Chapter 180

word count 1014

Buzz got Trudy settled in the waiting area and made his way to the desk to get her signed in. The desk nurse, a skinny girl with eyes too close together and a down-turned mouth copied Trudy's insurance card and sent Buzz packing in short order with a promise to “get to her as soon as we can.” Buzz lumbered back to Trudy while surveying the room full of bored, restless people. He wondered where he'd find the patience to sit it through. He liked to be control, giving the orders. Now there was nothing to do but “wait his turn.”

He could see Trudy watching him with wide eyes as he made his way, zigzagging through the crowd to get back to her. She looked like a frightened child in the sea of people. Her eyes were red from crying, and she clutched the injured hand to her chest.

“They'll get to you soon,” he said easing into the chair next to her, hoping the statement wouldn't be a lie. Throwing his arm around her, he pulled her close. She fell asleep. Sitting there, clutching the girl reminded Buzz how much he missed the companionship of a woman. Since his wife died, he hadn't been with anyone. Considering his reputation as a player, he surprised himself by being celibate in the months since his wife passed. To be truthful, sitting here gave him time to think...of how unkind he was to Jeannie...disrespectful...downright cruel. A scene flashed through his mind of a time when he socked her and sent the lady slamming against a wall. Jeannie had got up clutching her cheek, shooting a gaze at him that cut to his heart. Maybe I should be the one looking to control my anger issues. The thought ran through his mind wrapped in the blackest guilt. It all made him restless and anxious to get out of the hospital and back to real life where he could throw himself into his work.

“How is she doing?” Algie spoke with effort, arriving after having run several flights of stairs. “I'm sorry it took me so long to catch up.”

“We're waiting to see someone. As you can see, she's resting nicely.”

“Ah, yes. She looks quite angelic when she sleeps.”

“Yeah,” Buzz snorted. “Trudy, an angel, funny!”

Algernon settled in his seat and got comfortable. “Well, she is a handful, I must say. You must know I only meant well when I taught her karate.”

Buzz shot him an angry glance. “Yeah, about that. Why in the hell would you do that? What were you thinking?”

“Well, I honestly thought she could channel her anger into something more controlled. To be honest, I never thought she could deliver such a wallop. She's a woman, after all. And I didn't teach her to go around pounding on things. I taught her to address the rage and quiet it within.”

“You did realize this is Trudy we're talking about.” Buzz felt his blood pressure rushing. How could this British fop be so stupid?

“Well, yes, but I guess I didn't understand her as thoroughly as I should.”

“You're damn right you didn't understand her!” Buzz jumped to his feet, clenching his fists as his sides.

“I say, there's no need for anger, old boy! I meant well.” Algernon shrugged his shoulders with an indifferent air.

“You meant well? Look at how she injured herself, you stupid son of a bitch!” Now Buzz's heart pounded with vengeance. He knew he was losing control. But there was no turning back. He grabbed Algie by the collar and pulled him out of the chair, pulling back one hand intending to issue to a sound punch.

That was when the lights went out.

He'd blacked out. He knew it as soon as he came to. Two nurses and a doctor hovered over him, their faces leaning down close to his. He was laying on the floor. Trudy whimpered in the background, and Algernon's frantic voice played out in the mush. His world was spinning.

“This man may have head trauma,” the doctor said. “Let's get him admitted.”

“But I was only defending myself!” Algernon wailed.

Buzz spied a blur of blue uniforms surrounding Algie.

“Hey, what about me?” Trudy squealed.

* * *

“It's a cryin' shame! The big guy gunned down like that. He was such a hero to us all.” Rudy flicked a tear from his eye and dunked a scrub brush in the bucket of hot, soapy water, next slamming it to the floor to scrub the crimson Rorschach off Mr. Big's prized white shag carpet.

“Oh, I know Big Rudy. But, geez, man, do you have to be such a wuss about it? You're making me wanna cry.” Ray was breathing heavy, having just loaded up the Chinese guy in the special van to “dispose” of the body. Someone else from “Ferrante's”--the mob's special funeral home, had already come and taken the big guy's body for proper burial. Ray thought about the memorial service, slated for tomorrow, that would gather together in one place mob leaders from all over the state. It was a “security” nightmare, and he was in charge of setting it all into place.

“You finish here, and I'll see ya later,” he told Big Rudy, turning to bump headlong into The Salami, himself.

“Salam, where the hell you been?” he asked.

“I told ya, man! I'm still groggy. Lenny stuck me with something.”

“I know, we found the needle, ya big baby! Now what can ya tell me about this empty briefcase?” Ray shot Nick the Salami a potent glance.

But Nick wasn't worried. He'd played his cards just right. In fact, by the time everything played out, he hoped to be the new Mr. Big. He pictured himself smoking a huge cigar, sitting at the desk in this room—what a grand display of power it was. Then he shook the image away. There was a lot to do to get from here to there.

“Empty? Holy shit! I guess Lenny took the gem!”