Not by a long shot.
There was so much he wanted to write, but he merely scribbled, in dark, heavy print:
Don’t get too comfortable.
Chapter 39
“One day you’re going to stop pushing yourself so hard,” Harry said, sipping the last of his morning coffee. “Would it be so terrible if you took a day off after all that happened last night?”
Gina had just put on her makeup and was getting a jacket from the closet. She would never admit it to Harry, but she was still shaky and couldn’t seem to get warm enough. “Would you love me if I was any other way?”
“You know I love you, no matter what kind of nut you are.”
She gave him a wide smile. “Think I’ll try to find a closer parking place from now on, and on a different street.” She laughed. “Might even try the hospital garage, if they’ll let me in. In fact, wish I’d put the Fiat in there yesterday ... not too happy about it being out there on the street overnight, then all day today.”
“We can ask Helen and Vinnie to take a swing by your parking space this morning to see if your baby is okay, if we have time. Then you can pick it up when you get off work, like you always do. And if my shift ends on time, maybe I can walk with you, sort of like your personal bodyguard.”
“That would be nice.” She sighed. “Yeah, just the two of us. That way I’ll have an excuse to can fend off Vinnie, who’s going to want to hover over me, watch my every move.”
“You’re not sounding all that confident about the day, doll. I mean, would it hurt to lie back for a day? Stay home, get yourself together? I mean, I’d promise to bring the Fiat straight home ... not harm it in any way.”
“You’re a nut, Harry Lucke. But I do feel pretty good. Besides, you know I can’t take more time off. The unit is short-handed and I don’t want to lose this job.”
“They’re not going to fire you for taking a sick day, especially when you were kidnapped, for crissake, and buried in the park.”
“Maybe I should tell Taneka it was Captain Hook and he was going to come back for me and whisk me off to Neverland.”
“You’re impossible.”
“I’m going back to work, Harry. Accept it, okay?” She took his hand, pulled him closer, and kissed his cheek. “Besides, it isn’t only missing a day of work.”
“What is it?”
“That man who attacked me?”
“Yeah.”
“In the middle of the night, I remembered something he said when he threw me into his truck.”
“I didn’t know he’d said anything.”
“He said, ‘After tonight, you won’t be bothering my wife anymore, you bitch.’”
“Do you know this guy’s wife?”
“Don’t even know him, but I’ve been giving it some serious thought.”
“Love ... we just got back from Nevada, you’ve hardly had a chance to meet anyone new.”
“That’s my point, Harry. It would have to be someone connected with Women’s Health.”
“Maybe.”
“No maybes about it. The only person I can think it might be is Thelma.”
“Her again?”
“She’s accused me of spying on her.”
“Are you?”
“Actually, I wasn’t at the time. But that woman’s up to something. And we have two dead women as a result of having abortions in our clinic.”
“Why would Thelma want to hurt those women, any women?”
“Haven’t the slightest idea,” Gina said. “For all I know, maybe she’s one of those anti-abortion fanatics.”
“If that were the case, why would she take a job in Women’s Health in the first place?”
Harry looked at Gina with a certain expression, the one she’d come to know meant he was scrutinizing everyone and everything. “Then again, maybe she’s nosing around under cover – a nut case against abortion in sheep’s clothing.”
“Funny,” Gina said, “that was exactly my thought.”
* * *
Gina and Harry were at the curb waiting for Helen and Vinnie to pick them up for a ride to Ridgewood. When Helen’s bright red Prius pulled up and double-parked in front of the apartment house, Vinnie was out the door instantly, grabbing Gina and pulling her into his arms.
“Are you sure it wasn’t Dominick?” he blurted, hugging her. “I’ll hunt down the bastard and kill him if he laid one finger on you.”
She gently tried to pull back, but he wouldn’t let go. “As I told you last night, I’m all right, Vinnie. Really I am. And after some sleep and my morning coffee, I’m still sure it wasn’t Dominick.”
“Hey man, she’s okay,” Harry said, squeezing Vinnie’s shoulder.
Helen was leaning against the car, a weak smile on her face. Gina could see that she, too, was beat.
“Vinnie didn’t sleep all night,” Helen said. “He paced back and forth ... couldn’t stop talking about you ... what it was like after your ex beat you ...the hospital, surgery, then it was Afghanistan ... the bombs, the noise. He couldn’t stop.”
Gina gave her brother a tight hug. “Hey, guy, I’m here and I’m fine.” She put her hands on either side of his face, looked squarely into his eyes. “Pay attention: I’m fine ... honestly.”
“Gina just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time and this nut grabbed her,” Harry said. “But everything’s okay now.”
* * *
The two women got into the car – Helen in the driver’s seat, Gina next to her. As Vinnie opened the back door to get in, Harry gently tugged at his arm.
“Listen, Vinnie. I’ve got a close friend who works with vets who have the same kind of problems you’re having. He’s an amazing guy.”
“I’m not going to some shrink, man. I’ll get over this.”
“No, you won’t.” Harry’s voice turned hard. “You need help ... and you need it now!”
Vinnie’s face flushed; before he could refuse again, Harry said, “I don’t want to be rough on you, man. You’re Gina’s brother, a great guy, and all that. But you’re scared ... and stressed. It seems to be getting worse every day.” He grabbed Vinnie by both arms. “And you know it.”
Vinnie tried to pull away, but Harry held onto him until he stopped struggling. Vinnie said in a soft whisper, “Even with Helen, I can’t stop it! The things I see ... everything is horrible. I’m scared all the time. So bad sometimes, I just want to run and run and never stop until I drop.”
Harry looked him square in the eyes. “I’ll go to the doc with you ... I’ll be there every step of the way.” He wrapped an arm around Vinnie, grasped him as tight as he could. “I promise.”
Vinnie collapsed. He threw an arm over Harry’s shoulder and held onto him as if his life depended on it. Harry lowered him onto the car seat and went around to the other side.
“I don’t think he should go into work today,” Harry said. “Maybe we should take him back to your place, Helen.”
“No! No need,” Vinnie protested. “I can shake it off.”
“This isn’t good, Vinnie,” Gina said. She leaned over her seatback and put a hand on his knee. “Come on, let’s take you up to our apartment. We’re right here, already.”
Vinnie slowly shook his head from side to side. “Let’s get going before we’re all late,” he said. “I’ve pushed it all back inside where it belongs.” He put a hand on top of Gina’s. “You can check me out again, sis, when we get to Ridgewood.”
Chapter 40
“I’m still not sure Vinnie should be going to work today,” Harry said.
“Likewise, but there was no arguing with him,” Gina said.
When the elevator reached her floor, she slipped her arm out of Harry’s grasp and whispered in his ear, “I love you, Harry Lucke.” She stepped out of the car and left him behind with a couple of bemused medical assistants.
Walking down the hall, weariness hit her like a sledge hammer. She couldn’t remember ever having been so tired, and so sore all ov
er. It felt like her bones might poke holes in her skin at any moment.
Harry was right: she should have stayed home.
One day I’m going to learn not to be so stubborn.
She took a trio of deep breaths to pull herself together, glanced at her watch as she rounded a corner and slammed into Thelma Karsh. Every part of her cried out in pain.
Thelma looked at her in wide-eyed confusion. “Um ... er ...” Thelma stammered, “my fault ... didn’t mean it.”
Before Gina could respond, the medical assistant dashed away.
Gina rubbed hard at her shoulder where they’d crashed together.
Now that was weird, really weird.
* * *
Thelma was breathless as she hurried on down the corridor. Her heart wrenched, she had to slow down.
She’s alive! My God, she’s still alive.
Marvin said she was dead; she’s supposed to be dead.
What if she remembers Marvin’s face? Can’t ever let her see Marvin and me together. Never!
Thelma rubbed at her bruised neck where Marvin’s thumbs had almost choked the life out of her.
My own husband almost killed me.
Now she wished he had.
If they picked him up, he would scream the truth out to anyone who would listen. He would tell them how he and his wife had delivered justice for the unborn.
Everyone would know then that she was a murderer.
She would go to prison for the rest of her life.
* * *
Frannie Garrity was angry. Ryan refused to try to change a new student’s mid-day piano lesson; she’d been equally adamant in refusing to change her doctor’s appointment. That evolved into a terrible fight about money, bills, commitment, and everything else that was going wrong. Instead of resolving any of it, the situation between them got worse.
He didn’t cancel the lesson and she’d gone to the Ridgewood Women’s Health Center ... alone.
After registering, Frannie slid into a seat in the clinic reception area. Several women were sitting in chairs all around her. They looked as nervous as she felt.
She kept going over everything again and again. She could see no possible way that she could keep this pregnancy.
If she did, she was certain they’d be living in their car with the twins in the not too distant future. So that was that.
“Frannie Garrity?”
She stood so quickly her purse dropped to the floor. She felt like an idiot as she scooped it up, almost losing her balance in the process.
“I’m here,” Frannie said. In her rush to get inside, she turned an ankle and almost fell. The person at the door started toward her, but she waved her off and bent over to rub at the pain. She took a deep breath, stood upright, and wiggled the foot. It seemed to be okay, but now she knew everyone in the waiting area was focused on her.
Okay, so I’m their entertainment for the day.
She forced herself to continue on without looking around at the others, and then gave a weak smile to the medical assistant, who was still holding the door for her.
“Mrs. Garrity, my name is Thelma. I’m one of the medical assistants in the department. Would you please come with me?”
Her formal tone brought Frannie to attention. There was something off-putting about her.
Maybe she’s having a bad day, too. Mine certainly hasn’t been all that great so far.
When they reached a small examination room, Thelma preceded her inside and immediately went to a tray next to the exam table.
“Take your clothes off from the waist down and sit on that table.”
Frannie was surprised by the assistant’s attitude, which had gone from formal to gruff, to rude. Being an artist, Frannie tended to study just about any person she came in contact with. She took them in from the head to toe – all were fair game.
Frannie stared at the medical assistant’s name tag, then at her dark, gray-striped mess of hair. Deep frown lines etched the woman’s face; this was not a happy person. Yet, there was also an aura of excitement ... no ... agitation. And there was no mistaking a strong undercurrent of permanent anger that emanated from her like heat from a radiator.
Thelma’s attitude was just a reminder of how badly things had gone since she’d become pregnant. Anything that could go haywire would go haywire. Everything, including her relationship with Ryan, was screwed up. Even the simplest of things were no longer simple, including the way she was being treated by this medical assistant.
“Is there something wrong?” Frannie demanded. She could feel her phony smile, a pasted-on Halloween mask of teeth, spread across her face.
Thelma ignored her, acting very busy as she placed a square of paper with jelly on it and a speculum on the tray. She used a cotton applicator to stir the jelly. She stared at Frannie, her eyes narrowed like a viper’s.
“Why don’t you sit down and not worry about my state of mind?”
“Hey, you!” Frannie shouted, leveling a finger to point at Thelma. “You don’t get to talk to me like that!”
“And you don’t get to be so rude to me,” Thelma responded.
“Get out of here!” Frannie shouted.
Thelma’s jaw dropped, but she stood rooted in one spot.
“I don’t want you in here with me,” Frannie yelled even louder. “Get out! Now!”
Chapter 41
Dieting was out, eating well was in.
That was Gina’s mantra, at least until she felt stronger. A full lunch of vegetable-ladened minestrone soup, that didn’t even remotely come close to tasting Italian, plus a grilled cheese sandwich, left her stuffed and calorie sated.
It was rare that she ate by herself in the hospital cafeteria, but Harry couldn’t make it and she didn’t push for lunch with Helen and her brother. Vinnie probably needed some time away from her. Gina understood that. She also knew he was emotionally wasted and she wouldn’t rest until the Vinnie she’d always known was back again.
It hurt, but Gina had to face the facts: maybe that Vinnie, that person, was gone forever. The fun-loving brother she used to know had changed, morphed into a man burdened with the pain and terrors of having gone to war ... too many times. Thinking about it made her want to cry. But Harry had promised to watch over Vinnie, and he never made a promise he couldn’t keep. That was her Harry.
Between thoughts of her brother, Thelma’s face kept popping into her head. Gina could still see the look on her face when they’d run into each other earlier. It was as though Thelma had seen a ghost.
* * *
Back in the unit, Gina watched Thelma bring in a patient for an examination. She wondered why Thelma was so strange, why she usually acted so antagonistic around her. She wanted to ask questions about Thelma’s husband, but she knew better than to be that blatant.
Maybe I need to stop trying to read things into her behavior. Maybe she’s simply strange, and that’s all there is to it.
No, I’ve known a lot of off-beat people. This is beyond that. Something’s eating at her. There’s no getting around it. She acts like she’s guilty of something, like she’s doing something wrong.
I know guilt when I see it.
She recalled the time Thelma jumped all over her when she thought she’d been overheard in an examination room-conversation between her and a patient.
All that craziness with the KY jelly. What’s with that? And why the culture pack in her pocket when they’re stocked in every patient examination room?
It made no sense, unless there really was a direct connection between the culture tube and the KY jelly.
When Gina mentioned it to Taneka, the supervisor agreed that it was odd since medical assistants didn’t take cultures of any kind in the unit. The conversation went no further.
But Thelma’s definitely up to something
* * *
“I don’t want you in here with me!” echoed down the hall. Gina ran toward the examination room where the shouting was coming from.
�
��Get out of here! Now!”
Gina pushed open the door. A patient was standing at the end of the table yelling at Thelma, who turned to Gina with confusion written all over her face.
“Is there a problem?”
The patient eyed Gina. “Yes, there is definitely a problem. I don’t want her in here.” The woman wiped at tears running down her cheeks. “It’s bad enough I have to have an abortion ... I don’t need to be reminded of it ... treated like dirt ... by that woman.” She raised her arm and pointed at Thelma.
“Maybe you’d better go,” Gina said quietly to Thelma. “Let me handle this.”
Thelma merely nodded. As she turned to leave the room, she reached out to scoop up the paper square loaded with KY jelly.
“Leave that!" Gina said. "Leave everything just as it is!”
Thelma hesitated for only an instant before hurrying out the door.
The patient was sobbing. “It’s not like I want to be here. I wish I didn’t have to do this ... but I have to ... I have to.”
Gina took the patient’s arm, smoothed her hair, spoke gently to her. “I’m sure it’s only a misunderstanding.”
“No! That woman was judging me ... treated me like a thing ... like I wasn’t human.”
Gina glanced at the computer screen, saw the patient’s name. “Let’s get you undressed, Mrs. Garrity, so the doctor can examine you.”
“Fine. But I don’t ever want to see her again.” She pointed, this time at the now-closed door.
Gina helped her off with her clothes, seated her on the end of the table with the drape on her lap. “Just let me finish getting things ready and the doctor will be in soon. Then you can be on your way. Okay?”
Gina took Thelma’s KY jelly, topped it with another square of paper, and carefully put it in a plastic bag. No time like the present to find out if there were any bad bugs in the Thelma's lavish portion.
Of course, if Taneka finds out what I've done, I'll catch hell, but it won't be the first time ... and I may get some evidence that the KY is a contributing factor to the two post-abortion deaths
Bone of Contention: A Medical Thriller With Heart (The Gina Mazzio Series Book 4) Page 17
