Double Threat: A Thriller by F. Paul Wilson

Author:F. Paul Wilson [Wilson, F. Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781250776648
Google: Hym-zQEACAAJ
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2021-06-28T23:00:00+00:00

FRIDAY—FEBRUARY 27

1

The police showed up at Healerina on Friday morning.

Juana, dressed as usual in her bib-front denims, had stopped by with a clutch of dream catchers. They were proving a popular item and she’d brought some new ones to replenish the stock.

(“One could wish she’d try a different ensemble,”) Pard said. He’d taken up his usual position by the window and Juana was hanging over him, looking out.

Why? It’s her signature look.

(“Well, then, one can at least hope she owns more than one pair.”)

“A sheriff’s car just pulled up,” Juana said.

Daley joined her. Sure enough, a white patrol car emblazoned with Imperial County Sheriff in bright green letters had nosed into the curb in front of the shop. A buff-looking, dark-haired guy in a dark green uniform unfolded himself from the unit and stepped toward the door.

“This looks like official business,” Daley said, feeling a touch of the jitters.

Had the folks she’d scammed in Coachella tracked her to Nespodee Springs? One of them might have spotted her on their way to or from the spa.

“That’s Sam Alvarez,” Juana said.

“You know him? How?”

“Over the years I’ve gotten to know most of the department.”

(“From which side of the bars, I wonder.”)

“Officially he’s a sheriff’s lieutenant but we call him ‘deputy,’” Juana added. “Don’t worry. He’s good people.”

“He may be, but I’m pretty sure he’s not here to buy a dream catcher.”

He stepped inside and looked around. “Looks like you made it through the earthquake okay.”

“Good morning, Deputy Alvarez,” Juana said.

He looked surprised as he smiled. “Juana. I didn’t expect to find you here.”

“I’m everywhere,” she said. “You should know that by now.”

“I’m here to see the owner.” He looked at Daley. “Would that be you?”

“That would be me. Is something wrong?”

“Depends.”

(“Uh-oh.”)

“On what?”

“On whether you’re practicing medicine without a license.”

So soon? I knew this would happen, but this is only our third day open.

(“Has to be Doc Llewelyn. He stops by yesterday and the storm troopers stop by today. My statement contains a logical fallacy, by the way.”)

A what?

(“Well, you see—”)

Later.

Struggling to keep the disappointment from her expression—she’d liked Doc Llewelyn—Daley said, “Wherever did you get that idea?”

“Well, the name of your business does have the word ‘healer’ in it, and the sheriff heard from the State Department of Consumer Affairs that they received a complaint about how you might be practicing without a license.”

“‘Might be’?”

“Well, the caller said he wasn’t sure what you were doing, but he suspected a problem.”

“And just who was this caller?”

“A doctor in Pomona.”

(“Then it’s not Llewelyn after all. Estelle said she was from Pomona.”)

I’m guessing she went back to her GI guy and told him I cured her.

(“You never said that.”)

But that doesn’t mean Estelle didn’t. Wishful thinking, you know. And her specialist wouldn’t have scoped her again already—it hasn’t been two days yet.

Though hardly welcome, this was kind of a relief. She’d known all along that, given enough time and opportunity, she’d raise the ire of the medical community. She’d rather deal with this than a swindling charge.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.