Page 15 of The Bad Man
I step back and go into the nurses’ station because I don’t want to know what his reaction to her is going to be.
“Who’s the new girl?” I ask Olivia as I grab my charts for the night.
"Entertaining, isn’t she?” Olivia laughs. “She’s only been here a few hours.”
Will Jamison leap on her the same way he did me that first day? I detest the overwhelming jealousy and doubt that have suddenly overtaken me.
This is why I shut everyone out. Sometimes it’s just better to be numb.
Chapter Twelve
JAMISON
Chapter 12 Jamison
The new girl is annoying, but at least she’s useful. I think someone called her Karma or Karmen? I couldn’t be bothered to pay attention. I was too busy looking out the window and waiting for Mia to arrive. My perfect, soft, and sweet Mia.
That’s when I saw Dr. Crane turning into the parking lot with Mia in his car. The anger and jealousy that ignited in my chest was like hot lava burning my flesh from the inside out. That’s when I looked over at the new girl and ordered her to make a scene.
She didn’t mind getting into trouble. In fact, she seemed happy for the excuse and started belting out show tunes. It was like nails on a chalkboard to my ears while I watched Dr. Crane and Mia below. The new girl’s singing set off one of the other patients, and I heard Olivia tell Alton she was going to call Dr. Crane to see if they could get a psych consult.
As I waited for Olivia to make the call, I saw Mia rush out of Dr. Crane’s car. Everything about her body language said she was afraid. I should know because I’ve had every inch of her and know her body better than I know my own.
When Dr. Crane touched her and she flinched, I’ve never wanted to crawl through the bars on the windows more. I could see how much she hated it, and when his phone ringing made him let her go, I wasn’t as relieved as I thought I’d be. All it did was make me want to go down there and make sure he could never touch her again.
The new girl is doing some kind of idiotic twirling thing now, and it has everyone’s attention. I keep my seat with my book in my lap and wait for Mia to come upstairs. If I get up I know I’ll do something stupid. Like going after Dr. Crane or fucking Mia on the floor of the group room just to prove she’s mine. I’m not sure either of those things will benefit me long-term, although they both sound pretty great.
By the time Alton and a few of the orderlies get the new girl under control and strapped to a gurney, Mia still hasn’t come in the group room or started her rounds. Hasn’t she missed me as much as I’ve missed her? Weren’t the two days apart the most miserable of her existence? I can’t be alone in this obsession. Can I?
When I go in search of her, I catch sight of Dr. Crane and Alton in the hallway having a whispered discussion. I stay back in the shadows and listen for a moment. When the two of them are talking, it’s never good.
“Who the fuck called Dr. Rourk?” Dr. Crane hisses at Alton.
“Olivia tried calling you, but you didn’t answer. She paged the on-call doctor, and he’s doing the evaluation now.” Alton sounds cowed, like he’s not twice the size of Dr. Crane.
“She was supposed to go straight to the private wing,” he whispers. “She was promised to me.”
“What did you expect me to do? Get involved with Olivia and the intake team? How would that have looked?” There’s something that makes me think he wanted to do exactly that.
“Of course not,” Dr. Crane snaps. Then he lets out a long sigh and adjusts his suit jacket. “I’m getting sick of Dr. Rourk getting between me and my patients. He was brought in on a temporary basis but somehow convinced the board he needed to stay longer. I’m not sure I like him nosing around the place.”
“He mostly keeps to himself.” Alton’s tone is soft, and I wonder if he likes the new doctor. I’ve never had any interactions with him, but if he’s stepping on Dr. Crane’s toes, I imagine we’d be good friends.
“You should be worried too,” Dr. Crane says and takes a step closer to Alton. He’s so short he has to look up at him to meet his eyes. “If he goes poking in my business, it’s going to turn into your business soon enough.”
“Maybe you should reconsider doing your business here at the hospital.” Alton’s voice is stronger this time, and I wonder if he’s finally had enough. “I think it’s a good time to cool things down.”
“Lucky for you nobody gives a fuck what you think,” Dr. Crane snaps. “Have the room ready in an hour.” He moves closer to Alton and points a finger in his face threateningly. “Or you’ll be the one in a harness tonight.”
Alton flinches before Dr. Crane stalks down the hallway in the opposite direction of where I’m standing. I wait a full minute before I see Alton’s shoulders slump and he takes off toward the stairs.
I’ve heard enough between the two of them over the years that I know exactly what that conversation was about. But this is the first time that I’ve ever heard Alton push back. Maybe it’s not just Mia’s presence that has changed my world. Something about her showing up at Bellevue has stirred the pot. Dr. Crane isn’t being as careful as he usually is, and Alton isn’t going along like a good boy. Maybe there are more than a few changes coming.
Once the coast is clear, I go in search of Mia. Luck is on my side when I see her walk into the supply closet and I manage to sneak in after her before the door closes. She turns around to see why the door didn’t latch only to find me standing there.
“Hello, angel,” I say, my voice low and raspy. I pull the door behind me, and the sound of the latch is loud in the quiet. Too bad it’s not a lock. There’s nothing more I want right now than a locked door between the rest of the world and us.
“Jamison.” Her mouth is tight when she says it, and she crosses her arms over her chest.