The Trade. Shirley Palmer
Чтение книги онлайн.
Читать онлайн книгу The Trade - Shirley Palmer страница 18
Название: The Trade
Автор: Shirley Palmer
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Ужасы и Мистика
isbn: 9781474024341
isbn:
Phil shrugged. “I cancelled. I couldn’t leave you alone with this.”
A surprisingly kind gesture. He and Phil were not that close. “Thanks. Where is she?” He looked at the sofa, then at Ginn. “Where’s Barney?”
“I managed to persuade her to get into bed. Barney’s with her, she seems to feel better when he’s there. I think she’s sleeping. Phil, can I get you a fresh drink?”
“Sure, thanks.”
Ginn reached into the cupboard for glasses, mixed the drinks, put a vodka and tonic on the coffee table in front of Phil, handed the other glass to Matt, then poured a glass of Chardonnay for herself. Matt wondered if she realized she had not asked him what he wanted, she’d just fallen into their old end of the day routine, Laphroaig and water for him, white wine for her.
Matt swirled the liquid in his glass. His breath felt heavy, his very bones felt as if they were made of lead. “I think I’m going to have to call Bobby Eckhart.”
“We’ve already been through that. It’s not an option,” Ginn said. “Bobby would have to report it. She’d be taken into custody right away.”
Matt got up, walked around the sofa, looked out the window. The horizon had closed in, as if a gray curtain had dropped fifty yards out. The forecast said rain would move onshore sometime during the night but it looked as if it was already here. “Phil, can you get me a nurse, twenty-four-hour care?”
“You mean, live in? Here?” Phil asked.
“Well, I can’t leave her, I can’t take her to the hospital, what else is there?”
“Well, I suppose I could take her home with me,” Phil said slowly. “My housekeeper Lupe was illegal herself before the amnesty.”
“What about Annie?” Matt asked.
“What about her? We don’t live together. Besides, it’s only until you find another solution.”
Matt felt a flood of relief. “I’ll start with an immigration lawyer tomorrow.”
Phil looked at his watch. “I’ve got to get going. You got something to put on her? I can’t take her out dressed like that.”
“There’s still some of Ginn’s stuff in the closet.”
“I’ll get it.” Ginn got up, disappeared into the small guest bedroom.
As soon as she’d left, Phil opened his medical bag. “I’m going to have to give her that shot, Matt. I won’t be able to deal with her in the car if she’s hysterical.”
“No, I’m with Ginn on this. You saw how she was.”
“That’s precisely the point. A shot of Valium and there’s no danger of it happening again.” Halliburton opened the bedroom door.
The girl’s shriek brought Ginn hurtling through the doorway. She dropped a pile of clothes to the floor, shot across the room.
“What are you doing?” She saw the syringe in Halliburton’s hand. “It’s the needle, she’s frightened of the needle.”
“It’s hysteria, Ginn. In two minutes, she’s going to be okay.”
“No, she’s not,” Ginn said. “She’s terrified.”
The girl was curled into the fetal position, her shrieks replaced by the awful mewling of terror.
“This is not the first hysterical teenager I’ve treated. It’s just Valium, for God’s sake.”
“You’re not giving her anything. You guys get out,” Ginn said. “Go on. I’ll sit with her. She’s not going anywhere.”
“Ginn, this is a medical problem,” Phil said. “It’s hysteria, pure and simple.”
Ginn shot him a look that would have withered fruit on the trees. “Got it. Thanks, Phil. Leave Barney here when you go.”
Matt hustled Phil out the door, pulled it closed behind them. He was more shaken than he wanted to admit. “I can’t take her like this, I’m sorry,” Phil said. “I can call in a psych nurse I know. He’s experienced, does only celebrity cases. He’s not cheap, but he can be trusted. At least until you get some advice from a lawyer.”
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
Текст предоставлен ООО «ЛитРес».
Прочитайте эту книгу целиком, купив полную легальную версию на ЛитРес.
Безопасно оплатить книгу можно банковской картой Visa, MasterCard, Maestro, со счета мобильного телефона, с платежного терминала, в салоне МТС или Связной, через PayPal, WebMoney, Яндекс.Деньги, QIWI Кошелек, бонусными картами или другим удобным Вам способом.