"Try the flan."
She had been crying. Her red-rimmed eyes flicked up to see who she was, then quickly looked away. That was the moment that Alex knew she was in love. Love at first sight. Even in despair, she was breathtaking.
"I always eat the caramel pecan flan when I'm sad."
The tears still flowed from her unblinking eyes, striping her brown skin. Alex asked the waitress for an extra-large piece and sat down in the chair across from her, setting a spoon near her hand. She didn't move and the tears still flowed. Alex took the spoon and scooped up a quivering chunk of flan, complete with a candied pecan half.
"Open your mouth."
Her grief-stricken eyes raised, her chin trembling as she fought to quell her tears. "Why?"
"Trust me. Open your mouth."
Sticky lips parted and Alex slid the flan in, keeping eye contact as she chewed. The tears began to flow again and Alex reloaded the spoon, taking a bite, then offering another to the beautiful woman, overjoyed when she accepted it. In no time at all, the flan was gone and the tears had slowed to a trickle. Alex watched as she patted her cheeks dry, her eyes softening as she focused on her.
"Why?"
"Because I hate to see beautiful women cry."
"I'm not beautiful." Bitter pain laced her words. "If I was beautiful, he wouldn't be cheating on me."
Alex touched her hand. "Then he's an idiot. If you were mine, you'd know that you were beautiful, every minute of the day." She smiled, lifting her hand. "I'm Alex. Would you be interested in having dinner with me?"
"We just had dessert."
"That's okay." Alex lowered her voice. "We can have dessert as many times as you want."
Her eyes held Alex's and something intangible passed between them. The woman took the hand that Alex offered, accompanied with a shy, but knowing smile. "I'm Toni."
*****
The hallway was quiet. The hums and beeps of machines filled the filtered air and the tinny speaker of a small television set kept the night duty nurse company as she divided her attention between a rerun of The Jeffersons and the bank of monitors. This was one of her favorite episodes, the one where Lionel and Jenny were getting engaged. She didn't much care for the new Lionel; the original one was much more handsome but the emotional content was satisfying.
When the monitor for bed twelve went off, she spilled her cinnamon latte on her lap but ignored the mess to dash down the hall to room 539. The woman was flat-lining and she hit the button, bringing the staff with a crash cart. It took well over twenty minutes to get the woman stabilized but it wouldn't be until many hours later when the discovery of succinylcholine in her blood was made. It was also discovered that the black amnesia patient, Jane Doe 549, was not in her assigned bed, bed twelve in room 539 and that she was no where to be found.
*****
Alex was beside herself when she arrived at the hospital the next day. Her daily ritual had been to go directly to Toni's room for a brief visit before clocking in and beginning her duties. She was devastated to find that she was not in her room nor did anyone know where she was. Alex searched the entire hospital, with Dr. Washburn's blessing, and could not locate her. She returned to her job, collecting the laundry and taking it downstairs to be cleaned.
She could barely hold her tears back when she came for the fifth floor laundry bin, remembering the thin dressing gown she brought for Toni just days earlier. She pulled the cart away from the wall, grunting in exertion and wondering what the hell was in the cart.
Goddamned nurses!
She pushed the bin around the corner, called the service elevator and pushed it in as soon as the doors opened.
"Allie."
She looked around, her heart splitting her chest when she thought she heard Toni's voice. The sight of Toni arising from a pile of filthy bedding made her break into sobs. "What the fuck?"
"I'm sorry. I couldn't tell you what I was going to do."
"You stupid bitch!" Alex dragged her out of the bin, hugging her so tightly that Toni squeaked. "You scared the shit out of me!"
"Allie, someone tried to kill me last night."
"Get back in the bin and keep quiet until you hear me whistle."
"Okay." Toni slipped back into the bin, showing her scantily-clad body to Alex who growled in appreciation. "Sorry that I scared you."
Alex leaned in and gave Toni a soft kiss. "I'll punish you later."
Toni's arms wrapped around her neck. "Promise?"
The elevator's warning rang that the floor had been reached and Toni hid, waiting for Alex's signal. She expected it to come right away but unfortunately, she had to wait a long time and fell asleep. It was more than three hours later when Alex whistled, pulling the dirty sheets off of her and helping her to her feet.
"What the hell did you do?"
"What do you mean?"
"You can tell me later. Right now, you have to get out of here."
"I can't! Where am I going to go?"
"Where you belong. Home with me." Alex gave her the clothes that Dr. Washburn had given her previously and watched with a slight smile as Toni dropped the gown and put them on. "Here."
Toni took the manila envelope from Alex and stared at it in confusion. "What's this?"
"Your effects. The stuff you had on you when you were brought here. Now come on!"
Alex's car was in the parking garage and they held their breath as they passed the two security checkpoints, brazenly flirting with the guards. When they reached the car, Toni got in and cracked open the envelope, dumping the contents into her lap. There was a small wad of money, various coins and a five-pack of Juicy Fruit. Without thinking, she popped a stick into her mouth and tossed the wrapper into the trash.
Four other things were in the envelope: a Movado watch, a set of keys, a gold necklace and a ring. The necklace caught her attention. It was a strand of gold link with a hand-carved wood ornament attached. Toni rubbed the varnished item, her fingers tracing its intricate notches and diamonds.
"You gave this to me."
"I have a present for you."
Toni was lying on her stomach, slipping into sleepy happiness as her pussy still continued to clench around the dildo. Alex reached over to grab something on the nightstand, drawing a moan of discontentment from Toni as she arose from her place on Toni's back. "I don't want a present. I want you to stay there."
"I'm too heavy."
"No, you aren't. You feel wonderful."
Alex kissed her ear and placed the white linen bag near her hand, pulling Toni over onto her side. "Open it."
Toni lifted the handsewn bag and untied the cord. A shiny lump of wood slid out, fashioned into the shape of a sun with lighter rays wiggling out from the center. Bright diamonds were set into the dark wood and the item was hung on a gold chain.
"Oh, Allie! This is beautiful."
"I made it." Alex felt herself blush as she explained how she obtained the diamonds and the wood from artisan friends. "I hope you'll wear it."
"Of course I will!" Toni put the necklace on, rubbing her fingers against the wood. "Thank you."
"I want you to leave him." Alex whispered, moving her hips and driving the dildo into Toni's slippery pussy. "That's why I gave you a sun."
Toni bit her lip as Alex drove into her again. "Allie … "
"No. Tomorrow isn't promised to us, Toni. You're happy with me. You need to seize the day and you need to leave him."
"Tomorrow isn't promised to us." Toni glanced over at Alex, the words seeming to open memories. "You told me that. Tomorrow isn't promised to us."
"Yes."
"And these keys … my house. Two story ranch. I usually drive a … " Flashes and snippets of things sped by her vision. "I drive an Expedition. Blue with Yosemite Sam floor mats."
"What's your address?"
"Mango Lane." She rubbed her forehead. "26 Mango Lane." She paused again. "But I wasn't there when I was found." Toni stared at Alex, confusion in her eyes. "It was at your apartment and you were the one that found me."
Alex nodded in agreement. "Yes."
"Stop this fucking car and tell me what's going on!"
*****
His hands didn't tremble any more. He hefted the heavy ring of keys and slipped the correct one into the slot. The door swung open soundlessly and he quickly moved through, heading for the rear entrance. The safe was on the left side, built into the wall and he knelt, thumbed the numbers on the dial and sighed in relief as the tumblers clicked into place.
The bottles were on the second shelf and in a matter of minutes, placeboes had been substituted for the OxyContin, Percocet, Tylox and Roxicet pills. It wouldn't be noticed for months and by then, he'd be long gone. This was the last time he would have to steal from the hospital's pharmacy and the last time he'd depend on anyone for money.
No one questioned Dr. Washburn as he departed from the hospital, heading for his car. After all, he was a doctor.
*****
"I'm not who you think I am." Toni gave the woman a murderous look. "My name is Alex Pontorino but I don't really work for the hospital. I'm DEA."
"DEA? As in Drug Enforcement? You have to be fucking kidding me!"
