It hadn't taken long for the word to get around to the rest of the staff as to the reason. It was sad; Jas softened her opinion of Cheryl after hearing the story. Cheryl's fiancé had been killed a year earlier. An innocent by-stander in some gang shoot-out; that was how Cheryl had described it to Marnie. Jaswinder's heart gave a little twist at the thought of something like that happening to Jovan. He really was special to her, she told herself. He must be 'the one'. Just because I'm almost twenty-seven is no reason to get impatient with him. He's working hard at school. I'm going to invite him over and cook a special dinner for him this weekend. He likes to eat; maybe he should see my domestic side.
Two regulars were seeing Cheryl: Mr. Chan at 10:30 and Florence McNeil at 11:00. Mr. Chan was late. Then a new patient, Viktor Plinsky, was seeing Dr. Parker for an initial exam and probably treatment for something painful. That had been squeezed in yesterday in Herbert Moore's cancellation. There was a note that Plinsky was complaining of pain in tooth number 36. But it could be an impacted wisdom tooth. That would probably take more time so it had been necessary to double book the 11:30 slot. Dr. P. had asked Cheryl to take a pan x-ray of his entire mouth and get him ready. If it turned into a major procedure Dr. Parker would have to work through his lunch break.
The lunch break was from 12:15 to 1:15. A regular patient with a toothache was coming in at 1:15. That could turn into a filling or even a root canal. The afternoon was fully booked and everyone was confirmed. Good. People could be difficult to get at home the day of their appointment. Calling with reminders usually started almost a week in advance. That wasn't ideal either. Too long ahead and people forgot.
Cheryl came back out to check the appointment book since her patient still hadn’t arrived. She usually did it first thing in the morning but coffee was her priority. Jaswinder saw her chance to take a short break. "Can you watch the front for two minutes while I run to the bathroom?"
“Okay, Jas, just let me sit down and look at the appointment book for today and tomorrow.” Cheryl was wearing her usual black pants, black turtleneck and white lab coat. Maybe she thought it went with her black hair and pale face, Jaswinder speculated. I guess when you're tall and thin, everything looks good. Cheryl sat down in Jaswinder's office chair and started to scan the appointments while Jaswinder headed down the hall. Sometimes it was hard to arrange bathroom breaks, never mind a drink of water. Jaswinder shook her head. Being the receptionist did have its down side. Okay, grab a bottle of water and get back. She rushed out the washroom door, hurling the used paper towel towards the wastebasket.
No sign of Cheryl. Couldn't she even wait for me to get back? Jaswinder sat down and took a deep breath. No point saying anything, Cheryl was just as likely to snap at her if she did. Maybe she just left; everything looks okay. Mr. Chan must have arrived. Next two patients busy reading, the drill humming in operatory one, Marnie chatting with Brad Sousa in the end operatory. He was on Marnie's list of 'potentials'. A little older, not bad looking, employed, divorced but without any children. Marnie's giggle could be heard down the hall. She must be almost finished if Brad was able to speak and make jokes.
Dr. Parker came out from the back, “Jas, can you check with Carl if those crowns are ready for Mrs. Summers this afternoon? Otherwise we'll have to postpone her appointment.”
“Of course, Dr. Parker. I'm sure Carl has them.”
“Okay, thanks. Yeah, he doesn't miss too much. Let me know, though.” He turned to the waiting room. “Come on down, Todd. All ready for you.”
Jaswinder had learned to do tasks right away if possible, otherwise she found that she all too easily forgot about them. In school she ended up staying in at recess and after school too many times completing forgotten assignments before a teacher suggested that she get in the habit of either writing the the assignment down in a notebook designed for that purpose or even better, doing it right away. Life had been better since then. She dialed Carl's extension.
“Of course, they're ready. Humph. Was that Al that wanted to know?” He didn't wait for Jaswinder to answer. “I can't stand the way he feels he has to check up on me. He knows I used to . . . Oh, forget it.”
Jaswinder hated it when she was the one who had to hear about squabbles as though she had anything to do with it or could do anything about it. Too much testosterone; that had been Marnie’s analysis. Why didn't Dr. P. walk the thirty steps or so to the lab and ask Carl himself if he had doubts?
Marnie had clued her into some of the problem. Carl had come over, emigrated from some country in Eastern Europe, but he'd only been allowed to come because Dr. Atkinson had guaranteed a job for him. It seemed Carl had been working as a dentist himself before in a country involved in some kind of fighting or war or other troubles and that had made him want to leave. He had taken training as a dental lab technician there as well. Of course, being a dentist over there hadn't made him a dentist here. Jas knew all about that. Her uncle, Oz had worked at designing bridges back in India but here he had a job drawing footings in sub-stations, whatever that meant. Wasn't bridges, that was all she knew.
Carl did good work so his moods were tolerated but just the same it was probably a good thing he had his own little room at the back. And a door he could close.
Brad came out to settle his bill. “All done?” Jaswinder had found that patients liked a little conversation, as long as they weren't too frozen.
“Sure am, slick and shiny all over. At least my teeth are.” Brad laughed at his own feeble joke.
Marnie was going to have to get used to those corny jokes if she he hopes of making it with Brad. There are probably worse faults. Jaswinder smiled at him. The receipt was printed up and she handed it to him. “Here you go and here's your six month recall appointment.”
“Right you are.” He turned to open the front door. “Hey, when are you getting rid of that creep outside. Shouldn't be allowed. I mean, the idiot's obviously got the wrong place. He sure can't spell.” Jaswinder shrugged her shoulders and smiled again. What was there to say?
Marnie passed her a minute later on the way to the autoclave to sterilize the instruments.
“Well, what do you think?” asked Marnie.
“About Brad? . . . he seems nice. Always pays his bill. Seems to have good teeth.” What else could she say about him? He didn't smell; that was something. “He likes to joke, doesn't he?” Bad jokes, but never mind. In a man, a sense of humour was a plus, at least that was what her mother had said. Did Jovan have a sense of humour? Jaswinder had to admit Jovan's humour tended towards the practical jokes. That probably came from growing up with two brothers and being in the middle. They joked a lot about sports in a crude kind of way.
“Yeah, I know what you mean. But he's definitely single isn't he?”
“Well, I haven't seen his divorce papers, or anything.” Honestly, Marnie was relentless. “Okay, there are no dependents on his dental plan. I think he said he'd been on the plan for only two years because previously he'd been on his ex-wife's.”
Marnie smiled. “He definitely said ex-wife?”
“Absolutely, Marnie. Just remember you're not supposed to date patients.”
Marnie grinned as she headed back to her operatory to get ready for the next patient.
“Here comes Mrs. H., Marnie.”
You couldn't miss her coming. Some kind of crocheted red beret and that purple parka with the imitation fur trim. Uh oh, she's carrying that blue tote bag. There'd better not be a dog inside. Jaswinder eyed it as Mrs. Harrington entered, letting the cold air in with her.
“Hello, dear. How are you this frosty day?”
Too cold to march around the block with a howling dog, that was for sure. Oh, she wouldn't have brought it again, after Bev discussed it with her. Would she? Bev had made sure she understood, hadn't she?
“I'm fine. You're just a few minutes early so please take a seat in the waiting room.” Jaswinder smiled and tried to see if the tote bag was moving at all. “You know we really appreciat
e patients who come a little early. Helps us keep to our schedule.”
Mrs. Harrington rewarded her with a smile from her cherry red lips.
“I wonder if you'd like to remove your lipstick before you see the dentist?”
“Of course, dear. I’ll just use your loo.”
Loo? Mrs. Harrington wasn't British, was she? Maybe she liked to pretend she was, along with pretending she was forty something instead of sixty-six, was it? Jaswinder's stomach rumbled for a second. She grabbed a toffee to tide her over until lunch. Only one, she told herself. Remember the champagne wedding dress with the ruched bodice. No more than size 8.
Marnie stuck her head around the corner. “Send her to operatory 3 when she's ready.”
As the older woman came out of the washroom, Jaswinder headed her way and guided her to the third operatory. Marnie should be almost finished with Krystal, who was having her braces worked on. Back behind the computer, she looked towards the now empty waiting room. One of her jobs was to keep the magazines straightened up. The tote bag was there; Mrs. Harrington hadn't taken it with her. But nothing alive was in it, right? She studied it for a second. No movement. The open grillwork section was facing towards the chair so she couldn't check if there was anything brown and hairy inside.
The front buzzer sounded, the door opened and Mr. Buckle strode in. What did he want? Jaswinder looked around for support -- no one in sight. No reason to scream, she told herself. At least he didn't bring his sign in.
“Need to use the can,” he grunted at her and kept going.
He obviously knew where it was from Dr. Atkinson's day. Should she get anyone or say anything? He didn't seem to be waiting for permission but just kept going. Why was there no one around when she needed someone?
The front door buzzer went again. What now? A short man walked in wearing a black leather jacket, pinching off the end of a cigarette. He didn't seem to notice her confusion. “Hi, I've got an appointment for 11:30. Viktor Plinsky.” He leaned on the front counter and drummed his fingers.
Jaswinder noticed a strange looking tattoo that started under his shirt cuff and spread over the top of his left hand. Was that his Jaguar out front? Jas took a deep breath. Hopefully the protester wasn't also a drug addict shooting up in their washroom. As soon as this patient was dealt with she was going to call Carl to the front. “Of course, sir. Would you fill out this form for us since you're a new patient. Here's a pen.” She handed him the clipboard, ready to go with the form for new patients and the blue pen hanging from a string attached to the top. “You can sit in the waiting room and I'll just check that they're ready for you. Do you want to drop your cigarette butt in my garbage?”
Chapter 3
Mr. Plinsky retreated to the waiting room, tossing the butt in the proffered wastebasket. Jaswinder picked up the telephone to summon Carl, then hung up. No., better make sure that Cheryl was ready first. Dr. P. had ordered a full pan, a panoramic x-ray of his jaw and teeth. Apparently, there was some suspicion it was an impacted wisdom tooth. She walked around the corner to Cheryl's room after sending a hasty glance at the closed washroom door. Nothing happening there.
Cheryl was talking with her patient. “Don't forget to floss, Florence. It makes a difference. We can reverse your gingivitis if you do.” She looked up at Jaswinder.
“Cheryl, just letting you know the next patient is here, the one who needs the pan.”
Cheryl nodded briefly. “I'm just finishing up here. I'll be a few more minutes.”
Back at reception, Jaswinder could hear that the dentist was busy with Mrs. Harrington in operatory 3. She always wanted to hear about all her options, never mind that she always went for the cheapest one, no matter what. Okay, maybe she was on a pension with no dental plan but it took Dr. P. a long time to answer her questions about implants. He was patient with his patients, the staff always agreed on that. Jaswinder could hear his voice describing what was involved. Wait 'til he gets to the price.
Mr. Plinsky stood up, apparently finished with his form. “It asks about insurance, but I don't have any. I'll pay cash, okay?”
“Oh, that's fine, sure. Dr. Parker will give you an estimate before he starts anything major.”
“That doesn't matter. This thing is killing me. My whole jaw hurts. I need to have this taken care of today. I told that to Dr. Parker when I talked to him on the telephone the day before yesterday.” He looked annoyed and agitated.
Jaswinder hurried to be reassuring. “Oh, don't worry. We never let our patients leave in pain. Just tell everything to Dr. Parker. He's ordered a full panoramic x-ray for you. After that we'll have a better idea what the problem is.”
Mr. Plinsky leaned back on his heals and nodded a little. “Okay. Okay. Won't be too long then?”
“Oh no, our hygienist is just about ready for you.”
Florence breezed by, front buttons still straining on her top, and put her arm through her coat. Mr. Plinsky reached out to hold the left shoulder of the coat to assist. “Thank you.” She flashed a smile at him and then turned to Jaswinder, “Just put it on my credit card, hon. Brr, I hate going out into the cold.”
“I'll just give you your recall appointment notice, Florence.” She passed the card over and Florence was gone, with a backward glance at Mr. Plinsky who was watching her departure. I suppose she would be considered attractive, in a buxom sort of way, even if she was almost forty. Now, Jaswinder, don't be catty, she told herself.
“We're almost ready for you, sir.”
Mr. Plinsky turned back to Jaswinder from the doorway to the waiting room. “Great. By the way, I think there's something alive in that bag there.”
Oh my God, the dog! She did bring it. Curses! “Oh, yes, don't worry.” She decided to take him in right away even if Cheryl wasn't ready. He could wait in the chair while Cheryl set up the pan x-ray. “Why don't you come with me.” She beckoned him with an inclination of her head and he followed her around the corner to Operatory four. No sign of Cheryl. Must be at the coffee machine, as usual. “Just have a seat in the chair. It'll just be a minute, I'm sure.” Mr. Plinsky sat down, leaned back in the chair and closed his eyes.
Back to the dog problem. He must have been asleep earlier in that hideous blue tote bag of his. And now he's waking up. Should she put the bag just outside the front door? What if he got stolen? Mrs. Harrington had made it plain what a precious pooch he was - purebred Yorkie from a fine distinguished lineage. It was really cold outside, too. The washroom. That guy must have gone outside again. . . no, there was his sign leaning against the cement planter. He couldn't still be in there? Maybe she should check. He might be trashing it or plugging up the toilet. Oh, I should have stayed home today. What a day! Okay, I'm calling Carl right now. I can't be expected to do all this by myself. Carl could keep the dog in his lab for a little while.
“Carl, I need you, right away. Right away. It's urgent. Yes, it is, I'm not joking. Come up here . . . I'm not hysterical!” She banged down the telephone. If he didn't come up, within say, fifteen seconds, that was it. That was it, what? She leaned her head in her hands. Must be time to ask for a raise. And she'd only been there for two and a half months.
Oh, no, that stupid dog must have worked the zipper open and wiggled his way out. Jaswinder rushed to the waiting room to corner the pooch, now completely out of the tote bag and shaking himself from head to tail. The dog was a quicker than you'd think for such a tiny thing. He must have woken up and heard Mrs. Harrington's voice down the hall. Dr. Parker would get really annoyed if he found out Jaswinder had let the dog in again. If she'd known she would have made Mrs. Harrington leave him outside or something.
Finally, Carl sauntered up to the front. “There's a problem, Jas?”
“Yes, there is!” She whispered loudly through gritted teeth. “Grab that dog!”
The Yorkie must have realized he was outnumbered and made a dash through Jaswinder's legs and past Carl with a little yip, yip of satisfaction. He headed straight down the hall j
ust as Mr. Buckle had finally finished his business and opened the door of the washroom. Jas ran past him following Herbie who must have been able to sense where his beloved owner was sitting. For a small dog, he could sure move fast. That protester must know the way out. Pheww, what a smell coming out of the washroom.
I'll just walk out now. This will be it . . . I'm still on probation in this job and between that dog and that stink, Dr. P. is going to think I can't handle the front. Marnie looked up from putting new wires on Krystal's braces and raised her eyebrows as Herbie trotted by her down the hall. Maybe they would both have a laugh about it later. Maybe.
“Herbie, what are you doing here? You can't jump on Mummy's lap like that. Oh, you silly, silly boy." Jaswinder rushed into the third operatory to try to salvage the situation. Dr. Parker was standing back near the wall with a perturbed look on his face. Herbie was licking Mrs. Harrington's face. So much for a sterile operatory. Jaswinder scooped up the dog, and ran back with him towards the front, tossed the fur ball into the washroom and closed the door. No sign of Jim Buckle. He must have gone back outside. And where had Carl taken off to? She was going to ask him to take Herbie into his lab. He'd probably say that dog hairs would get into his dental moulds.
Operatory of Death: A Jaswinder Mystery Page 2