stop,” said Jenks.
“But still,” said Yamane quietly. “It’s a fact of life.”
“Cheer up, cher.” Rory continued stroking Yamane’s arm. “If worse comes to worst, we’ll go to my grandparents’ place back in Louisiana. Those folks are drunk and armed, and they learn in kindergarten where to hide a body so it’ll never be found.”
“I didn’t hear that,” said Jenks. “They’re going to move you somewhere private, and an officer will be stationed in the hall outside.” He looked concerned about something.
“What is it you’re not telling us?” Rory asked.
“It’s been my experience that stalkers do their dirty work on their own. They will spend endless time setting up something, obsessing over every detail. They like to be up close and personal. Your girl couldn’t have been doing that from an institution in Washington. It strikes me…” He trailed off.
“She had to have help here,” Yamane finished for him. “It’s the only way she could have been there for that one order to room service. I didn’t order breakfast yesterday. How the hell could she have set that up so fast?” Detective Jenks was silent, but he was looking at Rory. At some point, Yamane grew silent as well. His entire face became a mask of pain.
Detective Jenks said, “Mr. Delaplaines, I’d like to have a word with you at my office.” Rory didn’t look up. He sat on the side of the hospital bed next to Yamane, willing his friend and idol to look at him. Yamane would not meet his eyes.
“I see,” he said around the lump in his throat. “In the interest of keeping Yamane safe, I would be happy to do whatever I can.” He stood and raised the guardrail on the bed. There was little more to say if even Yamane thought him capable of such a betrayal. Rory felt desperate to say something, but no words came to him. He turned and left with Detective Jenks.
“I hated to have to say that,” said Jenks. “I could see he cares for you.”
“It’s all right. You wouldn’t be doing your job if you didn’t question me. I admit it does look suspicious. For all he knows, I’ve been with what’s-her-name all along.”
“I’m sure we’ll get this straightened out. Things like this just need due diligence,” said Detective Jenks. “My car is in the parking structure. Come with me, and when we’re done, I’ll bring you back to the hospital or the hotel, whichever you choose.” 38 Z. A. Maxfield
“I wonder if I should just go home. He told me to leave anyway; he thinks she’ll come after me. Apparently she killed his dog.”
“What kind of a person kills dogs?” Jenks muttered.
“Can I tell you something strange?” asked Rory. “I noticed at the time, but it was all so shocking I hardly thought about it. She was really strong. Yamane’s small, but he’s not weak.
She had him by the wrist and he couldn’t budge his arm. Then she stabbed all the way through his hand with a fork. I mean, it’s not like I have personal knowledge of that or anything, but I hunt. I’ve cleaned a big fish or two. That would take real muscle power. I thought it seemed odd.”
“Drugs?” Jenks said thoughtfully. “Maybe. But crazy people can be pretty strong too.
You really care for him too, don’t you?” He used his remote entry to open the door to a Honda Accord.
“Oddly enough, I do.” Rory got in the passenger side.
“We’ll make this quick.”
Rory looked back at the hospital as they were driving away. They drove along the waterfront area that he saw when he was trying to find parking for the convention, and then headed out farther into what seemed to be shipyards. They went over the Vincent Thomas Bridge, after which Rory saw signs that said TERMINAL ISLAND. “Is this where the police station is?”
“Yes,” said Jenks, looking straight ahead. “We’ll be there in just a minute.
Suddenly, something about the whole situation seemed wrong to Rory. Then he noticed the Enterprise Rental key ring
“But still,” said Yamane quietly. “It’s a fact of life.”
“Cheer up, cher.” Rory continued stroking Yamane’s arm. “If worse comes to worst, we’ll go to my grandparents’ place back in Louisiana. Those folks are drunk and armed, and they learn in kindergarten where to hide a body so it’ll never be found.”
“I didn’t hear that,” said Jenks. “They’re going to move you somewhere private, and an officer will be stationed in the hall outside.” He looked concerned about something.
“What is it you’re not telling us?” Rory asked.
“It’s been my experience that stalkers do their dirty work on their own. They will spend endless time setting up something, obsessing over every detail. They like to be up close and personal. Your girl couldn’t have been doing that from an institution in Washington. It strikes me…” He trailed off.
“She had to have help here,” Yamane finished for him. “It’s the only way she could have been there for that one order to room service. I didn’t order breakfast yesterday. How the hell could she have set that up so fast?” Detective Jenks was silent, but he was looking at Rory. At some point, Yamane grew silent as well. His entire face became a mask of pain.
Detective Jenks said, “Mr. Delaplaines, I’d like to have a word with you at my office.” Rory didn’t look up. He sat on the side of the hospital bed next to Yamane, willing his friend and idol to look at him. Yamane would not meet his eyes.
“I see,” he said around the lump in his throat. “In the interest of keeping Yamane safe, I would be happy to do whatever I can.” He stood and raised the guardrail on the bed. There was little more to say if even Yamane thought him capable of such a betrayal. Rory felt desperate to say something, but no words came to him. He turned and left with Detective Jenks.
“I hated to have to say that,” said Jenks. “I could see he cares for you.”
“It’s all right. You wouldn’t be doing your job if you didn’t question me. I admit it does look suspicious. For all he knows, I’ve been with what’s-her-name all along.”
“I’m sure we’ll get this straightened out. Things like this just need due diligence,” said Detective Jenks. “My car is in the parking structure. Come with me, and when we’re done, I’ll bring you back to the hospital or the hotel, whichever you choose.” 38 Z. A. Maxfield
“I wonder if I should just go home. He told me to leave anyway; he thinks she’ll come after me. Apparently she killed his dog.”
“What kind of a person kills dogs?” Jenks muttered.
“Can I tell you something strange?” asked Rory. “I noticed at the time, but it was all so shocking I hardly thought about it. She was really strong. Yamane’s small, but he’s not weak.
She had him by the wrist and he couldn’t budge his arm. Then she stabbed all the way through his hand with a fork. I mean, it’s not like I have personal knowledge of that or anything, but I hunt. I’ve cleaned a big fish or two. That would take real muscle power. I thought it seemed odd.”
“Drugs?” Jenks said thoughtfully. “Maybe. But crazy people can be pretty strong too.
You really care for him too, don’t you?” He used his remote entry to open the door to a Honda Accord.
“Oddly enough, I do.” Rory got in the passenger side.
“We’ll make this quick.”
Rory looked back at the hospital as they were driving away. They drove along the waterfront area that he saw when he was trying to find parking for the convention, and then headed out farther into what seemed to be shipyards. They went over the Vincent Thomas Bridge, after which Rory saw signs that said TERMINAL ISLAND. “Is this where the police station is?”
“Yes,” said Jenks, looking straight ahead. “We’ll be there in just a minute.
Suddenly, something about the whole situation seemed wrong to Rory. Then he noticed the Enterprise Rental key ring
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