TPS2
Roy turned the pages of the magazine, not really reading them through another slow shift. It had been two seeks since hiring the PI and so far he hadn't heard anything. The man had sounded hopeful but now he wasn't sure it was a good idea. For a year he had watched his partner and friend fight for his life and career only to lose everything in the process. But the wheels of justice turned slow and now there were a chance at redemption, but was it far too late and far too little.
"Roy," Hank looked at the serious man.
"Huh?"DeSoto looked up from his magazine.
"Phone call, take it in my office," Cap pointed the way.
"Sure, Cap," Roy didn't notice the other men look at him leave. Phone calls in the office weren't always good.
Walking to the office he wondered if it would be good or bad news. Picking up the headset he stood just in case he had to go home.
"Hello."
"Mr. DeSoto," the detective answered. "You said to call you as soon as I had anything. Well I found your friend, John Gage."
The paramedic could feel his heart racing and quickly grabbed a piece of paper, took his pen from his pocket and wrote down the information.
"Thank you very much. I dunno…thanks." DeSoto sighed.
"You have to remember Mr. DeSoto it will be up to Mr. Gage if he wants to talk to you. I just found him you understand," he warned.
"Yes thanks again," Roy hung up the headset and stood there for a minute. Then headed back to the day room.
"Well?" Stanley looked at the grinning man.
"He found Johnny," DeSoto folded the piece of paper in his pocket and then headed to get coffee.
"So when are you going to see him Roy," Chet looked and smiled knowing his former pigeon had been found.
"I don't know Chet. I mean I didn't think that far ahead since I didn't know if Johnny could be found, besides what the hell am I supposed to say to him?" DeSoto took a long drink of his coffee.
"Hello," Mike smiled.
****
Roy had booked a red eye to New Mexico, land of enchantment or so the posters said. Home to Roswell and other supposed mystical places if you believed in those sorts of things. Anyway, he had one day trip planned going in between shift and partly because he wasn't sure what to expect. Tired from the long shift at work he had fallen asleep as soon as the plane took off since he had a long drive once he landed.
Once landed, DeSoto took his carry on with precious cargo and got his rental car, map and a quick fast food breakfast. Paradise, New Mexico is where Gage had ended up, but considering the hell he had before him maybe it was fitting for his former partner to land in Paradise. Anyway, he knew it was going to be a long drive; he turned up the stereo, rolled down the windows and paid careful attention to road signs. The beautiful vistas and bright sunshine meant nothing to him. HE was on a mission, uncertain at best since he didn't even know if Johnny would even talk to him.
Driving he watched as the sun rose and filled the morning sky with blues, greens, reds and shades of pink you'd never see in LA. Tapping his fingers on the steering wheel, Roy wondered if he should just turn the car around and head back home. Suddenly the manila envelope didn't hold a lot of promise and vindication he had thought. Maybe it would bring up more painful memories and regrets.
"I can't stay Roy. Too many bad memories." John stood there in his driveway.
Roy looked at worn and beaten partner. "But Johnny you don't have to leave the state. There are other paramedic programs and other places you can work."
"Too late Roy. I couldn't even get a job as a gas station attendant. My name and face have been plastered from one end of the state to another because I chose to fight. I'm real sorry Pally," John smiled, climbed on his motorcycle and disappeared into traffic.
Fight, yes just what he did. Gage was fighting for all paramedics because the rest of them were too chicken to do so and his former partner had paid the price.
Glancing at the map, Roy found he was on the outskirts of town and saw the sign Paradise, New Mexico Pop. 500. Five hundred souls and his friend were among them. Pulling into diner he decided to eat lunch before trying to find Johnny.
It was a classic diner, a silver trailer of sorts, grabbing a window seat he looked at the menu and ordered a club sandwich fries and lots of coffee. He ate in silence and watched as other cars drove through the lonely stretch of highway. Once finished he looked at his waitress.
"Excuse me ma'am. I wonder if you could help me," Roy smiled his best smiled since he was a complete stranger.
"Sure if I can," his waitress gave him back a smile.
"Um, I'm looking for my friend John Gage. Have you ever heard of him," Roy held his breath.
"You mean Roddy Gage? Never heard him called John before. You say you're a friend of his?" the waitress looked at him suspiciously.
"Yes from LA. I know Jo-Roddy from LA." Roy clasped his hands.
"Funny Roddy never mentioned he was from LA, you mean in California with all them movie stars and such," she put her pad and pencil into her pocket.
"Yes ma'am from Los Angeles. So do you know where I can find Roddy?" Roy left the money for the bill on the table and slid out and stood up.
"Oh, you can find Roddy working at the clinic today."
"Clinic?" Roy stuck his hands in his pocket
"Yeah up the road about a mile on your right. You can't miss it," the waitress walked him to the door. "You tell Roddy Margene says hello now."
"Yes ma'am and thanks," Roy walked to his rental and sat for a moment. Roddy, not Johnny. Boy John Roderick Gage. Maybe I shouldn't have come after all.
The building was easy to spot, a flat adobe with a big clinic sign. Parking the car, Roy opened the door, slammed it shut and headed inside, now feeling the heat of the day. In the inside was a small reception area, reminding him of the clinic they had stopped at years ago from an ill fated fishing trip.
In the reception area were men and women of all ages, filtered music, worn chairs and of course magazines.
"Mrs. McKenzie's," a tall slim man called into the reception area. His black hair was so long he had it in a ponytail along with a full beard and moustache but the voice was unmistakable. He had a tied dyed shirt on, worn jeans and sandals and was awfully skinny in his mind.
"Johnny?" Roy asked in surprise his words spoken out loud at the change of his friend.
"Roy! Roy!" John came over, hugged him and patted him on the back.
"Johnny I can't believe it's you I..." Roy wiped away the moisture from his eyes.
"I got to get back to work Roy. Just give me a minute k?" Gage took Mrs. McKenzie's to the back and was back in a minute.
They went outside and Roy's mouth still stood open.
"Um I had to take her vitals for the Doc you know. Hey Roy I get off in a couple of hours. Meet me at the diner, you know the one up the road," Johnny pointed to diner where he had just been.
"Sure Johnny anything you say. I'll see you in a couple of hours." Roy watched as his former paramedic partner went back into the clinic, leaving him to ponder how Johnny was now a hippie.
