Look, if there is one thing that I know… It's that what happens to these people in their last moments, it really matters. And you do great work. No matter what. We're in the life business. Death is just a part of it.
I'm watching this series for the first time. I almost watched the first season and SAW A SPOILER that seems to ruin my life. I really need Jim's hugs. I can't stand it.
Summary: Josie contemplates her next move regarding predator Peter. Savvy Cyrus emerges from the shadows to make another powerplay but Josie uses her own against the odious thug. One of his henchman has her seeing double. A terrifying test is passed with flying colors and unbeknownst to Lee, it's because of him. Josie's actions spark a heated argument that may end a longtime friendship. An unexpected call for help is made. Lee and Orlando collide. Josie cannot believe her ears. Lee is summoned.
*Chapter Warnings* Strong language, angst, intubation, weapon use, mob hit
Stories Stories Stories Masterlist
March 24, 2022
Salem, Massachusetts
It was 4 P.M. as Josie made her way to the ER to scope out the situation with Peter August whom she had told David she would stay away from. Standing in the shadows observing, it was quite astir with staff moving about, phones and monitors ringing, a baby crying and sirens blaring as an ambulance was arriving. She didn't have to guess which room her abuser was in though when she spotted the prison guard sticking out like a sore thumb as he stood vigilant outside of a closed curtain cubicle.
Although Dave had explained to her the critical condition Peter was in, Josie needed to see it for herself because not only was he a professional deceiver, but he was born and raised the son of an international terrorist and an uncaged animal like that, no matter his physical state, was a danger to all who got in his way of freedom and having her for himself if he were to live. She would never be safe until Peter no longer drew breath and the conundrum she now faced was what to do about it.
Gazing down at the phone in her hand, she contemplated on calling Craig, although she was certain he already knew since he and Jeffrey had been waiting on the call confirming the hit he ordered had been carried out, but did he know that it had failed? Most likely not, for she was confident that he would have called her to make sure she knew and that she was safe, regardless of how bad she had hurt him. Should she call him anyways? Would he even answer her call? She definitely could not leave a voicemail or text him about the situation for incriminating purposes so she chose to at least see if he would pick up.
As Josie turned to leave and find a private area, her blood ran cold when someone just as terrifying as Peter appeared out of thin air.
"Jesus!!" she gasped as she stumbled back, almost plowing straight into stealthy Cyrus.
"Sorry." he raved as he placed both index fingers pointing upwards on each side of his head like horns. "Wrong guy, remember?"
Narrowing her eyes at him, she attempted to pass. "Excuse me."
He stayed a contactless hand before her stomach to stop her. "Are you alright Miss March? You look as white as a ghost. I hope it's not due to the prison guard I saw you eyeing? Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain. I assure you he is not the great and powerful Oz. There's no hot air balloon...or helicopter on the roof that he can magically fly away in with you this time. From what I gather, he's more like the scarecrow now up here." he grinned, pointing to his temple.
Her eyes slightly widened. How could he have possibly known about that?? Had he followed her and eavesdropped on her and David's conversation???
"Oh don't worry Dorothy, your juicy little secret is safe with me. I think it's safe to say though, that you're not the small and meek like the girl with braids from Kansas proclaimed to be. I admire a strong woman who takes control of her life. Is that...not...what you were contemplating just now? How to handle the infamous Peter August aka Henrick Faison that my substandard son failed to handle?"
Once again, Josie found herself fondling the rubber band upon her wrist, desperately wanting to snap it to ease her growing anxiety but at the same time, she didn't want to give Cyrus the satisfaction that he did in fact intimidate her.
"Judging by the look upon your lovely face, you must be wondering how I know the things I know? Well, you see, I'm a very observant man, especially when it comes to the people my son associates with or...falls in love with. I must say, you'd be a better suited match for Craig given your unfortunate predicament in the child bearing department. You are nothing like Elizabeth, the hot mess who's now a cold, decaying mess, that his hormones exploded over, resulting in the mess of parenting in a world where a child should not be. Lord knows I made that mistake and look how that turned out. My own son chose the opposing team. I mean no ill will but even your brother, god rest his soul, was drawn into her web of deceit but at least he was smart and strong enough to distance himself from diaper duties and allow another man to take on the role and responsibility of a father. I can't imagine how difficult that must have been for Dr. Pace to learn the truth that he was not the boy's father after the poor child had passed and also that the person responsible for his death was the boy's own mother. Jacob was his name? And how hard that must have also been for you to learn he was your nephew and you never got to know him. Well, at least now, Elizabeth will never hurt another child ever again. Justice was well served, wouldn't you agree?"
Josie's overstimulated nerves stirred in her stomach over his cold and calculated words. It was confirmed. Cyrus Renault truly was the devil in disguise. He knew things he shouldn't and he was using that knowledge to administer a very patronizing power play against her just as she had witnessed him do with Gerry. She knew though, with all of the internal rage she was feeling, that she had to choose self-control like Gerry had and not let Cyrus bait her in to clawing his beady black eyes out. The last thing she needed was to be on his shit list, so instead of violence, she chose to play his game.
"Yes, yes it sure was. Everyone is better off without that wretched woman around. She has hurt many people I love and I commend whomever put her where she belongs, six feet under. The children though, they do not deserve to suffer. I am sure you are doing everything in your power to bring your granddaughter home? I know will do whatever I can to make that happen for Craig and for Blaise. She must be terrified wherever she is and your son is very heartsick over it all. You wouldn't have any ideas as to who has taken her....would you? I mean, you've made it quite clear that you're in the know how of past and current events with being a man of your stature and all, so I guess I'm just very surprised that you haven't located her yet. How does a little girl just vanished without a trace?"
The old man's browless brow line arched. "I think it's pretty black and white, don't you? Ethan Bloom claims to be her father and then both he and Blaise disappears days later. Coincidence?"
Josie was beginning to get a gut wrenching feeling that Cyrus was involved after everything he had just said about Craig and Blaise. "Maybe. Or maybe it's not so clear cut. Maybe Ethan didn't take her at all. Maybe it's someone we all would least expect. Someone right under our noses all along. Maybe someone that's trying to teach Craig a lesson. Wouldn't you agree, Mr. Renault?"
He chuckled, picking up on her passive aggressive accusation. "Please, call me Cyrus. It's intriguing, the way you think. Coloring outside the lines or thinking outside of the box per se and then just letting those thoughts fearlessly roll off of your tongue. I do like your pluckiness. You've got backbone. Maybe you can make a man out of my son yet."
Cyrus caught sight of two men standing at the nurses station and made his departure. "It's been an absolute pleasure chatting with you Miss March, without your crony K9."
As Josie observed his close interaction with the young men both wearing the popular business suit that everyone in the surrounding area really did seem to wear, she quickly concluded they were Cyrus' henchmen. For some reason though, one of them she couldn't take her eyes off of, for his short mousy hair and facial features, especially the compelling eyes of bright blue hues, were all too familiar.
In her overwhelming curiosity, Josie remained where Cyrus had left her and listened to their conversation that the eldritch Kingpin made no effort to conceal, which he solely directed at the man who held her utmost attention. "I have a meeting in my office shortly. Go to HR and ask Janine how the interviews for the chief of staff position are coming along."
"Yes sir. Still no word from Britt Westbourne?"
"Not a peep so whatever happens next, Dr. Westbourne won't be returning here."
The mention of her missing best friend's name sparked an instant solution as to how she would gain access to Peter's cubicle and so she made her way to interrupt.
"Excuse me, Mr. Ren...Cyrus. I'm sorry to intrude but after hearing you speak about Britt, I was wondering if it would be alright to gather her personal belongings from her office? She asked me to retrieve them. I..I'm her best friend, but I'm sure you already knew that."
His brow line quirked. "Did she now? And yes I did. May I ask why she would not just come to claim them herself or even have her brother, Dr. Conrad to do so?"
Knowing the answer to his own question, Cyrus recalled the day he learned Jason was alive and made the call, ordering the hit on Britt to hurt Jason and draw him out of hiding.
"Bring in Pine, get rid of Dr. Westbourne, make it look like an O.D. and I want eyes on Jason Morgan now."
At the same time, Cyrus' other minion recalled putting the hit in to motion by restraining Britt in her office and preparing to lethally inject her with a syringe full of fentanyl but the mission had went sour when he was attacked from behind by Jason which had allowed Britt to get the upper hand on his partner with a swift knee to the groin and then she and Jason ran off.
Josie also recalled the day she last saw Jason and Britt at Lee's lake house and how terrified she was that Cyrus was going to kill her, so she continued to lie. "She and Dave had a sibling spat and aren't speaking to each other and she's also out of town. It seemed simplest for me to collect her things."
"I see. Well then, I can accompany you to her office on my way to mine."
After Cyrus' reply, her eyes were magnetically pulled to the man at his side who seemed oddly recognizable. Noticing her awkward stare, the man's brows slightly furrowed as he shifted his weight from one foot to the other.
"Ahh, yes," Cyrus intervened, also aware of the uneasy eye exchange, "I see you are curious of my retainer which must be due to the family resemblance. Miss March, this is my son, Brando."
Her eyes popped. "Son?? Cr...Craig has a...you're his...brother?"
Brando's hands swayed out as if he were uncomfortable with the introduction. "Yes ma'am."
Now she understood his familiarity. The uncanny resemblance was flooring. Although Brando was clearly much younger, at least by a decade, he could have passed as Craig's twin were he to have a clean shaven face. Aside from age, the only differences she picked up on was he did not have a kiwi accent or a muscular build.
"It's...nice to meet you Brando. I...I apologize for my reaction. I just...I wasn't aware Craig had a brother."
Brando's blues met Cyrus' coals in which he then spoke for his son. It was clear that Cyrus held great sway over Brando. Not only was that apparent in his mannerisms but it was visible behind his blue eyes. They screamed of oppression when he looked at his father. "It's not unusual for Craig to disavow his brother just as he has renounced me. Unlike my seditious son, Brando is a trustworthy son who's loyalties lie with the family as they should. Now, Brando, do as I have asked and then wait in the car with Pine. We have much to discuss. I shouldn't be more than an hour."
With a nod each, both soldiers obeyed. "Yes sir." and then the knee-length trench coats flared out as the two men simultaneously and swiftly turned with Brando delivering a side eye glance at Josie.
Cyrus glided his hand forward. "After you Miss March."
Out of habit, Josie path of choice was the stairwell but Cyrus stopped at the elevator with a grin on his smug face and pushed the button that glowed of red in response. "Your chariot awaits Miss march."
It was quite obvious to her that Cyrus also knew of her fear of small, enclosed spaces but there was no way in hell she was going to give the sadistic snake the satisfaction of getting off over her suffering.
With determination to conceal her weakness, she marched right into the metal box as the doors opened and stood calmly in the back corner as the doors closed. Holding her breath to regulate her heartbeat and to avoid inhaling the skunk smell of Cyrus' Old Spice, she envisioned Lee holding her close, just as he had done when she bravely attempted to ride the elevator ten floors up up to his dad's funeral reception at the Metro Court but had a full blown panic attack before the half way point.
Although the current journey to Britt's office was only three floors up, it was still treacherous and seemingly long, especially feeling Cyrus' soulless eyes upon her, waiting for her to crack under pressure but the imaginary feel of Lee's magical arms around her carried and shielded her through the squall.
Once the doors reopened, Josie served a raised cocky brow at Cyrus and proudly exited with her head held high as the defeated beast closely followed. Had she really won though? For she sensed that Cyrus was rather turned on by being put in his place by her.
As she mentally shook off the creepy crawlies from the appalling thought, Cyrus unlocked the door to the cold, dark office and reached his arm in front of her in a way too close for comfort manner to flip the light on. "Help yourself. I'll just wait here and observe in case you try to make off with one of our pens."
Her brows furrowed in trying to decipher if he was actually serious as he stared at her, for he held not even the slightest hint of humor in his blank expression and then his hearty chuckle startled her. "I'm just pulling your leg. Take what you like. There's nothing of any value in here. My team has already gave it a once over for the important things such as files and what not. I'll leave you to your business as I'm running a bit late for mine. Be sure to turn the light off and lock up when you are finished. It's been a pleasure as always. Until next time then, take care Miss March. I'm sure we will be seeing more of each other."
After he left, she took the awaited opportunity to physically shake her entire body out of his creepy closeness that her previous mental thoughts had failed to do. "Ekkk!! Sleezy slimeball! OK, focus Josie. Get moving."
Straight to Britt's bathroom wardrobe she bee-lined and smiled as she spotted the scrubs she had came for. Emptying out a box of copy paper, she placed the medical uniforms, a mask, gloves and a clipboard inside and then placed some of Britt's street clothing on top to keep them all hidden as she snuck her way down to the locker room, knowing the back half was dark and rarely used.
The burgundy scrubs were a perfect fit as she slipped in to them, for she and Britt were the same size and luckily for Josie, she already had running shoes on to complete the impersonation of a nurse.
With a mask on, Josie nervously made her way back to the emergency department, taking the stairwells and keeping her head down when passing others. Although the staff was plentiful and busy and always seemed to consist of new faces, she still faced the high risk of either being discovered as a fraud which Gerry most likely couldn't get her out of and then she could also run in to Dave or Orlando who would know her eyes anywhere. Sure, she knew they would never rat her out but that put them in an unfair position. Still, the selfish, burning desire to expose the real fraud trumped all the risks. It was a moment of temporary insanity that Peter was responsible for.
Her heart raced as she stood in the shadows, eyeing the armed guard and watching Peter's room while at the same time, pretending to look over paperwork on the clipboard she carried. She knew it wasn't going to be as simple as TV shows made it appear to be and with that thought, she almost chickened out until paramedics came rushing in with a head trauma patient.
When all the staff's attention was diverted to the new emergency, Josie's fear subsided as she took the open window as a sign to proceed.
Moving quickly, she approached the guard as she put on a pair of latex gloves, hoping he wouldn't notice the beads of sweat she could feel swimming on her forehead and praying the nearby nurse on the phone wouldn't look over. It didn't even matter, for the stage was set. There was no turning back now as she stood before the guard with sleepy eyes and spoke her rehearsed line. "Good evening, I need to check Mr. August's vitals."
To her astonishment, he simply nodded with no smile and no questions asked as he fought back a yawn while leaning against a medical cabinet. He clearly didn't want to be there. She had to wonder if he was just overworked and underpaid or just despised Peter like the next guy. Maybe both.
It was time to move forward. As Josie slipped inside the curtain, her heart plummeted into her stomach when she saw Peter on the bed with a breathing tube down his throat. His eyes were closed and he was still as a mouse except for the rising and lowering of his chest from the ventilator pumping undeserved air into his lungs. The sound of it disgusted her and she became livid when she noticed he wasn't even handcuffed to the bed.
"Peter!" she snapped quietly but sternly. "I know you're faking. I know for a fact that people can be awake when intubated. Open your eyes!"
The vital sign monitor's beeping slightly increased only making her believe even more that the con was conning everyone again.
"I knew it! You can hear me! This is all a sham so you can escape. How'd you do it Peter huh??? Stick your finger down your throat to get just enough poison out before they found you so you could continue to torture me??? Even while you laid dying, you managed to plot your escape??? Answer me Peter."
He remained still as a statue. The beeping returned to normal as it had been when she walked in and it only fueled her burning fire.
"Alright then. You want to play it that way huh?"
Josie began to scour the room for a specific tool and when she found it, she opened the sealed package to reveal a surgical scalpel.
Holding it out in front of her, she cautiously began to approach him.
"If you won't talk, I will make you tal...."
She gasped as a firm hand clutched her wrist from behind.
"Give it to me now you little liar!" Dave demanded with eyes of ire.
Gulping, she released the weapon and he released her wrist, then took the little but fierce blade and placed it inside his pocket. "Let's go trouble magnet."
Through the ER department and through the halls they walked side by side which is when Dave discreetly laid in to her and the bickering began. "What the fuck were you thinking?? You promised you wouldn't go near him but I know you and I knew you had your evil little fingers crossed behind your back didn't you??!"
She scoffed, chin held smugly high. "I NEVER promised. I do believe I said I won't go near him."
"It's still a lie!! You lied to me Josie! Right to my face."
"I did what I had to do. I needed to see him for myself because I know he's faking it and I almost had proof until you had to go and follow me and ruin it!"
"Damn right I followed you and lucky for you I did ruin it. What if someone else would have caught you huh??? What the hell were you going to do? Kill him???"
"NO!" she huffed. "I was just going to threaten him. You know, hold the blade to his slithering one-eyed snake and make him squirm until he had no choice but to give up the charade!"
"He's has a fucking tube down his throat Josie and his vitals prove he is comatose, not to mention his toxicology came back and he did in fact ingest a very poisonous cocktail."
"How long have I know you and your sister Dave??? YEARS. And over those years, I have learned many things from you both about the medical world and one of them is that you don't have to be unconscious to be intubated and I'm telling you, he knew I was there because his heart rate sped up when he heard my voice! And another thing is, I've known Peter for years as well and I know how skilled he is in fooling everyone, even you! Ya'll will see when he magically recovers or just disappears."
"You know, your lack of faith in my medical intelligence and intelligence over all is rather disturbing and extremely offensive. Who's the doctor here Josie?? Me or you??"
She stopped at the locker room doors and spun around. "And who's the one who knows Peter the best??? You are such a macho cliche! You've got this all figured out. You are so full of yourself!"
"I'M full of myself????!! Hello pot meet kettle! You think you're invincible and always do the most crazy, stupid irrational things and it never works out for you now does it?? Let me guess, you probably told yourself that if you got caught, you could wriggle right out of it with Gerry's help. And he's such a love struck fool, he'd probably break his code of ethics and do it, even when you're nothing but a bitch to him. Trust me, I know the feeling!"
"Oh ok. I get it. This has nothing to do with Gerry. It's all about YOU and your hurt feelings all so you can passively tell me I'm a crazy bitch!"
Josie stormed into the empty locker room and Dave was right on her heels. "You're a spoiled brat and your own worse enemy! All you care about is yourself. Did you even stop to think of me here?? I mean, you know I'm not going to turn you in so what about the position you've put me in?? Just like you did at your mom's for Jason's funeral reception by telling Lee you and I were an item. I'm beginning to think you don't care about me at all."
Dave's shift was over so he went to the laundry bin and angrily stripped his upper body of all but his black tank top. "And this is the thanks I get for trying to protect you yet once AGAIN."
"You did NOT have to get involved!! I don't need a hero because they sure as shit don't exist anyways! And yes, I DO care about myself David! Do YOU ever stop to think about everything Peter has done to me??? It's like that don't even matter here! Should I just suck it up, all the anxiety and night terrors and just move on like he hasn't destroyed a part of me that I'll never get back??? The part of me that could ride in a fucking elevator without hyperventilating or the part of me that never used to be afraid of the dark and jump in fear every time it thundered or the part of me that could sleep through the night without waking up screaming or the part of me that never used to look over my shoulder everywhere I went or the part of me that was able to have children! Do you have ANY idea what it's like to jump out of your skin at the mention of someone's name and to never feel safe?? I shouldn't have to live like this David!"
Her tears softened him. "I'm sorry that you're going through this hell. I really am Josie and...."
"You're not sorry." she snarled. "And I am NOT sorry for what I did today and you just had to go and fuck it all up and why?? All because you love me?? Well you need to get it through your thick skull that I will never love you the way you want me to and as far as I'm concerned, I don't even want to be your friend anymore with all of the pressure because friends don't pressure each other like this! Get a life David and stay the hell out of my mine!!"
David was speechless and choking up as he watched his best friend storm off. Was it his fault? he wondered. Had he crossed a line and pushed her too far with all that she was going through? Had he lost her forever all because he loved her?
Hysterically sobbing as she arrived at the locker she had stuffed all of her things in, Josie quickly removed Britt's scrubs and put her own clothes back on, then pulled her phone out, shocking herself at who she chose to call.
Sobbing even harder to the point of gasping, she snapped the rubber band on her wrist over and over, then dialed the number of the only person she felt she could truly trust.
As Craig's voicemail picked up, she rambled on through her tearful breaths. "I..I figured you wouldn't answer but..but could you please come and get me? I'm at the hospital and I...I don't know what to do anymore and it's dark out and the rubber band is not working and I...I just really need you. If you don't come, I'll understand because I know I really hurt you and I don't deserve your help. I am so so so sorry Craig. I was so wrong and...there's something you need to kn...."
"Shit no no no!" she shrieked as her phone died.
Chucking it with rage into the box of Britt's stuff, Josie rubbed away her tears, then took the box and made her way to nurses' station on Megan's floor to leave a note for her and her mom, for she was in no condition to see them.
"My phone died and I had something unexpected and urgent come up. I'll text soon when I can- Love Joey."
Thanking the charge nurse, she then went to relieve herself, for she hadn't went since that morning. After a long and satisfying bladder release, she washed her hands and stared in the mirror at her bloodshot eyes, wanting to smash her own reflection. "I hate you," she whispered through clenched teeth and teared up. "Dave was right, you are your own worst enemy."
Forcing the tears back, Josie opened the door and froze solid at the sound of Lee's richly profound voice coming from the nurses' station where she had just been and he sounded greatly agitated.
Drawn to the sound like a cat to a can opener, she crept towards a sizeable fake plant at the lobby entryway and parted the plastic leaves just enough to get a clear view of the man she would always love. As she did so, his succulent scent of Drakkar punched her right in the nose. There he stood, ever so handsome in his white lab coat, dress shirt and tie with a stethoscope around his neck as he raised and viewed what appeared to be multiple MRI images of a brain.
As he lowered the scans, Orlando became visible at his side. The much shorter doctor dressed in coordinating attire, was consulting Lee about a patient. "At first, I thought it was just the sedation but her eyes, she's not able to focus. I had her try to fixate on my finger and her eyes would just dart back and forth to a random place, almost mechanical and..."
"Square wave jerk." Lee grumbled without looking at him, then heavily sighed.
"Exactly," Orlando agreed. "So anytime I get an eye thing after a fall on the head, I'm thinking a stroke, but..."
Lee sighed heavily again, his sullen sapphires focused on the computer screen as his fingers tap danced along the keyboard. "Did your workup come back negative?"
"Yeah." Orlando also sighed, feeling nettled by Lee's sour attitude. "Any idea what else it might be?"
"Could be anything from a basal ganglia disorder to normal aging." Lee rambled off, dismissing Orlando as he moved to the other side of the counter and began scribbling on a notepad.
Orlando followed, continuing to poke the agitated lion. "Do you think you could maybe take a look at her?"
Another hard sigh as Lee snapped his pen down. "Tell me Dr. Bloom, were you not recently promoted to chief of trauma?"
His chocolate eyes narrowed at Lee addressing him as Dr. Bloom and not Lando or at least Orlando. "Umm, yes?"
"And you have been on shift all day?"
"Yyyyes?"
"Then why have you not consulted with Dr. Abrams, also a neurosurgeon who's also been on shift all day, instead of inundating me the very moment I walk in the door with an issue that is non-exigent? After the day I have had, I do not appreciate being nagged by an underling. "
Orlando riposted, feeling validated. "Respectfully, doctor Pace, the ER has been Grand Central Station for most of the day and now we have a dangerous inmate on life support to deal with. I was only able to obtain a brief consult with Dr. Abrams because he had an emergency surgery to perform. One would think a neurosurgeon, such as yourself, would feel any type of head trauma IS exigent. You are available and I felt nagging you for a second and more thorough opinion was warranted."
Lee sat down at the computer, his annoyance with Orlando rapidly increasing as he stood over his shoulder. "And I gave it." he snarled, typing in letters one at a time that were administered with harsh jabs by both index fingers.
Stiffening in his chair, eyes widening at the red lettered warning appearing in the new patients list, Lee's hands slowly rose and hovered above the keyboard as he stared in shock at Peter's name on the screen.
Heart pounding, jaw grinding and lips pursing, Lee's sapphires slitted as he hissed through a forked tongue. "I will state my opinion about the prisoner though, whom I should have been informed of immediately per protocol but no one seems to do their fucking jobs around here. Due to his condition though, let me clarify that he's about as dangerous in a vegetative state as an unskilled man, such as yourself, is to a budding clit. The ventilator should be put to better use for someone deserving. Just put a pillow over his head. Problem solved. Danger dissolved. Now, run along back to the ER and apply some band-aids. I have real work to do."
The British doctor's chocolate eyes became dark as coal. "Condescending cunt."
Lee stood up and glowered down at him. "Excuse me??"
Orlando glowered right back. "I will not excuse you. There's no excuse for how you have treated me OR Josie for that matter which this petulant behavior is clearly all about. You think you're better than me? Well I think not considering she's still in my life yet you can't say the same, now can you? And who's fault is that? You don't deserve her and never did. Thankfully, I could tell she's finally starting to realize that when she came to see me and told me all about it. You lost and that's on you."
Lee kept his cool with other staff being nearby, although what he really wanted to do was wrap Orlando's stethoscope around his neck and choke the life out of him. Instead, he patted him rather roughly on the shoulder as he served satirical words with a chuckle and a grin. "You worthless wanker. You really think you have a chance with her don't you? You and your dusty dick are not her type. She likes men with big guns. Literally and metaphorically. Mark my words little man, although she's easy, she'll end up in her mobster landlord's bed, yet again, before yours or anyone else's for that matter and you'll still be stuck with rosy palm and her five ugly sisters and a raw cock. So ask yourself then who the real and very SORE loser is. Now, you WILL excuse me because we are done here. Check and mate."
Lee swiped up his clipboard and disappeared into the hall opposite where Josie stood with a rapidly growing lump in her throat as waterfalls gushed down her cheeks. His razor sharp tongue gutted her wide open, disemboweling her. Her mind exploded with question after question. How could he say those deplorable things? Was that how he really felt about her now? Who was this clone of the man she loved even still? He looked like Lee. He sounded like Lee but he wasn't the Lee she or anybody knew. He was cold as ice.
Josie found herself sprinting down the hallway, bursting through the stairwell exit and gasping through each racing step down to the first floor where she sprinted once again through the lobby and out the front doors.
Under dim security lights, she sat on a secluded bench, snapping her wrist so fiercely with the rubber band that it welted and bled. Rocking back and forth, her tear blinded eyes frantically searched for Craig in every passing car but every pair of headlights came and went. It finally sunk in. She had lost him too.
Laying down on the bench in a fetal position as it began to thunder, she clutched the box of Britt's belongings against her chest and squished her eyes closed as cold rain sprinkled her face.
Lee had returned to the nurses' station in search of his favorite pen and when he couldn't find it, he believed Orlando had intentionally taken it to piss him off, for he knew it had belonged to Lee's father. "Thieving fucking weasel." he griped as he rummaged over the entire countertop.
Bending over, sorting through the trash as a last resort before hunting down the Bloom bandit, Lee heard a clicking noise coming from behind him.
As he turned with an arched brow, there stood villainous Cyrus, pen in hand, clicking it over and over with his fat thumb as he wickedly smirked. "Dr. Pace. A word. In my office. Now."
