@@@@@But why did Alex have to call tonight?
@@@@@But why did Alex have to call tonight? Tonight was his twelfth wedding
anniversary, and he had sent the kids on an overnight with the neighbors’ children so that he and
his wife could be alone, alone with grilled Jamaic’ ribs on the patio—prepared by the only one who
knew how, namely, Chef Ivan—a lot of good dark Overton rum, and some highly erotic skinnydipping
in the poolDamn Alex! Double damn the son-of-a-bitch bachelor who could only respond
to the event of a wedding anniversary by saying, “What the hell? You made the year, so what’s a
day count? Get your jollies tomorrow, I need you tonight
So he had lied to his wife, the former head nurse at MassHe told her that a patient’s
life was in the balance—it was, but it had already tipped the wrong wayShe had replied that
perhaps her next husband would be more considerate of her life, but her sad smile and her
understanding eyes denied her wordsHurry, my darling!
Jax turned off the engine, grabbed his medical bag and got out of the carHe walked around the
hood as the front door opened and a tall man in what appeared to be dark skintight clothing stood
silhouetted in the frame“I’m your doctor,” said Ivan, walking up the steps“Our mutual friend
didn’t give me your name, but I guess I’m not supposed to have it
“I guess not,” agreed Bourne, extending a hand in a surgical glove as Jax approached
“And I guess we’re both right,” said Jax, shaking hands with the stranger“The mitt you’re
wearing is pretty familiar to me
“Our mutual friend didn’t tell me you were black
“Is that a problem for you?”
“Good Christ, noI like our friend even moreIt probably never occurred to him to say
anything
“I think we’ll get along
Bourne stood ten feet to the right of the desk as Jax swiftly, expertly tended to the corpse,
mercifully wrapping the head in gauzeWithout explaining, he had cut away sections of the
general’s clothing, examining those parts of the body beneath the fabricFinally, he carefully rolled
the hooded body off the chair and onto the floor“Are you finished in here?” he asked, looking
over at Jason
“I’ve swept it clean, Doctor, if that’s what you meanI want this room sealedNo one’s to enter it after we leave until our mutual
friend gives the word
“I certainly can’t guarantee that,” said Bou