longer. So Danni wandered down the hall of the clinic till she found the room that was set aside to store the vaccines. Danni carefully peeked in the door, with an air of meekness about her, and she found Amy patiently going about her business. When Amy noticed her new arrival she actually smiled, “hey, come on in Danni. Where's Kent?”
Danni nervously entered the room and thumbed back down the hall, “I think he's trying to sneak the bullets out of Jake and Barbara's guns.”
Amy's smile vanished and she rolled her eyes before getting back to work, “figures.” Amy kept opening one box after another, examining the liquid filled tubes inside, writing something down on a tablet, and then finally scanning the box before moving on to the next. As she did she also mentioned, “you know, I think Kent didn't even ask for me.”
“What?” Danni wandered over next to the girl and just stood there. She was not really sure what she could do here. Danni was not even sure what it was that Amy was doing. “Why would...”
“Barbara,” Amy said, “who else?”
“But why would,” the thought hit Danni before she even finished her sentence. The girl deflated and she became sorrowful, “I'm sorry Amy. I guess this is all my fault. I should have...”
Amy tried looking perky at least, “you don't have anything to be sorry for Danni. I mean... I don't think I do. Nobody does, ok. I mean, yeah I'm sorry for giving you the cold shoulder. You're one of my oldest friends on this rock. It's just...”
Danni could not believe the words that came out of her mouth, “why did you break up with him? I don't get that.”
Amy opened the next box as she said, “be there for him Danni. He needs it, ok?” When Danni did not reply, Amy took a quick glance and tried to keep her cheeks from turning as red as her hair, “I want you both to be happy.”
“He needs you Amy,” Danni replied simply.
Amy became frustrated and stopped what she was doing again. She turned to face Danni and even took the girls hands as she said, “Tony might seem simple but, he's not. He's a pretty complicated guy, it's just, most people don't see it. He can be thick but, he's smart. He is one of the most compassionate people I know but, half the time he doesn't even get that. You two would be very good for each other.”
Danni dipped her head as she said, “I know who Tony is, Amy.” Then she looked the girl in the eye and said, “I'm starting to wonder if I know who you are.”
Amy did not sink from that, “I'm even more complicated, Danni. My life is one big fucking mess, right now. More than you realize.”
Now Danni broke away and she became huffy and frustrated, “I think we can all say that Amy.” Danni paced around for a minute and then told her friend, “forget I said that ok. I don't even know if I meant it. It's just that right now, it's like everybody in my life is turning out to be somebody I didn't think. I...”
Amy picked up the word up, “I'm sorry honey.”
Jake broke it up as soon as he came strolling in, saying, “sounds better than the scrape I was just in. Fortunately, Kent managed to stave off any lethal force when he realized I was using it as an excuse to shoot him.”
Amy backed off, became slightly nervous, then turned angry, “speaking of his highness.”
Jake could only shrug, “don't ask me Amy. Him and Barbara just took off to god knows where and...”
Danni mumbled, “she met a guy today.”
Amy's head snapped and her eyes flew wide open, “you're kidding?” Then she thought about it and asked, “oh my god. Is he all right? I mean, not hurt? You know like..?”
That caused Jake to snap, “and that's no concern of ours. I'm sure if there was a broken second story window at some hotel, somebody would have reported it. Right now we got other concerns. Get your stuff and come on, we're going to go give the Sheriff a hand.”
Amy wasted no time and was out the door with a, “got my vote.”
“Who said you get a vote,” Jake snapped before seeing Danni, who had not budged an inch. It did not appear as if she intended to either. Jake mellowed when he asked her, “which part?”
Danni knew exactly what he was talking about, “both actually.”
Jake thought about it and then said, “stay here.” He turned to leave and noticed that Danni was right behind him by the time he reached the front door.
Days as a Schizophrenic (Poem)
Decant
It's Hurting Again
