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Scott shook his head "I have no idea Maybe Justin knows, but he’s pretty bitter about his dad leaving the that infor the father would be good for the fas worse"

They chatted for a while longer and finally a county ambulance pulled up to the house followed by Mac in the sheriff’s departhts or siren," Eric observed

"It’s et the fire department’s rescue squad"

"I heard Justin tell his brother to call 911"

"He called ot here fast He didn’t need rescue Sally was having trouble breathing but didn’t need resuscitation"

Just as he said that a couple of aurney passed them on the way to the front door "Hey, Doc," one of them said

"Hey," he returned "I’ll follow you to the hospital, get Sally aden She’s recovering from pneumonia--a coet her to the hospital"

"Thanks We’ll see you over there"

Mac joined the, until the EMTs een cannulas, sitting upright on the gurney

Eric looked at Mac "She’s not doing very well She’s being taken to the hospital"

"So I heard," Mac said

When Al and Eric got back to the station, everything was fine Hoas under control, puht to bug out early while Justin and I s, but I need a couple of hours"

"For?" Eric asked

"None of your business, but I’ that would reflect badly on you"

"You’re going back there," Eric said

"I think someone should and I think it shouldn’t be you"

"Why not? Seriously, I’ve been looking out for the kid since I hired him and--"

"And he thinks we have a coo"

"I’ot a bomb inside him Come on, try to ree--try to reainst you He’s a ht about that for ten seconds "Yeah Go Take all the tiot this And if you see a chance, tell hi I can to help"

"Sure I will," he said Al grinned "You and Howie got the station Have fun"

Al took off before Eric could think of so more to ask or say He went back to the Coastline, where he’d left his truck, and drove first to the pizza place, ordered two big ones, then returned to Justin’s house The door was now closed In fact the place looked sealed up, but the van was still in the drive He knocked

Justin opened the door with a snarl on his face Oh, h custoed Okay, he thought, I’e pizza boxes on one hand "Well, I invited a few friends over to your place for pizza, I hope you don’t mind" Justin started to close the door and Al put his foot in the way "I want to talk to you"

That sneer didn’t go away "I have food, you know"

"But do you have this kind of food? Because I neverman in my life who didn’t like pizza Jesus, can I coo away"

Al pushed his way inside The younger boys were sitting at the table, where there were three glasses of so had been taking place He put the pizza boxes on the table "One is pepperoni and sausage and some other stuff and the other one is just lots of cheese because I wasn’t sure ould float here Maybe so? Whatever that is you’re drinking?"

"It’s Kool-Aid," Justin said "We were just talking Then we ht head over to the hospital But I’ll call Eric, tell hi you to coht I think he’s pretty clear you’ve had so on" He opened the top box "Kool-Aid is great"

Justin sighed "Al, this here is Danny He’s fourteen And this is Kevin Twelve Guys, this is Al Michel The guy I told you about I ith him"

They each said, "Hi" Very quietly

Al nodded at the in"

"Thank you," two quiet voices said

And a glass of Kool-Aid was placed before Al by Justin "Sit down, son," Al said "I’ to injure your pride, which is about the size of the Pacific Ocean"<ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:block" data-ad-client="ca-pub-7451196230453695" data-ad-slot="9930101810" data-ad-format="auto" data-full-width-responsive="true"></ins>