Read The Death Doll for Free Online

springtime,” Bob flashed his eyebrows, “strawberries.”
    Didi patted both men on the shoulder.  “Well, I’ll leave you to it.”
    The two men waved after her and carried on a conversation about the other fruits and vegetables to come. 
    She headed back down through the theater access panel, collected Pepe, and escorted him through the Courtyard toward the Clinic.  The young man took in the walled-off alleys and parking lots.  He frowned at the barely-used lawn chairs and bistro tables.
    “We call this the Courtyard,” she said. “We don’t use it much, but picnics occasionally happen.  The farmers up top will let us know when something’s coming.”
    Pepe glanced up at the fence-lined rooftops and nodded.  “Pretty smart.”
    They approached the huge moving company trailer and climbed the small stairway into the center doorway.  There, she enjoyed seeing Pepe’s jaw drop at the sight of the well-stocked medical bay.  She reflected on the days she spent placing the six hospital beds—complete with clean sheets—that now lined one of the white walls.  She laughed to herself at the misadventures of finding the medical equipment that now stood behind a desk near the other end of the trailer; not to mention the drugs to stock all those glass shelves.  She did whatever it took to improve the quality of life here in Plaza de Vida.
    On a nearby bed, Gilda finished bandaging the leg of a child who hopped off the table and froze at the sight of Pepe standing in the doorway.
    Gilda smiled brightly and waved in the young man.  “Come on in.  Welcome to the Clinic.”
    Pepe took a few steps and stopped when he noticed Didi didn’t follow him.  “You’re not coming in?”
    She hated this part.  “I have a thing about hospitals,” was her latest excuse.  “Go on.”
    Pepe frowned, but he nodded and approached Gilda and her young patient.
    “Pepe Sanchez, meet Raymond Lister, who goes by Ray Ray,” Gilda introduced.  “Ray Ray, this is our new friend Pepe, who’ll be studying to become a nurse.”
    Pepe flinched from Gilda, then offered Ray Ray a hand.  The kid looked him up and down, gave him an upward nod, and ran out of the Clinic.  Pepe regained his bearings enough to ask Gilda, “A nurse?”
    “Don’t be offended,” Cody said as he entered past Didi, giving her a friendly nod in passing.  “Without a doctor, we’re all nurses or medics here.  When we’re not treating patients, we’re studying all those mind-numbing tomes and journals over there,” he pointed out the three in-line bookshelves near the desk.  “We may even get lucky enough to save a life one day.”
    “Don’t let him scare you,” Gilda said with a smile.  “I’ve been a nurse for over forty years and I can tell you he knows his stuff.”
    Despite the elder nurse’s reassurance, Pepe still looked nervous.  “Have you read all of that?”
    “There may be a few we haven’t touched yet,” Gilda said with a humble gesture.  Didi found the elder nurse’s sense of humor a little too subtle.
    Pepe nodded.  “I’m impressed.”
    “Good,” Cody replied as he tossed Pepe a thick book, “because we’re starting right now.”
    Pepe stared agape at the copy of Gray’s Anatomy in his waiting arms.  Didi didn’t envy the young man. 
    She took her cue and moved on to her next inductee, who wasn’t waiting in the lobby for her.  Hashim hung around to tell her Jerri and Craig had just scooped up their new people.  Wanting to maintain her good mood a little longer, she checked on Paula first.
    She found Jerri and Paula in the waiting area outside the School Room, staring at all the kids playing and learning.  Didi glanced in and saw Clarissa reading something from Doctor Seuss.  She couldn’t see the title from where she stood; only that ugly orange cover. 
    Paula looked like she wanted to cry.  Didi waited to see if the bewildered stiff would.
    “That’s Clarissa Groenig,” Jerri said while