Patients recovering from their injuries lay on the floor in Lamont’s office and in the exam room. Only a thin walkway remained free. At the examination table, Lamont finished with a young girl. The girl’s mother, who hovered nearby, swept the girl into her arms and carried her out.
“Since you refused to get some rest, you might as well do Trella next,” Riley said to Lamont.
He had been more forgiving of her betrayal. Which didn’t make sense to me. His mother had been recycled when he waslittle because of her. Well, not directly. But with Lamont spying for the Pop Cops, the Force of Ten had failed. The consequences had been high. My father—if Karla Trava had been telling the truth about me—Riley’s mother and two others had been recycled.
Lamont claimed she had spied to protect her daughter, Sadie, which would be me if Karla’s word could be trusted. Except Karla said she recycled Sadie along with Lamont’s husband afterward. The lesson that should have been learned—don’t trust Karla or her word.
Yet when the rebels were on the verge of winning, Karla told Lamont her daughter had really been living in the lower levels as a scrub. Once again Karla threatened to harm Sadie unless Lamont helped Karla stop the rebellion.
How can such an intelligent woman fall for the same trick twice? When Karla had pointed to me as the long lost Sadie, Lamont had refused to believe her. It had been too coincidental. And I agreed.
“Sit up on the table,” Lamont said to me.
I stared at her. Deep lines of exhaustion etched her pale face. She moved as if she’d shatter at any harsh sound.
“You’re in no condition. Go to bed before you do more harm than good.” I snapped my mouth shut before I said “again.” As a doctor, she might be one of the best, but as a decent reliable person, she failed.
“But your arm?—”
“I can do it.”
“One handed?”
“Riley will help. We’ll keep an eye on everyone for you. If there’s an emergency, we’ll wake you.” I gave Riley a significant look.
Understanding my hint, he released my hand and led Lamont back to her bedroom.
I sorted supplies. Since the majority of the injuries from the accident had been lacerations, we were low on sutures. I would need to restock them.
“Why did she listen to you and not me?” Riley asked when he returned.
I shrugged. “She thinks I’d be a good doctor.”
“Like her?”
“Don’t start.” I almost growled at him.
He kept pestering me to test my blood. I couldn’t make him understand that the result wouldn’t change my opinion of her.
“We’re running out of supplies. Has anyone opened all the crates found in the Expanse?” I asked.
“Not yet.”
“Somebody should go through the crates and inventory them.”
“Good idea, you should bring it up at the next Committee meeting. Oh, wait.” He smacked his head as if remembering something. “Since it’s a good idea, it will be promptly ignored.”
“They have a ton of decisions to make. Just give them time to sort everything out.”
“You’re defending them?” Riley cupped my cheek. “Are you feeling ill? Headache? Fever?”
I swatted his hand away. “I’m serious.”
“And this change in opinion is due to…”
“I realized they have a tough job and I shouldn’t be so critical. Especially since I’m no longer a part of the Committee.”
He gaped at me. “What did you just say?”
