The Search by Darrell Maloney Page A

You can focus on other areas instead.
         “You can scratch Big Spring, Lubbock, O’Donnell and Tahoka off your list. All of them have hospitals or clinics, and none of them have seen her. I’ve given them your radio frequency and they’ll notify you if she’s brought in.
         “That’s pretty much all the medical centers north of us. You said you’ve already been to Eden. I talked to Brady and Smithville. Those are both south of Eden. And I talked to Johnsonville. They haven’t seen her either.”
         She smiled the sweetest smile, but the look on her face was one of sadness.
         “I’m sorry I couldn’t locate her. I was hoping for better results.”
         Bryan took her hand.
         “Nonsense. You’ve saved me a lot of time and trouble. Now I won’t waste my time going to those places. And you’ve put the word out for me. You’ve been a great help, and I thank you.”
         Mike said, “If you boys want to drive out to the old Air Force base, I’ll make sure you get a good meal before you head back out.”
         Bryan looked at Bryan Too, who shook his head. “I’m not really hungry.”
         “Me neither. Thank you for the invitation, but we’ll have to take a raincheck.”
         “All right then. When you come back, take one of the Farm to Market roads and pass us by. Then come into town from the north. As I said, that way will be open soon. Follow the signs to Goodfellow Air Force and tell the sentries at the gate that you’re friends of mine.
         “Let’s go. I’ll escort you back to the outskirts of town where I met you.”
         They followed Mike back through the deserted streets of San Angelo, and Bryan was lost in his own thoughts. He was raised here. Had graduated from high school at San Angelo High. Now, in all likelihood, he was one of the last surviving members of his graduating class.
         Maybe even the only one.
         Just as they neared the point where they would wave goodbye to Mike Petty and part ways, Bryan noticed a small green and white sign on the side of the roadway.
         It was a sign he’d completely missed on his way into town.
         It was leaning after being sideswiped by somebody’s vehicle at some point in time. The letters on the old sign were faded but still legible.
         It said:
     
    San Angelo City Limit
    Population: 93,454
     
         Bryan had to reach up and wipe a tear from his eye.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 20
     
         On the eighth floor of Wilford Hall Regional Medical Center the conversation had turned to Joel’s injuries.
         “Actually, I consider myself lucky,” he told Mark and Hannah. They told me that since both amputations were below the kneecap, it’ll be much easier for me to walk with prosthetic legs.
         “I’m also lucky in that Wilford Hall has some of the best people in the world when it comes to designing and fitting prosthetics. That’s a side effect of the United States being at war for pretty much my entire lifetime with one country or another. Apparently the military has gotten darn good at replacing lost limbs.”
         Hannah asked, “Are your Army days over?”
         “Yes, I’m afraid so. But that’s by my choice. They told me that if I wanted to stay in, they’d find me a nice cushy desk job somewhere. But if I can’t fly anymore, I think it would drive me crazy. Every time I heard a Huey or Apache overhead I’d get a sense of longing. I think it would be easier to be in a place where I didn’t hear them very often.”
         “Well, that couldn’t be here. They fly in and out of here all day long. Where would you go?”
         “I don’t know. Maybe back to Atlanta. I hear they’re going to start playing big league baseball next year. I guess that means the world is finally getting back to normal. I worked for the Braves for a while before I joined