Free Song of the Blackbird (Albatross Prison #1) by DB Michaels Page A

tried to read his chart simultaneously to save time.
    “I saw the fucking nurse. Not that she did shit for me.”
    “Hey, tone it down with the language,” Emma said, feeling for her alarm. Thank goodness she’d remembered looping it around her belt this morning. The guy gave her the creeps with the way he was staring at her, like Hannibal Lector come to life.
    “Or else what?” He stretched his lips, revealing uneven yellow teeth. “What are you gonna do? Give me a time-out?”
    “What can I do for you today, Mr. Ransom?”
    “Pan never gave me the low bunk.” He leaned over the desk and stared hard at her. “I need it.”
    “Why do you need it?”
    “Because my back hurts. Every day.” He cursed again. “Write it and I’ll be out of your way.”
    “Do you have seizures?”
    “No.”
    “Did you have any surgeries recently? Are you visually impaired?” Emma recited the list she’d learned that morning.
    “No. Do I look like I’m blind?” His face turned red. “Give me the fucking chrono.”
    “Calm down.” Jesus. He was as angry as hell. Emma moved her index finger over the alarm button. His beady eyes took in her gesture, and he settled back in his chair. She breathed out a sigh of relief. “Don’t make me use it.”
    “Alright.” He held up his hands. “Like I said, write the chrono and I’ll get out of your way.”
    “Tell me about your back pain.”
    “Nothing to tell. Just give me the chrono.” His face flushed red again as his hands clenched into fists.
    “Calm down, Mr. Ransom. I can’t give you the chrono until I examine you first.”
    “No. You’re not examining me.” He shoved his chair back. “Give me that chrono.”
    “I can’t. You need a good reason to get one.”
    Suddenly he lurched forward and grabbed her wrist. His meaty hand squeezed like a vise. Fire danced up her arm. Just like with the pit bull years earlier. She fumbled for the alarm with her other hand and pressed hard. A loud buzz rang out.
    “You fucking bitch! I’ll show you a good reason.” Ransom flung her wrist away and lunged for her neck. Emma ducked. She tried to stab her pen into his neck, but it missed and bounced off him like a Ping-Pong ball.
    “Help!” she screamed. “Someone help!”
     

 
    Chapter 8
     
    A slew of bright stars flashed behind Emma’s eyes as Ransom slammed her against the wall. Her head exploded with pain. Suddenly a horde of officers rushed into the room. Someone yanked the brute off of her. Emma collapsed to the floor, dazed, her hand throbbing. She shut her eyes tight and put her head between her legs.
    “Are you okay?” The gentlest of hands were prodding at her.
    “Sam?” She groaned and forced her eyes open.
    Chambers’s stark face frowned back at her. “Did he hurt you? Are you okay?” His formidable face radiated with tension yet his eyes had the most peculiar light in them. He was kneeling on the floor, his body almost touching her but not quite.
    “I’m fine.” Emma shook her head, trying to chase away the roaring in her ears. At least half a dozen other officers were in the room but she didn’t see Ransom anywhere. “Where is he?” she asked, her voice trembling.
    “He’s at the tank, on his way to the hole,” Chambers said.
    “Hole?”
    “Isolation over in Chino. We don’t have it here. Don’t worry. He’s in a holding cell right now and is never coming back.”
    “Thanks.” Emma forced out a smile. She felt the strangest desire to throw herself into his arms and feel that warmth again. The blow must have affected her more than she thought. She rubbed her head. The fire started again in her arm. “Ow.”
    “What is it?”
    She stood and Chambers immediately extended his hand. “Careful. You shouldn’t move ’til the paramedics get here.”
    “What? I don’t need an ambulance.” Emma plopped into the closest chair. Her wrist throbbed like crazy but all she needed was an X-ray, not the ER.
    Clang! Clang! Clang!
    “What the hell