Half a month later, Adrian Knight was finally preparing to leave the Chicago Rehabilitation Hospital.
The twenty-seven-story medical complex was enormous, but Adrian had spent most of his recovery inside a private room that looked closer to an upscale hotel suite than an ordinary hospital ward.
After everything he had survived in Hyde Park, he had decided there was no reason to save money on treatment.
A nurse led the casually dressed Alvin Olinsky into the private room and lightly knocked before opening the door.
“Mr.
Knight, you have a visitor,” she said as Adrian finished pulling on a set of ordinary clothes.
Adrian looked over and smiled.
“Thank you.” “You’re welcome,” the nurse replied before leaving them alone.
Alvin stepped farther inside and slowly looked around the room, taking in the oversized bed, private sitting area, large windows, and expensive furnishings.
The room had to be close to a thousand square feet.
Private medical care at this level certainly wasn’t cheap.
Whatever insurance or department coverage Adrian might have had, he had simply chosen to pay whatever was necessary to recover in comfort.
Looking around the luxurious room, Alvin could think of only one explanation.
“Money really does make life easier, doesn’t it?” Alvin muttered.
Adrian laughed and gave him a brief hug.
“Like you said, money solves a lot of problems.
Getting good medical care is one of them.” He rolled his shoulders experimentally and added, “I think I’m finally good enough to get out of here.” Alvin gave him an approving look.
“Then let’s go.” The two left the private room and headed toward the elevators at an easy pace.
Adrian’s injuries had mostly healed, though he could still feel some stiffness from the beating and electrical shocks whenever he moved too quickly.
They had barely reached the lower floors when Alvin’s phone began vibrating.
He looked at the screen and saw Trudy Platt calling.
The moment he answered, Trudy’s familiar sharp voice came through.
“Olinsky, Michelle Sovana from juvenile detention has been calling for you.” Alvin’s expression immediately changed.
“You know this is the quietest part of my day,” Trudy continued.
“I’m trying to drink my coffee and get through the sports section before this place turns into a circus.
She’s been trying to reach you for weeks, so please handle it before she starts calling my desk every ten minutes.” Alvin slowed to a stop.
“Give me the number.
I’ll take care of it.” After ending the call, he looked toward Adrian with an awkward expression.
Alvin had come to the hospital specifically to pick him up for Intelligence, and now something personal had suddenly appeared in the middle of that plan.
He clearly didn’t want to leave Adrian standing there alone immediately after discharge.
Adrian noticed his hesitation.
“Something come up?” “Nothing serious,” Alvin replied automatically, then stopped pretending.
“Actually…
I might need to swing by the juvenile detention center.” He rubbed the back of his neck before adding, “You mind coming with me?” Adrian shrugged.
“Sure.
No problem.” He didn’t ask for details immediately.
Adrian already knew enough about Alvin to understand that his personal life was complicated, especially his marriage and the years he had spent practically living out of his garage.
Whatever this was, it clearly wasn’t something Alvin found easy to discuss.
After walking another few steps, Alvin finally decided to explain.
“A long time ago, when I was working undercover, I got involved with a woman.” He paused before looking toward Adrian.
“Michelle is my daughter.” Adrian nodded slowly.
“All right.
I understand.” There wasn’t much else to say.
Alvin’s expression made it obvious that he wasn’t looking for judgment or advice, only trying to explain why they were suddenly changing direction.
Adrian respected that and left the subject alone.
They reached Alvin’s Hyundai Sonata and climbed inside.
Once they were on the road, Alvin let out a long breath and said, “Her mother’s going away for four years on an embezzlement conviction.
I’m still trying to figure out what I’m supposed to do with Michelle.” Adrian leaned back in the passenger seat and looked out the window.
He wasn’t exactly qualified to give advice on suddenly discovering a teenage daughter, especially when Alvin already had a complicated family situation.
Even so, another thought occurred to him.
“Alvin, I know Director Michael Stanton over at the juvenile facility,” Adrian said.
“If Michelle hasn’t got anything serious holding up her release, I could make a call and see whether the paperwork can be handled quickly.” Alvin glanced at him in surprise.
Then he nodded without pretending he didn’t need the help.
“Yeah.
That’d be good.” Adrian pulled out his phone and dialed.
Once the call connected, his tone immediately became friendly.
“Hey, Michael.
It’s Adrian Knight.” He listened for a moment before continuing.
“Yeah, I’m with the 21st District Intelligence Unit now.
Actually, I’m calling because I need a favor involving a girl named Michelle Sovana.” By the time Alvin’s Sonata reached the Chicago juvenile detention center, the matter had already been handled.
Alvin parked along the street while Adrian looked across at the tall chain-link fencing and controlled entrance.
Despite being designed for minors, the security still made the facility feel severe and institutional.
The two waited beside the car.
Several minutes later, the main entrance opened.
A girl around fifteen or sixteen walked outside carrying a backpack.
Michelle Sovana had a round face, long hair, jeans, and a dark red plaid shirt, giving her the appearance of an ordinary teenager despite where she had just come from.
Adrian immediately stepped a short distance away to give Alvin some privacy.
Alvin raised one hand awkwardly.
Michelle noticed him and walked over.
“Hi,” Alvin said.
“Hi,” Michelle replied.
For a moment, they simply stood there looking at each other like two strangers trying to figure out what they were supposed to say.
Alvin finally cleared his throat and introduced himself even though she clearly knew who he was.
“I’m Alvin.” Michelle shoved her hands into her pockets and looked him up and down.
“Dad.” The single word caught Alvin off guard.
Michelle seemed equally uncomfortable after saying it.
She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and looked away as if suddenly fascinated by the street.
Alvin remained silent for a moment before attempting to explain the situation.
“Your mom…
she’s going away for a while.” Michelle immediately gave him a dry look.
“I know.” She adjusted the strap of her backpack.
“She’s going to prison, Alvin.
You don’t have to pretend she’s taking a vacation.” Alvin sighed.
Clearly, there was no reason to soften the truth when Michelle already understood exactly what had happened.
“All right.
I’ve got somewhere set up for you to stay.” Michelle didn’t seem convinced.
“I think I can manage myself,” she replied.
She took another step closer before changing the subject completely.
“Actually, I need three hundred dollars.” Alvin froze.
“Three hundred?” Michelle nodded as though the request were perfectly ordinary.
The problem was that Alvin didn’t have three hundred dollars in cash on him.
His finances were already stretched across a complicated family life, bills, and responsibilities, and he hadn’t exactly planned on picking up a teenage daughter that afternoon.
He searched through his pockets anyway.
“Okay…” Alvin muttered.
He counted what he had.
“I’ve got forty.” Michelle looked down at the small amount of cash in his hand, and an awkward silence immediately settled between them.
She clearly hadn’t expected her father to be standing there with barely enough money to cover a decent dinner.
Alvin looked even more uncomfortable than she did.
Adrian glanced over from beside the car and understood the situation immediately.
Without saying anything, he reached into his pocket, pulled out a thick fold of cash, and separated three crisp hundred-dollar bills.
Then he casually held them out.
Three hundred dollars.
Just like that.
Money makes you capricious.
[Community Goals Ongoing]