This Is Where We Stop novel · Chapter 13 of 24
Chapter 13: Unit 4
Nobody in the ballroom moved.
Colson stood next to me with his medal on, and his mouth worked and made no sound.
"Unit 4," I said into the microphone. "The mayor told you about a woman alone on a roadside. Colson, tell them where she was and what the unit left behind."
"Mara," he said, away from the microphone. "Not like this."
"Louder, please. The back tables can't hear you."
A woman near the front laughed, and then stopped herself.
Colson took the microphone from my hand. It shook.
"It was a hard night," he said. His voice carried through the speakers, thin and hoarse. "There were three calls stacked. I made a judgment. A woman was in danger, and I sent the nearest unit. That's the job."
"What was the other call?"
"I don't remember."
"You don't remember."
"It was six years ago."
"You remember the woman," I said. "You've been telling that story to the county for six years."
He looked past me toward the head table.
Chantal had not moved. She sat with one hand still pressed to her heart.
"It was a routine call," Colson said. "I won't discuss other patients. It's confidential."
"Then I'll discuss him."
I stepped back from the microphone, and I looked at Padraig, who was standing at the foot of the stage.
He came up the three steps without hurry.
He did not take the microphone from Colson. He held out his hand, palm up, and waited.
Colson gave it to him.
I think he did it because it was easier than saying no.
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