Free Don't Go by Lisa Scottoline

shares. He sensed that Jim was just trying to avoid any silences, and all of it used to be so important to Mike. It mattered less to him now, and maybe that was called perspective. Chloe had died because he wasn’t here, and on the other side of the world, soldiers were dying because he wasn’t there.
    Jim touched his arm, in a final sort of way. “But you don’t need to know all this now. We can talk about it when you get back.”
    “Okay, but why did you let Lorene and Marilyn go? If money’s a problem, I won’t take my base cut.”
    “Stop, St. Michael.” Jim waved his meaty hand. “It wasn’t the money. Marilyn was slacking, and Lorene asked for a raise, which so wasn’t happening, then she gave me attitude.”
    “Are Tony and Dave on board, with all these changes? They emailed me that the practice is down.”
    “Sure, they’re fine, both making bonuses over base. Now tell me you’re safe over there.”
    “I’m safe.” Mike thought of the yellow ribbon on the door. “What’s with the sign, Dr. Mike, all that?”
    “What? Why?” Jim recoiled. “We’re proud of you, man.”
    Mike remembered that Jim found a way to let the media know when he was deployed and the local newspaper had done a feature on him. “And it’s good for business.”
    “So, why not?” Jim shrugged it off jovially. “We are proud of you, really, but if you don’t like it, I’ll take it down.”
    “No, it’s okay.”
    “So what’s it like over there? You gotta take care of yourself. I mean it, you better come back in one piece, for my sake. I don’t have a lot of friends. I’m straight-up annoying.”
    “I know.” Mike rose, and so did Jim, touching him again on the back.
    “You get to shoot anybody or they chain you to the table? I’d love to go over there and light up the Taliban. Hoo-ah!”
    “The docs don’t say hoo-ah, Jim.”
    “Why not, man? I would. I’d go over there like Rambo, saying hoo-ah all the time. Hoo-ah to my heart’s content. Say it for me, soldier boy.”
    “Hoo-ah,” Mike said, to humor him. “Last question. Why the orange?”
    “You mean on the walls?” Jim smiled. “The orange was chosen because no local high school team has orange in its school colors. I figured that out myself. We can’t play favorites, these kids take this seriously, and the parents do, too. One kid told me the worst part of the game is driving home in the car with his mom. Anyway, orange . It was my idea.” Jim pointed to his chest proudly. “Not just another pretty face, this one.”
    “No, not at all,” Mike said, and they laughed. It felt good to be silly for a minute.
    Because Mike knew where he had to go, next.

 
    Chapter Thirteen
    “I’m Mike Scanlon,” he said to the young funeral director, who materialized from a side door. The entrance hall was otherwise empty and quiet, with navy blue carpet and blue-and-gold-flecked wallpaper.
    “Pleased to meet you, Dr. Scanlon. Scott Beeberman.” The young man extended a slim hand. He was of slight build in a dark suit, with a patterned tie and jelled hair. “My father told me to expect you. My condolences on your loss.”
    “Thank you, and for your help with my wife.”
    “Of course, your brother-in-law was here today, selecting one of our caskets. The Embassy, a cherry model. He said you would be fine with that, but if there’s a problem, please feel free to inform me. Here, come with me.” Scott started walking, and Mike fell into step beside him, down a hallway lined with cushioned benches and tasteful landscapes. Scott kept talking, in a quiet tone. “We have set aside a room for you on the lower level, and you can stay as long as you like.”
    “Thank you.” Mike realized that he and Chloe were under the same roof for the first time in six months.
    “In addition, if you’re unhappy in any way with your wife’s appearance, please feel to let me know that, as well. We did use a photograph that your brother-in-law supplied to us, which was