The City PI and the Country Cop (13 page)

Hoyt looked Keir over with a nod before
returning his gaze to Teague. “The chief said Will’s somewhere in
the hospital, too. Wish I’d killed the damned bastard!”

“He is, and his name’s not Will. It’s Bradley
Irwin.”

“Oh, right. Davis told me that when he came
by earlier. I was still pretty groggy since they’d just given me my
meds. I’m more with it now, so sit and fill me in.”

After pulling up a chair, Teague told Hoyt
what they now knew about Irwin. He ended by saying, “Unfortunately,
unless Detective Slater is able to find out something about the
pastor to prove otherwise, we’ll probably never know for certain if
he was the original killer, unless Irwin opens up about it.”

“I suspect
that’s
highly unlikely,”
Hoyt said.

“If it
was
the pastor, why did he stop
after only three murders? From what I know about serial killers,
killing is a compulsion that usually intensifies the more they do
it.”

“Something else we won’t know unless Irwin’s
willing to talk,” Hoyt pointed out. “
He
certainly had no
problems with killing more than once while he was here, unlike the
original killer who moved around.”

“And why did the first killer do that?” Keir
asked, finally joining the conversation. “Why travel…? Okay, strike
that. Probably because he didn’t want to soil his own nest, so to
speak.”

Teague nodded, smiling dryly. “I should be
writing down all our questions so we remember to ask Irwin if we
get a chance.”

“Then you’re sticking around until he’s able
to be interrogated?” Hoyt asked, his gaze locked on Teague.

“I…haven’t decided.”
If his expression is
any indication about why he wants to know, am I willing to deal
with it? I wasn’t lying to Keir when I said Hoyt and I
are…opposites in so many ways. But I like him. More than I should
considering the circumstances. If I stay until after we question
Irwin, and things continue to develop with Hoyt the way I think
they might, then what? We both get hurt when I go back
home.

“When
will
you decide?” Hoyt asked,
breaking into Teague’s thoughts.

“I suppose when I find out how long it’ll be
before Irwin’s in any shape to talk. Presuming he does, which is
unlikely.”

“The chief said he’s undergoing a second
surgery today,” Keir said. “So we should know soon enough when
he’ll be awake and aware.”

“I
know
,” Teague replied, more sharply
than he’d intended to.

“Sorry.” Keir stared at Teague for a second.
“I’m going to get some coffee. I saw a machine down the hall. Do
you want some?”

“No thanks.”

“Okay. I’ll be back in a while.” Turning on
his heel, Keir left, closing the door behind him.

“What was that all about?” Hoyt asked.

Teague sighed. “I think
he
thinks we
need some time alone.”

“I see.” Hoyt studied Teague. “To talk about
us? If there is an ‘us’.” When Teague nodded, Hoyt said, “Is
there?”

“We seemed to be moving in that
direction.”

“Past tense,” Hoyt murmured. “Before you say
anything more, I will tell you that I like you. Present tense.” He
smiled slightly. “I want to get to really know you, now that all of
this is over and we have time to be more than two men trying to
stop a killer. Yeah, we’ve opened up some but…” He tried to reach
for Teague, only to be stopped by the tug of the IV attached to the
back of his hand. “Damn it,” he growled.

Teague took Hoyt’s hand, holding it
carefully. “I want to get to know you, too,” Teague admitted. “If
things were different, we might find out we could make a go of
being more than just friends. I think that’s what we both are
hoping. But…”

Hoyt looked down at their clasped hands, then
back up at Teague, saying wistfully, “Could we at least try?”

Against his better judgment, Teague nodded.
“I can stick around for a few more days, whether I get to talk to
Irwin or not.” He gently squeezed Hoyt’s hand, chuckling softly.
“What happened to the grouchy cop I met only a few days ago who
would have given his left nut to get me out of town and out of his
hair?”

“Oh, he’s still in here somewhere,” Hoyt
retorted with a slow grin. “He’s just in hiding because now he
doesn’t want to scare you away.”

“It hasn’t happened yet, so I doubt it will.”
For a second, Teague was tempted to kiss Hoyt, but knew it wouldn’t
be the best idea he’d ever had. After all, they were nowhere near
that level of intimacy yet, and might never get there. Instead he
asked, “Do you know when they’re going to release you?”

“The doc said something about tomorrow,
barring complications. Then I get to recuperate at home, start
physical therapy…” Hoyt frowned deeply. “And pray that I can get
full use my arm again. I’m worthless if I can’t.”

Teague shook his head. “Not true.”

“Yeah it is. I’m a cop. That’s all I ever
wanted to be. If I’m handicapped that goes by the boards.”

“You’re a detective,” Teague replied.
“Half—no, most of being one is up here.” He tapped Hoyt’s forehead.
“Besides, if you don’t regain full use of your arm, you’ll learn to
compensate.”

“I’m fucking right-handed.”

“So you train yourself to use your left hand.
Other people have. Don’t go giving up on yourself. You’re worth
more than that.”

“I…” Hoyt nodded. “If you have faith in me, I
guess I should, too.”

“You better believe it!” Teague heard the
door open and turned to see who was there, expecting it to be Keir.
Instead it was a nurse.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, gentlemen, but it’s
time for you to take your medicines, Mr. Newman, and the doctor
will be here in a few minutes to examine you.”

“I guess that’s my cue to leave,” Teague
said, getting up. “I’ll be back later, I promise.”

“I sure hope so. As nice as Miss…” Hoyt
glanced at the nurse’s name tag. “As nice as I’m sure Miss Johnson
is, I much prefer your company.”

“That’s good to know,” Teague replied with a
smile. “Behave, take your meds like a good boy and maybe, with
luck, they’ll spring you tomorrow.”

“I plan on it happening. Trust me on
that.”

Teague grinned at him and left the room. Keir
was in the hallway, leaning against the wall while sipping his
coffee.

“This stuff…” Keir shuddered, joining Teague
as he walked toward the elevator. “So, did the two of you work
something out?”

Teague cocked an eyebrow. “Such as?”

“Are you sticking around for at least a
while?”

“A few days anyway. You, on the other hand,
have to go home. I can’t in good conscience keep you away from your
job, as much as I like your company. The agency needs you back
there.”

“Not what you said a while ago. But I get the
message.” Keir smirked. “You’ll be spending all your time with
Hoyt.”

“While I’m here, I suspect so.”

Keir turned serious. “You
are
going to
try to figure out how to make things work.”

“I’m not certain it’s possible, but yes, I’ll
try. Besides,” Teague shrugged, “we might find out we’re not as
interested in each other as we think, now that the stress of
capturing Irwin is past.”

“But you might find out you are.”

“True, we might.”
And therein lies the
problem.
With a shake of his head, Teague pushed the elevator
button. Seconds later it appeared and he and Keir rode down in
silence.

Three hours later, Keir had rented another
car to get to the airport. As Teague watched him drive away, he
wondered if he shouldn’t be going with him.
It would hurt,
walking away from Hoyt without even saying goodbye. But in the long
run it might be the best thing I could do for both of us.
In
his mind, he knew that was exactly what he should do. His heart
firmly disagreed.
When did I let my emotions start ruling my
life?
He knew the answer to that question.
First when I
decided I had to find a conclusion to Chris’s story. And then when
I realized that Hoyt was more than just a stepping stone to doing
that.
He chuckled softly.
I wonder if straight people have
the same problems when it comes to…being attracted to someone.
He knew the answer to that as well.
Of course they do. It’s a
human condition no matter how you look at it.

* * * *

Teague checked in with
Captain Davis the first thing Saturday morning to find out Bradley
Irwin’s condition.

“He made it through the second surgery but,
according to the doctor I spoke with, he’ll be in intensive care
for at least the next two days before they can move him to a
private room. In both cases, he’ll be secured to the bed, and under
constant surveillance by one or two of my men.”

“That’s good to know, although I doubt he’ll
be in any condition to try to escape for a while at least.”

“True, but we’re not taking any chances.”

An hour later, just as he was about to leave
for the hospital to visit Hoyt, Teague got a call from Detective
Slater.

“I’ve already let Chief Davis know I’m on my
way to Faircrest. I have information on Pastor Corwin Irwin that I
thought I should tell both of you in person. I’ll be arriving at
the county airport at twelve-fifteen. The chief is sending an
officer to pick me up.”

“Thanks for the heads-up. Let me know when
you’re here and I’ll meet you at his office.”

With that, Teague took off for the hospital.
When he got to Hoyt’s room, he found the detective had graduated
from lying prone to sitting up. He was wearing what at first glance
looked like a piece of medieval armor, only blue. It covered Hoyt’s
shoulder, ran across his chest, and incorporated a sling for his
arm.

“That’s definitely an interesting look,”
Teague commented.

“I’d go more for strange, but it works.
They’ve already had me up and walking while wearing it. This—” he
tapped the part that acted as a sling, “—opens so I can move my
lower arm. Thank goodness.”

“How long do you have to wear it?”

“Full-time for the next day or two. Then I
start taking it off for an hour, give or take. The PT will be more
specific about that once I start working with her. The doc says it
will probably take around four months for total recovery, if I
behave and work with the therapist.”

“Then that’s what you’re going to do,” Teague
said sternly.

“Yes, boss.” Hoyt rolled his eyes. “I know. I
plan on it. I want to get back to work as soon as possible.”

“At least, from the sound of it, you won’t
lose mobility in your shoulder.”

“Significant mobility is how he termed it. I
just have to take it easy, follow the therapist’s orders and…” Hoyt
grimaced. “Pray a lot, I guess.”

“Most of all,” Teague said, taking Hoyt’s
free hand, “you have to believe you
will
get back to
normal.”

“I’m trying to, Teague. But right now it’s
hard. I’m not a kid anymore.”

“You’re hardly old. Hell, you’re younger than
me.”

“By what? Two or three years?”

“Three. So,” Teague winked at him, “you’re in
your prime.”

“If you say so.” Hoyt finally smiled. “If I
am, at forty-two, does that mean you’re already over the hill at
forty-five?”

“Excuse me?” Teague pressed a hand to his
chest. “You wound me deeply.” He was happy when Hoyt laughed,
hoping it meant he’d brought the detective out the funk he’d been
in. “Now the big question. When are they kicking you out of
here?”

“With luck, after the doctor comes by to
check this one more time.” Holt tapped his injured shoulder. “That
should be early this afternoon.”

“Good. I’ll come back after my meeting with
Detective Slater and the chief to give you a ride home.”

Hoyt’s eyes narrowed. “What meeting?”

“Slater called. He has information about
Pastor Irwin. He’s flying in to tell us personally and should be at
the police department around one, if his flight’s on time.”

“I’m going to be there, too, damn it.” Hoyt
shifted to press the call-button for the nurse. When she arrived a
minute later he said, “Where did they put my clothes? I’m
leaving.”

“You can’t. Not until the doctor releases
you.”

“Bet me,” Hoyt growled. “Where’s my stuff.”
When his glance lit on a closet at the side of the room, he started
to ease his legs off the bed.

Teague shook his head, putting his hand on
Hoyt’s shoulder. “First off, I doubt they saved your shirt and
jacket, considering they were blood soaked. Maybe your jeans and
shoes survived.”

“That’s better than nothing.” Hoyt eyed
Teague. “I’ll wear your jacket.”

By then the nurse had apparently alerted the
main desk because a doctor appeared in the doorway. “Trying to run
out on us, Hoyt?”

“Yeah. Kick me lose, doc. I have to go with
him.” Hoyt stabbed a finger toward Teague.

The doctor sighed, looking toward the
ceiling. “Why me? Why do I always get the difficult ones?” Coming
to the bed, he said, “I’ll examine you and we’ll go from
there.”

“Go is right. As soon as you’re finished, I’m
going.”

“Not if I say otherwise, Hoyt.”

Teague decided things might go a bit easier
if he left the room, which he did, closing the door behind him.
Crossing the hall, he leaned against the wall, waiting for the
doctor to make a decision.
Not that Hoyt will listen if the doc
tells him he can’t go home yet. He’ll sign himself out and leave in
just his jeans and shoes, knowing him. Stubborn man.
Teague
smiled.
One of the reasons I like him. He rarely takes shit from
anyone as far as I can tell.

The door opened a few minutes later and the
doctor beckoned to Teague. When Teague went back into the room, the
first thing he noted was that Hoyt was smiling as if he’d won a
victory.

According to the doctor, it was just that.
“I’m releasing him, against my better judgment. He could do with
another night here but…”