Wild Justice Read Online Free PDF Page B

understood correctly. Suddenly Mary s throat constricted. She became aware of a warm feeling. Every nerve in her body began to tingle. She heaved for breath and began to sweat. Her pores exuded the smell of fear. Suddenly the sheet beneath her was damp and rough to the touch, and the air that caressed her naked body felt like sandpaper. Without a word, a hand slid across her left breast. It felt unbearably cold, like dry ice. Please, she begged, tell me what s happening. A thumb caressed her nipple, and she felt fear so intense that it raised her body a fraction of an inch from the table. Good, the voice remarked. Very good. The hand slid away. There was complete quiet. Mary bit her lip and tried to stop shaking. Talk to me, please, she pleaded. Am I sick? Mary heard the unmistakable metallic ping of surgical instruments touching accidentally. Are you going to operate? The doctor did not answer her. I m Mary Sandowski. I m a nurse. If you tell me what you re going to do, I ll understand, I won t be afraid. Really? The doctor chuckled and moved to Mary s side. She saw light dancing off the smooth steel of a scalpel blade. Now she was babbling with fear, but the doctor still refused to answer her question and began to hum a tune. Why are you doing this? Mary sobbed. For the first time the doctor seemed interested in something she had said. There was a pause while the surgeon contemplated her question. Then the doctor leaned closer and whispered. I m doing this because I want to, Mary. Because I can.
    7 Amanda Jaffe executed a flip turn and felt her foot slip on the tiles as she somersaulted off the pool wall. The bad turn made her shimmy as she headed into the final lap of her 800-meter freestyle, and she had to fight the water to get her body right. Amanda was on the edge of exhaustion, but she dug in for a final sprint. When she saw the far wall through the churning water, she gritted her teeth for one last, great effort, lunged forward and collapsed against the side of the pool. A clock hung on the wall in front of her. Amanda pulled her goggles onto her forehead. As soon as she saw her time, she groaned. It was nowhere near the time she had registered five years ago in the finals of the PAC-10 championships. Amanda tugged off her swim cap and shook out her long black hair. She cut an imposing figure, with shoulders that were broad and muscular from years of competitive swimming. When her breathing leveled, Amanda checked the clock again, noting that her recovery time was also a hell of a lot slower than it had been when she was twenty-one. For a brief moment she thought about working out a little longer, but she knew she d had it. She hoisted herself out of the pool and headed for the Jacuzzi, where she would soak until the pain in her tired muscles disappeared. When she was dressed, Amanda went to the reception desk at the Y and stood in line to swap her key for her membership card. She had noticed the woman ahead of her when she was showering. She had the hard, muscled physique of someone who works out with weights and runs long distances, and her looks were as impressive as her body. The woman got her card from the clerk and walked toward an equally striking man in a blue warm-up suit. They made quite a couple. The man looked athletic. He had a dark complexion and blue eyes, and his black hair fell across his forehead in a boyish tangle. Amanda frowned. There was something familiar about the woman s companion, but she couldn t remember where she d seen him before. Then he smiled and she knew. Tony? The man turned. I m Amanda Jaffe. Tony Fiori s face lit up. My God, Amanda, of course! How many years has it been? Eight, nine, Amanda answered. When did you get back to Portland? About a year ago. I m a doctor. I m doing my residency at St. Francis. That s great! What are you up to? I m a lawyer. Not medical malpractice, I hope? Amanda laughed. No, I m with my dad s firm. Hey, I m forgetting my manners. Tony turned to the