by Jason Dean
‘Your mom okay?’ he asked.
‘She says she will be,’ Selina said, ‘but I’ve got to go back to New Jersey. I know the rules, Bishop, but I just have to see her.’
‘I think we can probably arrange something,’ he said, quickly thinking it through. With her new identity still safe, he couldn’t foresee a problem if she wanted to stay near her mother for a short while. Once Michelle was well enough, Selina could then use Addison’s stash to settle wherever she wanted. Maybe even back here in Arizona. It was as good a place as any, despite recent events. He’d even give her the Buick for the cross-country trip.
As for Carl Addison, Bishop felt certain his days were numbered now that Gaspard knew he’d spilled his guts to Bishop. That’s if he wasn’t dead already. He’d have to check once he got back. After which, an anonymous call to the cops advising them to look into Joshua Gaspard for the murder might be a good idea. At the very least, it would place him under the spotlight he’d been avoiding up till now. And if that didn’t work, Bishop would simply try something else. There were always options.
He smiled at Selina and said, ‘In fact, I’m sure we can arrange something. I’d drive you myself, but I’ll probably be here for another day, at least. We’re off to check the damage now.’
The ambulance came to a stop behind the police vehicles. A paramedic got out and stood next to the driver’s door, waiting for them.
‘Do you mind if I come with you, then?’ Selina asked. ‘I can wait an extra day or two. I just don’t want to be alone just now.’
‘Hey, the more the merrier,’ Vallejo said.
‘Let’s go, then,’ Bishop said. The three of them began walking back to the ambulance. Another young paramedic already had the rear doors open. He came over and gently helped Vallejo aboard and onto a stretcher. Bishop and Selina followed and sat on a small bench along the other side. Vallejo laid her head back on the pillow and shut her eyes.
Bishop knew how she felt. He yawned as the paramedic went over and shut the rear doors. Once the ambulance finally began to move off, Bishop leaned back and thought he might pay his sister a visit once he got back to the city. Selina’s talk with her mother had reminded him he hadn’t touched base with Amy or the kids for a while. After all, family was important. And while he was at it, he might actually give Equal Aid a call, too. He still had that open offer, along with a contact number for a guy named Giordano. Maybe he’d see what was what. Couldn’t hurt to at least listen.
The ambulance suddenly hit a bump and Bishop felt something sharp dig into his butt. ‘Almost forgot,’ he said and reached into his back pocket. He brought out the pentagram necklace he’d been carrying around all this time and dropped it into Selina’s hand. ‘I figured you might want this back.’
She looked down at it and smiled. ‘I think you might have been right the first time. It’s not really doing its job, is it?’ After a short pause, she leaned forward and affixed the chain around her neck. ‘But maybe I’ll just hang on to it, just in case. Thank you.’
‘Least I could do,’ Bishop said, and closed his eyes, his head swaying gently with the motion of the vehicle.
And within seconds, he was asleep.