VIII
Dylan's eyes cracked open. His vision blurred, a bright light hanging over him. Something tugged against his wrist when he moved. He lay in a thin, rough bed. When his vision cleared, he saw his left hand cuffed to a hospital bed. His clothes and weapons were gone, replaced with a thin hospital gown. He glanced to his left.
A slender young Asian woman sat in a chair next to him. She dressed in a business suit, a black jacket and skirt, and a maroon button-down blouse. Her black hair was tied back in a bun and with black-rimmed glasses. She scowled down at Dylan, her arms crossed.
"So, I have reports, a man dressed in black fled the scene of a shooting that killed a woman. Her name was Liza. She was my witness. Who hired you?"
Dylan's head still span. "Who the hell are you?"
"I'm Haruna Wu, assistant district attorney, and the woman who will ruin your life if you don't answer my question."
Dylan smirked and muttered, "Someone beat you to it." Dylan studied her. Frustration in her eyes and some sorrow beneath, something he knew all too well.
"I didn't kill her."
"Let me guess." Haruna put her finger on her chin. "A man in a white suit killed her."
"Yeah, how did you-" Haruna interrupted Dylan before he finished.
"Urban legend around here. Half the killers I talk to talk about men in white killing people, then disappearing. None of the others had any evidence. Do you?"
"No, do they ever give a name?"
"I've gotten a few."
"Who was she a witness against?"
"You didn't ask before shooting her?"
"If I killed her, I wouldn't still be in town. Whoever she was going to testify against hired a hitman. The person that hired him can help me find who killed your witness. So, who was she going to testify against?" Dylan sat up. His body hurt, but he ignored the pain.
"Liza's boss was Henrietta Vanco. She controls most of the brothels in the city." Haruna believed Dylan a little. She leaned forward with her hands in her lap. "I had a good case against her, but Liza connected everything. Without her, I can't even go to trial."
"Can you take this off?" Dylan yanked on the handcuff. "Liza died in my arms. I'm looking for the man who killed her. If I find him, I'll tell you. But I need out of here first."
"No. I don't know if you killed Liza or not, but I can't let you walk out of here."
The door opened, and Miles walked in. He lifted his gaze from Dylan's chart and turned towards Haruna. "I need to speak to the patient in private. Can you give us the room?"
"You aren't the guy from before." Haruna turned towards Miles and raised an eyebrow. "What happened to James?"
"The ER needed him," Miles said.
Haruna stood and walked out of the room. She stared at Dylan. Her eyes narrowed, "I'll be right outside this door."
The door closed. Dylan turned to Miles. He smiled. "It's good to see you. Please tell me you know where my stuff is."
"Chart says it is in locker 348 on the third floor. Hospital took your guns before the cops could. A good thing to you are going to need them."
"Can you get me out of here?"
Miles reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of handcuff keys. "Group of Russian mafia guys came in a few minutes after me. They're looking for you."
"Why? I haven't seen a Russian in years."
"It's a cover. They want to kill the girl." Miles unlocked the handcuffs on Dylan's wrist.
"You used your little trick?"
"A bit."
"Miles, you know that puts too much strain on you. Look too far..."
"I got it under control. I know the risks as well as you."
Dylan pulled at Miles's blood-stained sleeve.
Miles removed the handcuff from Dylan's wrist. He took the key and placed it in his pocket again.
Dylan rubbed his wrists and smiled at his old friend. "It is good to see you. How did you find me?"
Miles turned toward the door. "Been looking for you since you got into the States. I'll distract that prosecutor." He stepped out of the room.
