Chapter 7
I opened my bleary eyes and immediately realized I should not have had that third glass of wine while I was updating my files last night. My head felt like a herd of elephants were dancing the Lambada on it and my mouth felt like the Sahara. I walked to my kitchen and guzzled down two glasses of water and swallowed a couple of aspirin. It was only my third day at Arkham and it was already taking its toll on me. I glanced at the clock. I really needed to get to the gym to relieve some stress but I didn't have time before I had to be to work, so I packed my gym bag intending to go when I got off. I also packed a change of clothes, a spare toothbrush, toothpaste and a hairbrush to keep in my office in case of emergency.
As I got ready for work it occurred to me that I had to observe Dr. Young's session with the Joker that afternoon. I couldn't understand why Dr. Arkham wanted me to do this. What was his angle? Was he just testing me? After the incident in the infirmary I really had no interest in seeing the Joker again so soon but at least he wouldn't be able to see me.
I walked into my office a few minutes late due to an accident on the Abel Crowne Memorial Highway. I hoped it wasn't an indication of how the rest of my day was going to go. I immediately went to check on my patient to see how she was recovering. Renee was lethargic but conscious. While it wasn't a formal session we talked for a while. I felt we made a solid connection and I came away from the interaction with some insights not notated in her file. I gave her some things to work on until our next session, which we'd schedule once she was completely recovered from her trauma. One of the "homework" assignments I asked her to work on was to write letters to the people in her life that make her want to hurt herself. We would review them together in our next session. I was fairly confident it would help dislodge some of the apathy she was currently experiencing. Some people consider my methods unconventional, but I seem to get results so I roll with it.
Most of the day was blessedly routine. Joan came by my office around lunchtime to brief me on the proper protocols for my observation session with Dr. Young and the Joker. The interrogation rooms were in the central building near the patient intake offices. Each one was an eight by eight space furnished with only a table and two chairs. I would be observing the session from a completely separate room on the other side of the two-way glass. The session would be filmed so I could review the tapes if necessary and I was to take thorough notes so I could prepare my report for Dr. Arkham on Friday.
Shortly after my meeting with Joan I headed to the employee lounge to grab a candy bar and a diet soda. As I approached the open doorway I overheard my name being mentioned and I stopped dead in my tracks and positioned myself in such a way that I could listen but not be seen. The conversation included two orderlies and one of the day nurses.
"-and did you see those shoes she totters around in. She looks like a hooker not a doctor!" I heard the female nurse say to the others.
"I heard she had to blow Doc Arkham to get the job. I sure wouldn't mind seeing her lips wrapped around my rod!" replied one of the two orderlies as the other two chortled.
"Oh, don't be crass, Gary."
"Yeah well I can tell you for sure she's attracting the wrong kind of attention from some of the patients. Especially from one patient in particular and if he's interested in her, she's a goner!" I recognized that voice. It was Charlie, the orderly who was down in the infirmary the day Renee had her accident. "You should have heard the crap he was asking me to find out for him about the tramp."
"Did you tell him?" asked the nurse whose name I didn't know.
"I told him what little I know and the rest he expects me to find out."
"Dude, what are you crazy? You working for the Joker now?"
"Hey, don't look at me like that. He pays well and it keeps me from getting eviscerated. When it comes to that crazy clown you play along or you end up dead."
"Okay so money out you two," it was the nurse again "I've got twenty that says she doesn't last two weeks."
"Okay, I'll bite. I say she doesn't make it through the week if the clown's watching her."
"Nah, I figure he's gonna play with her first. I bet she makes it a month before he snuffs her out!"
I couldn't listen to any more. I quietly backed away from the door and headed into the nearest ladies room. I checked to make sure I was alone then headed into one of the stalls and wept uncontrollably for about ten minutes. I couldn't believe people were betting money on how long I'd stay alive. How could they be so callous? What the hell had I gotten myself into? Was I really sure this was what I wanted? Right about now a nice, boring private practice was starting to sound like a dream.
No, I couldn't let them do this to me. I was not going to back down and Joker be damned! I worked too hard to get where I was. I was just going to have to be prepared for anything. And I was going to start preparing tonight. I came out of the stall and splashed some cold water on my face, cleaned up the mascara that was running down my cheeks and headed back to my office. I immediately grabbed my cell phone and scrolled through the contacts until I found who I was looking for and pressed the call button. The phone rang twice before being answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey Dick, its Harley and I need to ask you for a huge favor. Can you meet me at the gym around eight thirty tonight?" There was a brief pause.
"Um, sure Harley. What's going on?"
"I don't have time to explain right now, I'm almost late for a session. But you'll be there?"
"Absolutely. Eight thirty it is."
"You're a lifesaver Dick! Thanks so much!"
I ended the call, grabbed my pen and clipboard and headed to down to the interrogation area for my observational session of the Joker.
