Thirteen West by Jane Toombs Read Free Book Online Page A

probably have to spend half the weekend cleaning up while Luba drooped about retching and feeling sorry for herself and insisting he feel sorry for her too. "If you're ever over that way, drop by," Alma said. "You might hit it lucky and I won't be working."
    "Sunday?" he asked impulsively.
    "If you come before noon. I'll let you know how to find my place." She set aside her coffee and rose.
    He rose too, and they faced one another measuringly.
    "There you are." Frank Kent said as he pushed open the lounge door, causing them to start. He entered, making the room seem crowded. "Here's the meds you called me about," he told Alma , handing her a plastic container.
    "How's it going, Frank?" Barry asked. "Quiet so far?"
    "So far, Doctor."
    "Good. I've got one more ward to make before I cut out," Barry said. "See you both tomorrow."
    "Goodbye, Dr. Jacobs," Alma said. "See you."
    When he was gone, Alma hugged herself and smiled at Frank. "At last, a doc who's a human being."
    "A few of them are," Frank admitted.
    "Is it true he has a live-in?"
    "That's what I hear. Why?"
    "No particular reason."
    "I'll bet." Frank reached for a cookie. "Anything going on over here? I heard in report that Dolph Benning's not eating."
    "All curled up like a baby, same as when the guards brought him in that first night. Dr. Jacobs mentioned ECT. I'm going to try feeding Dolph supper myself." She glanced at her watch. "I'd better get with it."
    Sally dashed into the lounge, almost running into Frank. "Oh!"
    "Hello, Sally," he said. "How are you liking us?"
    "I—it's so different than I expected," Sally told him. She turned to Alma . "Medical records won't have the chart here till tomorrow so I'll go ahead with my patient assignment if that's okay."
    "Fine. Why don't you hang around the desk and answer the phone—I'm going to see if I can coax some food down Dolph."
    Left alone with Frank, Sally edged nervously toward the door, but he was in the way. He was so big.
    "Do you think you'll be interested in becoming a psych nurse?" Frank asked.
    "I—I'm not sure. Some of the patients frighten me—I think maybe they always would. I admire Alma —I mean Ms Reynolds."
    "It's all right to use first names in front of me."
    Feeling trapped because he was between her and the door, Sally stared at him, unable to remember what she'd intended to say about Alma . His eyes were brown, with the right iris having distinctive wedge of yellow. Unusual.
    "Are you afraid now?" he asked suddenly. "Of me? You look so scared."
    "Oh, no! Well, not exactly, Mr. Kent ."
    "Why don't you call me Frank?" He smiled at her. "I'm harmless."
    "My—I had a—a friend once who claimed no man is harmless," Sally blurted. To her distress tears welled in her eyes and she ducked her head quickly. I shouldn't have mentioned Em, she told herself, wiping at the tears. Not yet, not here, not to him.
    She felt Frank's arm around her, gentle, careful. "Something's the matter," he said. "Do you want to tell me about it?"
    Sally pulled away from him, shaking her head. He must think she was as crazy as the patients, she told herself.
    "Is it anything I said to you?" he persisted.
    "Oh, no—no, it's not your fault. No." She had to give him some kind of explanation. "My—my friend is dead," she said, forcing the words past her aching throat. "She killed herself."
     
     
     
    Chapter Six
     
    Sarah Goodrow-Fenz, supporting Frank's head with one arm, raised the cup of soup to his lips. "Drink this," she told him in a calm but forceful tone. "We can't stay in this place much longer so you've got to get stronger fast."
    "Don't need anyone feeding me," he mumbled.
    "Yes, you do. Drink. It's chicken soup, guaranteed to cure man's ills."
    Sarah didn't think he knew her. In the five days they'd been holed up in this motel, he hadn't asked her name nor seemed to recognize her. She hadn't told him anything other than he was sick and she was taking care of him.
    Her daughter, Linda, had been her delivery