Coughing & Donuts: A Mercy Mares Cozy Mystery Read Free Page B

for the police to escort in a police hold. “So, is this man a patient you've had before?”
     
    She smirked, tying her long mousy brown hair up into a ponytail. “Definitely. I've been here almost six years and nearly every patient we get, we've seen over and over again.”
     
    I nodded, remembering what my supervisor and best friend in the world, Ruby, told me about this facility. Apparently, I wasn't well-versed in all things Hollywood, because Ruby couldn't believe that I'd never heard of anything about it before, after spending my entire life just a few hours away.
     
    She'd pulled up a number of tabloid stories on the computer to prove her point. According to the reports, Pleasant Cove was dubbed the convalescence home for the burned out, torn up, or worn down Hollywood types and their offspring. It was the place where secrets were held and scandal ran amok.
     
    I never really paid attention to which “It” girl or boy was “suffering from exhaustion” or “needed a little rest and relaxation”.  I had my own problems. I didn't need to worry about Life Styles of the Rich and Famous because I was nowhere near their station in life and I was plum happy nonetheless.
     
    I had everything I needed in life: a beautiful daughter, fantastic friends, and a home that I owned free and clear. Granted, it was a double wide trailer and not a mansion, but it was mine and I could never see myself living anywhere else in the world.
     
    “It's the nature of the game. We, as nurses, do what we can. Help them get through the acute issues and hope that they will do or be better.” I said.
     
    Amy looked at me, wide-eyed for a moment, then, fell into roaring laughter. “Girl, this isn't that kind of place. Usually our patients consist of A-listers whose movie just bombed or marriage just ended. They come here to hide out from friends, family, and mostly, paparazzi. No one comes here to actually get any help or work on their issues and, believe me, they have plenty.” She grabbed my arm to brace herself as she continued laughing about my belief that this facility did anyone any good.
     
    “If you don't actually help anyone, then, why are we here?” I asked, not understanding what their role was. “I mean, I passed medications and did vitals, so obviously these patients were being monitored by someone.”
     
    Amy took a deep breath to calm her laughter down and answered, “Oh, I didn't mean that we don't try. We just really don't get anywhere with our patients. To them, we are just a bunch of peasants and they are superstars. We are beneath them.”
     
    I knew I hadn't had the most spectacular night and I may have been a little more than preoccupied, but it seemed it me that the patients I'd met thus far during my shift were in need of help. Nothing about their behavior indicated to me that placement in a psychiatric facility was a joyride for them.
     
    To avoid an argument, I agreed to disagree with her views and moved on to another question. “Do we know why this patient is being admitted?”
     
    Amy shrugged. “The usual. His name is Eli Pardo. He's just a young kid. Twenty-two years old and a whole lot of attitude. If he wasn't such a schmuck, he'd probably be just as adorable as the next dark-haired, blue-eyed guy, but I've never once seen him sans bad attitude and foul language.”
     
    Great!
     
    The police car pulled up next to the staircase we occupied. I could make out a figure, seated in the backseat, but he had his head hung low.
     
    “Here we go,” Amy said, waving to the officers in the car.
     
    “Okay,” I answered, following her down the stairs, getting a full view of the young man. I'd expected him to be agitated, but he seemed incredibly calm, given his situation.
     
    After the officers stepped out of their vehicle, Amy made the introductions. “Hey, Lou! What are you doing here? I thought, you had people to do the dirty work for you these days, Captain.”
     
    He looked over her