I flap my hands about the room, pointing at the bed, the pillow, the piles of scrubs. “Yes!”
PMN1 stands tall, puffing his cheeks out. “It’s illegal to place recording devices in places where there is a reasonable expectation of privacy.”
Candi stares at the man, her mouth a flat line. “Thanks for the mansplaining. We are aware it’s illegal. That’s why we called you. Can you please remove it?”
PMN2 shakes his head. “Can’t touch it. It’s not hospital property.”
Preeti choke-laughs. “You’re kidding—”
“Nope.” PMN1 rocks on his heels. “Not our jurisdiction. But we can call the police, and they’ll take care of it.”
By now, we’ve attracted a crowd, and the hallway behind the pudgy twins is clogged with curious nurses.
“Oh, for the love of—” I wave toward the nurses in the hallway. “Someone get me a chair.” As an afterthought, I shout, “Please!”
A wonderful nurse named Sarai carries one of the break room chairs down the hall, and I climb atop it, Charice and Candi spotting me. Neither security guard moves to help.
Thanks for the help, fellas.
The plastic of the device is cold as I slide my fingers around it, searching for a button or a release. My fingernails hook behind the groove where it meets the wall, and... it loosens?
I yank. The device detaches and falls into my hands. Three two-way tape strips line the back of it.
It isn’t wired in? What on earth? I shake it—isn’t this toolight to be a camera? The base of it is plain black plastic with a covered battery compartment.
I turn it over. “What the—”
“What’s wrong?” Candi asks.
A small square of paper is taped to the back. I peel it off to find a note on the other side.
Gotcha.
A.F.
My hand clenches around the plastic and I laugh. “That motherfucker.”
Charice reaches for the note. “What is it?”
“It’s a fake camera.” I hand it to Candi. “From Foley.”
Charice takes the note and a fit of giggles overtakes her. “Doctor Foley?”
Whispers spread down the hallway.
“Doctor Foley?” PMN1 straightens. “Do we need to report him?”
Candi glares at him. “Don’t even think about it. We’re no longer in need of your services. Thank you.”
Preeti helps me from the chair while the security guards wind through the maze of nurses in the hall, seemingly glad to be rid of us.
“Doctor Foley did this?” one asks. “I just love him.”
“He is so funny,” says another.
“Yeah, so funny.” I roll my eyes. “I’m cracking up.”
Even no-nonsense Candi is laughing. “Oh, that man. If I wasn’t married...”
