What a Fool Believes Read Free Page A

hard and fanned herself. “But I’ve had it with men who don’t take responsibility for their actions. Frankly, it feels good to say exactly what’s on my mind. Now beat it, Pinko,” she snarled at Byron. “I’ll be ready for jail when I get done.”
    Barracuda woman had returned.
    â€œI was going to go easy on you—”
    â€œRight. I just got my two front teeth capped. Want to knock them down my throat with your big stick?”
    The doctor burst out laughing.
    Byron walked into the hallway and slammed the door.
    It popped open. He slammed it again and stalked to the coffee machine, where he shoved in quarters.
    Women were nothing but trouble. He knew firsthand. He had four sisters, and they were the source of enough aggravation to choke a horse.
    Where were the women of the fifties? Sweet, nice women who enjoyed being women? Every day he met women who fought, cursed, and handled themselves like mini men. He didn’t get it. And then, there were the psychos.
    Angry lady down the hall would get what she deserved when she went to jail.
    He drank his coffee, then spit the searing liquid back into the cup. Man! This woman was pissing him off. It would be his pleasure to process her into jail. Vandalism wasn’t a felony, so she’d be in holding until she made bail, but that would be enough to diffuse her mean streak.
    Back at the exam room, Byron raised his pad and stared at the blank sheet. Damn. He still didn’t have her name.
    â€œYou wrote on his car?” he heard Dr. Khan ask the woman.
    â€œYes.”
    â€œAnd slashed his tires?”
    â€œHe gave me crabs and trich. And he still has my new duvet.”
    Byron frowned, his judgment shifting, although he told it not to. Truth was, the creep deserved to get his car redecorated. But that didn’t negate the fact that her actions were still against the law.
    â€œGood for you,” the doc said. “This is going to hurt, but once it’s numb, I’ll stitch you up, and you can go home ... on your way.”
    â€œTo jail,” the woman corrected, sounding teary.
    Here come the waterworks. Good . She’d brought this on herself. He steeled himself against his main weakness.
    â€œOw. Ow. Ow. Cripes, that hurts,” she wailed.
    â€œIt’s not Rivers’s fault, you know,” Dr. Khan told her.
    â€œDon’t defend Officer Enthusiastic . He should have asked me why I was there. Youch! How many of those blasted things do I need?”
    â€œShoe minimized the damage. Thirteen, maybe fifteen.”
    â€œDo you think he’ll take me directly to jail?” Byron’s heart tripped over the vulnerable question.
    â€œDefinitely. He’s a real stickler.”
    â€œSo you’ve dealt with him before?”
    â€œHis detainees. Six weeks ago, then again last month.”
    â€œBoy, do I feel lucky,” she said, half crying now. “My ex gave me a communicable insect, and my arresting officer gets frequent visitor points when he brings a prisoner to the ER. This sucks.”
    Byron didn’t want to agree, but what could he say? Her eye was wearing his elbow print.
    â€œWhy don’t you rest, and I’ll finish up? You’ll be home in no time.”
    â€œYeah, after I spend the night in jail with a butch named Alice. Oh, God. I can’t believe this is happening,” she sobbed. “My stomach is burning like crazy. Can I get some antacid?”
    â€œSure.”
    Dr. Khan got her history and then called a nurse. Byron stepped aside as her request was delivered.
    Great. She probably had a bleeding ulcer she hadn’t known about before tonight. Byron threw his head back, his mind closing the door on the hope that he’d catch the last quarter of the game.
    Dr. Khan chuckled. “I’ll give you a mild painkiller, and you should sleep fine.”
    â€œIt’s not the sleeping I’m worried about. It’s the where that scares