The Mountain - VIII

VIII.

                Greed couldn’t handle being in the hospital again for injuries sustained on the job. He had gone almost ten years without so much as a paper cut and now here he was getting stitches in his arm and his side, not to mention a new bandage for his broken nose. The bruise had spread around his eyes and if he were a child in a classroom again he knew he’d be made fun of and called “raccoon boy”. Plus he was without a gun again! He seethed at his own reflection getting some time alone once the nurse was done changing out his bandages. Angela had come in to check on him but he shooed her away. She mentioned that the woman they found was in critical condition but clinging on to life. At least one good thing came out of this night. Greed tried to repeat without much help to his bruised ego. Part of him at this point wanted to resign simply to be rid of this whole series of events. Living them over and over again through taunts by the others, a simple bit play for them but enraging berating for him was enough to make him walk away. No amount of good cases or works would absolve him of this. He’d have to walk away either way. His emotions were high, bouncing from anger at his failure at thwarting the Butcher who was right as his finger tips, to self loathing at the state of his physical figure. He was broken in more ways than one.

                When the nurse came in an hour later to check on him he snapped at her as a reflex but calmed down and apologized profusely. He could barely keep a handle on himself and it was making his head hurt, more than the broken nose and every breath that caused the stitches to pull. He wasn’t sure he was the same man anymore.

                “I’m sorry nurse. When will I be discharged.”

                “The doctor says one day for observation.”

                “A day? I can’t do that. Give me a couple pain pills and send me out.”

                “I’m afraid we can’t do that detective.” The doctor came in behind the nurse relieving her.

                “I can’t stay in a hospital bed doc. I’ve got a case to solve.”

                “I understand that but you were stabbed. Protocol is to keep you for observation in case of internal bleeding that needs surgery.”

                “I don’t have time for protocol.” Greed having dressed in his street clothes that were soiled with blood tried to walk past the doctor but he was held up.

                “I’m not doing this to punish you. It’s for your own safety.”

                “My safety? A serial murderer is still on the loose and you’re worried about my safety?” Greed exerted himself and felt light headed. The doctor steadied him and sat him back down on the bed.

                “What did I tell you? You’ve lost a good amount of blood as well. And since you won’t take the IV you have to stay and eat. That’s the only way you’ll get your red blood count back up.”

                Greed was dizzy and didn’t the words to protest. But he calmed enough to ask about Angela.

                “She’s waiting with the other woman. Would you like to speak with her?”

                Greed nodded.

                The doctor obliged and a few moments later Angela entered his room. She carried in a tray of food for him.

                “The nurse gave this to me for you. Looks delicious.” She said with a slight sarcastic tone.

                “Feel free.” Greed said off handedly.

                “You need your strength. The doctor told me that you almost fainted.”

                Greed shot her a look and she put her hands up in a “don’t shoot the messenger pose”.

                “I have news.”

                Greed reluctantly picked at his hospital food and looked over to Angela who pulled a chair up to his bed.

                “The woman?”

                “Stable, I think she’ll live, though I’m not sure how she’ll fair once she’s physically recovered. To go through that once would be too much for anyone. To go through it twice? Now that is something else.”

                “Twice?”

                Angela nodded.

                “She was captured with me a while ago. We managed to escape but to be targeted again…”

                “Maybe the Butcher needs something from her.”

                “Maybe. But that’s not the news I needed to relay. I talked to my sister. They found something by the river.”

                “Another body.”

                “Yes, and another shrine.”

                “So, what does that mean?”

                “Well according to Erika that means we are dealing with The Enigma.”

                “This occult thing you keep talking about?” Greed scoffed.

                “You might not believe it but it’s dangerous. Regardless I know you care more about catching the bastard.”

                “Don’t need any supernatural mumbo jumbo to make me do my job.” Greed agreed.

                “That’s good, but you do need to rest.”

                “Not you too.”

                “Look if thought you were okay to go with me I’d take you but you’re in no state. Just wait it out. We can handle this.” Angela stood from her chair but Greed grabbed on to her arm. Without looking at her he spoke.

                “I need this.” He said solemnly.

                “This case?”

                “It’s all I have left.”

                “Then get better and meet me out there.” Angela peeled Greed’s shaking hand off her arm placed it back in his lap and withdrew from the room. When the door closed Greed felt a tear fall from his face and hit his hand.

                What’s happening to me? Greed thought as more tears started to stream down his face. In his mind he saw and heard his wife. She was saying his name the way she did when they were alone. How he missed her. He clenched his fists and let his head fall back to the pillow. Angela was right, was in no condition to be out there. He’d just get in the way. A broken nose, stab wounds, no gun, again. If he hadn’t already put in his resignation he was sure he’d be put on leave. This was all too much to bear.

                The nurse returned with another new dressing for his wounds the doctor following behind her and this time he didn’t fight her. He was too tired to fight. In his heart, in his mind. He’d have to wait.

                “Get better and meet me out there.” Angela’s voice echoed in his thoughts. He had to get back, if not for himself, then for the job. One last job.

               

                “Henry, why don’t you just leave? We could move somewhere else. My mother says we can stay with her in South Carolina.”

                “I can’t leave now. I just got promoted. I’m a lead detective.”

                “I know, I know. But can’t you be a detective out there? This city is wearing you down, I can see it on your face.”

                “We can’t leave now with the baby on the way. This is best for us.”

                “I just hate seeing you so drained. The way they treat you, it isn’t worth it.”

                “You’re worth it. I do this for you.”

                “Just don’t run yourself into the ground. I need you, our baby needs you.”

               

                When the doctor was gone and the nurse had stopped looking in on him Greed got up from bed, dressed in his soiled clothes yet again, took the sandwich he was given for a meal and left his room. He had to sneak to get out but left without a fuss. He was sure the nurse, who was set to check in on him in the morning would pitch a fit but there was nothing they could do about it. He had one last job to do then he’d find his own way. He’d have to find a new reason to live.

                The night was in fool effect as he traversed the city streets. He had to wait until after dark, when the night shift started, to make his move. He had little time to waste and needed to find Angela or Erika and get back into the thick of it. He ate his sandwich and held his side where the bandages pulled at his skin. The fatigue he felt was intense and if he wasn’t being pulled along by his desire to finish this he’d surely sit down and fall asleep. He knew he wasn’t fully recovered, he knew he wasn’t 100% but he couldn’t sit by and just wait it out. Like he said to Angela, this was all he had left. After this he had to find something new, if he decided to even get that far. For now this was all that was keeping him sane, keeping him upright on his two legs. The idea that he had this one last case to finish before he faded away. The feeling he had fought every day since Evelyn was gone and the day he had to put Lillian in the ground next to her. A pulling at his soul to join them wherever they were and abandon the life he had built. For without them he had half a life but he wasn’t one to commit such acts. She would hate him for that. He had to keep moving, it was all he knew, and he had to see this through even if it took all the blood from him, broke all his bones, and whittled his pride to dust. Even if she’d tell him to stop and rest, he couldn’t. He was hardwired to go all the way. And shuffling as he was down the sidewalk looking like a homeless man in his bloodied clothes only illustrated the fact he didn’t care much about appearances now, he only cared about outcomes.

                Greed returned home, labored up the stairs to his apartment, and rested only a moment before washing up, changing, and getting to the phone. Angela had left him a number to call when he got out of the hospital.

                “Hello?” A voice Greed didn’t recognize answered.

                “I’m looking for Angela, this is Henry Greed.”

                “Oh Detective Greed. Angela mentioned you might call. How are you recovering?”

                ”Just fine. Where is she? I’m meant to meet her.”

                “The tactical team has gone dark but I can relay a message.”

                “Gone dark? What does that mean?”

                “I can’t disclose their current location. Standard protocol. I can only send out dispatches.”

                “Well inform the “team” that I am at home. My address…”

                “I already have that information Det. Greed. I will relay the message at first opportunity. Will that be all?”

                Greed grimaced, he didn’t’ like the calculated tone of the person on the phone.

                “Yes, that is all.”

                Without another word the phone was disconnected and Greed was left standing in his living room. He had thought…hoped that he would have been given an address a plan of attack but he was handed nothing. He sat quietly in the chair next to the phone. The only light in the room coming from the small lamp on the table. It cast an orange hue and heavy shadows around him. The light was warm and he was taken by sleep almost instantly. His drive to join the fight stifled he succumbed to dreams. His wife entered his thoughts once again. Tears emerged without his knowledge and he slept uneasily.

                He was falling. The ground kept arriving to his feet then abruptly pulled away from him. Over and over again he felt he had hit solid ground, but it was taken away just as quickly. Each time he felt the ground he heard her voice and each time it ceased he began to fall. He had this dream…this nightmare many times before. Waking up in cold sweats in the dark longing to feel her warmth beside him but finding only shadows. The sound of her breathing in sleep echoed in his memory but faded away as the realization hit him. She was gone and the soft sounds she made were gone as well. The ambiance of her existence that painted his world was gone and now it was quiet. So damn quiet. Without the sound the ground feel from his feet. The only thing loud enough to drown out the silence was the work. The days out on the road, the cases, the stress. It blocked out the silence. But now at the end, or what he felt was the end it came back with a vengeance. There was nothing left to drown it out. Waiting now as he was for Angela or Erika or someone to wake him and let him do his job he was being crushed by the silence.

                The cycle repeated until morning when a knock came at his door. His eyes eased open and he shivered in his seat. Sleeping in his clothes wasn’t near warm enough to fend off the chill that existed but he shook it off. He answered the door and saw two women standing before him. Identical in most respects. The sisters Darrows, Angela and Erika. They entered his apartment and sat down. He felt his heart skip a beat. They hadn’t forgotten him, he was still worth something, and he would live up to that until this case was over, even if it killed him.

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