The First Three Rules (9 page)

“Nope. I’m not sick either. But we need to meet him at the doctor so he won’t worry about you.”

Rudy made a serious face. “Ellis worries a lot.”

“Yes, he does. So let’s not make him worry more. Do you think you could get dressed for me?”

“You’ll have to make sure my clothes aren’t wrinkled. Ellis always makes sure.”

“I can do that.”

He rubbed his eyes and yawned. “Do I have to take a bath?”

“Not today.”

“It’s nighttime, not today. If it was today the sun would be shining.” Rudy got out of bed.

“You’re right. It’s tonight. You don’t have to take a bath tonight.”

“Good. I hate baths because you get wet.” Rudy went over to his dresser and took out two shirts. “Which one? I like blue, but red is nice too.”

Jon scrubbed a hand over his head. “Either color.”

“Which one do you like.”

“The red one.”

“I like blue.”

Jon walked over. “Rudy?” He looked at Jon. “I know it’s important to you that you pick out the colors you like, but today I just need you to get dressed.”

“Are we in a hurry?”

“Yeah. A little bit of a hurry.” Jon took out a pair of jeans and put the red shirt back in the drawer. “Here, put this on.”

“I need underwear. Ellis always says I have to wear clean underwear.”

Jon found a pair while Rudy pulled off his pajama top and put on the blue shirt.

“Socks,” Rudy said.

Jon checked the top drawers, he didn’t find any. “Where are they?”

“Where they’re supposed to be.”

“Where is that?”

“In the closet.”

While Rudy dressed, Jon found the socks in a set of plastic drawers and brought them over.

“They don’t match.” Rudy held them up. They were both white but one had grey toes the other didn’t.

“Wear them anyway.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can.”

“Socks have to match too. Ellis said that I have to look nice when I leave the house so people will know he takes care of me.”

Jon went back to the closet and dug through the plastic drawers until he found a match. He gave them to Rudy. His shoes were under the drafting table.

“Here.”

Rudy took the sneakers and held them in his lap.

“What’s wrong?” Jon said.

Rudy’s eyebrows came down. “I forget which foot.”

Jon put the shoes on the correct foot and tied them.

“Okay, are we ready?” Jon exhaled a breath when Rudy nodded. “Good. C’mon.”

“What about my teeth and my hair?”

“We really need to hurry.”

“So I don’t have to brush my teeth?”

“Not today.”

“I hate brushing my teeth. The toothpaste tastes funny.”

Jon led Rudy down the steps.

“Wait,” Rudy said.

“What now?”

“You’re all wrinkled.” Rudy pointed at Jon’s shirt.

Large creases bunched up the fabric from sleeping in his clothes. “It’s okay.”

“But you’re wrinkled and people will say Ellis doesn’t take care of you.”

“I won’t let them do that.”

Rudy seemed to think a moment.

“Please, Rudy. We need to go.” Jon opened the front door and Rudy followed him out to the car.

“Why aren’t we going in the truck.”

“The truck is Ellis’s and besides I don’t know where the keys are.” Jon opened the driver’s side door of his car.

“I can find them. I can find anything.” Rudy jabbed his thumb at his chest.

“You get to ride in the truck all the time. Wouldn’t you rather ride in my car?”

Rudy went around to the passenger side. He got in and put his seat belt on. Jon started the car.

“Wait,” Rudy said.

Jon clenched the steering wheel.

“You have to put on your seatbelt. Ellis says to always wear your seatbelt.”

Jon put it on.

When Jon turned out of the driveway, Rudy said, “Is the sun broken?” He leaned forward. The dash lights traced his profile.

“Broken?”

“It’s dark.”

“It’s nighttime, remember? Not day—I mean, today.”

“When it’s dark, I’m supposed to sleep.”

“But you can’t see Ellis if you’re asleep.”

“He always says, ‘Stay in bed, Rudy, until nighttime is over.’ He says it over and over so I won’t forget.” His voice wavered. “Ellis is going to be mad. I messed up the microwave.”

“He won’t be mad this time. I promise.”

“Why not?”

“You’re with me.”

“So that makes it okay?”

“This one time. Yes.”

“Because you’re my friend.”

“Yeah.”

Rudy sat back in his seat and hummed some disjointed tune while Jon drove. By the time Jon pulled into the parking lot at the emergency entrance a streak of color painted the edge of the mountains.

“Why are we at the hospital?” Rudy said.

“We’re going to see Ellis, remember?”

“But you said he was at the doctor.”

“He is. The doctor he went to see when he got sick is here.” Jon undid his seat belt.

“Ellis got sick yesterday.”

“Yeah.”

“You brought pizza yesterday.”

“I did.”

“Lenny beat him up yesterday too.” Rudy twisted his hands close to his chest and rocked back and forth.

“He did.”

“Ellis was bleeding.”

“I know.”

Jon opened the door, but Rudy didn’t move. He looked back. Under the halogen light, the fear in Rudy’s face was blinding.

“What’s wrong?”

Rudy trembled. “Is Ellis going to die?”

“No.”

“Mom and dad died.”

“Rudy, Ellis will be fine. C’mon, he’ll want to see you.”

Rudy got out.

Jon towed Rudy to the emergency room. He stayed silent while Jon gave his name to the woman at the front desk.

“Are you family?” She said.

“I’m a friend.”

“Only family can see him.”

Jon nodded at Rudy. “This is his brother.” Rudy stared at the people in the waiting room.

“Sir?”

When Rudy didn’t respond, Jon tugged on his arm. “Rudy.” He looked at Jon. “Tell this woman who you are.”

“Rudy.”

“Who’s your brother?”

“Ellis.”

The woman didn’t look convinced. “Do you have any ID?”

“Rudy, do you have a wallet?”

“No.”

The woman took the clip board back. “Without any way to verify he’s Mr. Harper’s brother, I can’t let him go back.”

“Is there anyone here who knows them? One of the doctors, maybe?” Jon was willing to bet the doctors working in the hospital also owned a practice near town. It had been that way back home. Gilford wasn’t that much bigger than Watkinsville.

The nurse shook her head. “If he doesn’t have ID I can’t let him back.”

“I heard you the first time and you’re not listening to me. There has to be someone here who will recognize him.”

“I’m not going to wander around in the back asking staff if they know him. This is a hospital, people are busy. You’re welcome to take a seat in the waiting room until Mr. Harper can verify who you are.” The woman closed the window.

Jon cursed.

“Can we go see Ellis now?”

“Not yet.”

“But I want to see him.”

“Me too. But we have to wait.” Jon tried to lead Rudy over to a chair. He pulled away.

“I want to see Ellis.”

“I know you do, Rudy, but we can’t. Not without ID. They can’t verify you’re his brother.”

“But I am.”‘

“I know.”

A cop walked by the nurses’ window. She smiled at him. There was a buzz and the doors unlocked. Ah, the privileges of a badge. Jon didn’t have one anymore, but he still had his ID card. He took out his wallet and tapped on the glass. The woman ignored him. Jon tapped harder. She glared at him, and opened the window.

“I already told you…”

He held up the ID card. “I’m a US marshal, and I want to see Mr. Harper.” She stared a moment, her mouth open. “Did you hear me?”

“Why didn’t you say something before?”

“Because I had his brother with me and I didn’t think I needed to.”

Her gaze went to Rudy. “Yes, sir.”

She buzzed Jon in.

“Harold will take you back.” The nurse nodded at the man wearing a blue scrub top.

“C’mon.” Jon took Rudy by the arm.

The man led them down a long gray hall to a back room where beds were separated by curtains. Disinfectant and ozone saturated the air.

“He’s in this one.” The orderly pulled back the curtain. “The doctor will be by shortly so just sit tight.” He left.

Ellis looked almost frail among the white blankets. He had a couple of butterfly stitches on the cut near his temple now and an IV line in the crook of his left arm.

Jon want to touch him but he wasn’t sure he had the right so he put his hands on the railing.

Rudy cringed in the corner.

“It’s okay, he’s just asleep.” Rudy still didn’t move. “Rudy?” He shook his head. “All right, you stay right there then.”

Ellis surprised Jon by opening his eyes. The hell with being appropriate, Jon put his hand over Ellis’s. “How are you feeling?”

“Did you find the Tylenol?” Ellis squinted at him.

“Yeah, and I even remembered to put it back.”

Ellis blinked several time and looked around. “Where am I?”

“Hospital.”

“Rudy?”

“He’s right there.” Jon nodded at Rudy.

“Hey, how you doing?” Ellis smiled.

“Are you dead?”

“No, not dead. At least, I’m pretty sure I’m not.”

Rudy touched Ellis’s foot, hidden under the blanket.

“It’s okay,” Ellis said. “You can come over here.”

Rudy did. Ellis held his hand. “You all right?”

Rudy nodded.

“Everything will be okay, so don’t to worry.”

Rudy petted Ellis’s like he might break if he touched him too hard.

The curtain pulled back. The doctor was tall and thin and the crop of white hair on his head was almost gone. His name tag read Bramblet. He looked at Ellis, then Rudy. “Hey there Rudy, it’s been a long time.”

Rudy almost smiled. “I fell off the porch.”

“You sure did.”

“I broke my arm.”

“Yup. But you’re doing okay today, right?”

“Ellis is sick.”

“Just a little. Don’t worry, we’ll get him fixed up.” The doctor looked at Jon. “And you’re the marshal, I presume.” The man’s expression said he was onto Jon’s game.

“Retired, but yeah.”

“A little young to be retired.”

“Medical reasons.”

He nodded like it explained everything. “I want to do an MRI.” Doctor Bramblet scanned the clipboard in his hands.

“Why?” Ellis said.

“Because you have a concussion. And I want to make sure there’s nothing serious going on up there.” His gaze flicked to Rudy then back. “You mind telling me how this happened?”

“Lenny beat him up,” Rudy said. “The lady’s hair was so pretty. I broke rule number three. Then Lenny got mad and came over to the truck—”

“Rudy,” Ellis said. Rudy snapped his mouth shut. “It was an accident. Nothing else.”

“Did you file a police report?” Bramblet said.

“No.”

“You need to.”

“No.”

“Ellis, this is serious.”

“I’m not filing a police report and that’s that.”

“At least call George Marsh.”

“He’s not the sheriff anymore so there’s nothing he can do.”

“He may not be sheriff, but he can talk to Lenny.”

Ellis tried to sit up. “I want to go home.” Jon put a hand on his shoulder. “Let me go. I want to go home.”

“You need to stay.”

“No.”

“Ellis.”

“Who the hell do you think you are?” He shoved Jon’s hand away and punched his shoulder. Jon didn’t even flinch.

Ellis tried to hit him again and he grabbed Ellis’s wrist. “He won’t call the cops.” Ellis pulled but Jon hung on. The anger in Ellis’s eyes dulled with fatigue and the pink in his cheeks bled away. “Please, just lay down.” He resisted a few more seconds then fell back against the bed. Jon looked at Doctor Bramblet. “No police report.”

His mouth made a slash. “Fine, no report.”

Ellis shut his eyes and Jon covered him back up.

Doctor Bramblet gave them both a sideways glare and shook his head. “I’ll send someone to take you downstairs in a few minutes.” He left.

Rudy said, “You said a cuss word.”

Ellis opened his eyes back up.

“You aren’t supposed to say those words.”

“Sorry,” Ellis said. “I forgot.”

“They’re rude.”

“Yeah, they are.” A deep line cut across his forehead and he grimaced.

Jon took Rudy by the elbow and led him over to one of the chairs. “You sit here and let your brother rest.”

“Am I in trouble?”

“No. He’s just really tired.”

Rudy sat and stared at his feet.

“Jon,” Ellis said.

He went back to the bed. “Yeah?”

“Thanks.”

“I’m sorry I didn’t insist you come here sooner.”

“My fault. I should have tried harder.”

“Can you take Rudy to get some breakfast? I’ll pay you back.”

“I’ll take him, but you will not pay me back.” Ellis started to argue, but Jon put a finger over his lips. It struck him how soft they were. Ellis’s gaze shifted, his pupils dilated, and his breath hitched. Even though Jon didn’t want to, he pulled his hand away. “You will not pay me back. I’m doing this as a friend.”

“Just a friend?” Ellis’s eyes widened like the question caught him off guard. Some color returned to his cheeks.

“I’ll be anything you want me to be, Ellis.” Jon leaned closer. “Anything.”

Ellis was sick but Rudy wasn’t too worried, because his friend Jon was there to make everything better. He followed Jon to the elevator and waited while he read the list of words on the sign beside it. Then they went inside and he punched a number.

“Where are we going?” Rudy hoped it was to eat oatmeal. He was hungry and he wanted a glass of milk. His stomach growled.

“To the cafeteria to get some breakfast.”

“What if they don’t have oatmeal?”

“I’m sure they will.” The elevator stopped. Rudy made sure to keep his hands close to his chest as he followed Jon. No touching. That was important.

“But what if they don’t?”

“You could get eggs and biscuits.”

“I eat oatmeal for breakfast.”