Wild Justice Read Online Free PDF Page A

consulted my attorney. That may be, but there s a lot of talk. Rumors of drug use, for instance. So you ve been chatting with Justine. I can t reveal my sources. Swindell looked at Cardoni sympathetically. You know, there are wonderful programs for doctors in trouble, he said in a man-to-man tone. They re all confidential. Charlotte can give you a list when you leave. She really got to you, didn t she, Carleton? Did you know that Justine s filed for divorce? She d do anything to blacken my reputation. You seem to have a number of court cases going on. Wasn t there something last year involving an assault? Where is this going? Going? Well, that depends on what I find out after my investigation is complete. I invited you here so you could tell me your side of the story. Cardoni stood. You ve heard it. If there s nothing more, I ve got things to do. There s nothing more for now. Thank you for dropping by. Cardoni turned his back on the administrator and stalked out without shutting the door. Swindell sat motionless. Did you want this closed? Charlotte asked. Swindell nodded, then swiveled his chair until he was looking out at the lights of Portland. Cardoni was crude and disrespectful, but the problem he presented could be dealt with. Swindell s lips twisted into a smile of anticipation. It would be a pleasure taking the arrogant surgeon down a peg or two. Vincent Cardoni waited for his connection beneath a freeway off-ramp. Thick concrete pilings straddled the narrow street. There was a vacant lot across the way, and a plumbing supply warehouse was the nearest building. At ten in the evening the area was deserted. Cardoni was still in a rage as a result of his meeting with Carleton Swindell. Cardoni never called the administrator Doctor. The wimp may have trained as a surgeon, but he couldn t cut it. Now he was an administrator who got his rocks off by making life difficult for the real doctors. What really burned Cardoni was the prick s refusal to say whether it was Sandowski or Justine who had informed on him. Cardoni was leaning toward Justine. The nurse was too afraid of him, and it would be just like his bitch wife to use Swindell to put on the pressure so that she would have leverage in the divorce proceedings. Headlights at the far end of the block flashed on and off, and Cardoni got out of his car. Moments later Lloyd Krause pulled under the off-ramp. Lloyd was six-two and a fat 250 pounds. His long, dirty hair reached the shoulders of his black leather jacket, and there were grease stains on his worn jeans. Cardoni could smell him as soon as he climbed out of his car. Hey, man, got your page, Krause said. I appreciate the speed. You re a valued customer, Doc. So, what can I do you for? I ll take an eight ball, Lloyd. My pleasure, Krause answered. He walked to his trunk, popped the lid and rummaged around. When he stood up he was holding a Ziploc bag filled with two and a half grams of white powder, which Cardoni pocketed. Two fifty, my man, and I ll be on my way. I came straight from the hospital, so I don t have the cash with me. I ll get it to you tomorrow. The dealer s easy smile vanished. Then you ll get the snow tomorrow, he said. Cardoni had expected this. Where do you want me to meet you? he asked, making no move to return the cocaine. Krause held out his hand, palm up. The Baggie, he demanded. Look, Lloyd, Cardoni answered casually, we ve been friends for almost a year. Why make this hard? You know the rules, Doc. No dough, no snow. I m going to pay you tomorrow, but I m using this cocaine tonight. Let s not damage a good relationship. Lloyd s hand plunged into his pocket. When it came out, he was holding a switchblade. That s a scary knife, Cardoni said without a trace of fear. The coke, and no more fucking around. Cardoni sighed. I m certain you re experienced with that knife. That is fucking correct. But you might want to ask yourself one question before you try to use it. This isn t Jeopardy. Give me the