Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 16 (18 page)

Thursday afternoon, a detective arrived to take his statement regarding the shooting.
“
Officer Tesdall?
”

Chad turned and glanced up at the detective expectantly.
“
Yes?
”

“
I
’
m detective Haunsel with the Rockland PD.
I have some questions if you
’
re up to it
.”

“
I now understand, in a way I never could before, why victims and witnesses are so unreliable.
I didn
’
t see it coming.
I can only imagine that you found through the trajectory where the sniper was…
”

“
We found it.
We found the guy on video…
”
The detective pulled out glossy eight by ten print outs of the building across the street, the fourth floor, and almost a full shot of a man
’
s face.
“
Do any of these look familiar to you?
”

Carefully, Chad examined each one clearly.
Finally, he shoved them across his legs.
“
I don
’
t trust my memory on this.
He looks familiar
,
but I could have seen him or someone that resembles him, anywhere
.”
A thought occurred to him.
“
Have you checked cameras from inside the courthouse?
Was he in the courtroom?
”

“
They
’
re still going
over
those tapes.
Can you tell us why he chose you?
”

“
I can only assume that it has something to do with my testimony… maybe he thought I was coming back after the recess but I wasn
’
t.
I was excused
.”

Detective Haunsel nodded thoughtfully.
“
What does the doctor say?
”

“
Gonna have to learn to shoot with my other hand.
Even if they get this thing fully functional,
”
Chad waved his bandaged hand impatiently,
“
they say the muscles won
’
t be completely reliable.
It
’
ll always be a little stiff
.”

“
Ouch.
Tough luck… at least you live in Fairbury.
You probably haven
’
t drawn your gun since you
’
ve worked there
.”

Chad hated the implication that work in Fairbury wasn
’
t real.
“
I want to know that the next time a stalker breaks into my house to terrorize my wife, I
’
ll be able to pull the trigger before he does.
” The man’s face showed surprise and he started to speak, but Chad continued. “
Sorry if that ruins your Mayberry ideal of Fairbury
,
but between the Plagiarist Killer and the Solari influence, we
’
ve had more crime in Fairbury in the past
few
years than the town has had in the past fifty.
Rockland is encroaching
,
and I want to be able to do my part to push it back.
We don
’
t want your crime
.”

Marianne watched as they wheeled her son into surgery and wondered just how successful it would be.
Christopher jogged up to her side.
“
Sorry I
’
m late.
What
’
s going on?
”

“
They just wheeled him in.
The surgeon talked to me while they were taking him in.
He
’
s confident it
’
ll be successful
,
but the degree of success is what is in question
.”

Christopher sank into a nearby chair.
“
My son
—
all he ever wanted to do was be a cop and now
—”

Chad
’
s mother wrapped her arms around her husband and hushed him.
“
He
’
ll shoot with his other hand.
He
’
ll be fine
.”

“
I think it just hit me.
My son was shot.
A man took careful aim and shot him
,
and if Chad hadn
’
t moved at just the right moment, he probably would be dead
.”

“
So how long until everything is out of my system?
How soon before I am chemically safe to drive?
”

Saturday morning, Chad bombarded the doctor with questions as he inspected Chad
’
s sutures, chart, and checked the wound in Chad
’
s chest.
He
’
d fought the use of the PCA as much as possible
,
but the throbbing had kept him awake most of the night until he
’
d given in and allowed himself a few hours of pain relief.
His goal was to leave that night.

“
You
’
re determined to leave tonight then?
”

Chad nodded.
“
I have to get home.
I know I
’
ll have to sign
,
but I need to get home
.”

The doctor called the nurse to rewrap Chad
’
s hand and said goodbye.
“
I
’
ll leave care instructions with the nurses.
Try to stay as long as possible.
The longer you
’
re here, the more likely a problem happens here than at home
.”
He hesitated.
“
Will you promise me one thing?
”

“
What?
”

“
If you relapse at all
before you leave
, will you please reconsider and stay another night?
”

Chad nodded.
“
I
’
m not trying to get myself killed
—”
he winked at his mother.
“
Contrary to popular belief
.”

With the doctor gone, Chad tried to apologize for worrying his mother
,
but
he didn
’
t get far.
“
I understand
,
Chaddie.
I do.
I want to help
,
but I couldn
’
t live with myself if
—”

“
It
’
s ok
, M
om.
Really.
Can you do something for me though?
”
He knew the only way his mother would quit worrying was if she had a way to help him.

“
I
’
d need clothes whether I left right now or next week.
Can you bring me sweats and a buttoned down shirt?
”

“
That
’
s kind of a strange combination, son
.”

Chad grinned.
“
I
’
m a fashion mystery.
” At her disgusted look, he sighed. “
Ok, so maybe I just want something easy to get on and off again
.”