Of course it was all over the local papers and even made the regional news broadcast. When things go right there’s never much fuss because there are no witnesses, or the family are out-of-towners (if there are any) or the body is discovered much later. A corpse isn’t news-worthy. But you know what is? A good samaritan happening upon a crime taking place. There’s a face to interview, some splash to be made, clicks to acquire, and so on. There was no connection made to other happenings in town because that would have required effort on behalf of journalists and members of the police force. To be fair, they’re all townies that don’t have the skills to dig deeper. I mean, if they did they sure wouldn’t be here.

So Chet made it, just barely. My failure is lying there in Intensive Care, hooked up to all kinds of bells and whistles. There’s most likely a huge piece of gauze wrapped around his throat too. One reporter said that he wasn’t able to talk, which was good. And said samaritan gave the dodgiest of descriptions. He only saw one side of my face but described my clothes well. So I drove down some backwoods road with the items in a bag, set it on fire and then buried it.

I then took a bit of time and reviewed my situation. They’ll be interviewing all Chet’s buddies at the bar and most likely the bartender as well. I’m confident that none of his friends would have noticed me as I recall it was the bartender that delivered their drinks to them. She’s going to be a problem. Damn. As for Chet, I can’t get at him in ICU because it’s an isolated area and even if I could he’d be hooked up to a heart monitor while he’s in a dicey state and if something occurred someone would come running. I’m going to have to wait this one out for a bit…

Five days had passed and the rumour around town was that old Chet was in a regular room. It’s time to give him a visit.

I’d been to this hospital over the years-asthma attacks, a fractured thumb, a gashed arm-so I knew a bit how it was laid out.There were only five floors and each wing had a small little waiting area for friends and family that were visiting patients. Thing is, I didn’t know where Chet was and of course I couldn’t ask. So I set up shop in the lobby of the second floor and listened for idle chatter. Nothing. I left after an hour. Next day I set up on the third floor and did the same. Nothing again. Not good-that bartender’s description was going to come out soon.

The third day I camped out on the fourth floor and waited. I was only going to give it 45 minutes or so because I knew I was pushing my luck. About a half hour in, two broken-down sorts ambled by, looking lost. My interest was piqued. They wandered over to the nurse’s station and I heard the word ‘Chet”. Yes!

I followed them back down to the second floor and saw them go into a room. I hurried to the men’s washroom and holed up in one of the stalls. I took out a book I’d been reading-it was Mailer’s The Naked and The Dead, don’t know why I picked that one, I guess I just liked the title-and set my phone timer for 45 minutes.

After time was up I made my way to the room and peered around the door frame. No visitors and no other patients. My time was now. I walked towards Chet’s bed, his eyes went wide when he saw me and he started fumbling for the the buzzer by his bedside. Shit! I couldn’t get to him in time and froze. Shit! He pressed it a whole bunch of times. Fuck. I had to think fast. Walking quickly towards the nurse’s station my brain was screaming, “THINK, THINK”. A thickset woman about 45 minutes was sighing and getting out of her seat.

-Uh, my buddy Chet rang for you. I think he just wants a pillow. Do you have one available? I’ll save you a trip.

-Yah, there’s one just over in the closet over here

My heart was pounding out through my chest. I could feel beads of sweat on my forehead…

-Here’s the pillow. Hey, you don’t look so good…

I cleared my throat.

-Uh, yeah. I, uh, hate hospitals. A lot. Something about that antiseptic smell gets to me. But I had to visit my buddy.

-Yeah, you’re not the first. And could you get Chet to lay off the buzzer? Pretty annoying…

-Sure, sure. I’ll see that he doesn’t bother you anymore.

Chet was trying to desperately get out of his bed and struggling badly in his weakened state. The buzzer had fallen to the floor and I pushed him back down onto the bed. As the pillow went over his face he struggled a bit but not much. He was an old man that had suffered a significant injury so it didn’t take long. After it was over I put the extra pillow behind his head all nice like.

I’m hoping there’s a 50/50 chance that medical staff will attribute Chet’s demise to his heart giving out but who knows? That nurse saw me plain as day and the thought of having to kill a woman makes me sick to my stomach…

TO THE GAME!

Packers/Niners:

It was reported that Kittle would give it a go tonight so it may only be Breida, Samuel and Sanders that are out. Green Bay is very generous in the run game so Tevin should get his but if he doesn’t Jimmy G has proven that he can fling it these past few weeks. I think that this one will be a close one.

Night night!