was ânormalâ and here instead of in jail. Besides, the kid appeared perceptive and clever, as lots of drug addicts are. She probably was a rich kid hooked on coke and who knew what else. At least she wasnât wiped out all the time.
Geez, now I was relying on a rich, bratty, teenage druggie.
I gave her a quick wink and turned toward Sister Barbie. âPlease.â
âYou know, youâre lucky he left orders to call him if you asked us to. Thatâs pretty unusual. Most doctors donât do that unless itâs an emergency. Iâll put in a call to him.â With that she turned toward Spike. âStay with her until her doctor arrives.â
Yikes. âIâm just going to watch TV,â I mumbled, quickly took a seat next to Ruby and glued my gaze to the set. That way Spike wouldnât have any reason to manhandle me.
Every once in a while Iâd sneak a peek at him. Yep, within manhandling distance. Even though I didnât watch daytime TV, I was suddenly very interested in whywomen cheat on other women who are their ex-loversâ relatives and never moved out of their homes, along with only wearing bright red and sharing a common bathroom, courtesy of Mr. Springer.
What was this world coming to?
âPauline?â
I swung around to see Sister Liz. How cute. Sheâd used my real name. Our bond tightened. âYes, Sister?â
âYour doctor is here to see you.â
Maybe I sprung up a little too fast, but my action had Sister Liz pull back, clutching her new rosary beads. Spike was fast on the nunâs black, sensible heels and he looked anxious to subdue me.
I felt bad about the rosary, but stood ready to go. âWhere to, Sister?â
She motioned for me to come with her. Spike joined in. Guess once you made a bad name for yourself on this unit, it followed you until discharge.
Please, God, I prayed that there was a dischargeâsoon.
Sister opened the door to an office and moved to the side.
âThanks,â I whispered as I looked to see Jagger, still with his carrot-top âdo on and looking delicious, sitting at an oak desk. The guy fit into any situation. I wondered if heâd ever taken acting lessons, and who the hell did his makeup?
He gave Sister Liz his usual smile. For a second I wondered, too, if her sisterly insides reacted like mine always had when he looked at me. Of course they do , I thought. Nuns were human.
âIâll be fine with her, Sister. If I need anything, Iâll holler.â
And Spike will attack me. Once the gang left, I looked at Jagger. âVito Doran ruffed up Margaret Seabright today.â
He stared at me.
âMargaret is the patient who said she doesnât belong here.â
âI know.â
âYou do?â I hated sounding so fascinated by what he said and reminded myself I was still pissed at Dr. Dick.
âYou know. You know? What the hell does that mean?â I flopped onto a straight-backed chair and let my legs dangle over the sideânot out of reach of Jaggerâs legs, though.
He pulled sideways.
âWhatâs the matter? Donât trust me?â I asked.
âAs a matter of fact, no. Now, what about Vito?â He eased farther to the side.
I curled my lips. âShe tried to grab his cell phone to call someone, I guess.â Damn. That sounded stupid. âI meanââ
âI know what you mean. Did he say anything to you?â
âMe? No. He merely flung me across the room.â
Jaggerâs no-nonsense look appeared to crack. Maybe he felt a bit worried about me. âIâm assuming youâre all right.â
My legs kicked out farther. I admittedly wanted to make contact. âAll right? How can I be all right in here ?â My left toe brushed his leg.
âLook, Sherlockââ
âDonât âSherlockâ me.â Please donât, because it melts me to the very core, and I lose all rational
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