The Betrayal Read Online Free Page B

which bore the name of a local imaging company. “Pull that out of there, Dad,” Boone said. “Let’s have a look.”
    Ambrose slid it out and held it up to the light. Boone had no clue what to look for, but what he could make out made his shoulder look like goulash.
    Boone’s mother leaned in. “Oh, my,” she said. “What are they going to do with that?”
    â€œAll they need to do is give me something to work with,” Boone said. “Trust me, this is just a temporary setback.”
    When Haeley had still not arrived fifteen minutes later, Boone called her cell and got an immediate voice mail. He called her office. Strangely, the recorded after-hours message was from her stand-in. He couldn’t make that compute.
    Half an hour later Dr. Duffey poked his head back in. “Do you want to put this off till tomorrow?”
    Boone shrugged. “You did already talk with Ms. Lamonica anyway, didn’t you?”
    â€œI did,” Dr. Duffey said. “She hasn’t seen the MRI, but I told her what I told you about Dr. Valdez at Presbyterian St. Luke’s down the street—but you remember none of that, do you?”
    Boone smiled and shook his head.
    â€œHe’s a fellow at the Rush Arthritis and Orthopedics Institute,” Duffey said.
    â€œWhen can he do this?”
    Duffey pulled out his BlackBerry. “He’s opened a slot at dawn on Monday the fifteenth. Neither of us wants to wait any longer than that.”
    â€œWhen can I be done with all this?” Boone nodded toward the IV pole.
    Duffey rose and squinted at the hanging bags. “We can get you off the saline now. How often are you hitting the morphine?”
    â€œNot at all today.”
    â€œReally? You’re not just playing macho?”
    â€œNo, it’s okay. I’d just as soon be off it.”
    â€œThat’s easy enough,” the doctor said, shutting off the feeds and detaching the tubes. “It’s been too long since I’ve removed a port from the hand, so I’ll let the nurses do that. You’re still on the oral meds, right?” He checked his notes. “Perc and Oxy? You’re going to need those, especially after surgery. You’ve got to be able to push through the pain to regain your strength and range of motion. That’s no time to be a hero.”
    â€œI’m going to be obsessive about therapy and rehab.”
    â€œThat’s good. I can’t tell you how many patients don’t complete their physical therapy because it hurts. They wind up with chronic pain and immobility.”
    â€œYou won’t have to worry about that with me.”
    â€œDoctor,” Lucy said, “Boone has this idea that he won’t need any help at home after surgery.”
    â€œWell, he’ll need a ride home. We won’t want him driving while on hallucinogenic narcotics. But once he’s home, he needs to learn to function with one arm on his own as soon as possible. Then, with therapy, he can get back the use of the shoulder.”
    Lucy fell silent.
    â€œWhen can I get out of here?” Boone said.
    Dr. Duffey cocked his head and shrugged. “Give it a day or two and then you tell us. You’re off the drips, so now you just need to stabilize.”
    â€œI’m ready.”
    â€œNo, you’re not. I can see from looking at you that you’d rather be in bed than sitting here. But it won’t be long.”
    Dr. Duffey held up the MRI film. “The shattered bone and ripped tendons and ligaments can be repaired or even replaced.” He pointed with his little finger. “But these blood vessels were cauterized in the ER to stop the internal bleeding. Those need to be repaired so you get proper blood flow.” He tucked the film back into the envelope and stood. “Tell Ms. Lamonica I’m sorry I missed her.”
    As soon as he was gone, Mrs. Drake said, “You and your coworker are an item