Read Online Devil Wind (Sammy Greene Mysteries) by Deborah Shlian, Linda Reid - Free Book Online Page B

frame down in a chair beside him. She was one visitor he welcomed. In fact, he’d been struck by her California-blonde beauty at the hospital orientation months ago, but had only found time to ask her out weeks later. Between his schedule as a cardiac fellow and hers as a new resident, most of their dates were casual encounters over coffee in the hospital cafeteria or under the sheets in the doctors’ call room.
    Their conversations were brief, stolen time away from patients and responsibilities. Still, he’d learned enough to know they shared much in common. Michelle’s father was a successful Santa Barbara stockbroker, her privileged background mirroring his as the son of a rich New England banker. Though the physical attraction was genuine, he knew something was missing. Michelle hadn’t made his heart do somersaults the way Sammy Greene had that night they’d met.
    But he was older now, and somersaults were a little harder to handle. He had come to the conclusion that relationship success for him was more likely with the familiar rather than the unpredictable. After the pain of his affair with Sammy, Reed was less inclined to seek challenges again.
    Now Michelle’s exaggerated sigh made him ask, “Bad night?”
    “First the crazy cannibal.” She pointed to the fresh bandage on her right ear where she’d been bitten. “Then the burn victim.”
    Reed knew she’d had no rest for the past twenty hours. Thirty-six hour shifts were routine for first years. But her wide hazel eyes reflected sadness more than fatigue.
    “Didn’t make it?”
    Michelle just shook her head.
    Reed patted her arm. “With the extent of her burns, the odds were against her.”
    “I know.” Michelle pulled the rubber band from her ponytail and let her long blonde tresses fall loosely around her face. “But that doesn’t make it easier.” She choked on the last word and looked away.
    “No,” he whispered, “no, it doesn’t.” He reached an arm over to her, pulling her close. “The best we can is all we can do.” He brushed a few strands of hair from her face and leaned over to meet her lips with his.
    “Where? I’ve been looking all over this ferdemta place.” From the other side of the door, the New York accent was unmistakable. The Yiddish curse nailed it.
    “In here? Thanks.” The door opened, admitting the voice that had once belonged to a mischievous pixie. It now belonged to a mature young woman whose red hair fell softly across strong shoulders, and whose bright green eyes quickly focused on his. Her left hand held a rather bruised banana.
    “Hey, Reed,” she said, without batting a long lash, “Hungry?”
    Blushing, Reed disentangled himself and eased a few inches away from a frowning Michelle. “Sammy? What are you doing here?”
    “Didn’t mean to interrupt your work,” Sammy said, “I just thought you might like to share breakfast, seeing as we were both doing graveyard.”
    “Night shift is what she means,” Reed explained to Michelle.
    “Yup, radio talk.” Smiling, Sammy extended her right hand. “Sammy Greene on the L.A. Scene. KPCF. And you are?”
    “Michelle Hunt.” Though Michelle shook Sammy’s hand, her tone was decidedly cold. “I take it you and Reed are friends.”
    “Well, uh,” Reed stammered.
    The lounge door opened again and the uniformed guard stuck his head in the room. “There you are, Dr. Reed. Dr. Bishop asked me to find you. He’s in the heart suite with the big cheese.” The guard nodded at Sammy. “Your fiancée can wait here.”
     
    Reed struggled to compose himself as he hurried to the ER’s cardiovascular suite. Amazing how after all these years, Sammy could just appear and throw him off kilter. The hurt look on Michelle’s face was sure to set their nascent relationship back to the word go. Or stop.
    Entering the suite, Reed was surprised to find his chief already at Prescott’s side, examining the congressman. Bishop was a lean man with razor-cut gray hair