Read First Offense for Free Online Page B

though,” Hopkins said. “She might have to spend some time in bed, but they assure me she’ll make a full recovery. Have you seen her yet?”
    When David didn’t respond, Hopkins thought of the one thing that might get the little brat’s attention. Food. “Are you hungry? They’ve got a cafeteria downstairs. We could go get a piece of pie.”
    “I’m not allowed to eat pie,” David said over his shoulder. “Don’t you know that by now?”
    “Okay,” Hopkins said, glancing at the screen and seeing an old movie playing. Was the kid really watching this or just deliberately being rude? Having already played his ace. Glen was at a loss as to what to do next. When Tommy Reed strode through the door, Hopkins rushed over and pumped the detective’s hand.
    Reed looked over the attorney’s shoulder to David. “Come on, guy, I’m going to sneak you in to see your mother. She’s still in recovery and they don’t allow visitors, but I want her to see your handsome mug the minute her eyes open.”
    Springing to his feet, David grinned. Then he glanced at Hopkins, and the smile turned to a sneer. “He’s not going in, is he?”
    “Ah, excuse us a minute, Hopkins,” Reed said politely. Had to set a good example for the kid, he thought, hitching up his pants. Taking the boy’s shoulder, he guided him out the door, and they started walking down the hall together to the recovery room. “You know, David, you shouldn’t be so hard on your mother’s friends. He’s not such a bad guy, is he? I mean, your mother wouldn’t like him if he was that big of a knucklehead.”
    “He’s a creep. I hate him. And he’s not just my mom’s friend. You’re my mom’s friend.” Raising his eyebrows, the boy looked Reed in the eye. “I’m not stupid, you know. I know the difference.”
    Okay, Reed thought, they were on the same wavelength on this one. David didn’t like Hopkins any more than he did. They continued walking, the boy trying to stay in step with the detective, having to almost jog to do so. Already short of breath because of his weight and aversion to exercise, David grabbed Reed’s arm.
    “Will…Mom be okay. Tommy?” he said, his voice breaking with held-back emotion. “You’re not lying to me, are you? People always lie to me. Promise me she’s going to be okay.”
    Reed knew just what he was referring to, the months after his father vanished. He’d been only eight years old then, and they had decided not to tell him about his father until they knew for certain what had occurred. Unfortunately, Ann had taken the deception to extremes, concocting one story after another to explain his father’s protracted absence. Only after four months had gone by and every possible lead was exhausted did Ann finally sit the boy down and tell him the truth. But the detective really didn’t lay the blame on Ann, even though he had advised her to tell the child the truth a few days after Hank disappeared. It was one of those tragic situations, there was no really good way to handle it. If they told the boy his father was dead and then he surfaced…
    Weil, Reed thought, setting these thoughts aside, that was the past. At present, they had to get Ann back on her feet and find a way to help this poor kid handle another senseless act of violence—one directed at the only person he had left in the world. Reed coughed, his throat suddenly constricted, about to break down himself. David might try to hide his fear, but Reed knew the boy. He was terrified.
    “I’m not lying,” Reed said, holding his shoulders and looking him in the eye. “Listen to me. Your mom will be up and about in no time. Sure, it’s terrible that crimes like this happen. No doubt about it. Awful. Just plain disgusting. But let’s not dwell on that. Let’s just be thankful now that she’s going to be okay.” He pulled David into his arms and held him tightly.
    Once they reached the door to the recovery room, the detective shoved the boy behind