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Authors: Charlotte Hughes
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your bed!”
“I’ve already explained what happened,” she said.
“How was I to know?”
“Oh, hell!” Mona said. “My shawl is upstairs. I need something to cover my face.” She looked about frantically before hurrying to the breakfast table, where she whipped off the tablecloth and covered herself.
We heard a shout from outside, and we both jumped at the same time.
“What was that?” Mona said.
“I have no idea.”
We peered out the window over the sink, but couldn’t see anything. After what seemed like forever, the doorbell rang.
Limping, I followed Mona to the front door, where she checked the peephole before punching numbers into the alarm panel. She opened the door. Two policemen stood on the other side. Beside them, Jimbo was cuffed.
“We found your intruder,” the older of the two officers said. “He was hiding in the hedges.”
“He’s not an intruder!” Mona cried. “He works for me.”
Jimbo gave the officers a smug look. “See? I told you.”
The policemen looked confused. “Why were you hiding?” the younger officer asked.
“I was performing security checks,” he said. “Now, if you would kindly remove these handcuffs, I can go back to doing my job.”
“I’m the one who called,” I said as the officer freed Jimbo. “I thought I heard someone in the house. I’m so sorry I bothered you.” They were staring at Mona, as though unsure what to make of her shroud.
“Who owns this place?” the other policeman asked.
Mona raised her hand. “I do. My name is Mona Epps. This is Dr. Kate Holly. She’s taking care of me while I’m ill.” Her words were muffled by the linen tablecloth. “Thank you for coming, but as you can see, everything is fine.”
They insisted on taking a report; fortunately, it was quick. They said good-bye, and Jimbo returned to his patrol duties. Mona closed the door. She yawned widely. “I’m going back to bed. I’m sorry I can’t work today. Even if I didn’t look like I’d just slithered out of some swamp, I can barely keep my eyes open because of the medication.”
I noticed Mike standing at the back door. Obviously, she had to do her business. I gave a sigh, grabbed her leash, and led her out, still favoring my toe. I was relieved not to run into Jimbo, because my mood had definitely soured. After sniffing every tree, hedge, and flower, Mike squatted. When we reentered the kitchen, I saw that the automatic coffeemaker had come on, and the pot was almost full. I took two Tylenol, poured a cup of coffee, and sat at the kitchen table. I drank three cups before heading upstairs to get ready for the day.
I checked on Mona, who was sleeping soundly, thanks to good drugs. She looked quite regal tucked beneath her stark white comforter, which contrasted nicely with walls that were a soft powdery blue. The decorator had outdone herself and chosen only the highest quality of everything.
I slipped from the room, praying that Mona’s rash would be gone when she awoke but knowing it wasn’t likely.
I arrived at my office shortly before my first appointment was due in. I put on a pot of coffee—I really love the stuff—and checked my messages. Nothing from Jay. I began to fret. I counted the pens in my coffee mug. An even number. Good. I returned a call from a patient who sounded anxious.
Then I went into my kitchenette and poured my coffee. I heard the door to the reception room open and hurried down the hall to greet my first patient of the day. I stopped short at the sight of my mother standing beside Mona’s desk.
“Surprise!” she sang out. “Guess who’s going to be your receptionist while Mona is out?”
chapter 5
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I didn’t know what to say.
“I knew you would be surprised,” she said. “Mona called me. She was concerned that you had no one to answer your phone or greet your patients. I told her I would be more than happy to help out.”
She was dressed in her
“I’ve already explained what happened,” she said.
“How was I to know?”
“Oh, hell!” Mona said. “My shawl is upstairs. I need something to cover my face.” She looked about frantically before hurrying to the breakfast table, where she whipped off the tablecloth and covered herself.
We heard a shout from outside, and we both jumped at the same time.
“What was that?” Mona said.
“I have no idea.”
We peered out the window over the sink, but couldn’t see anything. After what seemed like forever, the doorbell rang.
Limping, I followed Mona to the front door, where she checked the peephole before punching numbers into the alarm panel. She opened the door. Two policemen stood on the other side. Beside them, Jimbo was cuffed.
“We found your intruder,” the older of the two officers said. “He was hiding in the hedges.”
“He’s not an intruder!” Mona cried. “He works for me.”
Jimbo gave the officers a smug look. “See? I told you.”
The policemen looked confused. “Why were you hiding?” the younger officer asked.
“I was performing security checks,” he said. “Now, if you would kindly remove these handcuffs, I can go back to doing my job.”
“I’m the one who called,” I said as the officer freed Jimbo. “I thought I heard someone in the house. I’m so sorry I bothered you.” They were staring at Mona, as though unsure what to make of her shroud.
“Who owns this place?” the other policeman asked.
Mona raised her hand. “I do. My name is Mona Epps. This is Dr. Kate Holly. She’s taking care of me while I’m ill.” Her words were muffled by the linen tablecloth. “Thank you for coming, but as you can see, everything is fine.”
They insisted on taking a report; fortunately, it was quick. They said good-bye, and Jimbo returned to his patrol duties. Mona closed the door. She yawned widely. “I’m going back to bed. I’m sorry I can’t work today. Even if I didn’t look like I’d just slithered out of some swamp, I can barely keep my eyes open because of the medication.”
I noticed Mike standing at the back door. Obviously, she had to do her business. I gave a sigh, grabbed her leash, and led her out, still favoring my toe. I was relieved not to run into Jimbo, because my mood had definitely soured. After sniffing every tree, hedge, and flower, Mike squatted. When we reentered the kitchen, I saw that the automatic coffeemaker had come on, and the pot was almost full. I took two Tylenol, poured a cup of coffee, and sat at the kitchen table. I drank three cups before heading upstairs to get ready for the day.
I checked on Mona, who was sleeping soundly, thanks to good drugs. She looked quite regal tucked beneath her stark white comforter, which contrasted nicely with walls that were a soft powdery blue. The decorator had outdone herself and chosen only the highest quality of everything.
I slipped from the room, praying that Mona’s rash would be gone when she awoke but knowing it wasn’t likely.
I arrived at my office shortly before my first appointment was due in. I put on a pot of coffee—I really love the stuff—and checked my messages. Nothing from Jay. I began to fret. I counted the pens in my coffee mug. An even number. Good. I returned a call from a patient who sounded anxious.
Then I went into my kitchenette and poured my coffee. I heard the door to the reception room open and hurried down the hall to greet my first patient of the day. I stopped short at the sight of my mother standing beside Mona’s desk.
“Surprise!” she sang out. “Guess who’s going to be your receptionist while Mona is out?”
chapter 5
I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. I didn’t know what to say.
“I knew you would be surprised,” she said. “Mona called me. She was concerned that you had no one to answer your phone or greet your patients. I told her I would be more than happy to help out.”
She was dressed in her
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