Chapter 81

“What’re you doing here, Richards?” the deputy demanded.

“What do you think? This is my ER.”

“Well, I ain’t leaving till this little pissant tells me about the kid.”

Mopp felt sick.

“Do you need the waste can, Mopp?” Mr. Cooper asked.

“No, thanks very much, though.” He drew in a breath and turned to the deputy, about to deny knowing anything, but it was the doctor who answered.

“What kid?”

“I was told there was a kid at the scene, and I want to know about him.”

“You obviously got your information wrong.” Wow, this doctor was brave! “This young man and the decedent were the only ones brought from that scene. Oh, and a woman who’d been hit by the getaway car.”

“She ain’t my concern.”

“Lucky her.”

“Look, Doc—” It seemed like the deputy was going to toss his not-inconsiderable weight around.

“No, you look, StuartandBrent.”

He sputtered, and his face turned dusky red. “It’s Stuart.”

“Yeah, right. You’re agitating my patient. Now get out.”