Gotta Get Next To You

by Emery, Lynn

  Lee lingered over making a decision on what he wanted. He would not go back to the clinic just yet. He would relax and enjoy his lunch hour.

  Two dueling voices sounded in his head. One called him wise. The less time he spent near Andrea, the better. What he needed was breathing room so he could stop thinking about her as anything except another assignment. Things were adding up, and the total did not look good for her or the clinic. Lee saw discrepancies that pointed to serious problems. Andrea could be involved. Hell, she had to be. She reviewed the inventory records, signed purchase orders, and co-signed with the doctor on all narcotic drugs that had to be tracked. Lee compared records on drugs dispensed and suspected that some of the patients did not exist. He shared receptionist duties with another clerk. Lee’s one hasty search revealed names on the dispensary ledger of people who never came in for appointments. Getting away from the clinic allowed him to think objectively. If it looks too good to be true, it is. Lee had been through enough in his life to not just know, but feel, the truth of that saying.

  The other voice nudged alive the part of him that wanted to believe, to not be cynical and to trust appearances. It whispered that Andrea was not faking it when it came to her patients. Lee thought about the times he’d seen her easing the fears of an elderly patient or taking extra time with a teen mom. If she was acting, she could win awards, but everything inside him told him that she did care about people. Her smile seemed to inspire confidence in the most nervous patients and defuse angry, resistant ones. It was the same smile that sent shock waves through his body when she directed it at him. Pleasing her made him feel extraordinary and proud. Which was a big problem.

  Lee sighed and drank from his cup of cola. He knew very well from his days as a cop in Los Angeles that the prettiest package could be the most deadly. Nothing and no one could be taken on face value, and life was cheap. His younger brother’s death at fifteen in a barrage of automatic gunfire had proven it. Nothing he’d done as a brother or cop had helped save Chris. Indifference in the department when it came to minority youth had long rankled. Chris’s death had sealed his decision. Lee resigned the day after his funeral. Five years as a private investigator had served to confirm what he already knew. He saw the worst in people, rich, poor, and in between. This reminded him of another old saying; that looks can be deceiving. His cynicism about life and human nature had been formed by life and reality, he mused.

  He just needed to keep his priorities straight, he told himself firmly. If drugs were being taken, he’d have to involve the cops. Lee decided to wrap this thing up quick, report to the cops, and get the hell out of Dodge fast. And Andrea? He gritted his teeth at the thought of her being involved. Despite his hard, cynical outlook, Lee couldn’t see it. Or maybe he just didn’t want to see it. A real big problem.

  “Hi, Denise. Our order ready? I think it’s in Katy’s name,” he heard a familiar voice say. He turned to see Andrea standing at the end of the long counter under the PICK UP sign.

  She did not see him at the other end of the dining room, seated in a booth. He watched her brush back a tendril of hair from her face. Her thick brown locks were pulled back into a French braid. As she smiled at other customers, his heart turned over. It was a struggle to be such a hard nose. He could not think of her as a criminal, not when she smiled like that. Her face glowed. The smooth brown skin invited him to caress it. She wore lipstick the color of wine—he swallowed hard, wanting desperately to taste her lips. Lee drew in a deep breath and let it out. The physical attraction hit him with force again, reminding him why he needed to avoid her. Lately he’d begun to think of her kindness and her sense of humor. Andrea was not all starched uniforms and stem lectures. Lee frowned at a disturbing truth: he looked forward to hearing her voice. The clinic seemed drab when she wasn’t there.

  Andrea turned her back to him and he studied the delicate lines of her neck. He remembered massaging her there until he was virtually stupefied with lust. Every nerve ending in his body fired up whenever she was nearby. He’d made a fool of himself once and that was enough. Better to fade into the woodwork and let her leave without seeing him.

  Andrea faced the man standing in line behind her and laughed at something he said. The tall, dark man was obviously flirting with her. Lee scowled. Who was this guy anyway? Thoughts of slipping out quietly vanished. Lee slid out of the booth and moved closer, keeping them in view as he listened to their exchange.

  “You haven’t changed a bit, Brian. Still cracking jokes.” Andrea gave his arm a playful punch.

  “Well, I can’t say the same for you. You’ve changed, girl. You’re ten times prettier.” Brian gave her an admiring full-body examination and let out a whistle.

  “Still trying to sweet-talk me.” Andrea smiled with pleasure.

  Lee was at the counter before he knew it. “Hello there,” he said, his tone filled with forced cheer.

  Andrea faced him. “Oh, hi,” she said hesitantly.

  “Everybody seems to find this place for lunch, huh?” Lee looked at the man, then at Andrea.

  “This is Brian Scott. One of my old classmates.” Andrea looped her arm through Brian’s. “Brian, Jamal Turner. Jamal’s originally from Los Angeles.”

  “Hey, stop saying old Nice to meet you.” Brian stuck out his hand.

  Lee grasped his hand and gave it a perfunctory shake before letting go. “Hi. Old pals, huh?”

  “Man, this lady has been breakin’ my heart since the third grade.” Brian pulled a long face.

  “Oh, quit. Brian is the most talented guy in town. He acts, sings, and plays a mean blues guitar,” Andrea said.

  “You’re making me blush.” Brian grinned at her. “And this one wasn’t too shabby singing those songs either.”

  “Really?” Lee was interested to find out more about Andrea, but not this way. Not from a still-interested ex-boyfriend.

  “We used to put on variety shows,” Andrea said to Lee.

  “Those were the days. Me on guitar and you singing along. We’ve gotta get together, Drea.” Brian pulled her closer to him.

  “I know. It’s just I’ve been so tied up with work and all. Maybe this week,” Andrea said, anticipation in her eyes.

  “We have to set up the case management system,” Lee broke in. He tried to keep his voice light, but the effort made his jaws ache.

  “I’d forgotten about that.” Andrea looked disappointed.

  “We might even have to work on it weekends.” Lee moved a few inches to stand close to Andrea. “Nights, too.”

  “I know how that is. I’ve been working overtime myself. So, you just moved here from L.A.?” Brian looked at Lee.

  “Yes.” Lee crossed his arms over his chest and offered no more chatty details.

  “Oh.” Brian seemed to process the unspoken message in his posture. “Interesting place. But too big for me.”

  “Yeah, it can be overwhelming to small-town people.” Lee stared back at him.

  “I travel quite a bit actually. Guess I just prefer living where you don’t have to fight traffic to buy milk.” Brian’s voice held an edge.

  Denise placed five white paper bags on the counter. “Here’s your order, Andrea. That’s sixteen dollars even.”

  Andrea glanced from Lee to Brian. “If I don’t get back with this food, I’m going to be in big trouble. I’ll see you around, Brian.”

  “Right. I’ve gotta get moving myself.” Brian nodded to Lee. “See ya.”

  “Yeah,” Lee said in a short tone.

  “Baby girl, you just let me know. I’ll have a crawfish boil organized in no time flat. The whole gang will be there and we’ll dance just like we used to.” Brian gave her a quick peck on the forehead. He glanced at Lee, then left.

  Andrea paid for the food and got change back. “’Bye, Jamal.” She reached for the food.

  “I’ll carry those.” Lee paid for his lunch, picked up the bags, and cupped her elbow.

  “They don’t weigh very much,” Andrea said
.

  “Come on. You’ve got hungry employees waiting.” Lee went to the door and pushed it open.

  Andrea paused for a second, then followed him. “What was all that about us needing to work late? You told me things were going along just fine.” She brushed back her hair again as they walked down the sidewalk.

  Lee felt warm watching the movement of her fingers against the cotton-soft curls. “Yes, but… you need to tell me what data fields you want set up. Remember, I’m going to customize the database to your specifications.”

  “I’ve already given you the list.” Andrea shot a sideways glance at him.

  “Uh, not for all the new programs. And we’ll need to review and evaluate the system even after you start using it.” Lee felt a rush at a new thought. “It could take another month, maybe two.”

  They came to an intersection and waited for the traffic light to turn. Andrea looked at him. “Just show me the basics and I’ll take it from there. I’ve used computers since college.”

  “Why take time from the patients? I know how much you enjoy that part of the job.” Lee smiled at her.

  “I wouldn’t want to put a cramp in your social life. Thanks anyway.” Andrea started across the street when cars stopped for the red light.

  Lee matched her stride. “But I don’t mind. It’s worth it. To help the clinic, I mean.”

  Andrea stopped a few yards short of the clinic. “It’s really not necessary. I’m not a tech dummy.”

  “I didn’t say you were. You’re great. At your job, I mean.” He stumbled over his words like a kid.

  “Thanks a lot,” Andrea said, her tone dry.

  Lee felt as though he’d wandered haplessly into alien territory. He stood close to her, his body ignoring the small voice of caution in his head. That voice had saved him too many times to count. And right now it was telling him to back off.

  “Yeah, on second thought, it might not take that much after all,” Lee said curtly. “Better relieve Terri so she can get lunch.” He started to turn away but stopped when she touched his arm.

  Andrea’s expression had softened. “I didn’t mean to sound snippy. It’s just we need to be careful about overtime pay. The board is breathing down my neck about expenses.”

  Lee’s antennae went up. “The clinic is having money problems?”

  “The accounting records are scrambled. I’m working with an auditor from the state fiscal office now. I think it was just poor record keeping really.” Andrea sighed.

  “That’s what I keep hearing.”

  “We have to meet layers of bureaucratic rules about medical care standards and the budget.”

  “I guess you could go months without knowing which end is up with the money or other stuff.” Lee glanced at the clinic.

  “Oh yes,” Andrea said with a nod. “And I’m just beginning.”

  “Easy to get it all tangled up,” Lee said. Easy to cover your tracks, he added to himself.

  “Very easy. But I’ve got good staff like Katy and Denny. Thank goodness we’re in this together.” Andrea started walking again.

  Lee walked beside her. “You’ve got a big job on your hands, eh?”

  Her full lips lifted in a ghost of a smile. “Well, we finally agree on something.”

  “Yeah.” Lee smiled back.

  “From now on I promise not to be so touchy,” Andrea said. “And, Jamal.” She stopped at the clinic entrance.

  Lee’s body temperature shot up when she looked at him. Her mouth was full and moist, her expression open. “Yeah?” he managed to choke out.

  “I value you, too. We’re a team.” Andrea’s lips curved up gently. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed all the time you’ve spent getting our systems up and running.”

  Lee felt tiny, needlelike jabs of guilt in his chest. “Just doing my job.”

  “You’re going above and beyond your job. Thanks.”

  Andrea tilted her head to one side and a wisp of hair trailed down her right cheek.

  “I’m trying to do my part,” he murmured, unable to take his eyes off the sweep of dark waves brushed back from her face.

  Lee wanted catch the dark lock and twirl it around his fingers, to feel its texture. He wondered if she sensed the crackle of attraction between them. The sound of traffic receded. Andrea seemed to move closer to him. Her gaze traveled from his face down his body and back again. When her lips parted, he held his breath. Then the clinic door opened and a mother came out, admonishing her little boy.

  “Hush. I’m not buying you candy,” the woman said, and pulled the wailing child behind her. “S’cuse me, y’all.”

  “Sure,” Andrea said as she made a wide path for them.

  Andrea cleared her throat as she glanced away from him. They both watched the mother and child walk off, still wrapped in a battle of wills.

  “I’ll bet Katy and the student nurses are really yelling for their burgers by now. I’d better get inside before they come looking for me.” Andrea opened the door before he could and walked in.

  “Then you’ll need these.” Lee shook the bags he still held. He grinned at her.

  “Oh, right. Thanks.” Andrea blushed prettily. She grabbed the bags and hurried inside.

  Lee went to the reception desk so Terri could take a break. He barely listened as she gave him a brief rundown on what needed to be done. He checked in several patients who had appointments. Yet he was just going through the motions. His mind was on Andrea. She’d been very frank about the state of the budget records. Why would she tell him if she was up to something? Maybe it all went back to the previous directors.

  His cynical side spoke right up. Most of the staff whispered gossip about what was wrong at the clinic. To deny any problems would look even more suspicious. There was no doubt she’d inspired loyalty from the staff. She could just as well be building up her own shell of protection. Andrea made it a point to let everyone know she was in charge and hands on. Lee pushed aside sympathetic leanings. Get the goods, then get paid. If she wasn’t involved, fine. Lee would move on, whatever happened.

  ***

  Andrea tapped her ink pen on her desk rapidly. She considered the reports in front of her. The budget was enough to make even the most experienced bureaucrat dizzy. The clinic received funding from a complex set of federal and state sources. With each came an equally complex set of strings attached. Still, she’d managed to figure it out; at least she’d thought so until today. The patient statistics and money spent did not add up. They kept dancing around like jumping beans. Now what? Andrea chewed on the end of her pen. For the third time she called Denny into her office.

  “Yes, ma’am.” Denny came in and stood before her desk.

  “How many of these patient charts have you found?” Andrea tapped her copy of the list of names she’d printed out for him.

  He bent forward and peered down to where she pointed. “Let’s see, out of twenty-five, about seven so far. It’s been wild all day. I’ll get back on it now.”

  “I don’t get it. Close to seventy thousand dollars was spent on follow-up treatment and home visits, according to Thelma Cresson’s reports,” Andrea murmured to herself.

  “Miss Cresson had her own way of doing things, that’s for sure,” Denny said with a frown. “Uh, I wasn’t gonna say anything, but..

  Andrea glanced up at him. “What?”

  “I don’t wanna get caught up in nothing.” Denny rubbed his chin, eyes wide. “But like, I don’t want nobody getting in trouble for something they didn’t do.”

  “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.” Andrea rocked back in her chair.

  “They’re gone and we get all the blame.” Denny fidgeted with his hands.

  “She told you what to do and you had to follow orders. I understand. So tell me what happened.” Andrea waited as he seemed to silently debate whether to talk.

  “If I lose this job, won’t be easy to get another one. My grandmother needs me to help.” Denny looked at her with desp
eration in his dark eyes.

  “I know that, Denny.” Andrea stood and walked to him. “And I know how hard you’ve tried over the last few weeks.”

  “Miss Cresson has a lot of big-time connections. She’s still pissed, pardon my language. But she said anybody that helps you will go down, too.” Denny blinked hard. “I ain’t been no angel, Miss Noble.” Andrea sat down in one of two chairs in front of her desk. “Let’s talk.” She patted the forest green vinyl seat cushion and Denny sat down next to her.

  “Guess you heard I gave my grandmother lots of trouble staying out late, drinking, and running with the wrong crowd. I swear I was never arrested, for nothing serious, that is.” Denny spoke in a rush as though saying it quickly would convince her.

  “Yes, I’ve heard.”

  “My mama kinda dumped me on my dad, and he … got his own problems.” Denny hung his head and clutched both knees with his hands. “Bottom line is I raised myself.”

  Andrea felt a flood of compassion for him. She’d known the anguish of feeling abandoned by her own mother. Charlene had escaped the boredom of Bayou Blue and left Andrea for party trips to New Orleans all the time when she was younger. Gran had been wonderful and loving in her comforting maternal way. Yet inside, Andrea suffered. For years Andrea had believed that it was her fault, that she’d been a bad girl. Looking at Denny now, she could see herself fifteen years ago. Like him, Andrea had hidden the hurt under a facade. Hers had been the workaholic overachiever in high school and college. Denny had obviously adopted the bad boy pose.

  “You’ve had it hard. But tell me the truth and I’ll do everything in my power to help you,” she said.

  Denny looked at her searchingly. “You really mean that, huh?” he said quietly.

  “You’ve got a good heart. I can see it in the way you treat people. No matter how bad you think it is, lying will make it worse.” Andrea waited once more.

  Denny looked away. “Miss Cresson did private nursing on the side. She referred patients to herself and billed the clinic for it.”

  Andrea frowned. “But I’d have seen her name on pay invoices. No way is an employee allowed to get paid for services they should provide here.”