He didn't move. There was barely enough space between us for me to glance down and read his badge. Sylvester A.D.
He looked at mine and took a single step backwards. Partial retreat but not enough to allow me through.
'See, got a new one,' I said. All bright and shiny, full color.
Now could you please get out of the way so I can go about my business?'
He looked up and down a couple of times, matching my face to the photo.
Stepping aside, he said, 'This ward's closed.'
'So I see. For how long?'
'Till they open it.'
I walked past him and headed for the teak doors.
He said, 'Looking for anything in particular?'
I stopped and faced him again. One hand rested on his holster; the other gripped his baton.
Resisting the urge to bark, 'Draw, pardner,' I said, 'I came to see a patient. They used to treat them here.'
I used a phone on the public ward to call Admissions and Discharge and confirmed that Cassie had been released an hour ago. I took the stairs down to the first floor and bought a watery cola from a vending machine. I was carrying it across the entrance lobby when I crossed paths with George Plumb and Charles Jones, Jr. They were laughing, keeping up a brisk pace that caused Jones's short bowlegs to pump. So much for concerned grandpa.
They got to the door just as I emerged. Jones saw me and his mouth stood still. A few seconds later his feet did the same. Plumb stopped, too, remaining just behind his boss. The pink in his complexion was more vivid than ever.
'Dr. Delaware,' said Jones. His gravel voice made it sound like a warning ~rowl;, 'Mr. Jones.
'Do you have a moment, Doctor?'
Caught off guard, I said, Casting an eye at Plumb, he said, 'I'll catch up with you later, George.'
Plumb nodded and marched off, arms swinging.
When we were alone Jones said, 'How's my granddaughter?'
last time I saw her she was looking better.
'Good, good. I'm on my way to see her.'
'She's been discharged.'
His grizzled eyebrows crinkled unevenly, each thatch of steely hair pointing randomly. Beneath the brows were lumps of scar tissue.
His eyes got tiny. For the first time I noticed they were a watery brown.
'That so? When?'
An hour ago.'
'Damn.' He squeezed his broken nose and jiggled the tip back and forth. 'I came by expressly to see her because I didn't get a chance to see her yesterday-blasted meetings all day. She's my only grandchild, you know. Beautiful little thing, isn't she?'
'Yes, she is. Be nice if she were healthy.'
He stared up at me. Put his hands in his pocket and tapped a wingtip on the marble floor. The lobby was
