She closed her eyes. Wished she could put him out of her mind for good.
Last night had done nothing to facilitate that end.
That could never happen again. She had to protect herself from a number of dangers ... and Braddock was definitely one of them.
Chapter Nineteen
Downtown Free Clinic
Tuesday, August 3; 10:30 a.m.
The waiting room was packed. Standing room only. CJ weaved her way through the crowd and waited until the receptionist was free.
“Good morning, I’m Dr. Patterson. I understand Juanita Lusk is here today.” Actually CJ was hoping she was here. She’d mentioned working at this clinic too.
The harried receptionist glanced from the line to CJ. “We’re a little busy right now. Are you here about the referrals?”
CJ hesitated, then said, “Yes.”
The gentleman next in line abruptly bent forward and puked.
“Jesus!” The receptionist jumped up, shook her head, then said to CJ, “Go on back. She’ll be in one of the exam rooms. She’s expecting you.”
“Thank you.” CJ slipped through the tangle of people and entered the double doors markedPersonnel Only. She wasn’t in the habit of lying, but she was definitely getting in some practice here.
Whatever it took. Like the old days.
The first three exam rooms she passed housed waiting patients but no doctor. Six other patients waited in chairs along the wall. A nurse entered the fourth room. CJ peeked inside—no Juanita. The final roomon the left was the one she was looking for. CJ waited outside the door since Juanita was with a patient.
“I won’t have the money to get the prescription filled before Friday.”
“Ms. Tyler,” Juanita said as she made her final notations in the chart, “Nikki needs the antibiotic now.”
The patient was a girl, seven or eight years old. Pale, skinny. The mother looked pretty much the same.
“I know,” the mother said, her face worried, “but I don’t have the money.”
“Okay.” Juanita heaved a big breath. “I think we have a few samples around here somewhere. Just wait here and I’ll find them.”
“Thank you, Doctor. Thank you so much.”
Juanita nodded and turned to the door. She missed a step when she saw CJ watching from the corridor.
“I don’t know how you got back here,” Juanita said as she moved past her, “but I don’t have time for any more of your questions.”
CJ lengthened her step to keep up with the woman. “This isn’t about the murder.” It was, but Juanita didn’t need to be made aware at this point.
“Talk fast, Patterson.” She stopped at the lab station and started going through cabinets.
“I’ll be in town for a while.”
“Great.” Juanita slammed one door and opened another.
“Anyway, I checked with my attending and he authorized me to volunteer here in Huntsville to fulfill the requirements of some of my elective hours.”
Juanita glanced at her before diving into the row of drawers.
“So, if you don’t have any objections, I’d like to help you out at the village clinic.”
