Tord X Tom

Chapter Twelve

"I'm sorry I can't tell you more about your uncle's death. They used the hospital medical examiner..." A new doctor explained. Tord growled softly, "'Blunt trauma' doesn't tell me anything."

"I'm sorry, that's all it says."

Tom asked, "I mean, weren't there doctors? What about Dr. Banner or Dr. White...?"

The new doctor nodded, "Dr. White is still here at the hospital. She was here the same time as your uncle. I'm sure she could be of more help to you."

Tord pressed, "And what about Banner and Ryans?" The new doctor sighed, "Dr. Ryans died. And I'm not familiar with a Dr. Banner." Tom leaned in, "Well, can you see if there'd be any kind of forwarding address for Dr. Banner?"

"Is there some particular reason for these questions?"

"He's the only family I remember. What does this guy keep smiling about?" The new doctor lead us to Dr. White's office. She met us, shaking my hand, "Hi. Jordan White. How do you do?"

"Nice to meet you." Tord shook her hand. Jordan turned to Tom and shook his hand, "Hi. Jordan White."

"Thomas Ridgewell."

"Sit down, sit down..." Jordan kept staring at Tord, "...I'm sorry. You look exactly like him."

"Did you know him well?"

"Your uncle was my most memorable... patient."

"Why is that?"

"In the end... he made me change my mind about a lot of things. He actually helped me with a case of mine."

"Really? What case?"

"I was working with a little boy." Tom jumped into the conversation, "Peter Norski?"

"Yes..." Jordan nodded. Tom asked her, "Who was he?"

"A friend's son. How do you know about him?"

"We saw it when we were looking up information about his uncle." Tord questioned, "How did he help?"

"Well, it's complicated, but in the end he let me know how... I could get through to him."

"How?" Tom pressed.

"It's complicated and it was a really long time ago."

"Let me ask you something. Do you know how my uncle died?"

"Yeah, I think it was from a... head trauma."

"Yes, but how? How did he get it?" Tord leaned in. Jordan started fidgeting with a pen she had in her hand, "I don't know."

"You don't? ...Think Dr. Banner might have a better idea?" Jordan didn't say anything for a while before she nodded, "...Yes, Dr. Banner would know more." They walked out of her office, Tord exhaled heavily, "I don't believe a word she just said."

"Me neither."

"Come on. There's one last thing." A note was said on the intercom, "To remind you of the staff softball game at 6:30 p.m, so don't be late."

"Tord, what is this?"

"This is the room..." Tord walked over to the rack that had nothing on it, "They used to hang it over there." He walked to the left side, second row, third door, pointing at the door, "I'm actually in this drawer right now." Tord slowly opens it, Nothing.

Tom chuckled lightly, "You know what? Maybe this wasn't such a good idea."

A male patient opened the doors, "You folks ain't supposed to be down here." Tom jumped saying, "We were just leaving." The patient tilted his head when he looked at Tord, "Do I know you from somewhere?"

"I don't know, do you? I don't know, you probably know my uncle, Tord Larrson?" The patient laughed in realization, "Damn, that's right. You're his spitting image." Tord chuckled darkly, "Yeah, I know."

"You could be his ghost."

"Could be. You remember him?"

"Oh, yeah, sure. He was a great guy."

"You wouldn't happen to know how he died, now, would you?"

"I just remember them finding his body." Tord grit his teeth, "Is that all you remember, Daniel?" Daniel looked at Tord, scared, "How do you know my name?"

"I know all about you, Daniel."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Oh, yeah. I know you're a piece of shit." Tord growled lowly through clinched teeth. "I don't like you getting in my face..."

"Was it you?" Daniel whined, "I don't know what you're talking about."

"He was hit in the head. Sounds like you." Daniel backs down, whining quietly, "I never touched him, man, I swear." A nurse came down and opened the door, "What's going on? Tord "See you, pal.

"This is a restricted area. Daniel. Daniel, Daniel, they're gone. It's time for your medication."

Tord and Tom go out to the graveyard and look at the grave site {Tord Larrson Jan. 1st 1993}

"I'll see if I can track Banner down. How long do we have?"

"I don't know. I don't think we have that much time. Come on."

"Well... then you get yourself to me tomorrow. You don't... and I'll take it personally."

"Oh, yeah?"

"Do you want a drink?" Tom lead Tord upstairs and started to get it on.