Suppose you sit on the bed and let me check your pressure. We'll want blood samples too.'
The nurse followed him. Katie noticed that the girl's hands were trembling. She was obviously in awe of Dr. Highley.
The doctor wrapped the pressure cuff around Katie's arm. A wave of dizziness made her feel as though the walls of the room were receding. She clutched at the mattress.
'Is there anything wrong?' The doctor's voice was gentle.
'No, not really. I'm just a touch faint.'
He began to pump the bulb. 'Nurse Renge, kindly get a cold cloth for Mrs. DeMaio's forehead.' He studied the pressure gauge. 'You're low. Frankly, if you hadn't scheduled this operation, I'm sure you'd have had it on an emergency basis.'
The nurse came out of the bathroom with a neatly folded cloth. She was biting her lower lip to keep it from quivering. Katie felt a rush of sympathy for her. She neither wanted nor needed a cold compress, but she let the nurse put it on her forehead. The cloth was soaking, and freezing water ran down her hairline. A flash of humor raised her spirits. She could just see telling Richard about this poor, scared kid who'd practically drowned her.
Richard. She should have told him she was coming here. She wanted him with her now. Dr. Highley drew blood from a vein in her right arm and put the blood-filled tubes on the tray the nurse held out to him.
'I want these run through immediately,' he said brusquely.
'Yes, Doctor.' The nurse scurried out.
Dr. Highley sighed. 'I'm afraid that timid young woman is on desk duty tonight. But you won't require anything special, I'm sure. Did you take all the pills I gave you?'
Katie realized that she had not taken the three-o'clock pill and it was now nearly seven. 'I'm overdue for the last one. They're in my handbag.' She glanced at the dresser.
'Don't get up. I'll hand it to you.'
When she took the bag from him, she unzipped it, fished inside and brought out the small bottle, which she held out to him. There were just two pills in it. Dr. Highley poured a glass of water from the carafe on the night table. 'Take these,' he said. He handed her the glass and dropped the empty bottle into his pocket.
Obediently she swallowed the pills, feeling his eyes on her. His steel-rimmed glasses glinted under the overhead light. The glint. The spokes of the car glinting. There was a blur of red on the glass as she laid it down. He noticed it, reached for her hand and examined her finger. The tissue had become damp again.
'What's this?' he asked.
'Oh, nothing. Just a paper cut. But it keeps bleeding.'
'I see.' He stood up. 'I've ordered a sleeping pill for later.'
'I really prefer not to take sleeping pills, Doctor.'
'I'm afraid I insist. I want you well rested in the morning. Oh, here's your dinner now.'
A thin, sixtyish woman carrying a tray came into the room and glanced nervously at the doctor. They're all petrified of him, Katie thought. Unlike the usual plastic or metal hospital tray, this one was made of white wicker and had a side basket that held the evening newspaper. A single red rose stood in a slender vase. Double loin lamb chops were carefully arranged on the dinner plate. The china was delicate. The attendant turned to go.
'Wait,' Dr. Highley commanded. He said to Katie, 'As you will see, all my patients are served fare that compares favorably with the food in a first-class restaurant.' He frowned, then added, 'However, I would prefer if you did not eat dinner tonight. I've come to believe that the longer a patient fasts before surgery, the less likelihood she will experience discomfort after it.'
'I'm not at all hungry,' Katie said.
'Fine.' He nodded to the attendant. She picked up the tray and hurried out. 'I'll leave you now,' Dr. Highley told Katie. At the door he paused. 'Oh, I regret, your phone apparently isn't working. The repairman will take care of it in the morning. Is there anyone you expect to call you here tonight? Any visitors?' 'No. My sister is the only one who knows I'm here, and she's at the opera tonight.'
He smiled. 'I see. Well, good night, Mrs. DeMaio, and please relax. You can trust me to take care of you.' 'I'm sure I can.' He was gone. She leaned back on the pillow, closing her eyes.
She was floating somewhere; her body was drifting like… 'Mrs. DeMaio.' The young voice was apologetic. Katie opened her eyes. It was Nurse Renge carrying a tray with a pill in a small paper cup. 'You're to take this now. It's the sleeping pill. Dr. Highley said I was to stay and be sure you took it.'
'Oh.' Katie put the pill in her mouth, swallowed water from her carafe. Then she pulled herself up and went into the bathroom while the nurse turned down the covers. In the bathroom, she removed the sleeping pill from under her tongue. No way, she thought. I'd rather be awake than have nightmares. She splashed water on her face, brushed her teeth and returned to the bedroom. She felt so weak, so vague.
The nurse helped her into bed. 'You really are tired, aren't you? Just push the buzzer if you need me for anything.'
'Thank you.' Her head was so heavy.
Nurse Renge went to pull down the shade. 'Open the drapes and raise the window about an inch, won't you?' Katie murmured. 'I like fresh air in my bedroom.'
'Certainly. Shall I turn off the light now, Mrs. DeMaio?'
'Please.' She didn't want to do anything except sleep.
The nurse left. Katie closed her eyes. Minutes passed. Her breathing became even. She was not aware of the faint sound when the door from the living room began to open.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
AFTER Gana Krupshak's excellent pot-roast dinner, Gertrude gratefully accepted a generous slice of homemade chocolate cake. 'I don't usually eat this much,' she apologized, 'but I haven't swallowed a morsel since we found poor Edna.'
Gana nodded soberly. Her husband picked up his coffee cup. 'I'm gonna watch the Knicks,' he announced, not ungraciously. He settled himself in the living room in front of the television.
Gana sighed. 'The Knicks… the Mets… the Giants… But at least he's
'I know.' Gertrude thought of her own solitary home, then reflected on Nan, her oldest granddaughter. 'Gran, why not come to dinner?' or 'Gran, are you going to be home Sunday? We thought we'd drop in to say hello.' She could have it a lot worse.
'Maybe we should go take a look at Edna's place,' Gana said.
'I kind of hate to do it, but it's something you can't avoid.'
'I'll get the key.'
As they hurried across the courtyard, Gana thought of Edna's lovely imitation-leopard coat. Maybe she could take it home tonight. It was hers. Inside the apartment, they became quiet. Inadvertently they both stared at the spot where Edna's crumpled body had lain.
'There's still blood on the radiator,' Gana muttered.
'Yes.' Gertrude shook herself. Get this over with.
Gana went to the closet and removed the leopard coat. It did not take them long to finish sharing the contents of the apartment. Gana had little interest in the furniture; what Gertrude did not want Gana was giving to the Salvation Army, but she was delighted when Gertrude suggested she take the silver plate and good china. 'I guess that's it.' Gana sighed. 'Except for the jewelry, and the police will give that back to us pretty soon.'
The jewelry in the night-table drawer. Gertrude thought of Dr. Highley. He had started to open that drawer.
'That reminds me,' she said, 'we never did look there. Let's make sure we didn't forget anything.' She pulled it open. The police had removed the jewelry box. But the deep drawer was not empty. A scuffed moccasin lay at the bottom of it.
'Now why would Edna save that thing?' Gana said. She held it up. It was stained and out of shape.
