Where There's Smoke

Nancy ushered in the next patient, a cantankerous three-year-old boy with an earache and a fever of one hundred two. Lara was getting the specifics of his illness from his frazzled mother when she heard a commotion coming from the reception area at the front of the building. Returning the squalling three-year-old to the arms of his mother, she excused herself and stepped into the hallway.

“Nancy, what’s going on?” she called out.

It wasn’t her receptionist who came crashing through the connecting door, but Key Tackett. His crutches didn’t slow him down as he stormed toward her. Clearly he was furious.

Even though he came to within inches of her before stopping, Lara held her ground. “Your appointment isn’t until this afternoon, Mr. Tackett.”

The mother had followed Lara into the hallway and was standing behind her. The child’s wailing had risen to a deafening level. Nancy had come up behind Key, looking ready to do battle in Lara’s defense. She and Key were between them, but only Lara felt trapped.

“Why didn’t you tell me last night who you were?”

Ignoring his question, she said, “As you can see, I’m very busy this morning. I have patients waiting. If there’s something you wish to discuss with me, please make an appointment with my receptionist.”

“I’ve got something to discuss with you, all right.” A bead of sweat rolled down his temple. Most of the color had been leeched from his face. Both were manifestations of pain.

“I think you should sit down, Mr. Tackett. You’re in a weakened state, certainly in no condition to—”

“Cut the medical bullshit,” he shouted. “Why didn’t you tell me last night that you’re the whore who ruined my brother’s life?”

Chapter Four

The ugly words struck like blows. Feeling light-headed, Lara took a deep breath and held it. The floor and walls of the corridor seemed to tilt precariously. She reached out and braced herself against the wainscoting.

Nancy elbowed her way past Key. “Now see here, Key Tackett, you can’t barge into a doctor’s office and create a ruckus like this.”

“I’d love to chat with you, Nancy, and reminisce about old times, but I’m here to see the doctor.” He spoke the last word like an epithet.

By now Lara had regained some composure. She motioned Nancy toward the mother and crying child. “Please see to Mrs. Adams and Stevie. I’ll be with them as soon as possible.”

Nancy was reluctant to comply, but after giving Key a threatening look, she shooed the woman and child back into the examination room and soundly closed the door behind them.

Lara stepped around Key and addressed the curious patients who were huddled in the doorway, peering down the hall. “Please take your seats,” Lara said in as calm a voice as she could muster. “We’ve had a slight disruption in our office procedure. As you can see, Mr. Tackett is hurt and needs immediate medical attention, but he’ll be taken care of and on his way shortly.”

“Don’t bet on it.”

The waiting patients heard him and regarded her uncertainly. “I’ll be with you as soon as I can,” she reassured them. Then, confronting Key, she said, “I’ll see you in my office.”

The moment she closed her office door behind them, she vented her anger. “How dare you speak to me like that in front of an office full of patients! I ought to have you arrested.”

“That scene could have been avoided,” he said, motioning toward the hallway with his head, “if you’d told me who you were last night.”

“You didn’t ask for my name, and I didn’t learn yours until seconds before you left.”

“Well, you know it now.”

“Yes, I know it now, and I’m not at all surprised to discover that you’re a Tackett. Arrogance is a family trait.”

“This isn’t about the Tacketts. This is about you. What the hell are you doing in our town?”

“Your town? That’s a curious choice of words for someone who spends very little time residing here. Clark told me that you’re rarely in Eden Pass. To what do we owe the honor of this visit?”

He came a menacing step closer. “I told you before to cut the bullshit. I didn’t come here to play word games with you, Doc, so don’t try to divert me from the point.”

“Which is?”

“What the hell you’re doing here!” he shouted.

Suddenly the door swung open and Nancy poked her head around. “Dr. Mallory? Want me to… do something?”