just because she’d become involved with a co-worker?
Sweet Jesus! What
the fuck is happening here?
“B-but, Dr. Smythe,” JJ said, “I don’t understand. I never
removed morphine from the Pyxis for this patient. A patient’s allergies are
among the first things I review before administering any medications.”
He frowned and removed another document from the never-ending
file he had in front of him. “I thought you said you remembered this patient? My
narcotic report clearly states that you, Dr. Jones, not nursing, removed a
total of”—he squinted at the paper in front of him— “fifty milligrams of
morphine. That’s five ten-milligram vials. This is your Pyxis login and
password, is it not?” He handed her the report.
With a shaky hand she grasped it and stared at the black ink
until the lines blurred. The evidence staring her in the face brooked no
argument, but she hadn’t done this. JJ inhaled a calming breath and returned
the paper. “I am sorry, Dr. Smythe. There must be some mistake. I never removed
any narcotics. Clearly, someone has access to my password. I will need to
change it immediately.” She stood and the chair legs scraped across the
linoleum tiles producing a screeching sound. “You will need to investigate
further and find out who is responsible for this. I will not have my name
slandered.”
Confusion etched his features. “The report doesn’t lie, Dr.
Jones. Just explain what happened to the morphine and we can lay this matter to
rest.”
“Well, if I could, I would. Fact is, I never removed the
meds,” she repeated. “I don’t know who did,” JJ said, hating the defensive tone
that crept into her voice.
Dr. Smythe stood as well. His demeanor became brusque and businesslike
all of a sudden. “Well, I am sorry to hear this, Dr. Jones. You will, of
course, head down to occupational health and submit a mandatory drug test now.”
“I’d be happy to,” she replied. “And I’m sure you will do
your job and find out who is responsible for the missing narcotics.”
With heavy heart and lead feet, she swept past him with a
nonchalance she didn’t feel. The mandatory drug testing didn’t bother her. She
knew she’d pass without any problems. No, what bothered JJ most was the fact
that once again someone had marked a large X on her back like a target and was
trying to ruin her life. But who? And why? She’d been forced to flee from a
life she’d loved and she’d be damned if she’d let anyone create chaos and
devastate her life once again.
Chapter
Fourteen
Cruz saw JJ storm through PGH’s doors and out to the parking
lot. Her stride so brisk, he literally chased her down. He sped up into an easy
jog. “JJ! Wait!” he shouted from several yards away. He caught up with her as
she straddled her Harley.
Her black helmet stopped in mid-air as she turned her head
his direction. His breath came in short pants as he closed the distance. JJ’s
pale green gaze landed on his Franco Fortini leather loafers.
“Not exactly the shoes to be running in,” she said with an
upward tilt of her lips. “Did you need something, boss?”
Boss? Cruz grimaced.
Is that what JJ now thought of him? As just her boss? Fuck! His ship was
sinking fast. He stared into her face. Saw the lines of strain and worry etched
into her features and forgot about himself. He cupped her cheek. “What’s wrong,
sweetheart?”
Anger sparked in her eyes and she jerked away from his hand.
“As if you don’t already know, being the boss and all…” The helmet came down over her unruly tresses and she latched the chin
strap. “And don’t call me sweetheart. I’m not your sweetheart or anyone
else’s.”
“Whoa!” Cruz grasped her wrist before she could close the
visor. “Seriously, JJ. Take a minute. Tell me what’s pissed you off.”
“Are you telling me that as director of Emergency Services,
you don’t know that I was just accused of stealing narcotics from the Pyxis and
had
Sweet Jesus! What
the fuck is happening here?
“B-but, Dr. Smythe,” JJ said, “I don’t understand. I never
removed morphine from the Pyxis for this patient. A patient’s allergies are
among the first things I review before administering any medications.”
He frowned and removed another document from the never-ending
file he had in front of him. “I thought you said you remembered this patient? My
narcotic report clearly states that you, Dr. Jones, not nursing, removed a
total of”—he squinted at the paper in front of him— “fifty milligrams of
morphine. That’s five ten-milligram vials. This is your Pyxis login and
password, is it not?” He handed her the report.
With a shaky hand she grasped it and stared at the black ink
until the lines blurred. The evidence staring her in the face brooked no
argument, but she hadn’t done this. JJ inhaled a calming breath and returned
the paper. “I am sorry, Dr. Smythe. There must be some mistake. I never removed
any narcotics. Clearly, someone has access to my password. I will need to
change it immediately.” She stood and the chair legs scraped across the
linoleum tiles producing a screeching sound. “You will need to investigate
further and find out who is responsible for this. I will not have my name
slandered.”
Confusion etched his features. “The report doesn’t lie, Dr.
Jones. Just explain what happened to the morphine and we can lay this matter to
rest.”
“Well, if I could, I would. Fact is, I never removed the
meds,” she repeated. “I don’t know who did,” JJ said, hating the defensive tone
that crept into her voice.
Dr. Smythe stood as well. His demeanor became brusque and businesslike
all of a sudden. “Well, I am sorry to hear this, Dr. Jones. You will, of
course, head down to occupational health and submit a mandatory drug test now.”
“I’d be happy to,” she replied. “And I’m sure you will do
your job and find out who is responsible for the missing narcotics.”
With heavy heart and lead feet, she swept past him with a
nonchalance she didn’t feel. The mandatory drug testing didn’t bother her. She
knew she’d pass without any problems. No, what bothered JJ most was the fact
that once again someone had marked a large X on her back like a target and was
trying to ruin her life. But who? And why? She’d been forced to flee from a
life she’d loved and she’d be damned if she’d let anyone create chaos and
devastate her life once again.
Chapter
Fourteen
Cruz saw JJ storm through PGH’s doors and out to the parking
lot. Her stride so brisk, he literally chased her down. He sped up into an easy
jog. “JJ! Wait!” he shouted from several yards away. He caught up with her as
she straddled her Harley.
Her black helmet stopped in mid-air as she turned her head
his direction. His breath came in short pants as he closed the distance. JJ’s
pale green gaze landed on his Franco Fortini leather loafers.
“Not exactly the shoes to be running in,” she said with an
upward tilt of her lips. “Did you need something, boss?”
Boss? Cruz grimaced.
Is that what JJ now thought of him? As just her boss? Fuck! His ship was
sinking fast. He stared into her face. Saw the lines of strain and worry etched
into her features and forgot about himself. He cupped her cheek. “What’s wrong,
sweetheart?”
Anger sparked in her eyes and she jerked away from his hand.
“As if you don’t already know, being the boss and all…” The helmet came down over her unruly tresses and she latched the chin
strap. “And don’t call me sweetheart. I’m not your sweetheart or anyone
else’s.”
“Whoa!” Cruz grasped her wrist before she could close the
visor. “Seriously, JJ. Take a minute. Tell me what’s pissed you off.”
“Are you telling me that as director of Emergency Services,
you don’t know that I was just accused of stealing narcotics from the Pyxis and
had
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