Free They Never Die Quietly (2010) by D M Annechino Page A

it buddy-taped. Not much more you can do with a toe."
    Carol shrugged and went into the office. Simon limped to the restroom. With each step the pain radiated through his entire foot. He could barely stand, let alone offer treatment, and Sami, at his request, would be there soon. What was he thinking? He had no idea how he would drive home. How would he work on Sami's back? When he'd driven to work, the simple act of stepping on the accelerator and brake pedal felt like a pit bull chewing on his foot. Had he given the situation more careful evaluation he would have taken a personal day.
    Knowing that the physical therapy department closed at one p.m. on Saturday, Simon waited in the restroom until one-fifteen, hoping that his colleagues would be on their way home. When he returned to physical therapy, everyone was gone, just as he had hoped. He sat quietly, trying to ignore the stinging pain. A soft knock at the door broke the silence. At first, he considered ignoring it but could not imagine acting so insensitive. After all, he had invited her. While slowly limping to the door, he imagined standing in front of Sami while blood soaked through his Reeboks. He opened the door and did his best to force a smile.
    "Hi, Sami. It's great to see you again." He shifted his attention to Angelina. "And who's this lovely little princess?"
    With her left hand clenched and partially stuffed in her mouth, Angelina clung to her mother's leg like Velcro.
    "Angelina, say hello to Simon," Sami said. "She's always shy when she first meets people. When she gets to know you, watch out."
    When Simon bent forward to offer his hand to Angelina, a gold cross on a thick chain slipped out of his shirt and dangled from his neck.
    Certain his body would fold in half if he didn't sit soon, he gestured toward his desk. "Why don't you and Angelina have a seat?" He let them walk ahead of him so he could conceal his limp. As Simon eased into the chair opposite Sami and Angelina, he could not suppress a soft moan.
    Sami's eyes searched his face. "Are you feeling okay?"
    "Actually, I had a little mishap last night and broke my toe." He grimaced as he adjusted himself in the chair. "Hard to believe that a baby toe can bring a two-hundred-twenty-five-pound man to his knees. I feel like an idiot."
    Angelina hopped on Sami's lap. "Oh, Simon," Sami said, "you look like you're in a great deal of pain. I'm so sorry."
    "I'll be all right. Just need to favor it for a couple of days."
    She reached in her purse and handed Simon a business card. "Why don't you give me a call when you're feeling better?"
    He held the card but didn't look at it. "I feel terrible that I made you drive all this way."
    "It wasn't that far. Besides, I've got a good friend who lives a few blocks away. Haven't seen her in ages."
    Simon looked at the card, glanced at Sami, and studied the card again. "I never would have guessed. So you catch the bad guys and lock 'em up?"
    "I do my best."
    Intrigued with the possibilities, he thought for a moment, trying to ignore the gripping pain. "Why don't you join me for dinner next Friday? I should be dancing the two-step by then. It's the least I can do to make up for my rudeness."
    "That's sweet, Simon, but unnecessary."
    "You like Italian food, right?"
    "Simon, it's really not--"
    "I'll call you Thursday to confirm." Without standing, Simon offered his hand. "I'm sorry about today, Sami."
    After Sami and Angelina left, Simon leaned back in the chair and carefully swung his leg up on the desk. He examined the business card. "Sami Rizzo, Homicide Detective." Such a serendipitous encounter. For a moment, he forgot about the pain.

    After securing Angelina in the child car seat, Sami fastened her seat belt and headed for the hospital parking lot exit. Waiting for several cars ahead of her, bottlenecked where two lanes narrowed to one, Sami glanced to her left and noticed a black Ford Supercab in the employee's parking lot. Ordinarily, Sami might not have