Irreparable Harm (A Legal Thriller)
Page 39
Chapter 26
The federal courthouse
Anton was in bad shape. Gregor wasn’t feeling too hot himself, but he was worried about his younger partner.
Once he was able, Gregor had crawled over and rested against the cool, pink marble wall. He figured he’d catch his breath and wait for Anton to regain consciousness.
The first part was proving to be a problem because his fall had fractured a couple of his ribs. Every time he took a breath, fire spread across his torso.
The second part was a problem because Anton wasn’t coming around.
Gregor made his way over to Anton, rolled him onto his back, and winced. From the stabbing pain and from looking at Anton’s face. The little bitch had really done a number on him. In fact, he didn’t look much better than that kid they’d killed by mistake the night before.
He leaned in and listened. Anton was breathing.
Now what? Gregor tried to think. The pounding in his head made it hard.
He stared at Anton.
In a dim corner of his brain, he thought he remembered that a shattered cheekbone could kill a guy if pieces of bone got driven into the brain. Was that true? Gregor sighed. If it was true, it wasn’t like he could do anything about it.
He needed to get Anton out of here before someone had a nicotine fit and snuck into the stairwell for a cigarette.
He pulled Anton up and draped his body over his left arm, ignoring the screaming heat in his ribs. He half dragged, half carried his partner down the stairs.
It was slow going. He had to stop on the third floor landing to rest. He leaned Anton against the wall, braced his palms on his knees, and took some shallow breaths, riding the wave of pain in his ribs. Then he slung Anton over his shoulder and resumed his creeping descent.
When they hit the second floor landing, Anton started to moan.
“I got you, Anton.”
Gregor pushed on. He stopped at the door leading out to the lobby to catch his breath again. Panting and sucking in air.
Anton was getting louder.
“Listen, we’re almost out. Be cool.”
Gregor squared his shoulders as best he could and pushed the door open. He led Anton to the wall across from the security station and propped him up, trying to turn his face away from the desk.
He hurried over to the guards. “Hi, can I get these two cell phones back now, please?” He handed the older guy the ticket stub, very glad he’d checked both phones together.
The guy took the stub. He ambled over to the wooden box behind him and reached into one of the slots. Pulled out the phones. Took his time checking the numbers on the two halves of the claim ticket.
Gregor jiggled his leg.
The old guy peered up at him as he handed over the phones. “You and your buddy okay, sir?” His head tilted toward Anton slumped against the wall.
“We’re fine. Fine. My friend is diabetic. He went into insulin shock and took a tumble down the stairs. Lucky me, I broke his fall.” Gregor forced a chuckle.
The guard didn’t look convinced, but he didn’t look like he cared too much either way.
“Okay, well you take care of your friend.”
“Yes sir, I will.”
Gregor collected Anton before he fell over, then he shouldered his way out the courthouse door.