"Devon, Georgina - Lady of the Night" - читать интересную книгу автора (Devon Georgina)

"When I start acting like a psychologist's supposed to." He watched
her face light up in a huge grin that revealed sparkling uneven
teeth.

It was a familiar exchange. Joshua was a tall, broad shouldered man
who wore his faded blue jeans, long-sleeved

white shirt and carelessly knotted tie with the flair of a gentleman
dressed in formal attire. Betty was one of the few women who
encountered him who was not impressed. Her methods of trying to get
him to adhere to her standards were always well meant and completely
lacking in subtlety.

"Just once I'd like to see you in a dark suit and a tie that matched
what you were wearin'," she drawled. "Then we could tell at a glance
that you were on the staff."

"qYou'll just have to tell by the good work I do." " " Been doin' any
good work in room 815 today? "

Joshua lifted one shoulder in half a shrug. The pervasive
disappointment he felt at not seeing any changes in Jane Doe settled
back over him.

Betty nodded in sympathy then turned, squeezing past the nurse's desk
to the medicine room where a pot of hot coffee was always in residence.
Joshua followed her, nodding to the two psychiatric aides and another
R. N. who were leaning against the long counters, sipping cups of the
dark, rich New Orleans brew.

"A party and I wasn't invited?" Betty asked with a toss of her black
curls.

"Trish and Malcolm are out on the floor," the blond nurse explained in
a voice that conveyed her boredom. "Most of the patients are in
occupational therapy."

"Thank you, Sarah. I know where the patients are," Betty said.

It was a familiar battle, and Joshua leaned back to watch. Sarah,
aloof and elegant, disliked her job and disliked Betty 's authority
even more. Betty wouldn't give an inch. To Joshua they were symbolic
of the two kinds of people who worked on the unit. Betty was strong
but compassionate. Sarah was strong willed and judgmental. Luckily
the staff had more Bettys than Sarahs.

Before the discussion could intensify one of the aides turned to
Joshua.

"How was your girlfriend?"