He wanted his Guapo, his kitten, both of them. He hated this, being in his own head constantly. Hurting all the fucking time.
Mitch unlocked his wheels and turned him, then crouched so they were eye to eye. “You did great, man. Tell yourself that. It felt like shit, and it hurt like hell, but you did it. You did better than I expected. That was good work.”
“Thanks.”Please let me go back to my room so I can be alone?His world was small right now and growing tinier by the second.
“All right. You’re done.” Mitch grabbed a bottle of water from a shelf and handed it to him, then started rolling back to the elevators. “Tomorrow morning starts the boring shit with the staff PTs. But I’m on payroll with your husband. I’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.”
“Yes, sir.” His husband. He almost argued, but he didn’t. Isaac was half his world.
They headed into the elevators and down three floors, back to the room, where someone he recognized sat. “Elena.”
“Neil.” She smiled at Mitch. “Hey. I’m Detective Salzbee. Pleased.”
He kept his mouth shut as all the pleasantries were started. He needed to talk to her. Now. Alone.
Mitch shook her hand. “Hello. You sound very official.”
She chuckled softly. “More friendly than official, but I am here for a reason.”
“Then I’ll get out of your way. You want to stay in the chair, man? Or get back in bed?”
“In the chair.” He would not be in a position to look vulnerable. “Thanks, man.”
“Anytime.”
Mitch left and shut the door with a click.
“What’s the status?”
“You’ll testify?” she asked, and he liked it. He wasn’t comfortable being in bed with Internal Affairs. Never had been.
“Yeah. You got what you needed from the wire?” He wanted to ask why they’d waited for him to get beaten half to death and shot first, but whatever. That was something his union rep and his lawyer could ask.
Later.
“We did. Plenty. Now we just need to take care of you. How are you doing?”
“Fine. I want to know my family is safe.” And he wanted to know that they were covered until he could be home.
“There are five dirty cops going to jail. Safe is relative, in your case.”
“Yeah.” He knew that. He knew that there was no going back, no chasing down perps, no running. He wasn’t stupid.
“We’ll keep watch on the building. And here too. I know this isn’t how you wanted to retire, Neil, I’m sorry.”
“No. I just want them put away.” And he wanted to know that they were staying where they belonged. “Thanks for the update. I’ll be in court.”
He was suddenly in a cold sweat, because he’d done it. He’d remembered. He’d kept it in, and now the Barnettes were going down.
Elena gave his knee a pat as she stood. “They’re going to go away, and they’re not coming back. The New York City police department owes you, and we’ll pay, I promise. You get some rest, Neil. It’s been—good. Working with you.”
“Yeah. Take care of yourself.”And go away. I need to be alone.
“You too.” Elena left the room, closing the door behind her.
Neil sat there for…hell, he didn’t know. Ten minutes? An hour? Then he grabbed his phone.
I need you.