Mantis (K19 Security Solutions 4)

“What’s that? Oh, right,” he said, again not waiting for a response from her. “Let’s take a look.”

He moved the blanket and sheet, and put pressure on different places on her legs and feet. She could feel all of it. There was less feeling in some areas than others, but for the most part, it was consistent.

She heard voices in the hallway and recognized her father’s bellow. It sounded as though he was arguing with someone and was exasperated that they didn’t speak enough French to understand him. Both her parents spoke almost perfect English. Alegria didn’t know why they insisted on making whomever they were speaking to struggle to understand them.

Her mother walked into the room, but didn’t speak. Much like the doctor, she didn’t even look at Alegria.

“Hello? Do you see a human being over here?”

“Stop being so dramatic, Manon,” her mother snapped, opening a magazine and thumbing through the pages.

“I want to do another MRI this morning,” the doctor told her.

“Is that healthy? I mean, radiation?”

“MRIs use magnetic frequency, not radiation,” he muttered while making notes on the computer. “Someone from that department will come and get you soon.”

Without asking if she had any questions, the doctor left the room. Alegria caught the nurse shaking her head.

“I need to reschedule your physical therapy to later in the day,” she said absentmindedly, sneaking looks over at Manon’s mother.

“Maman,” Alegria said. “Please return my phone to me.”

“I don’t know where it is,” she said without looking up from the magazine.

“Yes, you do. Go back to the hotel and get it.”

Her mother’s head snapped up. “Pardon?”

“I need my phone. Go get it.”

Her mother stared at her with her mouth open.

“Are you wondering about my manners, Maman? You shouldn’t be. I’ve learned it wasn’t necessary to use them from you and Papa.”

“Votre comportement,” Matille mumbled, resting her gaze on the nurse as though she was suggesting their conversation shouldn’t take place until the woman left the room.

Alegria was accustomed to the nurses’ routines and had a feeling the woman was stalling.

“Since you aren’t needed here, I’m telling you to go back to your hotel, retrieve my phone, and return it to me.”

Her mother stood, but Alegria doubted it was to do as she’d asked. She left the room, and soon she heard her telling Alegria’s father about their daughter’s behavior.

“You’d think I was a child,” she muttered.

“Is there anything I can do?”

“I really need my phone,” she answered just as the phone near her bedside rang.

“Hello?”

“Hey there. You aren’t an easy person to get a hold of.”

She was so relieved to hear Doc’s voice. “I don’t have my phone.”

“I see. How are you feeling?”

“Better. I have movement in my legs. Not a lot, but enough that I’m encouraged.” She didn’t bother explaining that she hadn’t before. There was no question that Doc had been briefed about her condition by Mantis.