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Mike gave a nod and grabbed the water bottle he’d sat on a bench. He made short work of getting upstairs.
“Cap doesn’t look too happy,” Cooper said with a straight face.
“I don’t get excited when the Captain calls me to his office.” Mike gave the kid a mock glare.
“Just saying.” Cooper shrugged.
“Give it up, pup.” All the guys goaded each other now and again. Being the newest, not to mention the youngest member of their squad, Cooper caught most of the taunts. So, he tried every chance he got to pay them back. Couldn’t blame the kid for trying.
Mike gave two raps, then opened the door to Shep’s office. “You looking for me, Cap?”
“Come in and close the door.”
Shit. Maybe Shep did have a bone to pick.
He took the chair in front of Shep’s desk, right in the line of fire.
“I just got a call from a Mr. Williams.”
Mike racked his brain and couldn’t remember a man by that name. “Who’s he?”
“Apparently the father of a boy you met at the hospital.”
“Todd?”
“Todd Williams. The boy who fell on a saw in his back yard.”
“Well, yeah,” Mike rubbed a hand over the back of his neck. “The boy was waiting in ER. Blood oozing down his leg. He hadn’t been seen and I asked Tracey to look at him.”
“Tracey,” Shep repeated.
“Yeah. I know most of the nurses there. She recognized me and took him into the examining room.” Actually, he’d carried the boy. “Is this because I carried the boy to the examining room?”
“Why’d you do that?”
“Hell, Cap. He hadn’t been seen yet. The place was full. He was bleeding.”
“Doesn’t explain why you carried him. How old is he?”
“Ten, I guess. And it was faster. By the time Tracey had to go looking for a wheelchair, I had him on the table.”
“I see.” Shep gave a nod. His voice remained steady, but it always did. Unless Cap wanted to hand you your ass.
“His father mad ’cause I touched his kid?”
“No. Evidently the boy is singing your praises.”
“He’s a sharp kid.” Seeing the look on Shep’s face, Mike quickly explained, “What I meant was, the kid is intelligent. He talks like an adult. He’s tough. Not squeamish. Hell, he had a gash in his leg. Didn’t even cry. His mom said he came walking in the house with blood running down his leg. I think she was about to have a heart attack.”
“His mother the one who brought him to the hospital?”
“Yeah. And I remember her telling the kid her father wouldn’t be happy.”
“Would you like to hear why Mr. Williams called?”
Mike knew that tone of voice. Time for him to shut up. “Yes, sir.”
“Like I said, it appears the boy, Todd, has been pestering his dad to come to the firehouse. Station eight. He was very specific about that.”
