Read Online Law and Disorder by Mary Jane Maffini - Free Book Online

visiting Mrs. Violet Parnell,” I said. “She’s in the convalescent unit.”
    The commissionaire at the desk said, “Oh yes. Violet. Along here. Then the first corridor on the left.”
    I knew the way, but I nodded my thanks. The corridor might have been ten miles long. Or it might have been that I was dragging my feet. Usually I am in a rush to see my friend, but usually I am not quite so worried about her. Of course, the Perley was spotless and pleasant, but there was no doubt in my mind that the people who came in here by and large weren’t getting out again. Mrs. Parnell had been betrayed by her hip after a tumble in the shower the week before. I couldn’t help worrying about my fearless old ally ending her days in a place with IVs and strangers in uniforms. It didn’t bear thinking about. Guilt and fear were duking it out for top emotion as I trudged along the hallway.
    Her door was open because you kiss privacy goodbye in a hospital. My heart constricted. I could almost hear it snap. The bed was made with military precision, but there was no sign of Mrs. P.
    I leaned on the wall in shock. I knew people often die after broken hips. Maybe some of them even want to. But for Mrs. P. to pass away without me and Alvin with her, that would be unbearable. I found it hard to breathe, and my hands were shaking as I turned to hunt for a nurse. I found one at the nursing station, concentrating on a clipboard. She was round-faced and pleasant and looked happy in her pink scrubs. “Violet?” she said.
    I nodded, mute for once, my heart thundering.
    “Oh sure. She’s down in the Pub. She said that the sun was over the yardarm, and one of the aides helped her into a wheelchair. I saw her fly by not long after. Are you all right? You’re awfully pale. We don’t need anyone bringing the flu in here, you know.”
    I grinned like a fool.
    Her smile vanished. “Nothing funny about that. There are a lot of fragile people in this wing.”
    “I’m not sick,” I said. “Just happy that Mrs. P. is all right.”
    She nodded and went back to her paperwork. I hightailed it down the hall. The song in my heart had spread to my feet.
    The Pub was on the first floor, near the main entrance. It smelled and looked pretty much like any other pub, which I thought was a good sign. Spilled beer is a great equalizer. Sounded like any other pub too, judging by the sports blaring from the large wall-mounted television and the laughter from the bar. I found Mrs. P. holding court. A pair of gents I took to be into their eighties were following her story intently. The story seemed to involve fighter planes, if her gestures were anything to go by.
    “Ms MacPhee!” she said. “How splendid to see you!”
    “You look great,” I said. “I thought…”
    “Old war horses,” she chuckled. “We just have to pick ourselves up and get on with the battle.”
    Her colleagues nodded. No arguments there.
    “And speaking of war horses, Ms MacPhee, have you had an occasion to meet the Colonel and the Major?”
    Both men got to their feet, somewhat unsteadily, but fast enough. The Colonel leaned on a walker. The Major got by with a cane.
    The Colonel nodded gravely. “Pleasure,” he said.
    The Major held out his hand. “Any friend of Violet’s a friend of mine.”
    Mrs. Parnell’s eyes were shining. It may have been the impact of the new friendships. May have been the Harvey’s Bristol Cream. Hard to say.
    “Get you another, Violet, while I’m up?” the Colonel said. “And how about you, young lady?”
    Mrs. P. said, “Wouldn’t say no.”
    “It’s a bit early for me,” I said.
    The Major shot the Colonel a glance. “On me, this time, I believe.”
    “You’ve had your turn,” the Colonel said, pulling rank.
    “That didn’t really count.”
    “Things are going well. Nice enough crowd around here. But I gather you have your share of troubles. A friend can tell.”
    I didn’t want to tell her how worried I’d been about her. “Got