Free The Ugly Duckling by Iris Johansen Page A

didn’t sign it?”
    “She signed it. I told her precisely what I was going to do. I showed her a computer readout of exactly what she would look like. I’m not sure she heard a word I said. I know she didn’t care.” He ran his hand through his hair. “You know that she may sue me when all this is over?”
    Nicholas shook his head. “She won’t sue you.”
    “How do you know? She’s a zombie, dammit.”
    “I promise you. I’ll protect you from all ramifications, legal or personal.”
    “Really? Kabler called again today.”
    “Next time have your secretary refer him to the St. Joseph’s administration office.”
    “Why?”
    “Because Nell Calder died yesterday afternoon.”
    “What?” Joel stared at him, stunned. “My God, what have you done?”
    “Nothing for which you can be blamed,” Nicholas said. “Just continue to refuse to talk to Kabler. If he checks with administration, he’ll find that she died of wounds and was removed to a local funeral home.”
    “And if he checks with the funeral home?”
    “They’ll have record of her cremation. Her obituary will appear in the paper tomorrow.”
    “When I told you to take care of it, I didn’t mean—You can’t do things like this.”
    “It’s already done.”
    “And what do you think Nell Calder will say about her demise?”
    “When it’s safe, she can say that ‘reports of her death were greatly exaggerated.’ ”
    “Safe?”
    “She wasn’t one of the innocent bystanders. She was targeted. She may still be in danger.”
    “Christ. I don’t suppose you considered telling me what I was getting into?”
    “I considered it, but it would only have made your decision harder.” He smiled. “And the decision would still have been the same, wouldn’t it?”
    “So you kept me in the dark to save me from undue worry,” he said sarcastically.
    “Well, and to save myself from hearing your arguments. Isn’t a fait accompli much simpler?”
    “It is not.”
    “Of course it is.”
    “The records show I was the attending physician. I’m the one who will be blamed for falsifying them.”
    Nicholas shook his head. “I have the original authorization of transfer signed by you. If you need it, I’ll produce it.”
    “If it suits your convenience.”
    “No.” Nicholas met his gaze. “I promised to protect you. I’ll keep my word, Joel.”
    Joel stared at him moodily. He knew Nicholas would keep his promise, but it didn’t improve his temper. “I don’t like to be manipulated.”
    “I didn’t manipulate you. I manipulated the records.”He glanced at the clipboard with the permission slip. “And you’re not really angry at me, you’re worried about your patient. She’s no better?”
    “She’s close to catatonic,” Joel said. “I can do only so much. What the hell good is a new face going to do her if she ends up in an institution?”
    “We won’t let that happen to her.”
    “You bet your ass we won’t.” He stabbed a finger at Nicholas. “And I won’t be alone in this. You’re not running back to Idaho. You’re staying right here on call. Do you understand?”
    “Perfectly.” A smile tugged at his lips. “Do you mind if I stay at a hotel in town? I’m allergic to hospitals.”
    “As long as you’re on call.”
    Nicholas held up his hands in surrender. “Whatever you say.”
    “Yeah, sure.” Joel strode away from him down the corridor.
    Bellevigne, France
    “You blundered,” Philippe Gardeaux said softly. “I don’t like mistakes, Paul.”
    “I didn’t expect her to fight so hard.” Paul Maritz scowled. “And I thought the fall would kill her.”
    “You wouldn’t have had to rely on the fall if you had done your job correctly. One stroke should have done it. You indulged yourself, didn’t you?”
    “Maybe,” he said sulkily.
    “And you killed the child. How many times must I tell you that you never kill children or animals? For some reason, it arouses more anger than if you slaughter a hundred