Maritz came.”
“But I could have been.”
“Yes, you could have been. If you want to feel guilty, then go ahead.” She added fiercely, “I
want
you to feel guilty. Maybe then you’ll help me find Maritz.”
“Forget it.”
“I won’t forget it. I’m going to—”
He had already left the room.
Her heart was beating hard and she could feel the blood pounding in her veins. He had broken through the icy shell of composure that had protected her, but that didn’t matter.
He knew Maritz. He could point the path to him. She would find a way to make sure he did just that.
She reached for the elastic exercise bands on the nightstand and slipped the stirrup over her left foot. She was getting stronger every day. She even used the bands when she couldn’t sleep at night.
Sleep was no longer welcome now that the dreams had started to come.
J oel smiled slyly when he saw Nicholas’s expression. “You seem a tad upset. Was I exaggerating?”
“No,” he said shortly.
“As I said, I don’t like that control.”
“What?” He recalled the coolness with which Nell had greeted him. But that composure hadn’t lasted after she had gone on the attack. He had been aware only of that single-minded determination and unrelenting will.
Then you won’t go after him with the same passion
.
Oh, yes, she had passion, the same blind passion that had driven Joan of Arc to the stake.
Joel shook his head. “I said that I don’t like that—”
“I heard you. I don’t think we need to worry about that. How long before she gets out of here?”
“Another two weeks.”
“Delay it.”
“Why?”
“She’s not ready.” And he wasn’t ready. There was no question she wouldn’t give up and he would have to find a way to deter her. “Can’t you discover a complication?”
“No, I won’t lie to a patient. She’s already been here almost two months.” His smile held a faint shade of malice. “What’s wrong, Nicholas? After all, you toldme she was no powerhouse, just a nice, gentle woman.”
Nicholas wasn’t sure what Nell Calder had become, but she had changed enough to make him uneasy as hell. “Knock it off, Joel. I need help here.”
“Not by compromising my professional ethics.”
“Then don’t lie to her. She’s still got broken bones. Tell her you want her to stay here until they’re fully healed. It’s not as if you need the bed.”
Joel thought about it. “I suppose I could do that.”
“Has she met Tania?” Nicholas asked.
“Not yet.”
“Throw them together as soon as possible.”
“Another woman’s influence?”
“Another survivor’s influence.” He turned and motioned to Phil. “Keep a close eye on her.”
Phil looked hurt. “I’m taking good care of Nell, Nick.”
“I know you are.” Nicholas smiled. “Just make sure she doesn’t slip away without anyone knowing about it. Okay?”
Phil nodded. “I like her. I told her I majored in computer science in college and she’s real interested. She’s been asking me all kinds of questions about computers.”
An interest in computers would guarantee Phil’s affection. “What kind of questions?”
Phil shrugged. “Just questions.”
Maybe her interest was without any hidden purpose. Or maybe she had instinctively zeroed in on a way to gain Phil’s friendship. He wouldn’t have thought such machinations were possible for the woman he had met on Medas, but Nell was now an unknown quantity. “Just keep close watch on her.”
“You know I will.” Phil went back into Nell’s room.
“Nice guy,” Joel said. “And a good nurse.”
“You sound surprised. I told you that you’d like him.” He shifted back to the original subject. “You’ll bring in Tania?”
“Why not? She’s been wanting to meet Nell.” He paused. “You’re worried about what she’ll do when I release her and she’s no longer under protection. She knows someone tried to murder her. Surely she won’t be rash.”
“Rash? Yes, I
“But I could have been.”
“Yes, you could have been. If you want to feel guilty, then go ahead.” She added fiercely, “I
want
you to feel guilty. Maybe then you’ll help me find Maritz.”
“Forget it.”
“I won’t forget it. I’m going to—”
He had already left the room.
Her heart was beating hard and she could feel the blood pounding in her veins. He had broken through the icy shell of composure that had protected her, but that didn’t matter.
He knew Maritz. He could point the path to him. She would find a way to make sure he did just that.
She reached for the elastic exercise bands on the nightstand and slipped the stirrup over her left foot. She was getting stronger every day. She even used the bands when she couldn’t sleep at night.
Sleep was no longer welcome now that the dreams had started to come.
J oel smiled slyly when he saw Nicholas’s expression. “You seem a tad upset. Was I exaggerating?”
“No,” he said shortly.
“As I said, I don’t like that control.”
“What?” He recalled the coolness with which Nell had greeted him. But that composure hadn’t lasted after she had gone on the attack. He had been aware only of that single-minded determination and unrelenting will.
Then you won’t go after him with the same passion
.
Oh, yes, she had passion, the same blind passion that had driven Joan of Arc to the stake.
Joel shook his head. “I said that I don’t like that—”
“I heard you. I don’t think we need to worry about that. How long before she gets out of here?”
“Another two weeks.”
“Delay it.”
“Why?”
“She’s not ready.” And he wasn’t ready. There was no question she wouldn’t give up and he would have to find a way to deter her. “Can’t you discover a complication?”
“No, I won’t lie to a patient. She’s already been here almost two months.” His smile held a faint shade of malice. “What’s wrong, Nicholas? After all, you toldme she was no powerhouse, just a nice, gentle woman.”
Nicholas wasn’t sure what Nell Calder had become, but she had changed enough to make him uneasy as hell. “Knock it off, Joel. I need help here.”
“Not by compromising my professional ethics.”
“Then don’t lie to her. She’s still got broken bones. Tell her you want her to stay here until they’re fully healed. It’s not as if you need the bed.”
Joel thought about it. “I suppose I could do that.”
“Has she met Tania?” Nicholas asked.
“Not yet.”
“Throw them together as soon as possible.”
“Another woman’s influence?”
“Another survivor’s influence.” He turned and motioned to Phil. “Keep a close eye on her.”
Phil looked hurt. “I’m taking good care of Nell, Nick.”
“I know you are.” Nicholas smiled. “Just make sure she doesn’t slip away without anyone knowing about it. Okay?”
Phil nodded. “I like her. I told her I majored in computer science in college and she’s real interested. She’s been asking me all kinds of questions about computers.”
An interest in computers would guarantee Phil’s affection. “What kind of questions?”
Phil shrugged. “Just questions.”
Maybe her interest was without any hidden purpose. Or maybe she had instinctively zeroed in on a way to gain Phil’s friendship. He wouldn’t have thought such machinations were possible for the woman he had met on Medas, but Nell was now an unknown quantity. “Just keep close watch on her.”
“You know I will.” Phil went back into Nell’s room.
“Nice guy,” Joel said. “And a good nurse.”
“You sound surprised. I told you that you’d like him.” He shifted back to the original subject. “You’ll bring in Tania?”
“Why not? She’s been wanting to meet Nell.” He paused. “You’re worried about what she’ll do when I release her and she’s no longer under protection. She knows someone tried to murder her. Surely she won’t be rash.”
“Rash? Yes, I
Similar Books
