Northern Lights: A Due South Novel

Chapter 21: Sins of Our Fathers

The pain in Elizabeth's side was fading to a dull ache by the time the nurse finished cleaning and bandaging her scraped hands. After checking for a concussion, the resident confirmed what Elizabeth already knew. She had broken no bones, but her side and the costal cartilage around her sternum would be tender for a few weeks. He handed her some ibuprofen and discharged her.

"Try not to cough. Or laugh," said the young doctor.

Elizabeth did not feel like laughing. She shoved the pill bottle in her pocket as she pushed open the exam room door. Nurses sidestepped around her while an announcement echoed down the bustling hallway. Beeping machines, muttering staff, and the clatter of a stretcher formed the hospital orchestra.

The Vecchio clan filled the waiting room. Francesca listened while her eldest son Francesco translated the doctor's medical information into plain English. Julio was writing code on a laptop while Isabel and Corinna argued about whether it was appropriate to film in a hospital. All eyes snapped to Elizabeth as she made her way to the farthest corner to wait for Jon.

"Hey, kid. Eat this." Ray thrust a chocolate-covered protein bar in her face. "I wanted to get you something better, but hospitals these days are all into 'healthy eating'. As though anyone wants to eat unsalted almonds when they're waiting in a hospital."

He sat on the stiff, plastic-covered armchair next to her. "Stella's travelling and can't get here for a few hours. So Jon's stuck with us for now."

There was an irregular pattern of dots and stars on the linoleum. Elizabeth rotated her right foot, letting the brown leather boot sweep over the floor, as she tried to find the point where the pattern repeated.

"It wouldn't have happened to my dad." Elizabeth slumped, her elbows on her knees, her head drooping. "He wouldn't have run into an ambush."

Ray snorted. "Of course he would have."

Elizabeth turned toward him.

"You think your dad never made mistakes? I was there. Some of his mistakes put him in the hospital. Some of them put me in the hospital. Well, some of those were my mistakes too. Your dad couldn't stop himself from running into danger. He was trying so hard to be the perfect Mountie that he put it ahead of his own life."

"What changed?" she asked.

"You," Ray said. "You needed him alive more than a case needed to be solved. Benny wanted to do a better job with you than his old man did with him. Wanted to be there for you when his dad wasn't there for him. Now I worry what he'll do if he thinks you don't need him anymore."

"I still need him." Elizabeth dug in her pocket and produced Fraser's Chicago advice letter. She'd placed it in a small plastic baggie to keep it crisp.

Ray unfolded the letter on his knee and put on his reading glasses. He ran his thumb down the edge of the page as he scanned. "Armani. I remember that. And I always thought he was blaming the wolf!"

His hand drifted down as he reached the bottom of the first page. "Just like Benny, to think a set of rules will stop you from making mistakes. Life is mistakes. You just have to be careful not to make the mistakes that get you—or your friends—killed."

Elizabeth smiled. "Read the last rule."

Ray turned the page over and ran his index finger to the very last rule.

23. When in doubt, ask Ray.

"What would you say to do?" she said.

Ray leaned back. "Keep at it. Don't let the bastards get away with it. And if you're chasing an armed criminal, clear the area before busting through a door."