Mercy & Mayhem: A Mercy Mares Cozy Mystery Read Online Free PDF

kind of sucks that it happened to you on your first day as a nurse here."
     
    Finally, someone understood me.
     
    "Thanks for understanding. Guess, I leave quite the impression, but I swear I had no idea that he and Betty were in the office. I don't know how they got in there." I really needed her to understand where I was coming from. I needed an ally.
     
    "Yeah, I don't know. The door must be broken or something because as far as I know the only ones that can get in there are people with that key card, just the Charge Nurse and managers. Are you sure you didn't accidentally leave the door open? Anyway, why does it matter that he was in there anyway? It isn't like it's the first time one of the residents or family members have gotten in there. As a matter of fact, I think, Kathy had to chase Betty out of there just the other day, if I remember correctly." I was liking Tina more and more every second. She would prove very useful in my plan to clear my name, if it came down to that.
     
    “Thanks for that.” I figured since she was the only one willing to hold a conversation with me, I'd ask her some questions. “So, are you in nursing school?”
     
    She laughed and shook her head. “Well, I was. I'm officially a nurse now. I'm an LPN, but I haven't taken my boards yet. I have to save some money. It's kind of complicated. You don't want to hear about it.”
     
    I wanted more than anything to hear her story. I needed something to get my mind off things.
     
    “No. Tell me. I'd love to hear about it and congratulations.” I said.
     
    “Well, I got married about four years ago and I have a little boy. His name is Noah. He's three. Anyway, my husband and I got divorced last year and I'm just trying to keep things together. Hopefully, if I pick up enough hours, I can pay for the NCLEX with this next paycheck.” She explained.
     
    “Oh, I remember those days. That exam is expensive. Won't the facility pay for it?” I asked.
     
    She shook her head. "No. They reimburse you, if you pass, but they won't pay for it up front. Anyway, I don't know what to tell you about Betty's husband. Just do your job and things will blow over. Kathy is just worked up because she now has a lot of paperwork to do because I'm sure she hasn't had time to explain anything to you yet, right? So, you can't do the paperwork yet."
     
    Tina reminded me a lot of myself back when I graduated from nursing school. I was still technically a newlywed, but I'd just filed for divorce and had a little girl to raise. Like Tina, I didn't have a lot of money. My family was more than willing to do what they could, but I wasn't comfortable with that. They'd come from humble beginnings in Mexico and worked long and hard to build a life for us here, so I was determined to make them proud and do things on my own. Now, my daughter is the same age I was when I had her, twenty-two, and she just graduated from Bristol University last Spring with a degree in finance and was currently studying for her MBA. I couldn't be prouder.
     
    I so very much wanted to let Tina in on all the sorted details of my very bad morning, but didn't want to get her involved. Who is to say that she wasn't some kind of mole sent to gather intelligence on me and try to snare me in some big conspiracy or initiation to get the new girl?
     
    The maintenance man called down the hallway from Nubbin's room, saying, "Tina, Mr. Schmeckpepper needs helps over here."
     
    I finally remembered to get his name. "Hey, sir, what is your name?"
     
    He looked at me, confused. "Me?"
     
    "Yes." I answered, offering my widest smile, thinking, Please, don't be like the rest .
     
    He looked at Tina, wide-eyed before looking back at me and said, "I'm Jeb."
     
    “Well, hello, Jeb. Thank you for being so kind to me this morning.” He turned fifteen shades of red and nodded before turning in the other direction.
     
    "Do you want me to help?" I asked Tina.
     
    Tina looked toward the double doors and thought