Page 87 of Broken Wheels
Dix rushed forward, grabbed Chalmers by the shoulders, and slammed him into the wall so hard, people in the nurse’s station on the other side cried out.
“What the fuck do you mean, you told them?” He balled his fist and thrust it into Chalmers’s gut. “You fucking set him up!”
Chalmers doubled over, his face red. “Dixon, I?—”
Dix aimed a punch to Chalmers’s face, followed by another, and another. Hands gripped Dix’s arms, tugging him away, and Dix struggled to get free of Michael’s grasp. He tried to land another punch, but Gary hobbled in front of him, his hands up.
“You’re going to have to hit me if you want to get to him,” he warned.
Dix froze. “You’re protecting him? After what he just pulled?”
Then the doors were flung open and Security rushed into the waiting room.
Chalmers straightened, his face already bruising. “Sorry, guys. We’re all under a lot of pressure, and we let loose a bit.” He flashed his badge. “Everything’s fine. Really.”
The guard who appeared to be in charge looked dubious, but he nodded and they dispersed. Dix was still aching to go again. To punch this son of a bitch until he spilled what was going on.
Chalmers squared his shoulders and looked Dix in the eye. “You need to hear me out, okay?”
Dix didn’t trust himself to answer.
Chalmers took a long breath. “Thanks.” He gestured to the chairs behind them. “You mind if I sit? You kinda knocked the stuffing out of me.”
“Why don’t we all sit down?” Michael suggested. He met Dix’s gaze. “Especially you.”
Dix could sit. It wasn’t going to make him more receptive to whatever story Chalmers cooked up, however.
Chalmers leaned forward, hands clasped between his knees, his voice low. “Look, when I got the email telling me to come, I argued they were painting a target on Josh’s back.” He set his jaw. “I was told in no uncertain terms that I had my assignment, and it needed to get done.” He locked gazes with Dix, and Dix flinched at the raw pain he saw there. “I swear to you, I didn’t know he would be hurt, and I’m just as devastated over this as you are.”
Dix managed a barely concealed snort.
Chalmers’s gaze softened. “Okay, not as much as you are. I know he doesn’t mean to me what he does to you. I’ve always thought of him as a friend, even if we never had that kind of relationship.” He sat back. “You? I could see us being friends, and I’d like that.” He held his hands up. “I know you don’t trust me, and after this, you probably never will. I’m okay with that, at least as long as Josh is safe and taken care of. I knew how you felt for him when I saw you at the police station. You had that look on your face that said you’d hurt anyone who came near him.” He gave a half smile. “One day, I hope to feel that strongly about someone.”
Gary stood, leaning heavily on his walker. “Guys? I think we’re about to get some news.”
They rose as a doctor in scrubs approached, heading for Gary, and Dix’s heart lurched.
“Mr. Cross? I’m Doctor James.” They shook.
“Good to meet you, Doctor. I wish it was under better circumstances. What can you tell us about Dr. Malone’s condition?”
Michael frowned. “Is he allowed to do that? Don’t we have to be relatives?”
Before Gary could reply, Dr. James interjected. “Mr. Cross has power of attorney. There was a card in Dr. Malone’s wallet for who to call in case of emergency, confirming it.”
“How bad is he?” Gary asked.
Dixon struggled to suppress the flare of jealousy. He wanted to be the one they talked to about Doc.
Hey, be thankful Gary’s here, and that he and Doc sorted out power of attorney between them. Without it, you’d still be in the dark.
“There was damage to the liver, stomach, and the left kidney,” Dr. James informed Gary. “The good news is there are no signs of injuries to the chest wall or the ribs. We’ve removed the bullet and repaired the damage it caused. We were especially concerned about the kidney. Your friend was very lucky under the circumstances. We’ve also inserted a percutaneous nephrostomy tube and a retroperitoneal drain.”
Dix blinked. “Once more in English, please?”
Dr. James smiled. “There is a flat rubber tube coming from his back. That is draining the remaining fluid from where we operated. The smaller tube with what looks like a spigot attached is coming from his kidney and draining what will look like urine while his kidney heals.”
“What’s the prognosis?”