by B. D. Gates
"What!” said Tess, as she sat down in the chair next to me. The heat of her body had warmed her perfume, and the scent of it was unknown to me. It was the kind of perfume that smelled good going on, but even better the next day, when the scented memory of passion was on my shirt and my skin from the night before.
I could not resist. “Do you know you have a vein on your jawline that throbs when you're aggravated?”
She glared at me until I broke first, dropping my eyes but still smiling.
After about ten minutes or so, the inner office door opened. “Lisa,” called the nurse. I looked at Tess. The receptionist must have put in a good word for us.
"Go on, that's you,” said Tess, nudging me. I stood up and started toward the nurse holding the patient chart, with Tess right behind me. The office nurse looked questioningly at me, then at Tess, then at the cast on my arm, then questioningly back at Tess.
"She's Lisa,” said the detective, just as I said “I'm Lisa.”
"She's Lisa?” said the office nurse.
"She has a frickin' cast on her arm. Of course she's Lisa,” said Tess, clipping off each word.
"I'm Lisa,” I said, in a more declarative tone, as if I was trying to convince myself.
"This way,” said the nurse, rolling her eyes as she turned to lead the way.
I looked at Tess, who by now was exasperated beyond words, considering the red color her neck had turned, then followed the nurse down the hall. Tess sighed, audibly, as she brought up the rear. The nurse led us to Exam Room 2, placing my chart in the holder as we walked into the room.
"Doctor will be in shortly,” she said, closing the door as she went out.
I jumped up on the exam table, the paper crinkling loudly. Tess sat down in the visitor's chair in the corner.
"Ya know, Detective, I can do this without you,” I said. “If you want to go get a cup of coffee, or an aspirin...”
"I'm fine,” said Tess, the scarlet coloring quieting on her cheeks.
"Okay, just sayin'.”
"I'm fine,” Tess repeated through still-clenched teeth.
We sat quietly for several minutes.
I can only stay that way for about five minutes or so, especially after I've read all the charts on the walls, and I am feeling trapped in a room with an overheated woman who smells so damn good. Tess was going through some files on her cell.
"Detective,” I whispered.
"You don't have to whisper, Bishop, you're not in a library,” Tess answered absentmindedly.
"It's 'Lisa.'
"Lisa,” hissed Tess. “What?”
"What do you like to do for fun?”
"What?”
"Yeah, what. What do you like to do for fun?”
"Fun.”
"Yeah, like, when you're off-duty. Spare time. Hobbies, activities, sports, what?”
"I, spare time, ahh, well...” Tess seemed to be on new ground and having a hard time getting her bearings. Maybe she was not used to being on the receiving end of an interrogation.
The door opened and a small Eastern Indian woman walked in, ending the interrogation before I could get it started.
"Hello, I am Doctor Elohim,” her Eastern Indian lilt giving her English a sing-song quality. She had opened the chart and was skimming quickly through the info sent from the Baltimore orthopedic doctors. Before snapping it shut, she looked up at the personal info for my name.
"So, how are you today...Lisa?” she asked as she looked up at me, then at Tess, then back at me. I glared at Tess.
"I'm fine, Doctor Elohim, nice to meet you, I am ready to get this off,” I replied, waving my casted right arm, as if I needed to identify what I was there for.
"Well, we will be taking the cast off today, but I will need to perform some x-rays before I can be certain that you will no longer require full immobilization.”
I nodded my understanding. Tess looked at her watch.
"Wait here, please. My nurse will come and take you to the cast removal room and then take your x-rays.” Dr. Elohim punched a small red button on the wall and picked up my file. “Once I review them, I will meet with you again to discuss your plan of care. Do you have any questions?”
"No, I'm good,” I replied.
Dr. Elohim nodded and smiled, then turned to look at Tess.
Tess smiled, nodded.
Dr. Elohim looked back at me.
"Oh, sorry, Doctor, this is Tess, she's just here for moral support.”
"Ah, very good. Well then, the nurse will be in shortly.”
Dr. Elohim left the room, taking my chart with her.
"Look, Bishop,” started Tess.
"Lisa,” I corrected her. Tess rolled her eyes.
"Lisa, this is going to run longer than I thought it would. I'm going to leave you here to get everything taken care of. Once they're through with you, wait for me in the waiting room. Do not leave this building. Do you understand?” Detective Hayes was operating in full force.
"Yes,” I answered.
"Yes, what?'” asked Detective Hayes.
"Yes, ma'am?” I asked.
"Do not leave this building!" the detective growled. “I'll be back!” she declared as she went out the door.
"So long, Ahhnowd!” I called to her.
The nurses standing at the workstation looked at me. I grinned and shrugged. The older nurse gave a quick frown, but the younger one giggled and smiled at me. I smiled back.
3
It was twelve o'clock when I made it back to the waiting room, wearing a short cock-up splint on my left arm. Follow-up appointment in one month. No detective waiting for me, so, doing as I had been unquestionably instructed, I took a seat and waited.
By twelve-thirty, there was still no sign of the detective, and, quite frankly, I was getting hungry. The young nurse who'd laughed at my Schwarzenegger impression entered the receptionist's area carrying a bag of what smelled like hamburgers and fries and a drink in a to-go cup, making my hunger pangs all the worse. Printed on the cup was the logo from the pharmacy next door. “Excellent,” I thought. I waved at the young nurse and got her attention. I was waiting when she opened the door to the exam area.
“Hey, Marie,” I said, getting her name from her ID pin. “Those burgers smell great. They came from next door?”
“Yeah, they are good,” said Marie. “The pharmacy has a soda fountain and grill. We eat from there a few times a week, especially when we're busy. It's really convenient, because we can call it in and if we're too busy, they'll bring the orders across the hall to us.”
“Now that's service,” I said, smiling. Marie smiled back. “Do you think anyone would mind if I cut through so I can grab some lunch? My ride's not back yet, and I'm really hungry,” I asked.
“Why, sure, hon, I don't think anyone would mind at all,” said Miz Marie. “C'mon, I'll take you through.”
Okay, I know I'm splitting hairs here with Detective Hayes' instructions, but there was no telling where she was or how much longer I would have had to wait, so I was actually taking a chance that I could get there and back before she returned. Marie and I walked through the exam rooms area and then she turned the corner at the end of the hall, stopping at a metal door.
“Here ya go,” she said, as she entered a number into the alarm keypad. “The door to the pharmacy is unlocked and you'll come in right at the grill.”
“Thanks, Marie, I owe ya,” I said, as I passed through and into the hall.
'You're welcome, sweetie,” called Marie, as the door closed behind her.
I was standing in the enclosed hallway adjoining the two businesses. On both ends were glassed-in entrances, one opening onto the side street and the other opening into a parking area that serviced staff for both buildings. Technically, in my opinion, I had not actually 'left the building.' I walked on across and opened the door to the pharmacy.
Entering, I was indeed at the grill, an L-shaped counter that mimicked the Woolworths grill I had grown up with. The menu incl
uded hot dogs, 'homemade' chicken salad, cherry and apple pies on the counter over the hand-dipped ice cream case. Six red-leatherette-topped stools on the long part of the L, possibly four more on the short end. Since there were already two seats taken on the short side, I settled myself onto the second stool I got to, pulled a menu off the holder on top of the napkin dispenser. The waitress brought a short glass of ice water and a straw and set them down in front of me.
“'What'll ya have,” asked the woman.
“I'll have a hamburger with onions, pickles and mustard, and a chocolate malt,” I replied.
“Fries or onion rings?”
“Fries, please.” I really wanted the onion rings but I figured they'd take too long.
I was halfway through the burger and the malt when Tess sat down on the stool next to me.
“Enjoying yourself?”
“Absolutely.” I said with a bit of a grin. “Ya know, this is some of the best food I've had in two months, with the exception of breakfast this morning. Would you please just let me finish before you rip me a new one?”
Something in my tone must have hit home with Tess. She signaled the waitress.
“Hey, Bernice, I'll have one of those, and a chocolate shake.” Bernice nodded and threw another pattie on the grill.
“So, you've graduated to a splint, huh?”
“Yeah, and I get to take it off when I go to bed. How was your meeting?”
“Uhhh, informative.”
“About me?”
“Yes, well, partly...”
“Any good news?” I asked, rubbing my eyes.
“Yeah, no, not really.” Tess reached into her pocket, pulled out an old clam shell cell phone and pushed it across the counter towards me.
“Another present? You're spoiling me, Detective, and I haven't gotten you anything,” I said, as I picked it up and flipped it open, checked out the interface, scrolling through the menu. “What, no data plan?”
“It's just a phone, Bishop, and that's all you need it for. My number is programmed in as the first speed dial. Anything happens, you hit 'one.'”
“Wouldn't 911 be faster?”
“Not really.”
“Okay...”
Bernice delivered Tess's order and left the chit on the counter between us. Tess picked up the burger and took a big bite. She suddenly looked very tired.
“You OK?” I asked.
“Me, yes, I'm fine. We've just got some other things going on that I wish I could get a handle on.”
“Like what?”
“Well, we've had a series of break-ins over the past eight weeks or so, involving cars and outdoor sheds, with people losing stereos, lawn and garden tools, and, in one case, the SOB took the family's dog. And it wouldn't be that big a deal, except that this has been going on for a while, the timing is sporadic as hell, the incidents come in waves, and no one ever sees anything. In and out with nothing left behind."
"Damn."
"Yeah, and it's not like we don't have anything else to do." She looked over at me and sighed.
Well. Guess that meant I had been an item on her to-do list. And not in a good way.
"Sorry," I offered. "At least that ends today, you get to stay home tonight? No more babysitting? No more overnighters with me?" I took on a sorrowful look and a pitiful tone. "And here I thought you'd enjoyed our time together."
The detective shook her head and rolled her eyes in response. "Now, Bishop," she said in a low voice. "That's not what I meant."
"Okay." I maintained my hurt demeanor. I turned the topic back to the break-ins. "So, you don't think kids are pulling these thefts?"
She paused for a minute, picking up the thread of the conversation. "No, it looks like someone who's been doing this a while.”
“But mostly outside stuff, nothing inside the houses...yet.”
“Yet. You know, it's funny, well, not funny, but I work assaults, murders, you name it, we have the same crimes here as anywhere else, but the people in this town don't pay a bit of attention to those crimes. Someone breaking into their neighbor's shed, though? It's a freakin' crime wave, everyone has got something to say about it, especially about the police, and none of it good." She sighed. "My captain and I discussed what to do with you, whether we should go ahead and set you up with a job. What have you done, so far as legal employment is concerned?”
Hm. How to answer that.
“Well, let's see, I've mowed lawns, worked in a pet shop, a shoe store, and I worked in a vet's office when I was a kid. You know, washing dogs, cleaning kennels, that sort of stuff.”
“Huh, well, we have a couple of vets in the county, one here in town. I'll check with the captain and see what we can work out.”
“Cool.”
Tess signaled the waitress. "I'm going to take the rest of this to go.
The waitress put a Styrofoam container down in front of Tess. I picked up the bill and read the total, calculated the tip, then reached into my pocket and pulled out some cash. "I've got this, you bought breakfast."
"Where did you get money?" she asked rather suspiciously.
I just grinned, shrugged my shoulders.
"Seriously," the detective demanded an answer.
"I earned it."
"You earned it."
"Yep. Fair and square."
She just looked at me. Oh, good gawd, did she think I had just mugged someone in the clinic?
"Detective, this is my money."
"But I haven't given you any money. So, where did you get it?"
"I earned it. Fair and square."
"Doing what?"
"Okay, Detective, don't have a stroke, you've had a stressful enough morning already. I won it. Playing cards."
"Cards."
"Yes."
"With?"
"Well, you're the detective, I've given you the clues, figure it out."
"Bishop..." she started, then shook her head, her lips tightened in a thin, straight line.
I think, for a minute there, she really kinda hated me.
She shook her head, then picked up her to-go box and slid off the stool.
"Keep the change, Bee,” said Tess, looking at me as I joined her and we headed for the back door.
Yeah, okay. Sure, sure.
"Well, that was fun,” I said as we exited the back door and headed right, toward the side street where Tess had parked her unmarked Crown Vic.
“Do we need to stop anywhere else? Do you need anything before I take you back?”
I thought, briefly, of saying "What I really need, Detective, you probably wouldn't give me." Just for the fun of watching her reaction. But I didn't. I'd frustrated her morning enough already.
“No, thanks, you've been great, I don't need a thing."
“Animals are good, got enough food for them?” Tess asked as we settled into the car.
“Yes, really, and, by the way, thanks for bringing them with me. I can't tell you how much they mean to me.”
“Bishop, I had animals growing up. I told Witness Protection to bring them, just as if they were your children, and we'd figure out what to do with them when you got here. You may not remember, when you were still under a lot of medication, they stayed with you in the bedroom all day. We'd feed them and take them out, but they always went back to you. They trusted us, seemed to know we were helping you, but they stood watch. I'm glad they're here, for you, and really, for us. Whyte said that it was like having a second set of officers in there with you. Nobody would get to you without a fight.”
“Yeah, you got that right," I agreed. "I had a friend once, well, someone I hung out with, didn't work much, tended to have 'sticky fingers.' So, I went out of town, and when I got back, my house had been broken into. Took the TV, jewelry, cash, the usual. So then, in a matter of a few days, this girl pops up. Now I hadn't seen her in a good while, but when she came in and sat down, Rosie pushed up against her, started growling, grumbling and looking at me. She wouldn't stop, kept it up for a good ten min
utes, me scolding her, pulling her over to me, until finally, I got it. I kept thinking, what is wrong with this dog, and then it hit me. I got up, pulled this girl to her feet, and pushed up her sleeve. Stupid girl was wearing my watch. With a little 'persuasion,' we went and got the rest of my stuff. Damned if she didn't have the TV and jewelry wrapped as Christmas presents!”
“Wow,” said Tess. “Wow," she repeated. She seemed to consider saying something else, but didn't.
“Yep,” I said. “They're 'my kids.' And I really appreciate your letting me keep them.”
In another minute or so, we pulled up to the back gate adjacent to the carriage house. I was home, safe and sound. Tess got out with me.
"Aw, gonna walk me to the door, Detective? That's so sweet, this being our first date and all."
Tess shot me a look. "No, I'm going to go speak to Miz Maggie and Jared. And you should, too, since they've been kind enough to let you and your animals stay in Jared's house."
I nodded. She was right, of course. We headed for the gate.
Miz Maggie was sitting in an old metal glider under an oak tree that shaded the area just off the porch. She had the company of a fellow who looked to be her age, sitting in the companion chair to the glider. There was a pitcher of lemonade, and each held a half-filled glass.
Tess advised me that the man's name was Jared and he was Miz Maggie's live-in handyman. The carriage house was remodeled for him, by him, but it was common knowledge that since I'd moved in, he spent his nights in the main house. Miz Maggie generally did not take in boarders, according to Tess, but had agreed to let me stay when Tess's captain had offered her an undisclosed monthly rent, courtesy of Witness Protection.
“Hey, Tess, why don't you and Lisa come join us,” invited Miz Maggie. “We're having margaritas.”
I burst out laughing. Couldn't help it. Tess shushed me with a look.
“What?” I whispered. “It's barely two o'clock in the afternoon.”
