Chapter 12

A Time To Lie

Danny woke up in the hospital with a deputy guarding him. It was as if he were dreaming, and he could barely make out the voice of the deputy. "Just as soon as he's ready to travel, you tell us so we can take him to jail," the deputy said to the doctor.

"He's probably going to be here a couple of days or more," the doctor replied. "Are you sure he was caught breaking into the Ripley place? He looks like he was dragged down a dirt road."

"He resisted arrest," the deputy replied, "Serves him right."

"He must have been resisting arrest for several minutes after he was knocked out," the doctor replied. "This man is beat from head to toe. I'm not so sure it happened the way you say it did."

"Best you leave police business to us, Doc," replied the deputy. "It looks like your patient is waking up. Good, I need to talk with him about a few things."

"You can guard him from out in the hall," the doctor ordered. "If you need to talk to him it can wait until you take him to jail. This is a hospital room, not a police interrogation room, Deputy."

"Sure Doc," the deputy said as he walked toward the door. "Just make sure he don't jump out the window or something."

"It's the sixth floor," the doctor said as he closed the door behind the deputy, and walked back to where Danny was laying. "That deputy is a jerk if I've ever seen one."

"Yeah, there's a lot of them around here," Danny said. "Jerks, that is."

"So how did this happen to you?" the doctor asked. "Were you really breaking into the Ripley Mansion?"

"Is that why they say I'm in here?" Danny asked.

"So they say," answered the doctor. "What's your side of the story?"

Danny went on to tell the doctor everything that happened, or at least as much as he could remember. He memory stopped with about the forth or fifth lick upside his head with the pool cue, so he couldn't say what happened next.

"But why does JM. Ripley Jr. have it out for you, Mr. Johnson?"

"Well Doc," Danny went on, "It all started one night at the Cool Spot Lounge when Junior got drunk and started running his mouth at me, and it's been downhill almost everyday since."

"Oh yeah," the doctor said, "I was working the ER. that night. I'm the one who stitched Junior and his buddies up. I have to say you did a pretty good job on the three of them. How come you didn't fare as well this time?"

"Junior had the pool cue," Danny answered. "Besides, they weren't drunk this time."

"Yeah, they were pretty drunk that night they were in here," the doctor said. "Why is it Junior wants to carry such a grudge?"

"I guess some guys just can't let it go," Danny said.

"Well I hope you're going to let it go, Mr. Johnson."

"I'd like to, but I don't think Junior's ready to quit just yet. I think he's just set me up for one awful bad nightmare this time."

"I think you're right," said the doctor. "They claim you broke into the Ripley place, and were trying to get into their vault when Junior caught you."

"Oh man," Danny said. "What in hell is wrong with that guy? I don't want his money. All I want is to be left alone."

"Ma'am, I said you can't go in there!" shouted the deputy as Mrs. Wilson forced her way into the room.

"You better keep away from me you Barny lookin' fool!" yelled Mrs. Wilson. "You might beat Danny up, and get away with it, but you ain't going to be able to explain how you beat up no old black woman! I'll have the NAACP all over you, Boy! Now get out of this room, and leave us alone before I go stir up every nigger in town! You understand me, Deputy Dog?"

Shocked, the deputy quickly left the room as Mrs. Wilson looked at Danny with tears in her eyes and said, "Oh Lord, Danny, what have they done to you now? My God, what have they done to you now?"