“They told me that in another ten minutes, I would have been gone. I want to thank you, doctor.”
Mallory shrugged. “I was just doing my job.”
The patient was studying him carefully. “I’m Alex Harrison.”
The name meant nothing to Mallory. “Glad to know you, Mr. Harrison.” He was checking Harrison’s pulse. “Are you in any pain now?”
“A bit, but I guess they have me pretty well doped up.”
“The anesthetic will wear off,” Mallory assured him. “So will the pain. You’re going to be fine.”
“How long will I have to be in the hospital?”
“We should have you out of here in a few days.”
A clerk from the business office came in, carrying some hospital forms. “Mr. Harrison, for our records, the hospital needs to know whether you have medical coverage.”
“You mean you want to know if I can pay my bill.”
“Well, I wouldn’t put it like that, sir.”
“You might check with the San Francisco Fidelity Bank,” he said dryly. “I own it.”
In the afternoon, when Mallory stopped by to see Alex Harrison, there was an attractive woman with him. She was in her early thirties, blond and trim, and elegant-looking. She was wearing an Adolfo dress that Mallory figured must have cost more than his monthly salary.
“Ah! Here’s our hero,” Alex Harrison said. “It’s Dr. Mallory, isn’t it?”
“Yes. Ken Mallory.”
“Dr. Mallory, this is my daughter, Lauren.”
She held out a slim, manicured hand. “Father tells me you saved his life.”
He smiled. “That’s what doctors are for.”
Lauren was looking over him approvingly. “Not all doctors.”
It was obvious to Mallory that these two did not belong in a county hospital. He said to Alex Harrison, “You’re coming along fine, but perhaps you’d feel more comfortable if you called your own doctor.”
Alex Harrison shook his head. “That won’t be necessary. He didn’t save my life. You did. Do you like it here?”
It was a strange question. “It’s interesting, yes. Why?”
Harrison sat up in bed. “Well, I was just thinking. A good-looking fellow as capable as you are could have a damned bright future. I don’t think you have much of a future in a place like this.”
“Well, I…”
“Maybe it was fate that brought me here.”
Lauren spoke up. “I think what my father is trying to say is that he would like to show you his appreciation.”
“Lauren is right. You and I should have a serious talk when I get out of here. I’d like you to come up to the house for dinner.”
Mallory looked at Lauren and said slowly, “I’d like that.”
And it changed his life.
Ken Mallory was having a surprisingly difficult time getting together with Kat.
“How’s Monday night, Kat?”
“Wonderful.”
“Good. I’ll pick you up at—”
“Wait! I just remembered. A cousin from New York is coming to town for the night.”
“Well, Tuesday?”
“I’m on call Tuesday.”
“What about Wednesday?”
“I promised Paige and Honey that we’d do something together Wednesday.”
Mallory was getting desperate. His time was running out too fast.
“Thursday?”
“Thursday is fine.”
“Great. Shall I pick you up?”
“No. Why don’t we meet at Chez Panisse?”
“Very well. Eight o’clock?”
“Perfect.”
Mallory waited at the restaurant until nine o’clock and then telephoned Kat. There was no answer. He waited another half hour. Maybe she misunderstood, he thought. She wouldn’t deliberately break a date with me.
The following morning, he saw Kat at the hospital. She ran up to him.
“Oh, Ken, I’m so sorry! It was the silliest thing. I decided to take a little nap before our date. I fell asleep and when I woke up it was the middle of the night. Poor darling. Did you wait for me long?”
“No, no. It’s all right.” The stupid woman! He moved closer to her. “I want to finish what we started, baby. I go crazy when I think about you.”
“Me, too,” Kat said. “I can’t wait.”
“Maybe next weekend we can…”
“Oh, dear. I’m busy over the weekend.”
And so it went.
The clock was running.
Kat was reporting events to Paige when her beeper went off.
“Excuse me.” Kat picked up a telephone. “Dr. Hunter.” She listened a moment. “Thanks. I’ll be right there.” She replaced the receiver. “I have to go. Emergency.”