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Rountree, scurried from the room and disappeared into the filing room next door—trying to get out of the line of fire. Lydia frowned at their retreating backs.
    Leaning over the edge of the reception desk, Clara seemed ten feet tall. She glared at Lydia sitting in front of the computer and barked at her again. “Since the board has promoted me from temporary head nurse status to a permanent position, I mean for things to be done more efficiently around here. Now, I said it once, I’ll say it again—find the key to Mary’s office. If I’m to be in charge, I’ll need a bigger space.” Her spine stiffened, and she threw her shoulders back—showing she meant business.
    Lydia discreetly waved her arm to dispel the strong whiff of powdery perfume emanating from the determined nurse.
    “But, Clara—”
    “Call me Nurse Watting now.”
    Lydia Barnes lowered her head and rolled her eyes. Her voice was low and controlled. “Shane Duke said to leave that office locked until the board approved the change.”
    “I don’t care what Shane Duke said. He declared the room off limits because it was his precious Mary’s office. It’s been a year since she died. It’s time he got over his superstition and let us alone. Now, give me the key.”
    Lydia bit her lip and pulled a large ring of keys from a deep drawer in the reception desk. She found a key with “Head Office” written on the ring and separated it from the rest.
    “All the patient files in Mary’s office were removed already, Clara . . . er . . . Nurse Watting, but there may be some of her personal things in the drawers that her family hasn’t picked up yet.”
    “ Humph. Well, it’s too late now. They’ll all go in the trash if I have my say.”
    When Nurse Watting left the small reception room, Skyler, the youngest of the nurses at the clinic, stuck her head around the corner and searched to see if Clara was gone.
    “Is the coast clear?” she whispered.
    Lydia watched the back of Nurse Watting as she fumbled with the lock in the door at the end of the hall and pushed her way into the office. She nodded at Skyler. “She’s gone.”
    Cynthia followed Skyler back into the reception area. “What’s got her nose out of joint this mornin’?”
    Lydia rubbed her temple. “Beats me. Ever since the board named her head nurse, she’s been all uppity and thinks she’s better than everyone else. She’s just showin’ her real self this morning. I thought we were doing fine like we were—everyone sort of on the same level, you know?” She blew a puff of air up toward her graying hair to push the wispy bangs away from her eyes.
    Cynthia laughed. “I guess the board didn’t think so. I thought maybe her hair was pulled up too tight in that bun on the top of her head, and that’s what was making her grouchy. She’s in a mood for sure this morning.”
    “Well, she’d better not be throwing nothin’ of Ms. Mary’s away. If she does, she’ll have to answer to me.” Lydia sniffed and tightened her fists on the desk.
    Cynthia laughed again. “Yeah right! You’ll stand up to her like you did a few minutes ago, huh?”
    Lydia frowned at the young woman and turned to finish her report. She might not be much of a fighter, but she sure wasn’t going to let anything of Ms. Mary’s be thrown in the trash.
    “Ms. Barnes?” A bellow came from the office down the hall, and it was followed by footsteps.
    Cynthia and Skyler scattered again when they heard Clara roar.
    Lydia wrinkled her nose and scowled.
    Chickens.

THIRTEEN
    “YIKES! LISTEN TO HER HOLLER. What’s her problem, anyway?” Skyler leaned across the records desk and coveted the dangling earrings Cynthia was wearing as she bent over to straighten the shoestrings on her nursing shoes. She had to admit—jealousy was as much a part of her nature as breathing. She’d love to know where Cynthia found those three-tiered, gorgeous gold rings.
    A snort burst from Cynthia’s nostrils. “You and I both