Bone of Contention: A Medical Thriller With Heart (The Gina Mazzio Series Book 4)

by Bette Golden Lamb

  Couldn’t tell her there’s no starting something new ’til all the old fish got fried.

  Besides, breaking parole was not exactly anything she’d buy into; there would have been no money coming his way. And his old man sure as hell wasn’t gonna cough up any bread.

  Right now, he needed to bed down and think. Do this right or it was back in the can, and he had no intention of ever doing time again.

  He had to sidestep kids in torn jeans who were skateboarding on and off the sidewalk or dribbling basketballs. Walking from block to block, he stepped around out-and-out bums who were looking for handouts, and stepped over homeless drunks who spilled out from narrow doorways.

  He found what he was looking for: another sign in the window of what looked like a three-story walkup. It was written on a sun-bleached piece of paper taped inside the glass: Room for Rent.

  The building manager glared at him through the slim opening of a chained door.

  “What do you want?”

  “Hi, I’m new in town. Saw your sign.”

  The man unchained and half-opened the door. Piercing eyes searched Dominick’s face, then blatantly looked him up and down, taking in all of Dominick’s six-foot-two frame.

  Dominick had seen that look too many times − the one that said he couldn’t be trusted – it really yanked his chain. He clamped down a knee-jerk reaction to punch out the creep. This was the third Vacancy sign he'd checked out. None of the managers had been able to offer a half-decent room. Now it was getting late in the day. He couldn’t afford another night in a hotel, even in this rundown part of town. Besides, he wasn’t taking any chances on getting pulled in by some nosy cop.

  Dominick gave the man the once over. Even though the super was a short guy, he looked like a powerhouse, with overly pumped up arm muscles.

  Jeez, is there anyone who doesn’t hit the gym anymore?

  Three years in prison and doing his daily workouts had toughened Dominick, but the temper that had gotten him in trouble in the first place never seemed to cool down. Prison did teach him to mask his kill response with a silly-assed grin. That usually shut off the alarm in most people, even the cons he hung out with in the yard.

  The manager finally said, “Just because I have a vacancy doesn’t mean you get to fill it.”

  “Hey, I just arrived in Frisco and I really need a place to bed down. I’d appreciate it if I could take a quick look.”

  The manager’s eyes didn’t let up; his gaze, long and hard, continued to punch holes in Dominick’s head and body – it was starting to burn.

  Finally, “All right then, Mr. ...”

  “Colletti … Dominick Colletti.”

  “I’ll take you up and you can decide.”

  * * *

  Dominic threw his duffel on the single bed. The mattress was lumpy and smelled rank even though it looked fairly clean. He opened the bag and scooped out jeans, underwear, and tees, which he stashed in a small press-board dresser that also smelled a bit rank. He hung up his two new colorless and boring sport shirts – they didn’t flash the kind of look he usually shot for – and shoved them into a tiny closet. Too bad there was no bathroom in his room; he’d have to use the one down the hall. He hadn’t checked it out yet, but he already knew what it would look and smell like.

  He paced the room, then raised the yellowed shade and looked out at the street below. Panhandlers were busy hustling people and fog was moving in from the ocean. After a moment or two, his eyes grew heavy. Even though it was too early to hit the sack, he needed to get some shut-eye. He was beat.

  He untied his shoes and kicked them off; they flew across the room. He emptied the rest of the duffel on the bed. All that was left was a small corkboard target and a handful of darts wrapped in a wash cloth and held together with two loops of a rubber band.

  Smiling, he hung the corkboard on the back of the door, then unwrapped the darts and placed them on the dresser.

  He stretched up and reached out, tensed and relaxed his arm muscles, and moved his head from side to side. Then in one sudden motion he spun around, grabbed a dart, and threw it at the board. It thumped hard and dug in right between the eyes of a pasted-on photo of Gina, his ex-wife.

  Chapter 4

  Gina hesitated before taking the final step that would carry her through the automated doors of Ridgewood Hospital’s main entrance. Memories crowded around her.

  Had it only been two months since she’d worked here and got that crazy stop-him-before–he–kills-again telephone call?

  And it seemed more like forever since Harry talked her into taking a leave of absence, and joining him for something different and, hopefully, more restful: her first travel nurse assignment.

  That hadn’t worked out so well, going into the isolated wilds of Nevada. At first the assignment had sounded like an adventure, but they soon found out they’d been suckered into a medical nightmare. She and Harry had been lucky to make it out alive.

  And she’d thought growing up in the Bronx was tough.

  Was there any place on the planet that was safe for her ... for anyone? Maybe she yearned for the impossible. Instead of a dependable, consistent sameness, life was always going to be a roller coaster.

  And could a person be wise and stupid at the same time?

  Well, bring on the fog. It was good to be back in San Francisco with the Golden Gate Bridge and bay waters. The weather had turned cooler than usual for October. She wore a pair of charcoal wool slacks, a burgundy turtleneck, and a black tailored jacket – warm enough, but much more formal than her daily garb. If she hadn’t had an appointment with Alan Vasquez, Ridgewood’s administrator, she’d have worn jeans and a running jacket. And if she’d been on duty, it would have been scrubs.

  When she’d worked at Ridgewood before, she’d usually parked her temperamental red Fiat on one of the side streets adjoining the huge hospital complex, then zipped in through an auxiliary entrance near the ER. At six-thirty in the morning, she never really saw much of anyone other than security guards and medical personnel – people like her who were focused on getting to their work stations.

  Today, at ten a.m., she was forced to squeeze the little Fiat into a space that left miniscule gaps between the cars parked in front and behind her. It was an arm-wrenching struggle, but she refused to park in the underground tomb Ridgewood called a garage. She had an unreasonable fear that her car would be ingested by a metal-chomping SUV.

  Walking leisurely through the hospital atrium, she stepped through the sliding glass doors into the main building – but not fast enough for some people, who seemed to bump into her intentionally to push her forward. It was crowded inside and she could see medical problems all around her – people on crutches and in wheel chairs. Many with that brave veneer of false normalcy that told her they were swallowing back pain, or pain pills, just to keep going.

  She took a deep breath and glanced at her watch as she stepped into the elevator. She pressed the button for the top floor – Administration – and was pleased that she would be right on time.

  * * *

  Alan Vasquez stood up and walked around the desk the moment Gina entered his office. Gina remembered that once there had been so much animosity between them, he never would have seen her without a union rep or nursing supervisor present. That is, if she got to see him at all. But events in his personal life had changed everything.

  Gina had been instrumental in finding out what happened to Arina Diaz, his niece and her friend. The results had not been good, but it had changed their relationship. She still didn’t like administrators, but Vasquez was a different person now, and things had become honest and amicable between them. They’d learned to respect each other.

  “How are you, Ms. Mazzio?” he said, taking her hand. “I was surprised, but pleased, to hear that you’ll be coming back to work for us next week.”

  “It’s a big surprise to me, too.”

  Vasquez’s eyebrow shot up, questioning her. “Oh?”

 
“It’s a long story, but let’s just say Nevada is never going to make it for me.”

  “Have a seat,” he said. “What can I do for you?”

  Gina slipped into a comfortable leather chair opposite Vasquez, who sat down behind his desk. Maybe it was her imagination but his office seemed more comfortable and less business-like than the last time she was here. For one thing, a large bouquet of bright lavender mums spread magnificently in a crystal vase at the end of his desk next to a picture of his deceased niece. His eyes followed Gina’s and his face paled.

  “I miss Arina more than I can say.”

  Gina nodded and had to force her thoughts away from her murdered friend. “Mr. Vasquez, I have a favor to ask of you.”

  For just a flicker, his eyes narrowed, turned suspicious, but his inner dialogue must have overruled whatever thoughts he was having. “What is it?”

  “My brother Vinnie came back about a week ago from a tour in Afghanistan and he needs a job.”

  “Not another Bronxite?” He held a hand up. “Just joking.” He leaned forward in his chair. “Was he in the Medical Corps?”

  “No. Just a grunt, like most everyone else.”

  “So you’re talking about a janitorial or nurse’s aide position?”

  Gina shrugged and held her hands out, palms up. “I was hoping for something a little more upscale.” She’d heard about the hiring freeze in those positions and guessed what Vasquez was going to say before he said it.

  “Right now we’re not hiring additional nursing techs. That’s all under union control and I can’t interfere. You know that, Ms. Mazzio.”

  “Vinnie … really needs something,” Gina blurted. “I need it … for him.” Her eyes filled with tears that spilled down her cheeks. “He’s had a horrific time in the military. He’s burned out and he needs our help. Someone has to step up for him … be in his corner. If we can’t bring him back from the brink, he may be lost forever. Please …”

  She couldn’t say another word. If she did, she would break down and sob like a lunatic.

  Vasquez sat at his desk tapping a pen, clicking the nib in and out, in and out. Gina didn’t dare look at him, didn’t know what she would do if he turned her down.

  “Where are you scheduled to start work next week?”

  “I’m not sure; I’m supposed to find out later today, but there was talk of sliding me into the out-patient women’s clinic.”

  “Mmmm. I see. Good, good.” He continued to click his pen.

  Chapter 5

  The three of them sat at a small round table in Rosario’s, Gina and Harry’s favorite local trattoria. She loved the environment, thought it was almost like being in an open cave, but instead of moss covering the walls, there were dark wooden shelves loaded with all kinds of wines from the provinces in Italy.

  She studied the features of her younger brother – dark curly hair, dark eyes, and cheekbones that were high and sculpted, not much different from her own. She couldn’t help but compare him to the many Roman busts she’d seen in museums, even more so with his weight loss.

  He’d never been easy to deal with, especially when he was a bratty kid and a huge pain in the neck to six-years-older Gina. This grown-up version looked to be even more of a challenge, particularly since he was now a couple of inches taller than her five-foot-ten.

  But she loved him and she’d take him anyway she could get him, grateful he’d come back from the war zone alive. If only things would improve then she wouldn’t feel so helpless watching him struggle to get through every day and night. Nighttime was the worst; he was plagued by nightmares that woke her and Harry, and probably all of their neighbors.

  Gina wanted to believe that after a week she would really see he was getting better, and see some subtle signs of improvement. At least home cooking was filling him out and his energy level had picked up enough that he’d started to go on longer runs with the two of them.

  The waiter set down a large platter filled with bruschetta. Gina and Harry reached for the same piece of garlicky tomato and grilled bread, but she was a micro second quicker. She gave him a winning smile before she took her first bite.

  “I can’t live with you guys too much longer,” Vinnie said, taking a sip of the house red wine. “You’re driving me nuts. I’ve got to get a place of my own.”

  “Apartments are really expensive in San Francisco,” Harry said. “And we like having you around to pick on.”

  Vinnie’s gaze bit into Harry, shoulders stiffened, jaw clenched. He looked like he was going to fly across the table and hit him.

  Gina kneed her brother. “Oh come on, Vin. He’s only pulling your leg. Get with it!”

  After a moment, Vinnie visibly relaxed. “Sorry, Harry.”

  “Hey, man. It’s nothing.”

  “God, I hate this. I can’t seem to climb out of this hole I’m in.”

  “Give yourself a break, man. It’s going to take time.”

  “Number one, you are not moving out.” Gina reached for his arm and squeezed. “Like Harry said, it’s expensive to live in San Francisco; you need some time without having to think about money. Maybe after you’ve worked a while at Ridgewood.”

  “Sometimes I really worry about you, Gina. I don't know where our head is. I keep telling you, I don’t know squat about taking care of patients. Right now the idea of being responsible for somebody else scares me to death.”

  She smiled at him. “You may be stupid, but you’re not dumb.”

  “You’ll learn,” Harry said. “And Internal Meds is a great place to start.” He leaned over and gave Gina a kiss on the cheek. “Your sis has alerted some of her friends that work there ... they’ve agreed to make sure you have a smooth ride.”

  I can see why Gina loves you … you’re blind as a bat ... can’t seem to see what a nut case she is. And will you stop kissing her all the time. I feel like a chaperone.”

  “Look, Vin, people are just people,” Harry said. “Be yourself.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s what I’m afraid of.”

  Gina grabbed his hand. “After the first day, you’ll wonder why you even thought twice about it. You wanted to feel useful? Taking care of sick people will give you a whole new perspective, not only on the people who need you … but of yourself.”

  Chapter 6

  The next morning, Harry was too jumpy to hang around doing nothing; he’d gone straight to his assignment in ICU. Gina and Vinnie were sitting in the Ridgewood cafeteria, her first day back and Vinnie’s first day on the job. They were waiting until it was time to go to work, and Gina could see that her brother was nervous. She worried that he might not stay long enough to even make it up to his assigned unit.

  The place was crowded, mostly with medical personnel getting ready for the day shift. Gina loved the cafeteria, with its loud, happy buzz of conversation, even though it was early enough that she could have easily gone home and crawled back into bed.

  They had about ten minutes to kill before Gina was off to the Women’s Health clinic and Vinnie went up to Internal Meds.

  She could see it had been a bad mistake to bring him to the cafeteria. The clamor of the early morning laughing personnel all around them was starting to get to him. Watching him jump at sudden noises made her heart wrench. His reactions were worrisome -- eyes darted here, there, everywhere; one foot tapped out a harsh, non-rhythmic beat under the table. The combination went all the way back to when he was a kid -- just before he was about to do explode over something he'd held in for a long time.

  She wanted to say something, anything to reassure him. But this Vinnie was very different from the brother she’d grown up with. More than anything, she didn’t want to say the wrong thing and make it worse.

  She was about to speak when Vinnie’s eyes lit up and settled onto her friend Helen, who was wending her way to their table.

  The petite Oncology nurse plopped down into a vacant chair next to Vinnie. “Welcome back, Gina. I knew the high desert was no place for you.�
� Before Gina could answer, Helen turned her head toward Vinnie and nodded approvingly. “So this is the brother you’re always talking about?”

  “Yeah, meet my baby brother, Vinnie.”

  “Cut it out, will ya, sis?” But there was no anger in the response. His attention was totally fixed on Helen as he held out a hand.

  Gina watched Helen reach for Vinnie’s hand. When they touched, Gina could swear some kind of electricity passed between them.

  Helen, who was never at a loss for some smart ass response, was very quiet as she held onto Vinnie’s hand. How two people could become so wrapped up in each other in a single instant was remarkable – Gina could almost hear them breathing as one.

  “Pleased to meet you,” Helen finally said. “I ... I…”

  “Me, too.”

  “Vinnie is starting in Internal Meds today. There are no classes for newbies because of the hiring freeze, so the floor nurses will be teaching him the skills he’ll need to be a patient-care tech.”

  “Mmmm, how did you manage to pull that off?” Helen said to Gina. She gently pulled her hand away from Vinnie.

  “Vasquez came through. He made it happen with a special dispensation through a veteran’s organization. The union went for it.”

  Helen, in a soothing voice, said to Vinnie, “Don’t worry about the job ... it being new and all. Those guys and gals will teach you what you need to know, pronto.”

  Vinnie smiled, but said nothing.

  “Hey,” Helen said, “I can tell you’ll be great.”

  For the first time since he’d found out about the job, Gina thought her brother seemed almost calm. Somehow, Helen had wrapped an aura of confidence around him, just as she’d done for Gina so many times. But this was very, very different. Gina glanced at her watch, hating to break the spell that had sprung up to surround Helen and her brother.