F Paul Wilson - Novel 02 Read Free Page A

in
pediatrics stared at "Where's Waldo" puzzles.
                 What
was his problem?
                 But
then she was struck by something familiar about him. If she imagined his hair
four or five inches longer . . .
                 He
stuck out his hand. "My God, it's really you. I don't know if you remember
me from high school, but I'm," The name leapt into her mind.
                 "Gerry!
" She grasped his hand. "Gerry Canney! "
                "Right! I'm flattered you
remember."
                 Remember? How could she forget?
Co-captain and quarterback for the football team, captain of the swim team, and
an honor student to boot.
                 She'd
had a monstrous crush on Gerry Canney all through Washington-Lee High in Arlington . She remembered positioning herself in the
hall outside social studies after third period every day just to watch him
stroll by. The scars on his face had wrought subtle changes on his looks, but
he was still gorgeous.
                 "You're
flattered I remember you? " she said. "I'm flabbergasted you remember
me."
                He grinned. "I've got a great
memory for faces. And who could forget a girl with a name like Pasta."
He'd said it again.
                 She'd
have to nip this in the bud.
                 "It's
Gin, Gerry. Gin."
                He blinked. "Got you. I don't
think I ever knew your real first name. Gin it is. But I barely recognized you.
You look great." He winced and waved his hands in the space between them,
as if trying to erase the words. "Wait. That didn't come out right. I
didn't mean, "
               "It's okay, " she laughed,
placing a hand on his sleeve. "I understand. I'm not half the girl I used
to be. And you . . . last time I saw you, you had huge sideburns and hair over
your ears."
                He rubbed his clean-shaven cheeks.
"Yeah. The seventies. Can you believe how we dressed back then? But tell
me, what've you been doing with yourself?"
                "I just finished an internal
medicine residency."
                 "You're
a doctor? That's great! " He glanced at his watch. "Look, I've been
waiting down here to meet you since you walked in. I mean, I just had to see if
it was really you. But now I'm late for a meeting and I've got to run. But
let's get together soon."
                 "That'd
be nice."
                 "How
about tomorrow night? Are you free?
                 She
sensed he was asking about more than just time
                 "Tomorrow?
No, I'm moonlighting Tuesday night." She started a twelve-hour shift at
Lynnbrook at eight.
                 "Wednesday
night? "
                "Sorry. Moonlighting
again." But she didn't want to turn him down flat. "Maybe we could
get together for an early bite before I go on duty. Or wait till Friday."
                "Friday's a long way off. An
early bite it will be. Any place special you'd like to go?"
                "You choose."
                 "Okay.
I will." He pulled a small leather folder from his pocket and gave her two
cards along with a pen. "Give me your number and I'll call when I think of
an appropriate place." She wrote down her number and handed back the
cards. He returned the bottom card to her.
                 "That
one's for you. Call me any time you witness a federal crime." He waved and
moved off. "I'll call you tonight or tomorrow." And then he was
hurrying through the glistening marble whiteness toward the exit. Gin glanced
at his card, Gerald Canney, Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation.
                 She
smiled. Gerry was an FBI man? Amazing. She'd always imagined him going into
business. Who'd have ever thought? And now the former major heartthrob of
Washington-Lee High wanted to take her out. Who'd ever believe that?