Interlude: Lady of Mercy Hospital, Baltimore
Fuller, despite his distaste for the man, would have been willing to let Lou West go for now and pass his name on to the right people. He didn't like what the man had done to Sam Smith, but he also didn't like the idea of Dean Smith accidentally stumbling across him on his way to the vending machine and ripping him limb from limb. Sam needed his brother with him, not in jail for manslaughter.
Lou refused to go, though. He claimed he was waiting for a friend who was due in for a hernia, and although Fuller didn't believe it he didn't think it was worth the effort it would take to disprove Lou's statement and have him removed from the waiting room.
He left him there and went back up to Sam Smith's room. Rob was outside, standing off to one side where he could look through the glass window into the room without being obtrusive.
"What?" Fuller asked.
"What do you think, Jim?"
"About Dean Smith? The kid seems to trust him – really trust him." He nodded at the window, through which they could see Dean sitting on the bed, one leg tucked underneath him. Sam's hand was resting on his knee. "Don't you think, if he were being abused, he'd be at least a little scared?"
"I suppose so…" Rob said doubtfully. "And I have to say, the big brother doesn't look too threatening right now."
Fuller chuckled. Dean looked as protective and possessive as a little boy with his favourite toy.
"That doesn't necessarily mean anything, though. He could be faking it for us. But I don't think so… He's not acting guilty or anything. Here's Dora," Rob added. "Ask her what she thinks."
Fuller turned to greet his girlfriend with a kiss.
"What I think about what?" Dora asked after she pulled away.
"Whether Dean Smith is abusing his brother."
Dora looked through the glass. Dean was spooning ice chips into Sam's mouth.
Dora smiled goofily. "Are you two out of your minds? Of course he isn't. Where would you get an idea like that?"