Page 40 of Iron Will
“Not as long as we don’t get caught,” I reassure her. “And we won’t.”
It had taken three margaritas at our favorite Mexican place — on my tab — to convince Katie to help us with the plan to nab Mickey. Luckily, Mickey has been such an asshole to all of the nurses, too — especially Katie — that the prospect of paying him back eventually won her over. I felt a little guilty about plying my best friend with alcohol to get her on board, but I’m trying not to think about that now.
“Are you totally sure your biker isn’t setting you up?” Katie stops in the hallway, hands on her hips, and gives me a piercing look.
An unfortunate side effect of using alcohol to achieve my objective is that I was drinking, too — and in the process, Imayhave told Katie about Rourke kissing me in the coffee shop. Ever since, she has been referring to him asyour biker.
To say I regret confiding in my best friend about this is an understatement at this point.
“Okay, first of all, for the last time, he’s notmybiker,” I retort, feeling a flush of heat rise to my cheeks. “And second of all, that makes no sense. Why would Rourke be setting me up? He wants Mickey out of the picture as much as we do.”
The plan isn’t perfect, but it was the best we could come up with on short notice. Rourke put a tail on Mickey so we’d know right away the next time he showed up at the hospital. Since he’s still got Bethany’s car, it was relatively easy for the Lords to keep track of him, though I’m not exactly sure how they did it. Apparently, Rourke just got the call that he’s on his way here now.
The most important thing was making sure that Paisley and Bethany are safe, and that they have no idea it’s a set-up. We had to figure out a way to make Mickey walk right into the trap, without anyone else potentially getting hurt. And I think we’ve done that — even though anyone who bothered to think about it for very long would probably realize the whole thing sounded fishy.
Luckily, Mickey’s not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Rourke’s made sure that the Lords who normally stand guard outside Paisley’s room are gone this morning when Mickey shows up. I just happen to be paying her and Bethany a visit when he arrives. He gives me a sharp, defiant look when he sees me sitting at the foot of Paisley’s bed. When I don’t say anything, he sneers and turns to Bethany.
“When she getting out?” he asks, gesturing at Paisley.
“I guess in an hour or so,” Bethany tells him, giving me a furtive glance. “The doctor has been to see her this morning already. They’re getting her paperwork finished up, and the nurse is supposed to be in with some painkillers for her to take home with her.”
Right on schedule, Katie strolls into the room. She gives Mickey a sour glance, but like me, she doesn’t challenge his being here. “All right, Paisley,” she says breezily, smiling at the little girl. “We’re almost ready to get you out of here. I just have to go grab you some pills for Mom to give you if anything starts to hurt too bad.” She shakes her head and starts her performance.
“Getting meds for patients sure has changed,” she murmurs as she grabs Paisley’s chart and pretends to check some things off. “It used to be everything was all out in the open for us in a cabinet, to grab whatever we wanted. Now, we’ve got this machine that’s sort of like a vending machine. It’s great, though, don’t get me wrong! It’s got pretty much every painkiller and every type of med you need. All I have to do is log in and put in my fingerprint, and it opens right up! It’s all right there! Whatever you need, right in front of you! It’s pretty slick! Sure makes my life easier!”
I stare at the wall, struggling not to react or make eye contact.Don’t lay it on too thick, Kate,I silently beg her in my head.
“So, I’m gonna go down there and grab you what you need, honey,” she finishes, nodding at all of us. “I’ll be back in just a bit.”
Katie exits the room, strolling away so casually I almost laugh — except I’m far too nervous to find this very funny.
For about ten seconds, Mickey doesn’t react. My stomach sinks as I start to think he’s not going to take the bait.
But then, just as I’m about ready to lose hope, he pushes himself off the wall he’s been leaning against.
“I’m gonna go take a leak,” he announces.
Mickey strides out of the room. A couple of seconds later, there’s a light tap at the door and Yoda comes in. He makes brief eye contact with me, then turns to Paisley and Bethany.
“So, sounds like someone gets to go home today!” he grins at the little girl. “You excited?”
“Yeah,” she nods, lifting a shoulder. “Except I don’t want to go back to school.”
“Aw, but you have that cool cast, now,” Yoda admonishes her. “You look like a bada—… like a real tough chick. You could tell the kids at school you got it by beating up a bad guy or something.”
Paisley giggles, ducking her head. “That’s lying!”
I listen to Yoda banter back and forth with Paisley and her mom. Minutes pass. Or maybe they’re seconds, I don’t know. I start to get more and more anxious. Now that Yoda’s here, keeping an eye on the two of them, I’m suddenly a bundle of nerves — practically jumping out of my skin, wanting to know what’s happening with Mickey.
I sit there as long as I can stand it. Then, abruptly, I stand up.
“I just wanted to check in with you two on my way to my office,” I say, casually. “I’ll be back in time to say goodbye to you, Paisley, okay?” I shoot a look at Bethany. “I’m still working on getting you some financial help for Paisley’s stay. I just want you to know I haven’t forgotten.”
“Thank you,” Bethany says gratefully. “I really appreciate it.”
I go out into the hallway — dying to turn toward the wing with the med closet, but wanting to be as inconspicuous as possible. I wander to the closest restroom, wash my hands, come back outside, grab a drink at the drinking fountain. All the while, I’m trying to act nonchalant, but my nerves are jangling.Is it over yet? Did Mickey go without a fight? Or did they not catch him? Is it possible he didn’t take the bait — that he really did leave just to go to the bathroom?