Blood Test by Kellerman, Jonathan

chest. “I hope it wasn’t too uncomfortable.”

“As a matter of fact it itched like crazy.”

“Sorry about that. You must have ensitive skin.”

“He’s a very sensitive guy, Sev.”

Fleming conceded a smile and concentrated on

*. checking the Nagra.

“Everything looks in order,” he announced, returning

the machine to its case. “Reception in the

van was excellent–we got a. first-rate copy. An

attorney from Justice was sitting in {md she’s of the

opinion there’s plenty to WOrk with Once again;

Doctor, thanks. Be seeing you, Milo.”

He shook our hands, gave ‘a-small salute and

walked away, cradling the Nagra like a newborn,

“Well,” said Milo, “You keep revealing neW-taL

ents. Hollywood’s bound to be knocking on your

door.”

-“Right,” I said, rubbing my chest. “Call my agent.

We’ll take a meeting at the Polo Lounge.”

, He laughed and undid his flak jacket.

“Feel like the Michelin tire man in this thing.”

“You should be so cute.”

– ‘We walked together toward the viaduct. The sky

had darkened and quieted. Beyond the gates engines

rumbled to a start. We stepped onto the bridge,

treading on cool stones Milo reached up,-plucked a

grape from the arbor, split it with his teeth, and

swallowed.

“You made a big difference, Alex,” he said.

tually they’d have gotten him on the drug thing..

But it’s the murder rap that’ll put him away. Combine

that with lowering the boom on Stinky.Pants

and I’d say it’s been a Frae weel for the good guys.’

“Great,” I said wearily.

Several yards later:

“You okay, pal?”

‘braking about the kid?”

I stopped and looked at him.

“Do you need to head back to L.A. fight away?” I

asked.

He put a heavy arm around my shoulder,, smiled

and shook his head.

“Getting back means diving into a mess o pounds paperwork.

It can wait.”

]271

I STOOD at a distance and. looked through the wall

of plastic.

The boy lay on the bed, still but awake. His

mother sat by his side, rendered nearly anonymous

by spacesuit, gloves and mask. Her dark eyes wandered

around the room, settling momentarily on his

face, then upon the pages of the story book’ in her

hands. He. struggled upright, said something to her

and she nodded and helda cup to his lips. Drinking

exhausted him quickly; he fell back against the

pilloTM.

“Cute kid,” said Milo. “What did that doc say his

· chances ar6?”

“He’s severely infected. But the I.V. is pumping

in high-dose antibiotics and they feel it ‘Will eventually

dear up. The original tumor has enlarged–it’s

begun to press against the diaphragm, which

· isn’t good–but there’s-no evidence of any new lesions.

Chemotherapy will start tomorrow. Overall,

the prognosis is still good.”

343

He nodded and went into the nurses’ office;- ‘-The

boy was .asleep, now. His mother kissed

his forehead, drew the blankets around him, and

looked at the book again. She flipped a few pages,

put it down and began straightening the room.

That done, she returned to sitting bedside, folded

her hands in her lap, and remained motionless.

Waiting.

The. two marshals emerged from the nurses’ office.

The man was thick-waisted and middle-

aged, the woman petite and dyed-blond. He looked

at his watch and said “It’s’ ti.me” to his partner.

She walked over to the module and tapped on the,

phstic.

Nona looked up.

The woman said, “It’s time.”-

The girl hesitated, bent over the sleeping child

and kissed him with sudden intensity. He called

out and rolled over. The movement caused the I.V.

pole to vibrate, the bottle to sway. She steadied it,

stroked his hair.

‘Come on, honey,” said the female marshal.

The girl stiffened, stumbled out of the module.

She took off the mask and gloves and let the sterile

suit fall around her ankles, revealing a jumpsuit

underneath. On the back was stenciled PRO’ERT¥

SaN on,co COUNT j.rL md a serial number. Her

copper hair was drawn back in a ponytail. The

golden hoops had been removed from her ears.-Her

face looked thinner and older, the cheekbones more

-pronounced, the eyes buried deeper. Jailhouse pallor

had begun to dull the luster of her skin. She Was

beautiful, but damaged, ILke a day-old rose.

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