Jamie Brodie 01 - Cited to Death

that?"
    "This's psychological war. Godda get me a psychologis’."
    Kevin's gaze shot over to me. "Oh yeah? You got one in mind?"
    "Mmm hmm."
    Kevin grinned. "I like that."
    Tim finished up with the uni cop and came over. His expression was grim. "Are you okay?"
    "Mmm hmm. More 'r less."
    Tim looked from me to Kevin and back, shaking his head. "Okay. Here's what I got from Officer Taylor. Two guys jumped you, wearing black and ski masks, beat you up and ran off without taking anything. Both white, one taller than you and one shorter, the shorter one a beefy guy. That sound right?"
    "'Zackly."
    "Okay, good. Did you notice them before they jumped you?"
    "Unh unh. Not payin’ ‘denshun."
    "And you're sure they didn't take anything."
    "Unh unh. Dropped my bag, id's ri’d there."
    Tim picked up my bag and brought it over. "Huh, your laptop's still here. Still got your phone? Your wallet?"
    "In my dacked."
    Tim checked to make sure. "Okay. So you think this must be related to all the other stuff that's been happening?"
    "Mus' be, righ’?"
    "Yeah, that would be my thought." Tim closed his notebook and slapped it against his thigh, thinking. "I think our best bet is to find out who's been sabotaging your computer. That may lead us to everyone else. I'm going to have a talk with the computer crimes detective tomorrow."
    "Inside job."
    "Yeah, most likely. Who's been in your office?"
    "Just ID guy. Andy Mi’shell. Bud dey can condrol nedwork remodely. Could be anybody."
    "Right. But I’ll take a look at this Andy first."
    I sighed. All of a sudden I was exhausted. "Sounds good."
    "Okay." Tim turned to the EMTs. "You guys all done?"
    "Yep. If he’s not going to let us transport him." The EMT who'd bandaged my face handed me a sheet of paper. "I need you to sign this, that we recommended transport and you refused.” I signed. He handed me another sheet of paper. “Here are instructions. Be sure to read them. If you have any change in consciousness, any blurred vision..."
    "Yeah, yeah, I'll come in." I stood up, with Kevin still propping me, and looked at Tim. "You guys dakin’ me home?"
    "Yeah. We'll drive you down to Pete's on the way to the station. Did you call him?"
    "Unh unh."
    "Well." Kevin raised his eyebrows. "He's in for an unpleasant surprise."
    We pulled up at the townhouse about 15 minutes later. I could barely see out of my left eye. Kevin dug through my bag and handed me my keys, and I opened the door. Pete wasn't in bed, as I had hoped; he was up, on the sofa, surrounded by books and papers. When he saw us he stood up, then his jaw dropped when he saw my face.
    "Oh my God! Oh my God. What the hell happened to you?"
    My jaw was really throbbing. It was actually getting harder to talk, not easier. "God 'ugged."
    Kevin jumped in. "He was assaulted walking to the bus stop from the library. Two guys, one held him and the other one hit him. They didn't steal anything. You got an ice pack?"
    Pete stared at me for a second then went into action. "Yeah, yeah. Two of them, I'd say." He ran up the stairs to the fridge and came right back with two bags of frozen peas and two dish towels. I sank down onto the love seat. My head hurt, and it was getting harder to move, period. By tomorrow morning, I'd be a wreck.
    Pete moved pillows around so I could lean back, then wrapped the peas in the towels and gently applied them to both sides of my face. I winced. "Sorry, hon. Sorry."
    Some distant corner of my brain registered the word “hon,” but I couldn't do anything with it right then.
    Pete turned back to Kevin. "They didn't catch them?"
    "No. They got off campus too fast. And they were wearing black and ski masks, so Jamie couldn't get a good description. Patrol is looking for them, but they haven't found anything yet."
    Pete shook his head. "Un-fucking-believable. What is this? Sending a message? Like burning up your apartment wasn't enough? Who’s doing this? And why?"
    "It's got to be related to this dying request thing he's trying to solve. The timing is right. He's got to be getting close to something, but what? Even he doesn't know."
    Kevin and Pete continued to dissect it out. My head was killing me. I needed Kevin to leave, or at least to be quiet. I tried to get their attention, and finally threw a pillow at Pete. It missed, but it landed between them, so they both turned to look at me.
    I pointed at Kevin. "Oud." I pointed at Pete. "Drugs."
    Kevin rolled his eyes, but agreed. "Okay, okay. I'll call you