The Stolen - Jason Pinter [79]
while watching lumberjack competitions on Spike TV.
He'd never been called one. And to be called that name by
a woman, his boss, on a regular basis, was something
James still hadn't come to grips with.
Once this task was complete, he was going home,
getting under the covers and sleeping. Tomorrow he'd be
joining his father on a golf outing with Ted Allen, and he'd
need to be up for that. James knew his father had cashed
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in a favor in getting Ted Allen to hire him at the Dispatch.
That didn't bother him much. Everybody had connections
and used them. That was the point. Besides, wouldn't you
rather get a recommendation from a close friend than have
to slog through identical resumes from overachieving
losers? That he got stuck working for Paulina Cole was
something totally unexpected. Unlike any boss he'd ever
worked for, Paulina actually scared the piss out of him.
James felt the thin camera in his pocket. Point. Click.
Done.
That's it. This guy from IT, Wilmer or Wilbur or Wilfred
or something, showed him how to use it. Idiot proof was
his term. James laughed at that. Wondered who the idiots
were they had to design it for.
He knew the tip was good. Paulina's tips always were.
And while James was used to Paulina's volcanic temperament and mercurial attitude, James had noticed something
different about her the past few weeks. Her moods had
swung heavier, her demeanor more vicious, her attitudes
more severe. Like she was gearing up for something big,
steeling herself. Though he'd been running errands for
her for going on a year now, she was never totally candid
with him. He knew she was working on something big, but
she refused to share the details.
In good time Jamesy, she'd said.
He counted off the doors as he walked down the hall.
703.
704.
705.
706.
He was there.
But the door was closed.
It wasn't supposed to be closed. He hadn't expected it
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to be closed. He assumed it would be wide open, people
coming and going, nobody noticing a thing. But opening
a hospital door, man, someone would definitely notice
that. If not a nurse then another patient. He couldn't see
inside. A curtain was drawn. If a nurse was in there she'd
sure as hell see him, and there was no way he could get it
done without drawing suspicion and ruining the whole
thing.
James stepped back. Took a breath. Leaned against the
wall. He knew this was the very antithesis of what Paulina
had advised, but fuck it, he needed a moment to regroup.
What should he do? Open the door, waltz in, pray
nobody was in there? Or wait. Maybe someone would open
the door and pull the curtain back. Make it easy for him.
A minute passed. Then five more. He was sweating.
He wiped his forehead with the sleeve of his jacket, saw
the leather come away wet and shiny.
Time to sack up, Jim. Show the queen bitch what
you're made of.
James stepped in front of the door and reached for the
handle. He gripped it, closed his eyes and began to pull.
Just then the door swung outward, nearly knocking
James off his feet. When he regained his balance, a pretty
nurse was standing in the doorway. She was staring at
James. His heart was racing. Ohcrap, ohcrap, ohcrap,
ohcrap, ohcrap, ohcrap...
Then the nurse smiled, whispered to him.
"Are you here to see Mr. O'Donnell?"
James gulped, managed to eke out a "Yes, ma'am. I'm
his nephew."
"That's sweet of you to come. He hasn't had many
visitors. Mr. O'Donnell is resting right now," she said.
"But if you want to sit with him, go right ahead."
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"Thanks, I appreciate it."
The nurse held the door for James. Easy as pie.
When the door eased shut, he stepped around the
curtain and saw the man in bed.
He was much older than his picture in the paper.
Thinner, too, his face with a sickly gray pallor. He was
breathing steadily, tubes in each nostril, an IV in his arm.
James quickly took the camera out of his pocket.
He whispered, "Say cheese, Jack."
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The Toyz 4 Fun store was located at 136 Evergreen