Bad Doctor by John Locke Read Free Book Online Page A

as a wounded wolverine. She and Bobby get into a slapping and yelling match that ends when he punches her forehead and knocks her semi-conscious.
    He cocks his fist to hit her again, but Willow purposely interrupts his train of thought by asking, “Who’s car is that?”
    “Huh? What?”
    “Who’s Mercedes is that?”
    “I told you. I borrowed it from a friend.”
    “What friend?”
    “Guy I met at Shady’s last night.”
    “What is he, a drug dealer?”
    A strange look comes over Bobby’s face, like he just remembered he’s the one supposed to be angry here. Angry and in charge.
    He says, “Get your ass out of the car, Willow.” He looks at Cameron. “You too, Stringbean.”
    Willow looks at Cameron. She’s trying to mouth something. Trying to get Willow to read her lips. She’s…
    Gun.
    She’s mouthing the word “gun.”
    Willow has Bobby’s gun in her purse.
    She shakes her head.
    Like she’s supposed to what, pull a gun on crazy Bobby? He’ll rip it out of her hands and pistol-whip them both.
    “Now!” Bobby says.
    Willow opens the door, gets out, then leans back in.
    “What about my car? I can’t leave it here.”
    “We’ll get it later.”
    “When?”
    “Tomorrow. We’re having a sleepover.”
    The girls share a quick look of panic.
    “I’ve got some things in the trunk,” Willow says.
    “What sort of things?”
    “Bedding.”
    “ What ?”
    “I’ve got some bedding in the trunk.”
    “You mean like sheets and shit?”
    “Yeah. And a blanket. And pillow cases.”
    “So?”
    “I need them.”
    “What’re you, nuts ?”
    “I’m not leaving without them.”
    “ What ?”
    “Or my vacuum cleaner,” Cameron says.
    “Your what ?”
    “That’s right,” Willow says. “I’ve got bedding, Cameron has a vacuum cleaner. In the trunk. We need them.”
    Bobby’s practically delirious from the speedball. He knows his brain’s all over the place. Nevertheless, he’s positive he’s not dreaming.
    “We don’t have room for bedding and a vacuum cleaner. You’ll have to leave them here.”
    “No!” Willow says.
    “Don’t you tell me no!” Bobby yells, and launches a fist toward Willow’s face. She easily avoids it, backs out of the car and dashes around the front.
    Bobby grabs his door handle intending to jump out and chase her, then realizes Willow’s rounded the car. She’s heading for the front passenger door, reaching for the handle.
    She wants to open the door?
    To get what, her purse?
    His drug-addled brain is reacting slowly, but not so slowly he can’t figure out why she wants her purse. It’s the reason he fired up his motorcycle to go looking for her this morning after waking up and finding her gone.
    After realizing his gun was missing.
    Willow gets the door open just as Bobby lunges forward.
    The purse is on the edge of the passenger seat, just right of the console. They grab it at the same time, but Willow’s got the angle and the leverage, and easily rips it from Bobby’s grasp. Unfortunately, the purse is open, and as she pulls it free, Bobby’s gun falls out. He grabs it and points it at Willow’s face. She backs away, slowly.
    Bobby turns the gun on Cameron and says, “Say goodbye to Stringbean!”
    “ Stop !” Willow yells.
    “I’ll stop if you open Stringbean’s door.”
    Willow could probably get away, but she can’t leave Cameron with Bobby. He’s capable of anything when on drugs. Not to mention she can’t abandon her car while the items are still in her trunk. They’re evidence of the murder.
    Willow opens Cameron’s door.
    “Okay, Stringbean,” Bobby says. “Get out.”
    Cameron climbs out, gives Willow a look of disappointment.
    Bobby follows her, but when he tries to stand his knees are so shaky he has to put his left hand on the car to steady himself. His head’s swimming, urging him to lie down, close his eyes, drift. It would be so easy to lose control of the situation.
    He focuses on the women.
    “Get in the