Free The Seduction - Art Bourgeau by Art Bourgeau Page A

lab?"
    "You're a registered nurse. It will work out
fine . . . And now I'm afraid we're going to have to cut this short.
This morning the police brought in sperm samples from the body of one
of those missing South Philly girls. They need the test in a rush."
    Missy shook her head. "Let them wait. I want to
hear the rest of this."
    "If you wish. As I mentioned, you'll be in
charge of the lab, including the employees who work there and the
work done there, subject, of course, to our supervision. With the way
the business is growing from our outside work and our city contract
I'm sure in a short time you'll pass your old salary."
    "Pass my old salary? What do you mean by that?"
    "I'm afraid your present salary of a thousand a
week, along with the benefits your father gave you, no longer
justifies itself. But as the lab business grows we will increase your
salary until you're back up there and beyond/'
    "And what is my new salary?"
    "We feel twenty-two thousand would be more in
keeping with the job. Naturally, as a stockholder you'll also be
entitled to any bonuses or shareholder salary increases."
    There but for one word they would have had her.
"Shareholder". Nathan didn't get all the stock with his
buy-out. He only got her father's shares. With his original
twenty-five percent, plus her father's sixty-five percent, there was
still ten percent unaccounted for—the ten percent her father had
given to her. Don't panic, live to fight another day. She forced a
smile. "I guess I'd better get to work."
    She could see they were disappointed in her reaction.
Good, that's how she wanted them. She did not go back to the linen
closet for a nurse's uniform. Those days were over. Instead, she went
straight to the lab.
    The technicians looked up when she walked in. Nobody
seemed surprised at her demotion, and while she was gone they had
moved her things from her office to a corner desk with two windows.
Maybe it wouldn't be so bad to spend more time here. Lab work had
always been her favorite part of the practice anyway . . .
    "Are you okay?"
    Looking up she saw Gladys, one of the technicians,
standing in front of her desk.
    "Of course." And then, changing the
subject, "what's happening on that police work Nathan
mentioned?"
    "The sperm sample from the dead girl, one of the
teenagers missing from South Philly?"
    "Cou1d be," said Missy.
    "Terri DiFranco's her name. They're all done,
but Dr. Pollack wants to sign the report himself in case the police
should need his testimony."
    Of course, anything to get his name in the paper, she
thought but did not say. "What else do we have, Grace?"
    "There's a patient in number two examining room.
Dr. Pollack wants you to see him."
    The patient, dressed in work clothes and boots, was
reading a copy of the morning edition of the Globe A lunchbox and
hardhat were next to him on the examining table. His chart said that
his name was Roland Morris and that he was there for a sperm count.
    When he looked up from his newspaper uneasiness and
surprise crossed his face. She was accustomed to dealing with
patients embarrassed at dealing with a woman. She introduced herself
and said, "Mr. Morris, your chart says that you're here for a
sperm count. Do you have a sample of your semen?"
    "Uh, yeah, sure."
    He opened his lunchbox and brought out a small jar
that contained about a teaspoonful of white liquid. The substantial
volume was a possible but not certain indicator of a low sperm count.
She held up the jar to the light and noted that the contents were
separating.
    "Mr. Morris, when did you do this?"
    "Last night . . . just before I went to bed."
    "And where did you keep the jar last night?"
    "In the refrigerator. The lady I spoke to said
it would be all right."
    She didn't ask which lady. That was no longer her
job, at least for a while. Instead, she went across the small
examining room and took a fresh vial from beside the sink.
    "I'm afraid we're going to need another sample."
    "You mean right now?"
    "I'm afraid