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."I folded my arms over my chest.“I don't need a.” my voice trailed off as my brain leapt a few steps ahead.Hmmm.There was a doctor I'd wanted to visit.And now I had the perfect excuse.Since I continued to glower at him, Tom astutely figured out he had overstayed his welcome.He told Kristy to gather up her stuff.She grabbed her loot, thanked Jenna and me, and waved goodbye to the boys.Her father followed her out the door with a brief troubled glance at the gimpy murder suspect sulking on her sofa.The boys probably would have stayed up all night exchanging goodies but Ben's crabby, injured mother was ready for bed.I found that if I dragged my left leg and didn't bend my knee it wasn't too painful to walk up the steps.I hoped I wouldn't need crutches.Crutches and a kitten could be a lethal combination.After removing my smeared makeup, I put on my red puppy dog pajamas.I briefly wondered what Tom Hunter would think of my attire.If he could kiss me in clown makeup, imagine how turned on he would be by my flannel jammies.The numbers gleaming on my alarm clock announced it was a quarter past ten.A little late, but Liz has always been a night owl.I dialed her number and listened to it ring eight times before the answering machine kicked in.She picked up just as I started to leave a message."Laurel, do you know what time it is?” She didn't sound thrilled to hear from her best friend.Had I interrupted some X-rated activity?"Sorry to call so late but I need your help.I injured my leg tonight and I wondered if you could drive me to the doctor tomorrow?""Of course, but what happened?""It's a long story.I'll give you the details tomorrow.""Call me at the office in the morning after you've made an appointment with Dr.Templeton."Dr.Templeton is a terrific family doctor who practices in Placerville.With years of klutziness behind me, I've visited his office so many times I could have earned frequent patient points.But I had other plans."There's a new doctor I want to try.I'm going to call Dr.Slater's office and see if his partner can take a look at it.Then we can chat about Jeremy.""Do you think that's a good idea?""It can't hurt to try a new doctor, someone younger than Dr.Templeton, in case my injury is a complicated one.Please don't say anything to Brian.""Fine.I'm too tired to argue with you right now.Ring me when you want to be picked up.” I winced as the phone slammed in my ear.Liz was beginning to sound a lot like my mother.Another sleepless night followed, either due to the stimulus of the detective, the pain shooting out from my left knee every time I rolled over, or the extra caffeine from all of the candy bars I scarfed down for dinner.By morning the throbbing ache had eased somewhat but there was no way I was going to miss an opportunity to meet Jeremy's partner.I dropped both kids at the bus stop and at nine on the dot called Dr.Radovich's office.I explained to the receptionist that I was a friend of Dr.Slater's and I wished to switch doctors since my own family physician would be retiring shortly.This was an emergency since I could barely walk.She kept putting me on hold in order to answer other incoming calls but finally agreed to squeeze me in at noon, probably so she could get me off the phone and get on with her other calls.That gave me the morning to skim through the last two days of newspapers.Fortunately the Mountain Democrat focused on the upcoming election.A tiny article about Jeremy's demise was located on the back page.Politics trumped murder.Liz picked me up promptly at eleven thirty and I wiggled into her impractical but cute red Miata.At least my small car was roomy enough for a pleasingly plump woman.Yes, Jeremy's quote still rankled.We headed down the hill to Jeremy's medical practice in El Dorado Hills.I could tell by her demeanor that Liz wasn't thrilled about spending her lunch hour sitting in a doctor's waiting room.I promised to treat her to the fast food restaurant of her choice.As we drove to the office, I briefed her on her part of the investigation.Her initial response was somewhat less enthusiastic than I'd hoped."Are you out of your bloody mind? Brian will kill me or worse—he might break off our engagement if he finds out I'm mixed up in a case he might end up prosecuting
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