Chapter 20

By the time David and Karl got home that evening, Mac was asleep on that couch but they could smell something cooking…or that had been cooking. David walked over to the couch. "You think he cooked something?" he asked.

"I know I didn't," Karl replied.

David looked at him with a tolerant look. "You asked," Karl said.

David touched Mac's shoulder, and he was startled. "Hey, it's just me," David said.

Mac grimaced at the pain in his shoulder. "I guess I was sleeping soundly," he said. "I didn't hear you guys come in."

"How do you feel?"

"Oh, I guess I'll live."

"How did it go at the police department?"

"Fine. We found a good portrait of the guy who is heading all that."

"Really?"

"Yeah. I figure their days are numbered."

"You hope."

Karl was in the kitchen. "This smells really good," he said as he was lifting the lid of what Mac had in a crockpot.

Mac sat up. "Just some soup like my mother used to make. I guess I was just wanting to taste it again. I hope mine is as good."

"How is that shoulder?" David asked.

"Not good," Mac said. "It feels stiff again. I don't know. I got a doctor's appointment for tomorrow so I guess I can go and let them tell me it hurts again."

David chuckled at that. "You're quite a patient."

"Uh huh." Mac looked to see Karl going to his room. "David, we have to talk about moving out of here. I don't think we should stay with all this going on."

"But I work at one of his restaurants. I'm not just going to walk out on him. Besides, they already know that we're friends. I think it would be better if we were around."

"You may be right. I just hope those guys can be found."

Mac went over into the kitchen. He hoped he could get out of this soon. He was tired of having a sore shoulder, and he was tired of this "vacation". He did not think he had ever had such a vacation as this one. He felt like he was still working. He had heard that saying 'I think I need a vacation from my vacation'. He thought he was beginning to know what that meant now. He stirred the soup he had made and smiled at that aroma. He remembered when his mother made that soup. It was so good he could eat it all himself…when he was young anyway. He did not eat near as much now as he did when he was a teen.

They all sat down at the table to eat. "You should have seen this woman who came into the restaurant today," Karl said. "She had this huge hat on with pink feathers. I haven't seen anyone wear a hat like that in years. I wondered how she was going to eat with that hat on. I mean, these were the huge fuzzy feathers."

"I didn't know people wore stuff like that anymore," Mac said. "I haven't seen anything like that in years, except in Las Vegas."

"Me either but she managed to eat with it on."

"I guess it just comes down to what anyone likes."

"The police don't have a lead on this crime boss yet, do they?" David asked.

"No," Mac said. "He's basically invisible. Detective Snow was surprised that I even saw him. I suppose they were not expecting me to be alive to tell anyone about him."

"That's most likely right."

"I can't stay cooped up in this apartment three months. All I was doing was walking down the beach. I met this woman down there who was about to go swimming."

"You don't think she had anything to do with it, do you?"

"I wouldn't think so. I didn't see her anywhere around after she went in swimming."

"I wish I had been there," Karl said. "You need a bodyguard, and that's me."

"No, I don't need a bodyguard. And we've brought all this on you. I hate that you're in the middle of it."

"If your friends can't go with you through trouble, how can they go with you through bad times?"

"I know. I've helped friends through hard times myself, but this is different."

"I don't think it is. Just stop worrying about me. I can take care of myself. What? Do you think I can't because I'm deaf?"

"No. That's not it, but it does put you in danger of not hearing them."

"Don't worry."

Mac was silent after that and ate. He smiled as he remembered when he ate that stew at his mother's table. Things were so simple then. He supposed he could not wait to grow up when he was a kid, and it seemed to take so long, but now, it seemed like it had just flown by and seemed to go faster all the time.

The next day, Mac stayed at the apartment again. He did not think anyone would try anything there again. He had to take the pain medicine anyway, and he did not want to be fighting sleep all day anywhere else but at home.

David went on to the restaurant he was managing. He could hardly believe that he did not have to worry about becoming the hulk unless he wanted to. He had Mac to thank for that because he had stuck with him, and even risked being injured trying to test it. Now he was being hunted by these criminals. He supposed Mac was used to dealing with criminals but these people were not someone he was after…they were after him. He thought they probably thought Mac was more dangerous to him because he was a detective and if he was a witness against them, it would be unquestionable.

Karl unlocked his restaurant and went inside. He had never gotten tired of opening his restaurant and cooking. He had regular customers who were there just about every day. There was only one time that he ever had to throw someone out for being unruly. They had never crossed him again.

As Karl was preparing to get the ovens going, he heard the bell on the front door. No one usually showed up so early. He supposed he should make a habit of locking that door when he came in. He went to the front counter to see who had come in. "Karl!" one of them said loudly. "You are Karl Molino, aren't you?"

Karl noticed that the other man was locking the front door. "If you guys think you can intimidate me, you're wrong," Karl said. "People have tried to intimidate me before."

"Oh, we're not here to intimidate you."

The man took out a gun. "We're here to take you with us," he said.

Karl glared at him. "I'm not going anywhere with you," he declared. "You won't use me to intimidate Mac or David."

"You may be a big guy but bullets penetrate even the biggest people."

Karl frowned. He had to admit that was true. He figured they had him at least for now. "Hey, he does understand logic," the man said.

Karl was angry but he had no choice but to go with them. They took him out to a van and made him get in the back, and cuffed him to a metal ring that was welded to the side of the van. Karl could not believe he was in this, and he could do nothing about it. What would they do? Would they try to hold him for ransom?

Mac was lying on the couch when the phone rang. "Hello," he said.

"Mac Taylor?"

"Yes. Who is this?"

"Don't you have a friend named Karl Molino?"

"Yes."

"We have a guy here by that name and we're real anxious to see you."

Mac frowned as he sat up. "What are you saying?" he asked.

"I think you know. Meet us at the pier where you escaped us if you want your friend here to keep breathing."

Mac started to say something else but they hung up. He sat there a moment thinking what he should do. He jumped off the couch and thought about his arm because of the pains that went through it. There was no way he could use that arm right now. He wished he could take off the wrapping but that was impossible to get through that pain.

Mac went into his room and got his gun. He would not be unarmed going into this. He made sure it was loaded and put it in his holster that was on his leg. He had more than one gun but he would use the small one this time. He went out to his car and started to head for the pier but he wondered if he should tell David. He knew how David could help him. He considered that…but what if David got killed trying to help him? He took out his cell phone and called the restaurant where David was.

"Hello," David answered.

"David, we have problems," Mac said.

"Like what?"

"They have Karl."

David frowned and stopped what he was doing. He had not opened the restaurant yet so there were no customers there. "Where?" he asked.

"Down at the pier where they tried to do me in."

"I'll be there."

"Just be careful. Even you can be shot."

"I know but…well, you know."

"Okay."

David hung up the phone and took off his apron. He would solve this problem once and for all. He went out and headed for the pier.

As Mac arrived at the pier, he parked his car in the parking lot and then went around to the sand. They were waiting for him when he came under the pier. "Mac, what are you doing here?" Karl demanded. "You shouldn't have come!"

"I had to," Mac said. "What did you expect me to do? Let them kill you?"

"What good will it do if they kill you?"

"Hey!" one of the men said. "Who said you two could have a debate?"

Mac glared at him. "Why don't you let Karl go?" he asked. "He has nothing to do with this!"

"He has plenty to do with it."

"What do you intend to do? Kill us here?"

"Do you think when you go fishing that the fish knows whether you're going to kill it there and eat it or store it a while?"

Mac frowned at that reference. He thought they could probably kill them there and hide them somewhere. He was in no position to fight them either. However, he knew someone who could fight them. Even though Karl was deaf, he would be a formidable foe if he was untied and got hold of one of them. Mac just did not know how to get them to that point.

Suddenly, they heard a roar that was very familiar to Mac. His hope rose as he knew who was coming. Then the hulk came around the corner of the pier in all his greenness. He stopped with his teeth bared and roared at them. The two men were shocked for a moment, and as they realized what they should be doing, they were too late because the hulk grabbed their guns and crushed them into pieces. He roared at them as he picked them both up as though they weighed nothing. He looked at Mac. "What should I do with them?" he asked in that angry voice.

Mac swallowed hard as he was still not used to the hulk talking to him. "Um, just hold them a moment." He went over to Karl and untied him. "Karl, go and call the police."

Karl nodded and hurried away. Mac walked back over to the hulk and his two captives. "Well, how do you feel?" Mac asked.

"Strong," the hulk answered.

"You look strong."

Suddenly, they heard a click, and Mac whirled around. He still had the small revolver in his hand as he saw a flash of light from the dark and felt something hot, but he fired three times right at the flash. He turned and looked at the hulk who was clearly upset. Mac felt like his other arm did not want to work now.

"Mac, sit down!" the hulk yelled loudly.

The next thing Mac knew, the hulk was leaning over him but he was changing back to David. He could hear sirens too. "What happened?" Mac asked feeling like it took great effort.

David was finally staring at him with those bright green eyes and then he was normal again. He looked at Mac's lower left side. Mac groaned as he touched the wound. "I was shot!" Mac said as he realized what had happened.

"Just relax," David said. "They're coming."

"Is Karl okay?"

"Yes. Thanks to you."

"And you're okay."

"Yes. I'm fine."

"Good," Mac whispered.

David felt of Mac's pulse as he passed out again. He could feel that his pulse was strong. Karl came running around the corner of the pier and fell beside Mac. "Is he okay?" he asked.

"He will be," David replied.

"He was shot?!"

"Yes…he was protecting me."

"Are you sure he will be okay?"

David looked at Karl. "Nothing is certain, but he's strong, and I believe he will be."

Karl nodded. "He risked his life for me," he said.

"Well, he's one of those people who give themselves."

Soon, the police were there as well as an ambulance. David and Karl had to explain the whole situation. Detective Snow was there so he knew a lot of the details and he confirmed the stories.

"I want to go to the hospital with Mac," David said.

"So do I," Karl added. "We can talk about all this later."

"We need to get as much as we can now," Detective Snow declared. "He's just going into surgery anyway. You won't be able to be with him."

"I don't care," David replied. "He is our friend. He risked his life to save ours, and we're going to be there for him."

Snow nodded. "I understand, but I'll be there later to get your formal statements about all this. The guy that Mac shot was Stan Beckwith. I think this situation will be over for you guys now. Those other two will start singing. I'm sure they don't want to be convicted of murder and attempted murder."

"Good."

The next thing Mac knew, he felt like he was swimming up through a black sea. "I think he's coming to," someone said, sounding like they were far away.

Mac thought it sounded like David but he could not be sure. Then he felt the pain. He did not want to feel that.

"Mac?" David said. He shook his head. He could see that Mac was not waking up yet, although he almost did. "I think he just doesn't want to wake up yet."

The nurse that was in the room looked at him. "How do you know?" she asked.

"Would you want to wake up to all that pain?"

"I don't think he has a choice in that."

"I think there are regions of the mind that we will never understand."

"Maybe."

David sat in a chair and read the paper. Of course there was a story about their situation. He had to admit he had been glad he could become the hulk. He did not know what would have happened if he could not. Mac and Karl would probably be dead, and he might too. Mac had gone rushing into that without any thought of his own safety because he did not want Karl to die. He knew he had called him because he knew he could become the hulk.

After the lunchtime rush, Karl came to the hospital. "How is he?" he asked.

"He's resting," David said.

"He's been resting for two days. When will he wake up?"

"I'm not sure but he will eventually, most likely today. He almost woke up earlier."

Karl set a plant on the counter. "Well, I brought that for him. Maybe it will make this room not so drab."

David was silent a moment. "Karl, I enjoy being a doctor," he said. "I miss it a great deal."

"Are you saying you don't want to manage for me anymore?" Karl asked as he sat down in another chair.

"Oh, I'm not going to just leave you hanging, but I want to do something."

"I understand. You either have a passion for food, or you don't."

David nodded. "I don't mind helping you when I can but now that I know for sure that I can control the hulk and I'm not going to just become him because I'm angry or in pain or anything unless I just want to, I know I can get my life back where I want it."

"You should then. Everyone deserves to be happy about what they're doing."

Just then, Mac stirred. He moved his head and started opening his eyes. David stood up and leaned over the bed. "Hi," he said. "Are you awake this time?"

Mac looked at little confused but he nodded. "I think so," he said.

"Do you remember what happened?"

Mac considered that. "No."

"You remember being at the pier?"

Mac scowled. "Yes. I…"

David could see that he was remembering. Karl stood on the other side of the bed. "We're all doing fine," David said.

"Did they get all of them?"

"You got one of them. Stan Beckwith is dead."

Mac sighed. "I didn't even see him."

"You saw where he fired from. You sure are brave."

"I don't think I remember that."

"You'll probably remember everything later."

Mac grimaced. "Now I'm sore on both sides," he said.

"Don't worry. We'll take care of you till you're back on your feet," David said.

"I think when I get better, I'm going to take a vacation from this vacation."

Karl smiled. "I think he's getting better," he said.

"I agree," David added.

Mac got out of the hospital after five days. He was sore but he was getting better now. He could even move his fingers a little. His side was certainly sore where he had been shot. The bullet had gone in just below his ribs on the left side. He was glad he had not been shot in the right side. He thought he might not have been able to move if he had. His shoulder was not mobile yet because he had fallen on it, and it had aggravated that collar bone. He hoped he could avoid injuring it again or he would have to have surgery. He did not want to have surgery. It just prolonged the healing.

The next week, Mac started therapy. He could not do a lot but it would help him not to get so stiff. He was glad to be doing something until he felt the pain that went along with it. He felt like they were ripping his shoulder out of the socket, and his elbow burned every time he moved it, but he would not give up.

By the time his shoulder and everything were well enough for him to leave, Mac had one month of vacation left. "Don't forget you have friends here," Karl said, as they were standing outside with Mac.

"I won't," Mac said. "I could never forget you two."

"We won't forget you either," David said.

Mac shook his hand, but David gave him a hug. "You take care of yourself, my friend," David said.

"You two take care of yourselves too," Mac replied.

"And don't forget to drop by and have a meal," Karl said.

"I look forward to it."

Mac walked on out to his car. He waved to them as he got into the car, and they waved back. "He must be a great detective," Karl said. "If he could take that old case and figure it out."

"He is," David replied. "He's a good friend too."

"Well, next weekend, we won't get to be two old bachelors," Karl said as they were heading inside.

"Why not?"

"My daughter is coming home for the weekend. She'll be bossing us around, and getting us in shape."

"Ah. That could be fun."

Mac thought he would see some more of the West over the next month. As he drove away, a piano musical came on the radio. He had heard that a long time ago somewhere…he remembered the title had the word lonely in it.