“Am I catching you at a bad time?”
“I’m about ready to leave for lunch,” Dr. Leo replied. “But come in, Richard. What can I do you for?”
“I wanted to ask you about one of your patients,” Richard said. “Adam Blackwood.”
“Mr. Blackwood,” Dr. Leo said with an aggravated sigh. “One of my revolving door patients. Pain in the ass.”
“What is he being treated for?”
“I’ve given up trying to figure out what Adam’s problem is,” Dr. Leo said. “I know, I know. Don’t give me that look.” He waved his hand impatiently. “He’s got a file the size of a textbook.”
“Does he have any kind of history of…sexual misconduct?”
“No, nothing like that.”
“He’s been hanging around one of my patients,” Richard said.
“Which one?”
“Moira Flynn.”
Dr. Leo raised his grizzled eyebrows. “Not surprised that little red-head’s grabbed his attention. She’s a beauty.”
“Should I be concerned?” Richard asked. “Do we need to restrict their interaction?”
“They’re adults, Richard,” Dr. Leo said mildly. “I wouldn’t worry about it. I started Adam on medication yesterday. He’ll be too busy sleeping to think about anything else. Best thing about medication,” –he slipped on his coat with finality— “is that it takes care of patients like Adam Blackwood.”
Richard looked away, uncomfortable. “I just don’t want him to complicate things.”
“He’ll be out of here soon enough,” Dr. Leo said. “Probably end up at some other facility. Permanently.”
“I thought you were treating him?”
“Ten to one, he’s spitting out his medication when I’m not looking. I tried to treat him years ago, but he doesn’t want help.” The older man took his glasses off and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “I’ve been a psychiatrist for too long, Richard. I don’t have the patience for people like Adam Blackwood. You can only do so much.”
“Right,” Richard said quietly.
“I know what you’re thinking,” Dr. Leo said. “You’re thinking I’ve given up. That I’ve become one of those psychiatrists with their eye on their retirement package.”
“No, not at all—”
“Well, I have,” Dr. Leo said. “Patients like Adam make my job harder than it needs to be. Plus, it makes me look bad. It’s a wonder he keeps getting dumped here, for all the good it does.”
“Who brings him in?”
“His brother. Calls the police when he gets too hard to handle.”
“Is he violent? Maybe I do need to restrict interaction—”
“Adam has delusions and thinks he sees ghosts,” Dr. Leo explained. “This last time, Timothy said he was screaming about something trying to push its way into his chest.”
“Push into his chest,” Richard repeated. His heart began to pound. “Did…he say what it was?”
“No. When I questioned Adam about it, he denied he ever said anything of the sort.” Dr. Leo straightened his tie. “If he finds a way to ditch his medication this time, and trust me, he will, I’m going to suggest a treatment-ordered injection just to get his ass out of here. You can spit out a pill, but you can’t dodge a needle.” Dr. Leo paused and thought about his statement. “Well, you can, but the nurses here are pretty fast.” He winked. “Trust me.”
* * *
Richard knocked lightly on Moira’s door. It was after lunch and he felt compelled to follow up on what happened. There was no denying it—Moira had been hit…by something. It opened some personal issues he thought had been buried long ago; a childhood wound that had yet to heal. He also wanted to talk to her about Adam. He was still unsure why she’d been adamant about seeing him. The man had only been admitted a little over a week ago. And he didn’t seem her type at all.
“Come in.”
“It’s me, Moira. Are you busy?”
“Dr. Cassano,” she said, sitting up. “No, I’m not busy.”
He took in the array of sketches lying on her bed. “About our session this morning—” he stopped awkwardly. “I’m concerned about you.”
Moira busied herself by gathering her pencils. “I have a buzzer if I need anyone.” She looked up at him, her blue eyes troubled. “I’m fine, really.”
“I know you have a buzzer,” he replied. “But the hospital is understaffed, if you were to ever have an emergency—”
“Can we just not talk about it?” She glanced behind him. “Please.”
“All right.” Richard caught her nervousness and looked over his shoulder. Nothing, he thought. This room is icy cold, though. “I wanted to talk to you about a couple of other things, too.”
“What?”
He hesitated. “Well, for one, we need to talk about Adam.”
“Adam?” Moira worried her pencils. “What about him?”
“I understand you’ve been spending some time together. And I—” Richard stopped, flustered. “I was talking with his doctor and perhaps some caution is required.”
“You wanted me in a support group to meet other people and that’s what I’m doing.”
“I know that’s what I said,” he replied. “Adam is a problem patient. I don’t want him to get you into trouble.”
“Is there something about him I should know?” she asked. “Has he hurt anyone?”
“No, nothing like that,” Richard said quickly. “I would tell you, if that were the case. Just be careful, Moira. Adam has his own issues to deal with.”
“I’ll be careful.”
“May I ask you something?”
“Sure.”
“When you were living alone, before the incident that sent you here…you had friends, right?”
The question seemed to take her by surprise. “Of course.”
“I don’t see anyone visit except your brother and Mrs. Cook.”
“I just don’t want my friends to feel badly for me,” Moira said. “It’s…embarrassing to be here, you know?”
“I know you haven’t really made friends with anyone in here. That it’s been difficult.” He sighed and ran a hand through his hair fitfully. “Probably very isolating, regardless of group sessions and what have you. I-I just want to make sure I’m not sending you from the fry pan into the fire, Moira. I want you to be safe.” His dark eyes connected with hers. “My understanding of certain…situations is that family and friends are crucial to your safety…um, well-being.”
“I need my friends, and my family,” she agreed. “They keep me grounded.”
“That’s what I thought,” he replied with a troubled frown. “I’m pushing for you to be released into your brother’s care.” Richard paused. “I would rather see you as an outpatient. I’m not sure this is the place for you.”
Moira’s face registered surprise. She stood and gave him a hug. “Thank you, Dr. Cassano.” She immediately stepped away, gaze darting behind him again.
Richard’s cheeks warmed inexplicably. “I don’t want Adam to ruin anything. Please be careful.”
She nodded. “I will.”
His gaze fell on her sketches again and he picked one up. “This is the hospital, right?”
“Um, yeah.” Moira shrugged. “I was just updating it.”
“With a courtyard?”
Moira leaned in to look at the floor plan she had drawn. “It would give the patients some outside time without sacrificing security.” She traced the outline with her finger. “You’d have a secure door here, and the walls are designed so as to not cut out the view. This part is a garden that the patients could work in and grow their own food. It would cut down on food costs.” She looked up at him with a wry smile. “Not to mention, it would be something productive for the patients to do, rather than sit around all day.”
“It’s a really good idea.” His gaze traveled over her face. God, you’re so beautiful. The wayward thought caught him off guard. He dropped his gaze and stepped away from her. “I’d…um, love to present this to the board.”
“They probably don’t have the funds. I was just passing time.” Moira took the drawing from him and slipped it into her torn sketchbook.
“I almost forgot.” Richard reached into his jacket pocket. “I know there isn’t a radio in here, and…I thought you might like some music.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously,” he grinned. “I had an extra iPod, here’s the charger. I put some music on it. I hope it’s to your tastes. I was going to give it to you this morning.”
“Anything! Anything is great! Thank you,” Moira said. “You have no idea how much I appreciate it. I can hardly wait to see what’s on here.”
His heart leapt at her smile.
* * *
The hospital clock read ten-thirty PM by the time Richard finally signed out that evening. He left instructions with the nurses to call him if there were any problems. He drove home, lost in thought.
Jackie was waiting for him on the front porch.
“Better late than never,” she remarked dryly. “It’s a good thing I like cold Chinese food. I couldn’t find the movie I wanted either, so sci-fi it is.”
“I said I’d be late. I had to make sure one of my patients was going to be all right.” He unlocked the front door and held it open for her.
“Which one?’ she asked. “Oh, never mind. I know which one.”
He stared at Jackie, unseeing. “I think I need to talk to your mom again.”
“Really?” Jackie said, sizing him up and down. “Well, I know it’s not for the reason she’s hoping for, but dare I ask?”
“I saw something today. Something really disturbing.” He slipped off his tie and tossed it on the couch.
“Richard, do I need to take my Chinese food home and eat it by myself?”
“No, Jackie. I’m sorry,” he said. “Music?”
“Do I have a choice?”
Richard turned the radio on to classical and took a carton from her. “You have my full attention. I’ll heat this up. I bought your favorite flavor of ice cream too, by the way. Rocky road.”
“That may just save your butt this time,” she said with a sigh. “So, what happened that’s got you so worked up?”
Richard waited until the microwave beeped before answering. “I saw a red mark appear on Moira’s face today. Like somebody hit her. She reacted like somebody hit her. There was nobody in the room except her and myself. Nobody I could see anyways.”
“Are you serious?” Jackie said. “I don’t know what to say to that.”
“You don’t have to say anything. So, is your mom busy this week?”
“My mom would drop the world for you. You know that,” Jackie said. “She’s on a call this week, though. Twins. They’re expecting a difficult birth. She’s staying at a hotel near Tacoma until it’s time, but I’ll call her.”
“Thanks.”
“What do you think is going on with this girl?”
“Moira.”
“Whatever.” Jackie broke her chopsticks apart.
“I wish I knew. I’m starting to become concerned about leaving her alone, though.”
“Don’t they have some sort of twenty-four/seven suicide watch at your hospital for patients like that?”
“She’s not suicidal,” Richard said. “And the hospital is understaffed, so no, not really.” He handed her a fortune cookie.
Jackie broke it open immediately. “‘Your everlasting patience will be rewarded sooner or later.’” She made an impatient sound. “Story of my life.”
“I don’t think staying at the hospital is in Moira’s best interests,” he mused. “She needs to be with her family and friends. One of the other patients picked a fight with her the other night.” He shook his head in disgust. “I can’t imagine what it must be like for her in that place. She tries to put on a brave face and pretend she’s fine, but…”
Jackie snapped her fingers at him. “Hello? A little attention would be nice.”
“I’m sorry,” he said quickly. “Leaving work at work now.” Richard pulled a chair to the kitchen table and sat. “How did your day go?”
She slipped off her heels and undid a button on her blouse. “They hired a new assistant manager.”
“That’s great.” He dished some noodles onto her plate.
“He’s quite the hottie too,” Jackie said casually. “I think he may be interested in me.”
“And? Are you going to ask him out?”
Jackie made an impatient sound.
“What?”
“Nothing.” She speared the noodles with her chopsticks.
Richard let out a small sigh. “Jackie, you’re my friend—”
“I don’t want to have this conversation right now,” Jackie said. “My ego won’t take it.”
“You know how I feel about you. I think you’re a wonderful person—”
“Not having this conversation, Richard,” she continued. “I get it.” Jackie swept the fortune cookie pieces into her hand and tossed them in the garbage. “Probably why you moved from the city in the first place,” she muttered, “because I’m so ‘wonderful.’”
“That’s not why I moved—”
“Really?” she said, hands on hips. “So why, then?”
“I needed a change, Jackie. I told you that.”
“Why Baycrest? You had a brilliant job at one of the best hospitals, Richard,” she argued. “Did things become too easy? The perfect job, a beautiful house, what comes next too obvious for you?”
After several attempts at eating his Chinese food, Richard gave up and set it aside.
“Forget I said that,” Jackie said. Uncomfortable quiet settled across the kitchen. “So,” she cleared her throat, “what are you doing for your birthday next week?”
“I don’t know,” Richard replied. “Probably nothing.”
“You make such a fuss over my birthdays.” She gave him a derisive look. “I can’t let you get away with that. Last year with the surprise party and the whale watch cruise. Which I loved, by the way.”
“Your mom makes a fuss over your birthdays,” Richard corrected. “I just help.” He gave her a small smile. “And I know you did.”
“I hate you,” said Jackie.
“No you don’t.”
“You just need to have sex with me, Richard.”
“That would be a very unhealthy thing to do to our friendship.”
“Whatever.”