Page 86 of Luck Be Mine
“What’s the point, Doc?”
She dropped his chart in her lap and chose personal. “Because about five years ago, I was severely injured in a suicide bombing at Bagram. I had two years of hell fighting to get the feeling back in my left hand. I know this injury. I can fix this injury.”
He went still, his face blank and hollow. “While I appreciate the offer, Doctor, I don’t have the money or the time to spare.”
“Let me work this out.” She opened a request for an elbow x-ray, but there was no more time.
Dr. Day entered with Dr. Sung to review the young resident’s work and get him released. Day raised a brow at Cait’s presence.
She rose to her feet. “It was an honor to speak with you, Sergeant Delaney.”
Delaney nodded. “You too, Doctor Hunter.”
She left.
People hurt. She could help. But fighting the system took grit, and she knew hopelessness when it looked her in the face.
§§§§§§§§§§
◊ Building a Blueprint ◊
For once, before leaving the hospital, Cait went to the locker room and changed into black pants, a white shirt with thin black stripes, black shoes, and added her necklace and the watch Hunt gave her. With black hoops in her pierced ears, she did a quick brush of her hair. A reapply of her makeup eased her look away from an exhausted doctor in wrinkled scrubs to a put-together professional.
In the elevator, she made a quick call to her husband. No answer. Stifling a sigh, she left him a short ‘checking in, honey’ message and slipped her phone into her purse. If she was desperate, she’d call Marnie, but she only wanted to hear his voice.
Bets left at the same time, exiting the side door near the emergency room with her. The nurse whistled under her breath. “Where are you going?” The woman was still in her scrubs.
Cait lifted her chin, trying to appear awake and aware. “I have a meeting at QM. Can’t be a tired doctor.”
Bets grinned. “You are a tired doctor.”
Cait smothered a laugh. “Thanks.”
“But you look good. Go impress!” Bets waved and went in the opposite direction to her car.
Light traffic helped get her to the QM parking lot in record time. Pictures of Gordo’s six-month-old baby girl delayed her atthe security desk because who turns down pictures of a baby? Not her. She pushed through the double glass doors into the admin area on the third floor and waved at Celissa Davies. “Elizabeth in?”
Celissa lifted the phone. “Let me check and see if she’s available.”
Cait idled at the reception counter, studying the cream walls, muted landscape art, and the large desk area. Not only were there work files stacked in neat order, but there was also an Intro to American Literature book on the corner and a backpack against the wall. “She says to go on in.”
“Are you going to school?”
The thirty-something woman blushed, flipping her dark hair behind her ear. “Yes. Should have done it sooner.”
“Now is as good a time as any. You go!” Cait went through the private doors to the inner sanctum of QM and kept her stride past Mackey’s office, the conference room, Quaid’s office, and the Operations Center sprawled on the left. Elizabeth had the best office at the end of the long hall. She knocked before turning the knob.
“Come.”
Elizabeth stood by her office window. Her ensemble struck awe with the perfect balance between work and style. Her tailored ivory trousers accentuated her long lean body, and the sleeveless blouse had beautiful embroidery with intricate royal blue floral lace. Her blonde hair stayed flawlessly tucked in a French roll at the back of her head.
Admiration flooded her, especially when she noted the soft beige peep-toe boots with the high stiletto heels. She couldn’t wear those, but dang she could covet. A sapphire blue cardigan was draped over the back of her work chair. If one fell for the dazzle, the intelligence and the steel in her blue eyes would be missed along with the empathy and sadness.
“You like?” Elizabeth’s eyes danced with laughter, but her mouth remained stern.
“Your top is beautiful. You look fabulous. But you always do.”
“Thank you. It’s a shield of sorts when you work with a ton of men. It stuns them into silence, and I can talk before they realize what’s happening.”
