Jack ran by the bronze statue of Mary Tyler Moore throwing her hat into the air on the Nicollet Mall in front of the Macy’s store. He tried to block it, but couldn’t stop it. Damn it. The theme song from the old television show burst into his brain. You’re going to make it after all! It happened every time. With just a few blocks left to reach the YMCA and a shower, the song played in his head, threatening to be there all day. The second verse started, then a voice called out, “Jack!”
Jack slowed and looked back over his shoulder, first at the statue, at the hat still just leaving Mary’s hand as she flings it into the air, and then he scanned the faces behind him on the sidewalk. The lunch crowd on Nicollet Mall had thinned as the downtown office workers returned to the land of the cubicles in the surrounding office buildings.
“Miller, over here.”
He looked to his left and saw Patty sitting in the passenger seat of the news van next to the curb. She motioned him to come over to the car, the look on her face telling him she wasn’t here just to offer him water again.
He jogged a few steps over to the car, nodded at the driver, looked at Patty, and asked, “What’s up? For a minute I thought Mary was calling my name.”
“We got a call, Jack.” Patty locked her eyes on his. “One of yours, an Agent Ross Fruen’s been in a car accident.”
“Where is he? Is he OK?”
“He’s over at HCMC. That’s all I know. We heard some calls over the radio, thought you’d like to know so we came to find you.”
“I need to get there. Hennepin County Medical Center handles all the trauma cases. Can’t be good.” Jack looked anxiously up and down the mall.
“That’s why we’re here. Jump in.”
“You sure? It’s just a few blocks. I can run there.”
“Come on, Jack. Let’s go.”
Jack settled in the back seat of the van among the video equipment and leaned forward in his seat. “So we don’t know anything?” Jack asked.
“Sorry, Jack, you know what I know. But we’ll be there soon enough.”
The driver took off.
“So who’s Agent Fruen?” Patty asked.
“You met him when we were in Wayzata.”
“The new agent? Shy guy with the sunglasses?”
“That’s him.” He looked at Patty. “I wonder what happened.”
They pulled up in front of the emergency room at the hospital and rocked to a stop. Patty climbed out and opened the back door for Jack. “Thanks,” Jack said. “I have to get inside.”
“I’m coming with you.” Patty gave a wave to the driver and told him she’d call him.
“There goes your ride. I didn’t even thank him.”
“Don’t worry, Jack. He knows. He’s glad to do it and he’s used to waiting around.” Patty started for the door and grabbed Jack by the elbow to get him moving. “Let’s go on in. I’ll hang around if you need me for anything. A call, another ride, anything.”
Jack followed Patty inside. Once they were in, Patty headed for a chair while Jack went up to talk to a couple of agents in suits who were leaning against the wall.
“How is he?”
“Hey, Jack.” The closer of the two agents kept leaning against the wall, hands in his pockets while he spoke. “He’s not dead, that’s about all we know. We’re waiting for the doctor. He’s supposed to be out soon.”
The second agent stood with a Diet Coke in his hand. “It’s a miracle Junior’s still here. You know what saved him?” He took a big swig of soda and waited for Jack to answer. When all he got was a shake of the head, he let out a quiet belch and continued, “That piece of shit car of yours. The Rino or whatever you called it. Should’ve called it El Tankay, ‘cuz that tank took a beating but saved Junior’s ass.”
The doctor had approached the group.
“Gentlemen, you’re with the FBI?” The first agent quickly flashed his badge in answer.
Jack answered, “Yep, that’s us. How is he?”
The doctor looked at the second agent. “You’re right that the car probably saved him. That, and he’s young and in good physical shape. He’s beat up. He’ll be bruised and sore, but I think he’ll be fine. We want to keep him overnight, treat the pain and observe him, let him rest, but he should be able to go home tomorrow or the next day.”
The agents all looked at each other and then at the doctor. “That’s great, doc,” was all Jack could say.
“He was asking for Jack,” the doctor said.
Jack nodded. “That’s me.”
“Follow me. I’ll take you in to see him.”
Jack looked at the other two agents. One took a swig of soda while the other pulled out his mobile phone. “We’ll call the office and give them an update. Tell them Junior’s still kicking. We’ll wait here or at the cafeteria to get an update from you.”
Jack stepped over to the drinking fountain and took a long drink of water. When he was done, he looked over at Patty and gave her a “thumbs-up” then he looked at the doctor. “All right, let’s go.”
Jack walked beside the doctor, their shoes squeaking on the floor. The rhythm and hum of the ER worked its way into Jack’s thoughts now that he knew Ross was OK.
As they walked by the desk, the doctor stopped to talk to the nurse. “Can you get an extra-large top sent down to room 2?” He continued down the hallway with Jack following. “A hot day to run. I hope you’re hydrating.”
“I was just heading to the showers when they picked me up to bring me here.”
The doctor stopped outside room 2. “We’ll get you a dry top. Don’t stay in there too long. He’s OK, but he needs his rest to help him recover and we have him on some strong stuff for the pain. He may be a little dopey.”
Jack followed the doctor into the room. Ross smiled when he saw Jack, but it quickly turned to a grimace from the pain. Jack almost grimaced along with him because Ross looked terrible. His arm was in a sling, his face bruised from the air-bag, and there were cuts on the side of his head. He sucked in air as he fought the pain, and the sound triggered the sympathetic reaction in Jack.
“Remember, not too long,” the doctor said before leaving.
Jack was ready to keep it light, make sure Junior was OK. He started to say something, but Ross beat him to it.
“Jack, it was him, the Governor.”
“What do you mean, it was him?”
Ross spoke softly. “My phone rang, I answered it and boom, somebody’s playing bumper cars with me.” He shifted in bed. “It was him on the phone Jack. He said something to me about how I shouldn’t talk on the cell phone when I’m driving and then he hit me.”
“Slow down, Junior.”
There was a knock on the door. A nurse came in and handed Jack a green surgical top before approaching Ross’ bed and checking the IV’s and other equipment surrounding him. Jack took off his t-shirt and put on the dry top. “Can I keep this?” he asked the nurse.
“Sure. I’ll come back in a couple of minutes to make sure you leave our patient alone.” She smiled at Jack, but underneath he saw she was serious. He didn’t have a lot of time.
“OK, Junior. You’re sure about this? This isn’t a dream induced by the meds? The doctor said you’d be a little dopey.”
“It was him.”
“We must be making him nervous for him to try this. I have to go find your car. Get the crime team to figure out what hit you. Find your phone.”
“Are my clothes here?”
“Junior, you’re not going anywhere.”
“The phone, it might be in my coat pocket.”
Jack looked around the room, but didn’t see anything. “I’ll find them, Ross. They have to be around here somewhere.”
The nurse pushed open the door. “The party’s over boys. The patient needs some rest.”
Jack looked at Ross. “I’ll be back later, Junior. I’ll see what I can find out about the phone, car, and witnesses. Maybe you’ll remember something.” He headed for the open door and the glares of the nurse.
“Jack,” Ross hoarsely whispered.
Jack looked back. “Yeah?”
“Sorry about the car.”
“Don’t worry about her, Junior. She saved your life.”