Chapter 5 - The Bill That Disappeared
Three days later, I finally returned to Mount Sinai without guards following ten feet behind me.
Almost.
Luca remained near the elevators.
“I can see you,” I told him.
“I’m not hiding.”
“You’re terrible at subtlety.”
“Occupational problem.”
I entered Toby’s room.
He was sitting up.
“Cara!”
I hugged him carefully.
“You look better.”
“You look terrible.”
“Thanks.”
“Did you really punch your boss?”
I froze.
“Who told you?”
Toby pointed toward the door.
Adrian stood there carrying a paper bag.
I glared at him.
“You told him?”
“He asked why my lip was bruised.”
“You could have lied.”
“I don’t lie to children.”
Toby raised a hand.
“He said you have a good right hook.”
“Stop encouraging her,” Adrian said.
I laughed.
He approached the bed.
“What’s in the bag?” Toby asked.
“Food.”
“Hospital food?”
“No.”
“Then I like you.”
Adrian handed him the bag.
Toby looked inside.
“Burger?”
“And fries.”
I stared at Adrian.
“His doctor approved that?”
“Yes.”
“You asked?”
“I’m not completely irresponsible.”
Toby took a fry.
“Cara says you’re terrifying.”
“Toby.”
Adrian looked at me.
“Does she?”
“Sometimes.”
“She also said you’re paranoid.”
“Accurate.”
“And bossy.”
“Also accurate.”
I wanted the floor to swallow me.
Toby grinned.
“I like him.”
“Eat your fries.”
Later, while Toby slept, Adrian and I stood in the hallway.
“The treatment begins Monday,” he said.
“I know.”
“Doctors are optimistic.”
“I know.”
“You’ve said thank you fourteen times.”
“Fifteen.”
“Stop.”
I looked through the glass at Toby.
“I’ll repay you.”
“No.”
“I mean it.”
“So do I.”
“I can work.”
“For me?”
“If Apex is finished.”
“It is.”
I turned toward him.
“What exactly would I do?”
Adrian handed me a folder.
The title read:
DUCA DEVELOPMENT
INTERNAL SECURITY COMPLIANCE.
I stared at him.
“You’re joking.”
“You notice details.”
“I punched you.”
“You noticed the poison first.”
“I’m not trained.”
“We can train you.”
“I clean bathrooms.”
“You keep saying that as if it’s a character flaw.”
I closed the folder.
“Why me?”
His answer came immediately.
“Because everyone around me knew how to use a weapon.”
He looked through the glass at Toby.
“You knew when not to look away.”
I accepted the folder.
“Trial period.”
“Six months.”
“Three.”
“Five.”
“Four.”
“Done.”
He extended his hand.
I looked at it.
“Seriously?”
“What?”
“You want to shake hands after what happened last time?”
Adrian smiled.
“Try not to punch me.”
May you like
“No promises.”
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