Free Terms (The Experiments Book 3) by Jacqueline Druga Page B

in.
    But something felt good to him.
    He was comfortable on the couch, one crutch rested against it. A fruit basket was there, pitcher of water, and a laptop.
    A single buzz caught is attention and then the nurse walked in.
    Her name was Agnes, an older woman who said she was the school nurse when Greg Haynes was in high school. She was pleasant enough.
    “Vitals, Mr. Griffith.”
    Billy started to stand.
    “No, no. Rest. We don’t want you to exhaust yourself, have a relapse and be back on the IV, do we?”
    “No,” Billy said pleasantly.
    “Good. Good.” She began to check his vitals. “When did you eat last? Lunch isn’t for another hour, but I am certain we can order you a tray. The food is quite good here.”
    “I bet. I ate on the plane.”
    Agnes wrote down the results. “I’m not sure with how this fits in with health issues but your chart has me ordering you a haircut.”
    Billy laughed, and coughed “Really?”
    “Shall I do that?”
    “If you can.”
    “I’ll have Bernard here in an hour.”
    “The hospital has a staff stylist.”
    “Heaven’s no,” Agnes chuckled. “Many of us live on this island, so we have a community. Bernard is the community stylist. I’ll have him stop by.”
    “I’d appreciate it.”
    “Do you need anything else? Television is there. Phone. Just buzz if there’s anything you need.”
    “I will.”
    Agnes took her medical belongings, and excused herself from the room. Billy, using the crutch, levered himself and stood. Crutch under his arm he hobbled his way to the huge wall-length picture window. The curtain was drawn.
    He perched himself against the pane of glass. He could see the beach, the ocean. The waves rolled in gently, and the water was so blue.
    “Awesome isn’t it?” Greg’s voice intruded into his daydreaming.
    “Dr. Haynes.” Billy turned slightly.
    “Welcome to Caldwell Medical Resort.” Greg said. “Really, if you’d like to stare out, I can get a you a chair. Or have someone take you to the beach. I don’t see how the warm weather can be detrimental. It could be helpful.”
    “A chair would be fine.”
    Greg grabbed a chair and walked to the window dragging it with him and placing it where Billy could easily utilize it.
    Thank you,” Billy took a seat.
    “You’re welcome.” Greg moved his crutch from the way. “So what do you think of our little paradise?”
    “It’s beautiful.”
    “Hell of a place to heal,” Greg said. “Agnes says your spirits are OK.”
    Billy shrugged.
    “Shall I assume they’ll get better once Cal arrives.”
    This caught Billy’s attention.
    “Thought so. She’ll be here tomorrow. Arriving alone.”
    “I thought for sure Rickie would be here.”
    “He will be,” Greg replied. “However Young Rickie has something else to do first. He will be accompanying Lt. Col Graison, as his escort when Jake gets his recognition at the White House.”
    “Rickie … Rickie is going to the Whitehouse.”
    Greg smirked. “That is one time I’d like to be a fly on the wall.”
    “Speaking of Jake,” Billy said. “Can you answer me something.”
    “If I can.”
    “Oh you can,” Billy focused out the window. “This is an amazing place. But is it planned or purely coincident that Cal and I will be here for two weeks together.”
    Greg’s mouth swished in an answering debate. He shifted his eyes to Billy. “You should know the answer to that one, Billy. We are Caldwell, the Iso-Stasis, is anything ever coincidental?” Smirk, remaining, Greg stared out the window.
     
    ***
     
    What could possibly be taking it so long? Jake wondered. Surely, it would be a matter of seconds to get the answer he desired. So why was it taking as long as it was.
    It distracted him so much; he couldn’t go over the monthly inventory schedule with Captain Murphy.
    “Thursday,” Murphy said. “What do you think about a recap.”
    “Of?” Jake asked.
    “Inventory schedules.”
    “This is rather boring, don’t you think