“Have to say, I’m loving the woman at this moment,” Quinn said, grinning. Then he grew serious. “She really has come through for us so many times in so many ways.”
“She really has,” Danni said. “I mean, I know we could have gone to see Kevin without her, but not so soon, and she’s made it all so easy. In fact, we’re being picked up by one of the surgeons who’s been on Kevin’s case from the time he returned to the States, a Major Victor Johnson.”
“Really nice of him to take time out of his schedule, but I guess he wants us to be prepared for Kevin’s challenges, physical and maybe mental, too.”
As soon as they landed and stepped out of the security area, they spotted Major Johnson, standing ramrod straight and looking distinguished in his uniform. He wasn’t holding a placard, but the way he was keenly observing the crowd told Danni he was looking for them. He must have been given a description of them, because he walked right up and introduced himself.
Quinn explained that he had to hit baggage claim before they could leave, and Danni realized he had indeed brought his gun.
“You served?” Johnson asked after Quinn explained that he needed to reclaim his weapon.
“Private first class, US Army,” Quinn said. “Then I was a cop, and now I’m a PI.”
“Then you know what you’re doing,” Johnson said, and pointed toward the sign that directed passengers down to baggage claim. “I can hold on to that for you while we’re at the hospital.”
Once they were in Major Johnson’s Jeep and headed to Bethesda, he asked them what they knew about Kevin Hart. Danni told him what Tyler had told her, and Johnson filled in the gaps.
Kevin had been severely wounded by a land mine. He had been fitted with a prosthetic leg and had extensive surgery on one side of his face. He was doing well. He was a solid individual who wanted to make it back to his old life, but he didn’t like being seen in his hospital room. They were going to meet up with him at the cafeteria.
“May I ask why you’re here?” Johnson asked Quinn. “From what I understand, you’re not friends with Kevin. Hattie just told me that it was important that you talk with him.”
Interesting, Danni thought. Hattie was on a first-name basis with the major.
“We’re looking into a series of murders in New Orleans,” Quinn said. “Kevin was close with one of the victims, Arnie Watson.”
“Watson?” the major asked sharply.
“Yes. Did you know Arnie?” Quinn asked.
Major Johnson shook his head. “No, but I remember talking with Kevin about him. He said there was no way his friend OD’d. But I’m not sure what Kevin can tell you. They kept in contact. In fact, I understand that Watson was one of the few people Kevin allowed in to see him when he returned about six months ago. Arnie was with him when the mine blew. He was the one who pulled Kevin back to safety. Kevin doesn’t want anyone feeling sorry for him. He’s a strong guy, but the day he heard about his friend dying...well, it was a bad day for him.”
“He knows we’re coming to see him?” Danni asked. “And he’s okay with it?”
“He does,” Johnson said.
After that, Quinn told Johnson more about the case and how Tyler Anderson had come to them and that had led to the discovery that Arnie’s supposedly accidental death slash possible suicide had been anything but.
Danni listened and watched the scenery as they drove. The foliage around DC and into Maryland was beautiful. It was truly spring.
Finally they drove up to the security checkpoint outside the hospital complex. Johnson knew the guard, and was quick to exit the car and allow it to be inspected. Then they parked and were on their way to the cafeteria.
On their way in, they passed a group of World War II veterans handing out pamphlets on veterans’ centers across the country.
“Our servicemen and women look after their fellows,” Major Johnson told them.
As they walked through the halls, Danni immediately noticed the number of men in wheelchairs, walking on prosthetic legs and gesturing with prosthetic arms as they emphasized their conversational points.
“The cost of war. We hear about numbers when it comes to death,” Quinn said softly to her. “We don’t always hear the tally when it comes to those who come home missing body parts or unable to walk.”
“This is the place, though,” Johnson told her. “This is where they come for the finest help they can possibly receive. Most of us...most of us don’t see this as work. It’s a matter of dedication.”
In a few minutes they entered the cafeteria, where people were getting food, sitting around dining and talking. Some were civilians, but judging by the number of uniforms, most were in the service in one way or another.
A harpist was playing softly in one corner, and Danni remembered that Tyler had talked about coming, too, and about entertaining the injured.