Page 6 of Undone
He hung up.
“Your conversational skills are magnificent,” I told Jasper.
“You’ll never guess who that was.”
“I don’t know. Someone who wants to offer you a fantastic timeshare opportunity?”
“The hospital,” Jasper corrected. “It’s Daly. He woke up.”
I frowned. “Good for him. Send him an extra helping of Jell-O and put it on my tab.”
“No, Cari,” Jasper said. “He wants to see you.”
…
Ugh, hospitals.
Big, long, sterile halls. Nurses walking around with solemn faces—and always urgently, like the next emergency could be right around the corner, probably because the next emergency was around the corner. Patients in rooms, groaning and moaning and in some cases screaming or crying. And of course, doctors, with their fake smiles and their big, ten-inch needles and shiny metal tools that looked less like medical instruments and more like relics from a seventeenth century torture chamber—
“You seem tense,” Jasper said.
“Who, me?” I asked. “No, I love being in hospitals. There’s something about antiseptic and whitewashing that really gets me going. Can we get this over with, please?”
“Relax,” he said. “The guy just woke up. You talk to him like this, you’re going to give him a heart attack.”
“I’m not too worried about how much other people are stressed right now,” I said shortly. “I have my own stress to worry about. Hook me up to one of those blood pressure thingies, and it’ll probably explode.”
Jasper called me out. “I didn’t think you’d want to be hooked up to anything in here.”
“You’re right,” I agreed. “So let’s get this over with. Is this the room? Tell me this is the room.”
“This is the room.”
Jasper gently pushed open the door and peered inside, his hand hovering near his crotch where his gun was tucked. He used his body to block the entryway until deeming the room clear, at which point he opened the door fully and let me inside.
“…and I’ll have you know, you’ve caused me no end of trouble, young lady.”
A doctor with long blond hair stood between Daly and I, but I’d recognize that tone anywhere. If Hollywood ever wanted to do a remake of the film Scrooge, I’d know just who to recommend.
“That’s Dr. Miller to you, sir.” The doctor’s voice was playful—she’d probably dealt with cranks like Daly before—but there was still an unmistakable edge to her tone.
“Yes,” Daly said. “Miller. Do you have anything else for me, Ms. Miller?” The doctor paused, and Daly sighed audibly. “Doctor Miller?”
“No, not right now. You should get some rest.” Dr. Miller turned to find Jasper and I standing there. “I’m sorry, I don’t think it’s a good time for Mr. Daly to be receiving visitors.”
“No, no, it’s fine,” Daly said. “Let ’em stay.”
Doctor Miller turned to him. “I really must recommend—”
“Doctor, I’ve been in this place for the last twelve hours. The rates you charge, this has cost me enough to put your kids through some fancy medical school to become doctors, just like dear old ma. Do you think I could have a few minutes with my friends?”
Doctor Miller sighed. “Fine.” She passed Jasper and I, giving us the evil eye. “I do hope they’ll be quick, however.”
“We’ll be quick,” I said meekly.
“Come, come, it’s good to see you,” Daly said, gesturing us over.
Oh, sure. I bet he said that to all the girls.
