by Kate Hill
“Geesh, Matthew,” Nancy said. “Forgot the lights again? You’re going to give yourself eyestrain.”
“You’re in early.”
“Are you being a wise guy? There was an accident on the highway. Traffic was backed up for miles.”
Matthew returned to his work as his eyes adjusted to the brightness of the room. He began, “I found some really interesting—”
The phone rang, and Nancy picked up. She held out the receiver. “For you. It’s Dr. Simmons.”
Matthew glanced over his shoulder and mouthed, The jerk. Tell him I’m tied up.
Nancy cleared her throat and said, “Dr. Winter is tied up right now. Could he get back to—” Nancy winced and held the phone away from her ear as the voice on the other line bellowed.
Matthew’s keen hearing picked up every word, and he stiffened with rage. One thing he absolutely detested was arrogance and rudeness, though he’d been accused of the former many times himself.
Taking the phone, he said in a cool voice, “I’m on my way,” and hung up without awaiting Dr. Simmons’s response.
“Matthew, I don’t like that look on your face.” Nancy hurried to keep up with his long strides. Outside, a nurse practically leapt out of the middle of the hallway to prevent being run over by Matthew. “He’s the hospital director! Will you just keep cool!”
“I am cool,” Matthew stated flatly as they stepped into the empty elevator. The door rolled shut. “I’ve never allowed my personal feelings to disrupt my career—at least not often. Just because I hate the man’s guts—” he punctuated the word by slamming his palm against the metal wall, “—doesn’t mean I’m going to jeopardize my job.”
They stepped off the elevator and made their way to Simmons’s office. Inside, Simmons and another man, whom Matthew didn’t recognize, stood in front of the desk. Simmons’s face was etched with fury, and Matthew heard his heart pounding. The other man’s heart also raced in spite of his outward calm.
“Glad you could make it, Dr. Winter.” Simmons’s voice dripped with sarcasm. “We know how dedicated you are to your research. Too bad you’re even more dedicated to your wallet.”
“Excuse me?” Matthew demanded, completely unsure of what was going on, but sensing something terrible was about to take place.
“Sit down.” Simmons extended his hand to one of the chairs and dropped into the seat behind his desk.
The stranger sat beside Matthew and drummed his fingertips on the wooden chair arm.
“Matt, this is Michael Wiley. He works for Fretis Company.”
“The drug company,” Matthew stated.
“Last year you completed research on one of their new treatments. Do you remember?”
“Of course I remember. What’s the point?”
“You approved the drug.”
“Yes.”
“It’s come to our attention that several people have died as a result of the treatment. Further research has proved it to be high risk. It’s also come to our attention—from a trustworthy source—that several scientists who researched the drug had substantial investments with Fretis Company.”
“What does that have to do with—”
“You were one of the names.”
Matthew momentarily stopped breathing and stared at Simmons. “I do not, and have never, invested money in a company for which I’ve tested drugs.”
“I admit I was shocked.” Simmons drew a deep breath. “And disappointed. You’ve been good for this hospital, Matt. You seemed so dedicated—”
“Seemed?” Matthew stood so abruptly he nearly toppled over his chair. “This hospital is my life. I want to know the source of these accusations. I’m also going to contact my lawyer because this is outrageous!”
“Dr. Wiley worked for Fretis Company,” Simmons continued. “I’m not saying he has anything to do with—”
Matthew glared in Wiley’s direction. The man’s eyes widened, the scent of his fear filling the room.
“You have no proof,” Matthew stated. “You have no proof because the alleged investments do not, and have never, existed.”
“There are investigations being held even as we speak,” Simmons continued.
“Are you firing me? Go ahead. You’ll have the biggest lawsuit you’ve ever imagined on your hands.”
“We’re not firing you, Matt—”
“It’s Matthew. Or Dr. Winter.”
“Whatever. We’re not firing you, but asking you to consider our position. Once this becomes public, you’ll be as damaging to this hospital as you have been helpful.”
Matthew laughed without a trace of humor. Inside, he boiled with such rage that he felt on the verge of murder.
“Wiley left Fretis Company because he couldn’t stand the lack of ethics. He’s working for this hospital now, and until all this is sorted out—”
“There’s nothing to sort out.”
“We’d like you to take some time off while Dr. Wiley continues your research.”
“What? You want him to take my job?”
Matthew’s hands clenched into fists. He took several steps toward Simmons, who also stood.
Nancy stepped between Matthew and the hospital director. She extended a hand in her friend’s direction. “Calm down.”
“Get this straight, Simmons, I will never—”
Nancy touched Matthew’s arm. “Dr. Winter—”
“Never turn my research over to this puny liar!” Matthew pointed a finger in Simmons’s face. “And you have no right to accuse me of anything, you arrogant, jealous—”
“Matthew!” Nancy pleaded, bracing both hands on his chest, as if she could stop him from tearing Simmons apart if he really wanted to.
“No way.” Matthew’s teeth ground, his fangs threatening to slip from his gums. His heart throbbed with fury, and he wondered if his eyes had taken on their vampiric glow. He almost didn’t care. “I’m not taking time off, Simmons. I quit!”
“Good!” Simmons shouted as Matthew stormed out of the office. “I never liked your attitude, anyway, Winter!”
Matthew’s fists clenched so hard that his unsheathed claws cut his hands. By the time he stepped into the elevator, his palms were sticky with blood.
“Jesus, Matthew.” Nancy reached for his hands, but he rammed them into the pockets of his lab coat.
“Sons of bitches!” Matthew hissed. “Imagine accusing of me of such loathsome behavior! As if I’d ever put money before my ethics!”
“I’m outraged.” Nancy stared at him with wide eyes. “You’re the last person on Earth who’d ever do such a thing. I can understand how angry you must be, but you should never have quit over this. Once they realize the terrible mistake they’ve just made—”
“I don’t care. Ever since Jules left and Simmons has been in charge, nothing has been the same. He’s ruining this hospital, and I don’t give a damn.”
Matthew stepped out of the elevator and headed for his office.
“Yes, you do. You’re one of the only people who really do care. Maybe that’s your problem. You’ve always tried to do what’s right for people, but this is a business.”
“I know all about it. I lost all my innocent notions in med school.”
“Yes, but you’re one of the only doctors I know who’ve kept their ideals.”
“Have I? Guess it doesn’t matter one way or the other.”
As Matthew cleared out his desk, hurt replaced his subsiding rage. Except for Dulcie, his career meant more to him than anything. He’d dedicated his life to medicine, to the hospital.
“Matthew, I can’t believe this,” Nancy said as he removed his white coat and tossed it in the trash. As he paused at the door, she hugged him. “It’s not going to be the same around here without you. I’m so sorry.”
“Thanks.”
“I’ll still see you and Dulcie, right? The three of us can have dinner.”
He forced a smile and nodded. “There are some people I want to say goodbye to, some patients I want to see
before I go.”
Swallowing hard, he glanced at his assistant and his office one last time before shaking his head and walking away.
* * * * *
Dulcie hummed softly as she painted in her studio. It was dusk, and she’d spent most of the afternoon working. The painting on her easel pleased her, and she was warmed by a feeling of accomplishment.
Sighing, brush in hand, she walked across the room and switched on the television to keep her company.
On the news, an anchorwoman dressed in a blue suit and simple gold jewelry was in the middle of a report. “…former Director of Hematology has been accused of approving dangerous drugs from Fretis Company. The case of Dr. Matthew Winter is another example of researchers choosing personal gain over professional ethics. Now here’s Jack with sports.”
Dulcie nearly dropped her brush. Matthew? Personal gain over ethics? Former director of hematology? What was going on?
Her hands trembling, Dulcie dropped her brush and hurried to the phone. She dialed Matthew’s beeper, then prepared dinner.
She’d just finished setting the table when Matthew’s car pulled into the driveway. Rushing to the front door, she met him as he stepped inside and gazed at her, his dark blue eyes uncharacteristically lost.
“Matthew, what happened?”
“You know?” he whispered.
“It was on the news. I didn’t catch the whole thing.”
His brow furrowed. “The news?”
“Apparently they were covering research and ethics.”
“I’m unemployed.”
“They fired you?”
“No, I quit.”
He walked to the living room, Dulcie behind him. Together they sat on the couch while he explained what happened early that morning.
“Oh, Matthew.” Dulcie hugged him tightly. “What a stupid lie. Anyone who knows you must realize it can’t possibly be true.”
“The whole thing is absurd! It’s like a nightmare.”
“Where have you been all day?”
“Driving. Walking. I didn’t want to come home. I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“Tell me?”
“Nothing like this has ever happened to me before.” His eyes narrowed in thought. “I’ve always tried to do everything right. I’ve—”
“Matthew, you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“But it looks like I did.”
“I don’t care what it looks like! It’s not true.”
“I have to prove it.” He stood and paced the room. Suddenly his rage returned in full power. His eyes flashed lavender as his incisors lengthened, piercing his lower lip. “I want to rip out Simmons’s throat!”
Dulcie stood and embraced him. “That won’t help anything.”
“It might make me feel better, and I even detest killing. Killing. People are dead, and it might be my fault. What did I miss? What did someone else find that I overlooked?”
“Matthew, you’re not infallible. I know you did everything in your power to test that treatment. Everything will be all right. It’s some kind of mistake, and soon everyone will know it. Then you can have Simmons booted out of his job.”
Matthew buried his face in her hair. “I love you so much. What would I do without you?”
Dulcie kissed him and loosened his tie. “Let’s have dinner. I made your favorite. Turkey breast with cranberry sauce.”
She turned toward the kitchen, but he gripped her hand and tugged her back into his arms. “I’m sorry about all this, Dulcie.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“But—”
She stood on tiptoe and kissed him. “But nothing. We’ll get through this.”
“I miss the hospital already.”
Dulcie’s hand tightened on his. “I’m sure plenty of people there miss you, too.”
She heard his thoughts. You’re the best thing that ever happened to me. Somehow just being with you makes my entire life seem better.
“I feel the same about you,” she replied aloud, and for the first time she sensed he didn’t care if she’d read his thoughts.
* * * * *
“I can’t believe such crap!” Adam’s voice on the line sounded as furious as Matthew felt. “I hope you’ve contacted your lawyer.”
“First thing. But it doesn’t matter. Even when he proves I’m not guilty, something like this stays with you forever. The question will always be in the backs of people’s minds. Patients won’t ever trust me again, and why should they? I screwed up somewhere in that testing.”
“Matthew, just calm down.”
“Will everyone stop telling me to calm down? What am I going to do with myself, Adam?”
Adam snorted with laughter. “At this point, I’d be glad to get away from a hospital for even a week—”
“That’s because you’re a resident. I’m there because I love my…what job? I have no job.”
“This is all going to work out, Matthew. You’re not guilty of what you’ve been accused of. Until then, spend some time with Dulcie. Read more of those stupid astronomy books you like so much. I have to go. I’m being paged.”
“Thanks for calling, Adam.”
“You’re my brother. I wish I could do something.”
“Just get back to work. At least somebody can.”
Matthew hung up the receiver and sighed, staring at a heart-shaped magnet on the refrigerator. He glanced around the kitchen and wandered into the living room. Just one day out of work, and he felt like he didn’t know what to do with himself. His own home felt strange and lonely.
Dulcie.
He stepped into her studio. Dulcie was painting a blue background for a new picture.
Matthew stuck his hands in the back pockets of his jeans. “What’s it going to be?”
Dulcie glanced over her shoulder at him. “I was thinking of a Moorish palace.”
Matthew stooped beside her box of brushes and pulled out one that looked big enough to paint a wall. “What’s this for?”
Dulcie lifted an eyebrow. “And you have an outrageously high IQ? It’s a brush, Matthew. You paint with it.”
“I know that. But it’s so big.”
Dulcie sighed and grasped his wrist, dragging him to the couch. “You need a hobby because you’re driving me crazy.”
“I’ve spent last night and all morning job hunting. No one’s hiring the man whose fallen ethics are all over the news.” He glanced at her fingers as she unbuttoned his shirt halfway. “What are you doing?”
“You have a job. If you’re going to hang around this studio and drive me crazy, you’re going to pull your weight.”
She shoved his chest hard. Dropping onto the couch, he wrapped his arms around her and dragged her with him, nuzzling her neck. “I think I’m going to like working for you.”
“No, Matthew.” She slipped from his arms. “You’re going to sit for me. I’ll do the palace later. Now, put your leg up on the couch.”
“Oh, Dulcie, you know I don’t like to model.”
“Shut up!” She showed her fangs and tousled his wavy black hair. “There. Now you look a little roguish. Put your arm up… No, take this instead.” She placed a black silk rose in his hands. Taking several steps back, she gazed at his lean, muscled chest and flat stomach. “You are so handsome. Don’t move!”
She returned to the easel, removed the canvas and replaced it with a fresh one.
“Ever think about being a professional model?” she teased.
“Aren’t I too old?”
“You look about thirty. When you’re a thousand, you’ll look about thirty.”
“A thousand years from now, I’ll probably still be unemployed.”
Dulcie laughed. “Matthew!”
His lips flickered in a smile as he thought of how paranoid he sounded.
“That’s good. Show me some fangs. You have such beautiful teeth.”
“Adam’s are bigger.”
“Yes, he looks like he could chew up an elepha
nt. Stop tapping your foot.”
“You know I hate sitting still.”
“You came in here, genius. I didn’t invite you.”
“You know I’ll have to get rid of all this excess energy.”
“Go for a run?” Dulcie gazed at him innocently.
He completely unsheathed his fangs. “Don’t bet on it. You’d better prepare yourself.”
“Keep talking like that and I won’t get any work done.”
“Good.”
“No.” She pointed her brush at him. “You’re sitting there for at least an hour, then we can…take a break.”
He growled deep in his chest.
Dulcie looked back to the canvas, her pussy dampening just from the sound of his growl. “On second thought, handsome, I think I’ll work fast.”
* * * * *
Matthew and Dulcie were just sitting down to lunch in the living room when the doorbell rang.
“I’ll get it!” Dulcie hurried to the hall. “I think it’s Nancy.”
Matthew nodded, catching the familiar scent.
Moments later, Dulcie and Nancy walked into the living room.
“Are you sure you won’t stay for lunch?” Dulcie asked.
“No thank you. I have to get to the hospital and hand in my resignation letter.”
“Resignation?” Matthew said from where he stood by the fireplace. “What for?”
“Why do you think? I’ve worked with you for years, Matthew. You’re the most dedicated person I know. They had no right to do this to you! You’re brilliant!”
“No.” Matthew walked to the couch and sat down. “I’m unemployed. God, it makes me sick just saying it. Nancy, you have a good career. Don’t throw it away for anybody.”
“But I’m so furious!” Nancy’s fists clenched as she turned to Dulcie. “You should have seen how they treated him! Cornering him in that office with those stupid accusations! Matthew, I thought you were going to punch Simmons in the nose.”
Matthew laughed humorlessly. That was the least of what he’d wanted to do to Simmons. “Nancy, just go to work. This is my problem. I really appreciate your support.”
“I’m still going to consider leaving. If they did this to you, Matthew, they’ll do it to anyone.”