Music in the Night (Logan 4)

look like a wild woman. You'll frighten the other patients half to death."

"But, I have to see him now!"

"If you don't listen to me, have to have you confined to your room or worse," she threatened. "I don't condone wild behavior here, no matter what's supposedly wrong with the patient. Those who can't follow the rules are placed elsewhere. This is not a high-security clinic for the mentally disturbed," she added.

I stepped away from her.

"No, this isn't, although I know you would like it to be," I said defiantly. "Well, we shouldn't be treated like criminals just because we have mental problems. We're people who have had difficulties in their lives, serious difficulties."

"I know," she said dryly, "overindulgences. Having too much can become a problem. Where do you put everything? How do you handle all the special privileges? Very serious difficulties," she said with a sardonic smile.

"Why are you working here?" I asked, shaking my head. "You don't care about the patients. You have no respect for us. You should be working in a prison hospital. That's really where you belong," I fumed.

"Really? How come all you blue bloods know what's good for everyone else but yourselves? Spare me the career guidance and behave yourself."

I straightened up as if a rod had been inserted in my spine and fixed my eyes on hers.

"I want to make an appointment with Doctor Southerby," I insisted. "I can do that at least, can't I?"

"I'll make the arrangements for you," she said. "Go on, get ready for dinner. You look a mess."

I hesitated a moment, debating. She looked like she was made of stone and if I tried to move her, I would only anger her and delay my visit with Doctor Southerby.

"I have to see him as soon as possible," I said and then turned and walked back toward my room. Lawrence and Lulu had come in and were looking for me.

"Are you all right?" Lawrence asked when he caught up with me outside my room.

"Yes, I just had a real memory and I wanted to share it with Doctor Southerby, but Mrs. Kleckner stopped me and told me to clean up for dinner. She said she would make my appointment for me."

"That's good," Lawrence said. "I'm happy for you, Laura. This might be the beginning of the end of your time here," he said.

"Maybe," I said and went into my room. I was too frustrated and furious to appreciate my progress at the moment.

However, when I looked at myself in the mirror, I saw that Mrs. Kleckner was right about one thing: I did look wild. My hair looked like I had run my fingers through it for hours, my face was flushed, and my eyes were bright with excitement. I decided to shower and change for dinner.

I was just putting on my shoes and going in to brush out my hair when Mrs. Kleckner appeared in my doorway.

"I've made you your appointment," she said. "Tomorrow at ten."

"Thank you," I said.

"Go to room one-oh-one in the morning," she added and started to leave.

"One-oh-one? But that's not Doctor Southerby's office," I cried. "Why do I have to go there?"

She turned back to me slowly.

"Your case has been transferred to Doctor Scanlon," she said, not without some pleasure.

"But I don't want to be transferred. I want to talk to Doctor Southerby," I said, My heart was racing. Why would I be transferred now?

She sighed and rolled her eyes toward the ceiling.

"I want, I want, I want. Don't you people have any other words in your vocabulary? It's not important what you want; what you need is decided by the people in charge here," she said. "Your transfer to Dr. Scanlon has been decided and that's that," she added, her words hammering into my brain.

"I won't talk to anyone else but Doctor Southerby," I insisted just as firmly. I faced her with all the defiance I could muster.

She stared at me a moment and then stepped toward me, a cold smile on her face.