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Therin was told that Rick Dubose’s condition had been upgraded. He could accept visitors and Therin was granted access. In a soft, appreciative manner he thanked the RNs but assured them that he didn’t need a personal escort to the room.
Along the way, Therin’s easy mood dimmed. His hands balled to fists inside the pockets of the quarter-length black denim jacket he wore. Rick could have been killed. He’d already experienced personal loss since the onset of his political career; could he afford to experience more?
Therin planted a quick knock to the tall oak door before cracking it open. Rick was sitting up in bed and frowning at the platter filled with what Therin suspected was food.
“Is it as good as it looks?” he queried with a grin.
Rick looked up and smiled before casting another skeptical look toward the tray. “I’m afraid it’s just as good as it looks.”
Laughter broke out between the two men. Soon though, Therin was bringing a hand down on Rick’s shoulder.
“I’m sorry for what happened, man.”
Rick tried to put on a happy face. “Thanks, but you can’t be half as sorry as I am. I missed one helluva date.”
Therin grinned. “May not be a total loss—she’s probably very sympathetic to your injury.”
Rick’s glower seemed to fade. “You could have somethin’ there…she did call and promise to smuggle me in a cheeseburger.”
More laughter filled the room.
“I’m sorry that you got caught up in all this,” Therin reiterated once the mood had sobered again.
“It’s not your fault.”
Therin removed his jacket. “From what I understand, it is.”
Rick nodded. “You’re talkin’ about what the attacker said?”
“You remember anything else about him? Did he look familiar?”
“It’s like I told the police. It was raining, he had on a top coat. A hat was covering half of his face.” Rick smoothed hands across his shaved head. “Voice didn’t sound familiar, either.”
Aside from the low volume of commentary from the sportscasters on the overhead TV, the room was silent.
“I’ll be damned,” Rick breathed after a while.
Therin waited, watching as Rick winced while easing up higher on the bed.
“I didn’t even think of it before,” he whispered.
“What?” Therin inched closer on the chair he occupied near the bed. “You remember something else?”
“No.” Rick was shaking his head. “Not exactly.” He shrugged. “It’s probably nothing. An assumption at best.”
“Let’s have it.” Therin beckoned with a wave.
“Just somethin’ about what he said.”
“His voice?”
“No…His words—the words he used, to be exact.”
Therin was quiet. He had no idea where Rick was headed with his train of thought.
“Sorry for being vague.” A lopsided grin came to Rick’s dark face. “Just before the guy stabbed me, he said, “‘The boss is gonna get you all killed.’”
Therin bit his bottom lip and tried not to look too expectant. “Um…” He didn’t want to make light of what seemed so important to the injured man, but he didn’t get it.
Rick smiled as though he understood Therin’s reaction. “I make my living writing speeches.” He pressed a hand to the hospital gown where it covered his chest. “I’m apt to pay attention to how words are put together, which is often a more telling sign about people than they realize.”
Therin leaned back on the chair. Folding arms across his chest, he settled in for the education.
“Saying something like, ‘I hate what he stands for’ is a far more telling statement than ‘His interests are unpopular.’”
“Ah…” Therin stroked his jaw and nodded slow. “So something about what this guy said is gnawing at you?”
Rick worried the neckline of his gown. “I just wonder why he said ‘the boss’ instead of ‘your boss.’” His expression was mildly guarded then. “It’d make sense that he wouldn’t say ‘our boss,’ he’d be announcing himself as—”
“Hold on.” Therin bolted forward. “Are you thinking someone—someone on the staff could be responsible for this?”
Rick shook his head so rapidly that he cringed at the pain when it stirred near his wound. “It’s probably not hin’. I only mentioned it because it struck me as strange that the jackass wouldn’t say ‘your boss.’” He waved as if frustrated. “Like I also said, I write speeches for a living. Being anal about speech patterns is part of my job.”
