imagine, we have quite a few questions on what happened in that room.” As the older agent made introductions, the younger one moved to the foot of the bed to address Delmont directly.
“I don’t mean to interrupt, Steve,” he began. “But I wanted Sergeant Jeffries to know…I’m a Marine, and was stationed in Afghanistan, too. I heard about you, hell, everyone in the country heard about you. I always told my boys that if I ever met you I…well, I would tell you that you’re an inspiration to all of us. You’re a goddamned hero to every man who ever took the oath and bled for this country. It’s an honor to get to know you, even under the circumstances.”
“Oorah,” Delmont said, reaching out his hand to James.
“Oorah,” James responded, shaking it firmly. “Sorry, Steve. I’ll let you have at it.” James moved back to his position by the door, crossing his arms over his chest.
Delmont looked around the room for a moment, and asked, “What happened to the other patient who was here when they rolled me in?”
“We moved him for his safety,” Agent Donaldson replied. “We have reason to believe that this morning’s events may have been targeted at you specifically, and so Agent Stanley and I have been assigned not only to ask you some questions, but to provide protection until this situation is resolved.”
“I’ll answer any questions I can, but I’m not really keen on you boys following me around,” Delmont said.
“I hope you’ll reconsider. Your doctor indicated that the accident and the blast left you with a concussion, and that you should be watched carefully for the next forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Wouldn’t you agree that it would be far preferable to have us accompany you rather than spend that time here?” Agent Donaldson leaned back in his chair, while Delmont scowled at him.
“You’re saying that if I refuse, you’re going to have them keep me here? And you two will just lurk around anyway?”
“For your health, of course,” Agent Donaldson replied.
Delmont sighed. “Look, let’s talk about what happened over there today, and then if it will get me out of here, you guys are welcome to tag along. Hell, it’ll probably be nice to have some company for a bit,” Delmont grumbled.
Pulling out a micro-video recorder from the inside of his jacket pocket, Agent Donaldson positioned it on the bedside table so that both he and Delmont would be in the shot. After pressing a button and making sure it was recording, he said, “Special Agents Donaldson and Stanley, Homeland Security, interviewing Mr. Delmont Jeffries regarding the events at Moses Cone Hospital the morning of Thursday, August 2 nd . The time is now 1:09 p.m. of the same date. Mr. Jeffries, please confirm your identity for the record.”
Delmont looked between the agent and the camera for a moment, then focused on speaking to Stephen directly. “My full name is Delmont Thomas Jeffries.”
“And were you admitted to Moses Cone Hospital this morning for treatment following an automobile accident?” Agent Donaldson asked.
“Yes, I was riding my Harley to work when a man ran a light out near the college and grazed my rear tire. I was wearing a half-helmet and gashed my head open, so the EMS boys told me I needed to let them to take me over to the hospital to get it cleaned up. If I had known what a shit-storm was coming, I would have taken my ass straight home, believe that,” Delmont replied.
“Now, tell us in your own words, what happened when you arrived at the emergency room? Start at the beginning, please,” Agent Donaldson instructed.
“Okay, so the ambulance got me over there, and they put me through triage, just getting information, you know, all normal stuff. They cleaned my head up a bit, and the doc that came in said he wanted to get a CT scan of my brain, and some x-rays of my leg where I dropped the bike on my knee. After they were sure there was no more debris in my head, they were
“I don’t mean to interrupt, Steve,” he began. “But I wanted Sergeant Jeffries to know…I’m a Marine, and was stationed in Afghanistan, too. I heard about you, hell, everyone in the country heard about you. I always told my boys that if I ever met you I…well, I would tell you that you’re an inspiration to all of us. You’re a goddamned hero to every man who ever took the oath and bled for this country. It’s an honor to get to know you, even under the circumstances.”
“Oorah,” Delmont said, reaching out his hand to James.
“Oorah,” James responded, shaking it firmly. “Sorry, Steve. I’ll let you have at it.” James moved back to his position by the door, crossing his arms over his chest.
Delmont looked around the room for a moment, and asked, “What happened to the other patient who was here when they rolled me in?”
“We moved him for his safety,” Agent Donaldson replied. “We have reason to believe that this morning’s events may have been targeted at you specifically, and so Agent Stanley and I have been assigned not only to ask you some questions, but to provide protection until this situation is resolved.”
“I’ll answer any questions I can, but I’m not really keen on you boys following me around,” Delmont said.
“I hope you’ll reconsider. Your doctor indicated that the accident and the blast left you with a concussion, and that you should be watched carefully for the next forty-eight to seventy-two hours. Wouldn’t you agree that it would be far preferable to have us accompany you rather than spend that time here?” Agent Donaldson leaned back in his chair, while Delmont scowled at him.
“You’re saying that if I refuse, you’re going to have them keep me here? And you two will just lurk around anyway?”
“For your health, of course,” Agent Donaldson replied.
Delmont sighed. “Look, let’s talk about what happened over there today, and then if it will get me out of here, you guys are welcome to tag along. Hell, it’ll probably be nice to have some company for a bit,” Delmont grumbled.
Pulling out a micro-video recorder from the inside of his jacket pocket, Agent Donaldson positioned it on the bedside table so that both he and Delmont would be in the shot. After pressing a button and making sure it was recording, he said, “Special Agents Donaldson and Stanley, Homeland Security, interviewing Mr. Delmont Jeffries regarding the events at Moses Cone Hospital the morning of Thursday, August 2 nd . The time is now 1:09 p.m. of the same date. Mr. Jeffries, please confirm your identity for the record.”
Delmont looked between the agent and the camera for a moment, then focused on speaking to Stephen directly. “My full name is Delmont Thomas Jeffries.”
“And were you admitted to Moses Cone Hospital this morning for treatment following an automobile accident?” Agent Donaldson asked.
“Yes, I was riding my Harley to work when a man ran a light out near the college and grazed my rear tire. I was wearing a half-helmet and gashed my head open, so the EMS boys told me I needed to let them to take me over to the hospital to get it cleaned up. If I had known what a shit-storm was coming, I would have taken my ass straight home, believe that,” Delmont replied.
“Now, tell us in your own words, what happened when you arrived at the emergency room? Start at the beginning, please,” Agent Donaldson instructed.
“Okay, so the ambulance got me over there, and they put me through triage, just getting information, you know, all normal stuff. They cleaned my head up a bit, and the doc that came in said he wanted to get a CT scan of my brain, and some x-rays of my leg where I dropped the bike on my knee. After they were sure there was no more debris in my head, they were
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