Free Secrets of a Shy Socialite by Wendy S. Marcus Page A

noticed them.”
    “Both are here with complaints of pain and Mary asked me to point them out to you. Something about a drug dealer sending kids in to get prescriptions for narcotics.”
    “They fit the profile.” Justin ran his fingers over his goatee. “Let Mary handle them.”
    Absolutely not. “I so appreciate your confidence in my skill as a nurse and my ability to handle this job.” She turned to leave.
    He caught her by the arm, his large hand strong, yet gentle. “These are street kids,” he whispered forcefully. “They’re more dangerous than they look. Working in rural South Carolina give you a lot of experience dealing with patients who’d have no problem pulling a knife on you to get what they want?”
    So he’d been pumping Jaci for more information about where she’d been. And no, it hadn’t. A sudden chill made her twitch. But that did not lessen her resolve to do the job she’d come here to do. “If taking care of street kids, as you call them, is part of my job responsibilities, then best I learn how to deal with them. And if keeping me safe is part of your job responsibilities, best you focus on that rather than worrying about my past work experience.”
    “You’re as stubborn as your sister.”
    Not quite, but she liked that he thought so.
    “Okay,” he acquiesced. “Take them in one at a time, and not until the doctor’s ready for them. Make sure I’m in the lobby and I see you walk each one in.”
    She nodded her understanding.
    “Anything makes you uncomfortable, you call me.”
    She looked up and saw his concern. “I will.” Instead of feeling flattered or insulted by his presence her first night at work, she felt appreciative, realizing he’d come to keep her safe. “Thank you,” she said, “for being here.” Because it provided her a level of comfort she may not have had otherwise.
    He skimmed his index finger down the side of her face. “You can be real sweet sometimes.”
    She winked, “When it suits me,” and returned to work.
    The next two hours went by in a blur of activity, but Jena still made time to call home twice to check on the girls, who were fine. Mary insisted on accompanying her for the discharge of each of the teens, which turned out to be a good thing as one in particular started arguing and begging when Dr. Morloni a.k.a. Dr. Charmer, informed the patient his exam was negative and recommended over the counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication for pain management.
    The boy’s desperation clawed at Jena’s heart, to be so young and possibly involved in the illegal drug trade. What would happen to him when the dealer found out he’d been unsuccessful?
    “I tried,” Justin said when he returned from escorting the boys and their “guardian” to Gayle to pay then to the parking lot to leave. “I gave each of them the chance to come clean, to give up the name of the drug dealer who put them up to coming in for narcotics prescriptions in return for police protection.”
    Great. Maybe...
    He shook his head. “They laughed and shared their thoughts on police and their protection. I won’t pollute your ears with the specifics. Suffice it to say they weren’t interested.”
    Stupid. Maybe if they’d had access to a quality kids club with positive role models to look out for them when they were younger, or vocational training programs to funnel them into legal, well-paying jobs. Jena made a mental note to research what programs and services were available to the youth of the area. Jaci had championed women in crisis. Maybe with some of the money from her trust Jena could do the same for children.
    “Hey.” With a finger under her chin Justin nudged her face up to look at him. “You can’t help people who don’t want to be helped.”
    “Says the jaded cop.”
    “Not jaded as much as realistic.” He smiled. “Your brother was right. You do have a soft heart.”
    “They’re kids,” Jena pointed out.
    “In this area, childhood ends a