Chapter 8
“WHERE THE HELL are you?” R.J. shouts.
Maddy is still reeling from Belinda’s injuries, so she shouts right back at her boss.
“Listen. This assignment should take about five minutes. Just get some basic info. Name. Home address. The other stuff you can get online. Previous arrests. ER visits. Then get her version of the arrest. Keep it all brief.”
The lack of cooperation is coming at Maddy from two people now. Belinda and R.J.
“I’m doing my best here, R.J. Maybe if you listened…”
To Maddy’s surprise, Belinda is holding up her hands in the traditional “calm down” gesture. Is this a kind of breakthrough? Is Belinda suddenly cooperating?
But Maddy takes the advice. She tries to play nice with R.J.
“Listen, sir. This young woman needs medical attention. It looks pretty serious to me.”
“Yeah. They all need medical attention. Get what you came for and then get the hell out.”
Staying calm, Maddy says, “She has to see a doctor.”
R.J. doesn’t even ask what the medical problem us. The young woman could be bleeding out. Broken legs. Heart attack. OD. Whatever.
“Download the Medical Condition app. Fill out a request form. Send it to Police Health and be sure to cc me on it. They’ll see if it requires a PA exam.”
Maddy is back to full speed.
“But she needs to be seen now.”
“Damnit. Do what I tell you to do. Just do it. And do it fast. We need you back here.”
For what? Maddy thinks. Does someone’s dog need to be walked?
But she doesn’t get a chance to ask.
R.J. hangs up.