“Um, you said something about me being listed as next of kin. I certainly didn’t give my permission for that.”
“I’m not comfortable with talking about this over the telephone. Would it be possible for you to come visit Bud and…”
“No way!” David said without thinking. “Sorry, but no. That just isn’t possible.”
“I understand. I’ve grown close to Bud over the past month. It’s because of this I’m speaking with you now. If you are unable to come to the hospital, may I come visit you?”
“What? Why?”
“Well, um. I have things I have agreed to pass on to you, but I would rather not do so over the telephone.”
“Oh.” David’s mind was a whirl of confusion. Bud, the man who had ripped out his heart, stamped on it and thrown it away, seemed to want to get back in touch. David didn’t want that. But the image of him lying injured in a hospital bed after some Arab maniac had tried to kill him…David shuddered.
“Mr. Grover? Are you still there?”