“Small in comparison to what will happen if the Devil succeeds.”
“All set,” Larry says as he lumbers back in the ambulance. “It’s getting nuts out there. They’re still trying to figure out how to cut him down,” he says as he resecures the oxygen mask. “Hang in there, bud.”
As Larry goes to shut the door to the ambulance, I catch a glimpse of Sheriff Ely and Deputy Tilford in the distance. They’re staring straight at me as the chaos swirls around them. They think I had something to do with this—with Jimmy, too. And they’re not going to let this go.
40
I WANT to walk into the clinic on my own two feet, but Greg Tilford got inside Larry’s head, made him all nervous that I might take off, like some kind of fugitive.
“As soon as I get you settled in a room, I’ll take off the straps, but you can’t leave until you’ve talked to Sheriff Ely and Dr. Perry gives the clear.”
“Dr. Perry?” I ask. Miss Granger and I exchange a nervous glance. The last thing I need is someone from the Preservation Society in my face right now. “But he’s a family practitioner. He doesn’t even work at the clinic.”
“He’s the team doctor and you’re back on the team now,” Larry says, as he pulls the gurney out of the ambulance. “Only the best for our star quarterback. Enjoy it while it lasts.” He flashes a crooked smile before he wheels me inside and goes off to figure out where I need to go.
“Noodle!” I blurt as I try to sit up. “I need to be there for her—”
“All taken care of.” Miss Granger pushes me back down. “Ali went to check on them this morning. She’ll get her to school.”
“Okay, good.” I let out a sigh of relief.
Larry comes back like an overeager hunting dog who’s bit through the prey. “They’ve got you all set up in room two,” he says as he wheels me down the hall. “Dr. Perry should be here any minute.”
As he finally takes off the straps and transfers me to the examining table, Larry clears his throat. “Miss … I mean, Emma … I was thinking you might want to go to the Sizzler with me on Friday night before the game. All you can eat. I’d love to help you put some meat on your bones.”
“Really?” I sigh.
Miss Granger flashes a controlled smile.
“That’s lovely, Larry, but I have mass on Friday nights.” She twists the Lucite cross around her neck. “I’m Catholic, very devout. You’d have to convert.”
He stands there for a good ten seconds, like he’s seriously considering it. “Maybe another time,” he murmurs, before hunching over the gurney and leaving the room.
As soon as Miss Granger closes the door, I say, “I don’t know what to do. Deputy Tilford is all over me. He’s going to be a problem. And Sheriff … I called him last night … told him to meet me at the field.”
“Why would you do that?” She turns on me.
“I … I needed someone to talk to.”
“Believe me, or don’t believe me, it makes no difference, but no good will come of you getting yourself locked up in Oakmoor. You’ll be trapped inside while your friends die around you. While Ali dies. Is that what you want?”
“I don’t want any of this. But if the prophecy thing is true … if I’m the sixth, they need me for something. Maybe it’s better for everyone if I’m locked away until this blows over.”
“Unless it’s not you,” she says with a pointed stare.
“Clay Tate,” Dr. Perry says as he saunters into the room, wearing his golf clothes. He barely acknowledges Miss Granger as he thumbs through a bunch of papers on his clipboard, which is weird because I saw him talking to her at the Harvest Festival the other night.
“Heard you had a bit of a shock this morning.”
“Ben died,” I say through gritted teeth.
“I heard.” He blows on his stethoscope. “Teen suicide is a serious matter. You’ll let me know if you’re feeling depressed, won’t you, Clay?” he says, a little too chipper, as he checks my heart. “’Cause I can give you something for that.”
I hold Miss Granger’s gaze. What did she mean, unless it’s not you?
“But why would you be feeling down?” He says, as he checks my reflexes. “You’ve got the tiger by the tail, huh, QB?”
QB—just hearing him say it makes my blood pressure spike.
“Don’t worry, this shouldn’t affect your game on Friday.”
“Wait … they’re not canceling the game?”
“It’s tragic, but life goes on. Football goes on. Ben would want that. You need to give this town something to believe in … something to celebrate. And give yourself something to celebrate, too. I don’t know what your love life’s like, but that might be just what the doctor ordered,” he says with a wink.
Sheriff Ely barges in and Dr. Perry lets out a heavy sigh. “We’re in the middle of a medical exam, Ely.”
“He won’t mind, will you Clay?” He gives me that easy grin, but his eyes are blazing.
I stare down at my feet, at the blood-stained socks from the field, and I start feeling dizzy again.