Dead on Arrival by Lori Avocato Read Free Book Online Page A

foreign power overtook me, I turned and walked away—all the while feeling ER Dano staring at my butt—which I unashamedly wiggled.
    When I came out of the locker room where I’d cleaned up after my “extra” duty with the help of darling Buzz L, I ran into Jagger in the hallway. “Where the hell were you?”
    He looked at me from head to toe. “You all right, Pauline?”
    â€œGuess I should be honored that you are concerned I didn’t get my head blown off with a shotgun, but yeah, I’m fine.”
    He grinned.
    â€œDano told you everything.” It wasn’t a question, and Jagger didn’t look as if he was going to answer. “Any news on the demise of Payne?”
    Jagger shook his head.
    â€œGreat. Why is it that I never get the proverbial open and shut cases? How come no one ever hands me a suspect?”
    He shook his head again, but this time in the typical Jagger-shake that said he was annoyed with me. Who cared? I thought as I walked toward the employees’ door.
    Just then the door to the men’s locker room swung open. All decked out in jeans and a navy tee swaggered Dano. Over his shoulder he said to me, “Boz’s Bar and Grille on Dearborn two blocks from St. Greg’s.”
    I knew it well since that’s where all the hospital staff hung out not to mention my dear Uncle Walt and his cronies. The seniors, however, stuck to the front room while the younger crowd cavorted in the back.
    Not that I planned to cavort with ER Dano!
    He pushed the bar to open the back door while Jagger looked from Dano to me.
    â€œI’ll be there,” Jagger said.
    I’m not sure whose eyes were larger, Dano’s or mine. Wait. Mine.
    Dano actually squinted.
    â€œWhat’ll your one drink be?” Dano asked, looking at me—I mean nearly through me.
    Damn. The guy had gorgeous deep brown eyes and a way of using them that made a girl notice. And for some reason I just knew Dano used them to his benefit on more than one occasion.
    â€œCosmo, please,” I said, pulling the stool next to him from near the bar. He remained seated, not offering to help. Shades of Jagger , I thought and looked around to see where he was. Maybe he’d changed his mind.
    â€œHe’s in the head,” Dano muttered then turned toward the bartender. “Give her a Cosmopolitan, Patty.”
    The bartender winked at me. “You’ll probably need something sweet to balance his effects,” she said, and then laughed as she motioned her head toward Dano.
    As if I didn’t know whom she was talking about.
    I laughed then caught him staring at me and stopped. “What? That was funny.”
    â€œWhat’s funny?” Jagger asked from behind me. Suddenly I felt like a sandwich—only the two pieces of bread were different kinds. Wheat and rye. And they really didn’t go together too well in my opinion.
    â€œNothing,” I said, taking a sip of my drink as soon as Patty put it down. Actually, it was still sloshing about, but I needed it quickly. When I took the napkin to wipe my lips, ER Dano turned to look at me—but remained silent.
    Jagger eased himself next to me on the other side—and I knew I should get the hell out of there—cause it was going to be one heck of a night!
    A couple of EMTs came into the place, and I quickly realized it was a hangout for the TLC crowd plus, by the looks of some of the other uniforms, several other ambulance companies as well. I’m sure with the stress of the job and equal stress of competition, they all needed to unwind.
    Buzz Lightyear walked in with Lilla, and I knew she probably made his night by even walking next to him. The kid was so fresh and new—his patches actually stood out straight on his sleeves instead of being molded to the shape of his arm as ER Dano’s were. Poor Jeremy. Now I could only think of him as Buzz.
    He came closer and said, “Hi,