Chapter 5
Pill Hill—Portland OR, July 2005
“f*****g useless piece of s**t!” Parker
exclaimed, slamming the phone back onto its cradle.
As Mason had suspected, the elevator’s phone
was out of order. “Vandals,” he said softly.
“What the f**k business is it of yours!”
Parker whirled on Mason.
“No, uh, I said vandals, plural.” He
swallowed. “Kids, they frequently vandalize the equipment in the
elevators.”
“Oh, uh, yeah. Sorry, bud. You must think I’m
a real asshole.”
Mason didn’t say anything.
“I’m nervous. Hospitals, I don’t like them. I
don’t normally fly into a rage with people I don’t know.”
“It’s okay.” Inwardly Mason winced. He knew
Parker hadn’t recognized him, but somehow having it spoken out loud
made it hurt worse. People only ever saw the chair, never the guy
sitt
