Neither of them noticed us as she propelled him, whispering encouragement.
Dollard said, “Hey,” and she looked up. Her hair was drawn back in a tight bun, her expression bland. Peake could’ve been any kind of invalid, she his long-suffering daughter.
She held him back. Peake swayed, opened his eyes, but still didn’t seem to be aware of our presence. He rolled his head. His purple-slug tongue oozed out, curled, remained suspended for several seconds before retreating.
“What’s going on?” said Dollard.
“Taking a walk,” said Heidi. “I thought some exercise might help.”
“Help with what?” said Dollard. His thick arms snapped across his chest, fingers digging into stout biceps.
“Is something wrong, Frank?”
“No, everything’s great, terrific-they want to see him again. Be nice if he was where he’s supposed to be.”
“Sorry,” said Heidi, glancing my way. “Is he on room restriction? I didn’t hear about it.”
“Not yet he isn’t,” said Dollard. “Go on, put him back.” To Milo: “Do your thing,
I’ll be back in fifteen.”
Arms still folded, he walked off.
Heidi smiled uneasily-a teenager embarrassed by Dad’s outburst. “Okay, Ardis, exercise time’s over.” One of Peake’s eyes opened wider. Bleary, unfocused. He
licked his lips, extended his tongue again, rolled his shoulders.
“No one bothers to get him out,” said Heidi. “I thought it might help with… you know.”
“Verbal output,” I said.
She shrugged. “It didn’t seem like a bad idea. C’mon, Ardis, let’s get you back.”
She guided him across the hall to his room, led him to his bed, sat him down. He stayed exactly where she put him. For several seconds, no one said anything. Peake didn’t budge for a while. Then the tongue-thrusts renewed. Both eyes fluttered, struggled to stay open, couldn’t.
Heidi said, “Could one of you please turn off the light? I think it bothers him.”
I flipped the switch and the room turned gray. Peake sat there, licking and rolling his head. The same reek of intestinal gas and charred wood seemed to press forward, a putrid greeting triggered by our entry.
Heidi turned to Milo. “Why was Frank so bugged? Is something wrong?”
“Frank’s not in a good mood. So tell me, has Peake been talking at all since you taped him?”
She shook her head. “No, sorry. I’ve been trying, but nothing. That’s why I thought some exercise…”
Peake rolled his head. Rocked.
Milo motioned us away from the bed. We moved toward the doorway.
Milo said, “So no elaboration on ‘choo choo bang bang.’ ”
Heidi’s eyes widened. “Does that actually mean something?”
Milo shrugged. “Let me ask you, did Peake ever mention anything else-like a name?”
“What name?” she said.
“Wark.”
She repeated it very slowly. “Doesn’t really sound like a name… more like a bark.”
“So he might’ve blurted it and you would’ve thought it was just gibberish?”
“Maybe… But no, he never said that.” She reached to tug her ponytail. Nothing there. Her hand rose to the tight bun. “Wark… No, he never said that. Why? Who is it?”
“Maybe a friend of Peake’s.”
“He doesn’t have any friends.”
“Old friend,” said Milo. “Are you still taping?”
“I tried… when I could. Why’s Frank so uptight?”
“Frank doesn’t like being told what to do.”
“Oh,” she said. “And you’ve got him actually working.”
“Frank doesn’t like to work?”
She hesitated. Moved closer to the door, looked out through the hatch. “This may not be true, but I heard he got fired from some police department for sleeping on the job. Or something like that.”
” Who’d you hear it from?” said Milo.
“Just talk on the wards. He’s also a sexist-treats me like I don’t belong. You saw his attitude-I mean, what’s wrong with taking someone who never gets out for a walk?
All the other patients are watching TV, it’s not like anyone’s getting neglected.”
I said, “Has Frank been giving you other problems?”
“Basically what you just saw-attitude. Swig likes him, so he doesn’t have to do too much scut.”
She glanced back at Peake. He continued to sit and rock and lick air. “You’re saying
Peake actually has a friend? From his past?”
“Hard to believe?” I said.