A Dirty Job (Grim Reaper 1)
"Big bitch or little bitch?"
"Extra large," Charlie said.
"You allergic to any painkillers?"
"Nope. "
"Antibiotics?"
"Nope. "
Nurse Betsy reached into her uniform pocket and pulled out a handful of pills, picked out two round ones and one long one, and slid them through the little window. "By the power invested in me by Saint Francis of Assisi, I now pronounce you painless. The round ones are Percocet, the oval one is Cipro. I'll put it on your chart. " She looked at Ray. "Fill out his papers for him, he's going to be too fucked up to do it in a few minutes. "
"Thanks, Betsy. "
"You get any Prada or Gucci bags in that store where you work - they're mine. "
"No problem," Ray said. "Charlie owns the store. "
"Really?"
Charlie nodded.
"Free," Betsy added. She slid another round pill across the counter. "For you, Ray. "
"I'm not hurt. "
"It's a long wait. Anything could happen. " She grinned in lieu of telling him to fuck off.
An hour later the paperwork was done and Charlie was heaped in a fiberglass chair in a posture that seemed possible only if his bones had turned to marshmallow.
"They killed Rachel here," Charlie said.
"Yeah, I know," Ray said. "I'm sorry. "
"I still miss her. "
"Yeah, I know," Ray said. "How's your leg?"
"But they gave me Sophie," Charlie said, ignoring the question. "So, you know, that was good. "
"Yeah, I know," Ray said. "How are you feeling now?"
"I'm a little concerned that growing up without a mother, Sophie won't be sensitive enough. "
"You're doing a great job with her. I meant how are you feeling physically?"
"Like that thing where she kills people, just by looking at them. That can't be good for a little girl. My fault, all my fault. "
"Charlie, does your leg hurt?" Ray had opted not to take the painkiller Nurse Betsy had given him, and now he was regretting it.
"And the thing with the hellhounds - what kid has to deal with that? That can't be healthy. "
"Charlie, how do you feel?"
"I'm a little sleepy," Charlie said.
"Well, you lost a lot of blood. "