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

is that?” Chambers asked.
    Emma rubbed her temple with her good hand. Yes, definitely a full-blown migraine. Zigzag lines crisscrossed in front of her eyes.
    “It’s the heater,” Ms. Marcs said from the doorway. “Are you okay, Dr. Edwards? You want us to wheel you to the Urgent Care? You can wait there. The ambulance should be here any minute.”
    “I’m fine.” She winced as another clang burst out. “I have a migraine. And my wrist hurts.”
    “Where?” Chambers gently prodded her wrist and asked her to wiggle her fingers. “They can get the X-ray in the ER.”
    “I don’t need the ER,” she said again as another clanging sound erupted. The noise was going to kill her. She had to get out of here. Emma stood and took a tentative step. A wave of light-headedness slammed into her, almost knocking her over. Before she knew it, Chambers had swung her up in his arms like a sack of potatoes.
    “What are you doing?” she shrieked, twisting in his arms. “I can walk. Put me down.”
    Chambers only grunted and kept going. The other officers hurried after them as he carried her down the hall to the Urgent Care.
    “Where the hell is that ambulance?” Chambers bellowed as he placed her gently on the gurney in the main treatment room.
    “They said ETA is fifteen minutes.” Ms. Marcs wrapped a blood pressure cuff around Emma’s arm.
    “I’m going to the tank.” Chambers shot a peremptory look at the nurse. “Don’t let her get out of that gurney.”
    “Never saw him this worked up before.” Ms. Marcs shook her head as Chambers exited. She handed Emma an ice pack. “Ransom is going to get the beating of his life. Poor Mr. Chambers is probably going to get suspended.”
    “What?” Emma’s heart slammed against her chest. “Suspended? Why?”
    “He likes to take justice in his own hands.” Ms. Marcs clucked her tongue. “Last time he beat up an inmate, they gave him a warning. This time I’m sure it’s going to be worse.”
    “Please call him back.”
    “He’s not going to listen.”
    “Well, he should.” Emma slid out of the gurney. She grabbed the railing as a wave of light-headedness hit her. “I’m not going to sit around and watch him get in trouble on my account. Where is he?”
    “You can’t leave, Doc.” Ms. Marcs rushed to her side. “He’ll kill me if he sees you out there.”
    “Then go find him.” Now her brain felt like it was on fire. Why was she still hearing that clanging sound when it was back in the other room? “Tell him I’m going to go look for him. Unless he comes back right now.”
    “Just stay in that gurney.” Ms. Marcs helped her lie back on the stretcher. “I can’t promise anything.” The nurse clucked her tongue again before heading out.
    The ice pack felt cool and refreshing against the soreness in her wrist. Clang! Clang! Clang! Emma winced and closed her eyes, wishing she’d asked for a Motrin. Oh, God. She hoped Chambers wasn’t going to lose his job because of her.
    “Em, are you okay?”
    Emma opened her eyes.
    Sam stood next to her, his eyes lit with concern. “What did that bastard do to you?”
    “It’s just my wrist. I’m fine.”
    “You don’t deserve this.” He darted a glance at the doorway and squeezed her arm. “Find another job, Em. You shouldn’t be here.”
    “It’s only a sprain.”
    “Listen.” He shot another look to the entranceway. “I gotta go. My shift ended already. Custody will kill me if they find me here. Promise me, Em. Go home and don’t come back. I’ll write, I promise.”
    “I’m not leaving.”
    “What the hell is going on in here?” Chambers loomed in the doorway, his fulminating glare directed straight at her brother.
    “I called him to get me another ice pack,” Emma said hastily. “Thanks, Morris. You can go now.” She tried to reassure her brother with a smile.
    “Yes, Doc.” Sam bent his head and scurried out of the room.
    Poor boy. She hoped he wasn’t going to get in trouble over