Chapter 87
BEFORE LEAVING THE administration building, I was informed that I was suspended with pay until further notice. It wasn’t a punishment. At least that’s what the review board had said.
This was standard procedure, but it didn’t mean I liked it. No cop does. But I was too exhausted to fight it or even care.
I went home and fell immediately into bed. Barely a half hour later, I got a call from the hospital. Alain Creasy was conscious and asking for me.
I was surprised how much better a nap in my own bed made me feel. After a shower and a change of clothes, I was able to walk into the hospital without looking like a zombie. It took only a few minutes to navigate my way back up to the private room where Alain Creasy was resting.
As I entered the bright room, I heard Alain speaking forcefully in French. He was on the phone, apparently arguing with someone. All I understood was “Oui, oui, mon chérie.” It clearly wasn’t a law enforcer he was speaking to.
I knocked on the door, and Alain soon put down the phone and shifted in the bed so he could see me better.
Before I said anything, he nodded toward the phone and said, “I was trying to convince my daughter that I’m not seriously injured.
I don’t want her to come all the way over here to the US. I’m not sure I was successful.”
I slipped into the chair right next to the bed. When Alain stuck out his hand, I grasped it. All I could say was “I’m so sorry about what happened.”
He shrugged. “Who can say what will happen in a police investigation? I wasn’t happy about being shot. To be honest, it’s the third time it has happened to me in my career. I don’t know if you’ve ever noticed my limp, but it’s from a bullet to my hip fired by a drug dealer in Paris.”
We sat and talked for more than twenty minutes. Alain’s voice was a little weak, and he sounded tired. Other than that, he didn’t look too bad.
“The doctor said I was very lucky. Aside from losing a lot of blood, I was not severely wounded. It feels like they pumped most of that blood back into me.” Then he said, “Please promise me one thing, Lindsay.”
“Anything you want.”
“We’re on the right track on this investigation. Don’t give up. Don’t let the administration or anyone else tell you it’s not worthwhile. Even if you save only one girl, that’s something you can rejoice about.”
Damn, did he know how to inspire.