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Back at the office, Sady's friends tried to figure out how to help her. They tossed around ideas, then Harry snapped his fingers. "I know!" He grabbed his phone and made a call. When he finished he turned with a smile of satisfaction.
"Sady's gonna kill you," Matt warned.
"She already did that," Harry replied. "She won't like this, but it's her job. What can she say?"
"I can't believe you asked that," CJ declared. "I'm not sure if I want to be around when you break the news to her. I didn't think beauty queens had that kind of vocabulary."
"Blame it on Matt," Harry replied. "He's been a bad influence."
Matt snorted. "I guess you haven't spent any quality time with Amanda lately, have you, Harry? With her college connections, she knows words I've never heard!"
"Well, be prepared for the worst in the morning," CJ warned. "What's your plan if Sady refuses?" she asked Harry. Harry just grinned and CJ said, "Oh, no! Don't look at me. I'm not forcing her to go!"
"Good luck with that, Harry," Matt laughed. "Maybe you should send all the women. I think Amanda could use a few sessions. I'll be ready for flying objects when you let Sady know about the job in the morning."
"Me, too," CJ said in an undertone.
"Desperate times," Harry reminded them. "We're all partially responsible for Sady's state of mind. So we're all going to be on hand to help her, whether she wants it or not."
***
"This is a joke, right?" Sady asked with a frown.
"No, it's a legitimate job. And we're sending you," CJ replied firmly.
"I can't believe that you just happened to land a job at a psychiatric unit," Sady continued with suspicion.
Harry tossed her a folder. "It's not just a psych unit. It's a rehab facility as well. Some of the patients are recovering from surgery or strokes. Read it for yourself. You can even call the director if you don't believe me. Someone has been stealing from the staff and patients, and the director wants to know who's responsible. The only opening is for a female, so unless you have medical training that can put you on staff, then you're going in as a patient."
"For how long?" Sady asked.
"Until you find out who the thief is," Matt said. "What did you think? You'd just go in and look around, then walk out?"
"It could take a day or a week," Harry told Sady. "That's why you need to be a patient- in case it takes longer."
"Why can't Amanda or CJ do the job?" Sady continued.
"Because they'd both get bounced before they figured it out! You're the only one with enough patience and people skills to do it," Harry explained. "Do you want me to call the director and turn down the job?"
Amanda spoke up. "I can't go! Me and Stubbles got plans this week. He's taking me to the firing range so I can get legal."
Matt's face turned red, and he said mumbled about Amanda, gun laws, and legalities.
With a scowl of skepticism Sady said, "Fine! I'll go, but I don't like it. I think you're just doing this to get me into a mental health facility."
"Does that mean you can't sell it?" Matt asked. "I thought an ex-beauty queen would have enough acting ability or real hang-ups to make it work." He shrugged at Harry and said, "I don't think she has the chops for the job." He ducked and hid a grin when a stapler flew past his head.
"Another comment like that and it will be the scissors," she threatened. She opened the folder and scanned the contents. "You really expect me to act like a patient, don't you?"
"Group therapy, lousy food, and all," Harry said with a smile. "The director knows you're undercover, but as far as everyone else is concerned you're a troubled young woman who is dealing with job related stress... and anything else you want to add."
"Can I be a kleptomaniac?" she teased, showing them a glimpse of the Sady they knew and loved.
"You might find yourself in an unexpected war zone if you pretend to be that," Amanda said. "I'll help you come up with some good mental issues for your file."
"Are these coming from personal experience, Amanda?" Matt asked. "What's the medical term for overbearing, egotistical, alcohol indulging..."
"Murderer?" Amanda finished for him with her eyes narrowed. "Although I'm sure it's justifiable homicide in this case. A jury would find me innocent and set me free."
"They'd set you free- into another part of the world," Matt retorted. "Somewhere desolate like Siberia, or Antarctica. It would be like those wildlife 'catch and release' programs."
"And you'd be dead, so I guess I'd still be the winner of this argument," Amanda replied with a sniff.
"Bob's dead," Sady said, looking stricken.
"Now look what you started," Amanda scolded Matt, as she put her arm around Sady to lead her to the front office. "We'll be busy," she told Harry and CJ. "So someone else is gonna have to answer the phone."
"How is this my fault?" Matt asked Amanda. Then, "Thanks," in a sarcastic voice when Harry and CJ pointed to him for phone answering duty. "I hope you come up with something original for the shrink," he called after Sady and Amanda.
At the end of the work day he looked at the outline Sady and Amanda produced. "Anxiety, depression, and work-related stress?" he asked with a snort. "Isn't that what Harry already told the director? It took you all day to write those few words?"
"Don't forget paranoia," Sady told him. "Are you implying we weren't working?"
"I'm not implying anything," he responded as he handed Amanda a stack of papers.
"What's this?" she asked with a lifted brow, refusing to take the pile. "Why are you handing these to me? If you take the calls, these become your job."
"Would you like me to tell..." Matt shuffled through the notes then continued, "Cal that you are too busy for him? Or that you already have a date with..." More paper shuffling. "Charles on Saturday?"
Amanda grabbed the stack and said, "That's a violation of my privacy, Stubbles! You try that again and I'm gonna sue you!" She wandered away muttering.
"I threw in a red herring," Matt chuckled. "It's gonna kill her trying to figure out who left the message- 'HOTCAKES, CALL ME SOON'."
Sure enough, Amanda returned to pester Matt. "Well, what did he sound like? Why didn't you get a name or a phone number? Did he say he'd call back?" Matt shrugged and grinned, then Amanda wandered off again. This time she complained about incompetent co-workers.
CJ handed a list to Sady. "These are the things you need to pack for your stay at 'Harbor in the Arbor'," she said. "If you need to buy anything make sure you keep your receipts for reimbursement." She looked at Harry and he nodded with a smile.
Matt looked over at Amanda. "Hey, are you driving Sady home?"
Amanda frowned at Matt and looked at Sady with an apologetic face. "Sorry, but Stubbles has messed up my social calendar, and it's gonna take hours to fix it. You want me to call you a cab?" she asked with a malicious look at Matt.
"I'm driving myself home. Justin's still here, remember?" Sady reminded her.
"Okay, but I'm following you," Matt warned. "And don't try to lose me on the interstate!"
"You suck the fun out of driving, Matt," Sady told him. "Besides, I have to go to the store. I need two piece pajamas... and a laundry marker. I have to write my name inside all of my clothes!"
"That's so you don't get lost," he teased.
"I'll make sure to tell Kristen to bring the kids by to visit you while I'm gone," Sady replied. "Just to make sure you don't get lonely." Kristen Davis and her husband lived in the same apartment building as Matt, Sady, and Amanda. Matt and Sady had watched the two older Davis children one weekend as part of a job for the company. Mr. and Mrs. Davis recently had another baby.
"I take back what I said," Matt said desperately. "If I have to spend any more time baby-sitting you'd better see if they have another bed open at the facility."
***
Amanda drove Sady to work Monday morning. Sady brought her bag for her stay at the Harbor. They checked the list to make sure she packed everything.
"You aren't supposed to take your cell phone, Sady," Harry said. "You'll have a roommate, and you might get caught."
"Tough. People who obey all the rules don't get sent to those places, anyway," Sady retorted. "I could probably rent it out and retire on my earnings."
"Just make sure it doesn't get stolen," Matt teased. "Did you put your name in all your clothes?"
"Do you want to check?" she asked. He reached for her suitcase and CJ shoved him.
"You're the nosy one, not Harry," CJ told him.
"Hey!" Sady yelled. "You're not going to leave me stranded there, are you?"
"No, Sady. We wouldn't do that to you," Harry assured her with a smile.
"You won't forget about me while I'm gone?" she asked.
"We can't forget you, Sassafras," Matt replied giving her a quick hug.
"Who's driving me?"
"I am," CJ settled the matter with determination. "Harry will fall apart, and I'm not so sure about Meadows either. They will end up as patients if I let them take you. And if I turn you loose with Amanda, you'll probably end up at a bar in Tijuana. Time to saddle up."
Sady made the rounds with hugs. "Just in case it takes a week."
When she got to Matt he joked, "You won't forget about me, will you?"
"It depends on my medication," she replied. He ignored everyone in the room and pulled her close for a kiss. "You might need to remind me of that when I'm finished with my treatment," she smiled.
"Quit being a hug hog," Amanda told him. "Pass her on before she changes her mind and they send me."
"In that case, give her back," Matt said. "If I knew that was an option she wouldn't have made it past me."
CJ gave a huff of impatience and grabbed Sady's arm. "She's just going across town, not the globe. And she can have visitors, so let go of her or she'll be late for her initial appointment. Harry, give me that bag."
CJ appeared gruff and rough, but she had a rarely seen soft side. But she knew this wasn't the time to show soft side. She pushed Sady out the door and drove her to the Harbor where they were welcomed by the director, Dr. Harrison. An aid took Sady's bag while he gave them a tour of the facilities.
***
Day 1
"This will be your nurse, Gabrielle," he said, introducing a woman with a stern demeanor. "She keeps everyone in line, don't you, Nurse Gabby? All requests go through your nurse for approval," he informed Sady.
He showed them the cafeteria, the office wing, the recreational hall, the library, the activity room, the meeting room, and the large outdoor courtyard. "This wing is where you'll have your room, Sandy-Sue." She took a peek- they resembled hospital rooms, and she made a face at CJ.
When they finished the tour Sady looked at CJ. "Other than the bedrooms it looks like a school. I wonder if they'll let me take a pottery class?" she whispered.
"You have to be co-operative to earn privileges," Nurse Gabby said from behind Sady, startling her. "Now, get your bag unpacked and meet me in the activity room. I have your schedule for the first three days. If you behave, you can earn privileges like pottery," she said with a glare.
Gabby then turned to CJ and said, "Goodbye. Remember, policy requires you make an appointment if you want to see one of our guests. You aren't allowed to just stop in for an unannounced visit." CJ narrowed her eyes, but let the comment pass.
"Call us if you need anything," CJ told Sady.
"I'll call you if she needs anything," Nurse Gabby interrupted. "Her request goes through me first. We run on rules here, or this place will fall apart."
"Have fun," CJ mumbled to Sady, giving her a quick hug. She glared at Nurse Gabby for a few seconds before she turned and left Sady on her own.