Chapter III

"Hey let go of me!" Leia wrenches her arm out of Mr. Friedman's grip as they leave the clinic.

"Don't you talk to me like that, young lady!" Mr. Friedman takes her arm again, and shoves her into the backseat of his Camaro.

Leia rolls her eyes but says nothing.

"You've got a lot ot explaining to do. You can't just run off like that!"

Leia can't help it. "Yeah well maybe if I ever got a break, I wouldn't have to run off!"

Mr. Friedman looks at her furiously from the rear view mirror. "What were you doing there anyway? Is there something wrong with you?" His voice holds no concern, only anger and impatience.

"None of your business."

The car screeches to a halt on the side of the road. Mr. Friedman turns around, his eyes bulging, "You will tell me what the hell you were doing, or you will suffer some painful consequences."

At this remark, Leia's face changes from that of obstinance to one of absolute terror. Mr. Friedman nods in satisfaction.

"Now then. Spit it out, girl."

Leia closes her eyes, and says quietly, "I was just worried about my ankle is all."

Mr. Friedman thins his lips. "You're not telling the truth." Before Leia can say anything, he puts on the gas, and says, "Go straight to your room when we get home."

Tears roll down Leia's faceas she contemplates her fate.

Dana and Lana look at each other in confusion, trying to put together what had just happened.

Lu walks up and starts rummaging in a file cabinet. "Hey Lana where's Mrs. Pernanski's file?" When Lana doesn't answer, she looks up. "Hellooo anybody home?"

"What was that all about?" Dana asks Lana.

"Beats me," Lana shrugs, a bewildered expresion on her face.

Dana retreats back into her office with a disturbed look on her face. As if remembering something, she turns back to Lana,"Do you have her phone number?"

"Yeah I took it when she came in. Why?" Lana's look becomes concerned. "You ain't gonna call her are you?"

"I feel like maybe I should," Dana answers anxiously.

"After how mad her father seemed? Probably just make it worse."

"That's what worries me, Lana."