ICU. 2 wks in hosp min. Rx: he'll be ok. Echo still under sedation & a def NO GO on presentation tmrw. Memo still MIA.

Drexler clicked send and snapped his little blue phone closed with the satisfying click that he liked so much. He walked to the nurses station and took out his wallet. While he waited for the nurse to finish whatever it was she was doing on her computer, he took out a hundred dollar bill and folded it in four parts, then took out a business card and put it on top of the folded bill, neatly aligning them. He placed them on the countertop, square to the edge. The computer she was using was an old one with a green and black screen and a text-driven interface, and her progress seemed tediously slow. Drexler thought she looked too young to be qualified as a duty nurse, but he didn't mind the triangle between the white lapels of her jacket and the cleavage that he cold see there. Finally she finished her typing and looked up at him, meeting his eyes. She made no move to adjust her lab coat.

Drexler said, "I'm Rich Drexler. The guy in 314 is a close friend of mine, we work together. We're trying to track down his family. I'm staying at the Marriott over at Liberty. When he comes around would you please give me a call?" He pushed the card towards her, but she made no move to take it.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Drexler, but Dr. Calimari's instructions are very clear that he is not to be disturbed. His injuries are very serious, and he needs rest and medicine. Visitors are prohibited in this ward. You can call the status line for updates on his condition, I'm sure you understand." She smiled at him, showing her round white teeth and a little bit of her gums.

"I'm not sure you understand, Miss..."

"O'Day, Kathy O'Day."

"Pleased to meet you Kathy." Drexler could not keep his eyes on her face. The bra she was wearing was magenta, and the thin line of it that he could see drew his eyes irresistibly. He turned the card over, showing the green on the back and pushed the money and the card closer to her side of the counter. She reached up and took them, turning them over to study the card, then she looked back at his face, her eyebrows arched ever so slightly, a thin smile playing on her lips.

He said, "Maybe there's a way for you to consider me the next of kin until we can reach his family... " he looked hopefully into her eyes, forcing his attention on her face. Her eyes were brown, almost black, and the lashes were thin and very evenly spaced.

She put the card and money in the breast pocket of her jacket, fiddling with them a little to settle them in place perhaps. "I'll do what I can," she said turning back to her computer and clicking noisily on her keyboard.

"And Kathy, if he gets any visitors, ANY visitors at all, please call me immediately. There's two more of those waiting for you if you do."

"I think we understand each other, Mr. Drexler," she said, not looking up from her typing.

Drexler stood for a long moment studying the shapes inside her shirt, the part of them he could see, then he said, "I'd very grateful for anything you can do for me," and he turned and walked down the green and beige linoleum to the elevator bank.

"No doubt." she said to her reflection in the monitor, "No doubt."



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