Diana put down the phone in shock. Then she went looking for her husband.
"Walker?"
"Yes?"
"That was... we just got a call from the hospital. Isaac's been injured."
"What?"
"It's... it's not life threatening or anything but we..."
"Come on, let's go. Zac!"
Zac's head peered down at the from the top of the stairs.
"Yo?"
"Your mother and I are going down to the hospital. Can you keep an eye on the kids?"
"Sure. What's the problem?"
"Isaac's been hurt."
"Oh no! How? Why?"
"We don't know yet. We'll try to be back soon."
"Okay."
Walker and Diana left. Sometime later they arrived, were directed to Isaac's room and spoken to by the doctor. At last they were allowed to see him.
"Ike?" Diana said.
"Mom! Dad!" Isaac greeted cheerfully.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Really. Just a few really nasty cuts and bruises."
"You were shot!"
"It was only a flesh wound."
"They say you were in a fight?" Walker questioned.
"Wrong place, wrong time," Isaac answered. "I'm just minding my own business and the next thing I know this fight has broken out! Was lucky this was all the damage done."
If they only knew the truth they'd also know just how lucky Isaac really was. But they didn't have a clue, and Isaac wasn't about to enlighten them.
"The doctor says you're to stay here overnight."
"Understandable," Isaac nodded.
Mr and Mrs Hanson soon left and Isaac was given the company of another visitor.
"How is he?" Isaac asked the nurse.
"He's dead," the nurse answered. "I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry too. Darn it, I told him to stay down!"
The nurse gave him an amused look.
"What's so amusing?" Isaac demanded. "People died! Good people!"
"So did bad people. I'd say the scales are in our favour."
"That's hardly reassuring."
"By the way, I've a message for you."
"Yeah?"
The nurse handed him a note and Isaac read it. A frown crossed his face, he screwed it up in annoyance, and pegged it at the nurse, who picked it up again quickly.
"You shouldn't do stuff like that."
"Hey, I'm the one getting -"
"Isaac -"
"He's barely dead, and they're already replacing him."
"If you must know, this was already in the works. Certain people are getting suspicious, and I think you know who I mean."
"Maybe I should have moved out."
"Maybe. But it's the consensus that they'd still get suspicious whether you did or not. You're too close."
"I suppose."
The nurse patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry. It'll all work out. You enjoy your break."