Gotta Get Next To You (12 page)

“I’d forgotten about that.” Andrea looked
disappointed.

“We might even have to work on it weekends.”
Lee moved a few inches to stand close to Andrea. “Nights, too.”

“I know how that is. I've been working
overtime myself. So, you just moved here from L.A.?” Brian looked
at Lee.

“Yes.” Lee crossed his arms over his chest
and offered no more chatty details.

“Oh.” Brian seemed to process the unspoken
message in his posture. “Interesting place. But too big for
me.”

“Yeah, it can be overwhelming to small-town
people.” Lee stared back at him.

“I travel quite a bit actually. Guess I just
prefer living where you don’t have to fight traffic to buy milk.”
Brian’s voice held an edge.

Denise placed five white paper bags on the
counter. “Here’s your order, Andrea. That’s sixteen dollars
even.”

Andrea glanced from Lee to Brian. “If I don’t
get back with this food, I’m going to be in big trouble. I’ll see
you around, Brian.”

“Right. I’ve gotta get moving myself.” Brian
nodded to Lee. “See ya.”

“Yeah,” Lee said in a short tone.

“Baby girl, you just let me know. I’ll have a
crawfish boil organized in no time flat. The whole gang will be
there and we’ll dance just like we used to.” Brian gave her a quick
peck on the forehead. He glanced at Lee, then left.

Andrea paid for the food and got change back.
“’Bye, Jamal.” She reached for the food.

“I’ll carry those.” Lee paid for his lunch,
picked up the bags, and cupped her elbow.

“They don’t weigh very much,” Andrea
said.

“Come on. You’ve got hungry employees
waiting.” Lee went to the door and pushed it open.

Andrea paused for a second, then followed
him. “What was all that about us needing to work late? You told me
things were going along just fine.” She brushed back her hair again
as they walked down the sidewalk.

Lee felt warm watching the movement of her
fingers against the cotton-soft curls. “Yes, but... you need to
tell me what data fields you want set up. Remember, I’m going to
customize the database to your specifications.”

“I’ve already given you the list.” Andrea
shot a side-ways glance at him.

“Uh, not for all the new programs. And we’ll
need to review and evaluate the system even after you start using
it.” Lee felt a rush at a new thought. “It could take another
month, maybe two.”

They came to an intersection and waited for
the traffic light to turn. Andrea looked at him. “Just show me the
basics and I’ll take it from there. I’ve used computers since
college.”

“Why take time from the patients? I know how
much you enjoy that part of the job.” Lee smiled at her.

“I wouldn’t want to put a cramp in your
social life. Thanks anyway.” Andrea started across the street when
cars stopped for the red light.

Lee matched her stride. “But I don’t mind.
It’s worth it. To help the clinic, I mean.”

Andrea stopped a few yards short of the
clinic. “It’s really not necessary. I’m not a tech dummy.”

“I didn’t say you were. You’re great. At your
job, I mean.” He stumbled over his words like a kid.

“Thanks a lot,” Andrea said, her tone
dry.

Lee felt as though he’d wandered haplessly
into alien territory. He stood close to her, his body ignoring the
small voice of caution in his head. That voice had saved him too
many times to count. And right now it was telling him to back
off.

“Yeah, on second thought, it might not take
that much after all,” Lee said curtly. “Better relieve Terri so she
can get lunch.” He started to turn away but stopped when she
touched his arm.

Andrea’s expression had softened. “I didn’t
mean to sound snippy. It’s just we need to be careful about
over-time pay. The board is breathing down my neck about
expenses.”

Lee’s antennae went up. “The clinic is having
money problems?”

“The accounting records are scrambled. I’m
working with an auditor from the state fiscal office now. I think
it was just poor record keeping really.” Andrea sighed.

“That’s what I keep hearing.”

“We have to meet layers of bureaucratic rules
about medical care standards and the budget.”

“I guess you could go months without knowing
which end is up with the money or other stuff.” Lee glanced at the
clinic.

“Oh yes,” Andrea said with a nod. “And I’m
just be-ginning.”

“Easy to get it all tangled up,” Lee said.
Easy to cover your tracks, he added to himself.

“Very easy. But I’ve got good staff like Katy
and Denny. Thank goodness we’re in this together.” Andrea started
walking again.

Lee walked beside her. “You’ve got a big job
on your hands, eh?”

Her full lips lifted in a ghost of a smile.
“Well, we finally agree on something.”

“Yeah.” Lee smiled back.

“From now on I promise not to be so touchy,”
Andrea said. “And, Jamal.” She stopped at the clinic entrance.

Lee’s body temperature shot up when she
looked at him. Her mouth was full and moist, her expression open.
“Yeah?” he managed to choke out.

“I value you, too. We’re a team.” Andrea’s
lips curved up gently. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed all the time
you’ve spent getting our systems up and running.”

Lee felt tiny, needlelike jabs of guilt in
his chest. “Just doing my job.”

“You’re going above and beyond your job.
Thanks.”

Andrea tilted her head to one side and a wisp
of hair trailed down her right cheek.

“I’m trying to do my part,” he murmured,
unable to take his eyes off the sweep of dark waves brushed back
from her face.

Lee wanted catch the dark lock and twirl it
around his fingers, to feel its texture. He wondered if she sensed
the crackle of attraction between them. The sound of traffic
receded. Andrea seemed to move closer to him. Her gaze traveled
from his face down his body and back again. When her lips parted,
he held his breath. Then the clinic door opened and a mother came
out, admonishing her little boy.

“Hush. I’m not buying you candy,” the woman
said, and pulled the wailing child behind her. “S’cuse me,
y’all.”

“Sure,” Andrea said as she made a wide path
for them.

Andrea cleared her throat as she glanced away
from him. They both watched the mother and child walk off, still
wrapped in a battle of wills.

“I’ll bet Katy and the student nurses are
really yelling for their burgers by now. I’d better get inside
before they come looking for me.” Andrea opened the door before he
could and walked in.

“Then you’ll need these.” Lee shook the bags
he still held. He grinned at her.

“Oh, right. Thanks.” Andrea blushed prettily.
She grabbed the bags and hurried inside.

Lee went to the reception desk so Terri could
take a break. He barely listened as she gave him a brief rundown on
what needed to be done. He checked in several patients who had
appointments. Yet he was just going through the motions. His mind
was on Andrea. She’d been very frank about the state of the budget
records. Why would she tell him if she was up to something? Maybe
it all went back to the previous directors.

His cynical side spoke right up. Most of the
staff whispered gossip about what was wrong at the clinic. To deny
any problems would look even more suspicious. There was no doubt
she’d inspired loyalty from the staff. She could just as well be
building up her own shell of protection. Andrea made it a point to
let everyone know she was in charge and hands on. Lee pushed aside
sympathetic leanings. Get the goods, then get paid. If she wasn’t
involved, fine. Lee would move on, whatever happened.

***

Andrea tapped her ink pen on her desk
rapidly. She considered the reports in front of her. The budget was
enough to make even the most experienced bureaucrat dizzy. The
clinic received funding from a complex set of federal and state
sources. With each came an equally complex set of strings attached.
Still, she’d managed to figure it out; at least she’d thought so
until today. The patient statistics and money spent did not add up.
They kept dancing around like jumping beans. Now what? Andrea
chewed on the end of her pen. For the third time she called Denny
into her office.

“Yes, ma’am.” Denny came in and stood before
her desk.

“How many of these patient charts have you
found?” Andrea tapped her copy of the list of names she’d printed
out for him.

He bent forward and peered down to where she
pointed. “Let’s see, out of twenty-five, about seven so far. It’s
been wild all day. I’ll get back on it now.”

“I don’t get it. Close to seventy thousand
dollars was spent on follow-up treatment and home visits, according
to Thelma Cresson’s reports,” Andrea murmured to her-self.

“Miss Cresson had her own way of doing
things, that’s for sure,” Denny said with a frown. “Uh, I wasn’t
gonna say anything, but..

Andrea glanced up at him. “What?”

“I don’t wanna get caught up in nothing.”
Denny rubbed his chin, eyes wide. “But like, I don’t want nobody
getting in trouble for something they didn’t do.”

“I don’t have a clue what you’re talking
about.” Andrea rocked back in her chair.

“They’re gone and we get all the blame.”
Denny fidgeted with his hands.

“She told you what to do and you had to
follow orders. I understand. So tell me what happened.” Andrea
waited as he seemed to silently debate whether to talk.

“If I lose this job, won’t be easy to get
another one. My grandmother needs me to help.” Denny looked at her
with desperation in his dark eyes.

“I know that, Denny.” Andrea stood and walked
to him. “And I know how hard you’ve tried over the last few
weeks.”

“Miss Cresson has a lot of big-time
connections. She’s still pissed, pardon my language. But she said
anybody that helps you will go down, too.” Denny blinked hard. “I
ain’t been no angel, Miss Noble.” Andrea sat down in one of two
chairs in front of her desk. “Let’s talk.” She patted the forest
green vinyl seat cushion and Denny sat down next to her.

“Guess you heard I gave my grandmother lots
of trouble staying out late, drinking, and running with the wrong
crowd. I swear I was never arrested, for nothing serious, that is.”
Denny spoke in a rush as though saying it quickly would convince
her.

“Yes, I’ve heard.”

“My mama kinda dumped me on my dad, and he
... got his own problems.” Denny hung his head and clutched both
knees with his hands. “Bottom line is I raised myself.”

Andrea felt a flood of compassion for him.
She’d known the anguish of feeling abandoned by her own mother.
Charlene had escaped the boredom of Bayou Blue and left Andrea for
party trips to New Orleans all the time when she was younger. Gran
had been wonderful and loving in her comforting maternal way. Yet
inside, Andrea suffered. For years Andrea had believed that it was
her fault, that she’d been a bad girl. Looking at Denny now, she
could see herself fifteen years ago. Like him, Andrea had hidden
the hurt under a facade. Hers had been the workaholic overachiever
in high school and college. Denny had obviously adopted the bad boy
pose.

“You’ve had it hard. But tell me the truth
and I’ll do everything in my power to help you,” she said.

Denny looked at her searchingly. “You really
mean that, huh?” he said quietly.

“You’ve got a good heart. I can see it in the
way you treat people. No matter how bad you think it is, lying will
make it worse.” Andrea waited once more.

Denny looked away. “Miss Cresson did private
nursing on the side. She referred patients to herself and billed
the clinic for it.”

Andrea frowned. “But I’d have seen her name
on pay invoices. No way is an employee allowed to get paid for
services they should provide here.”

“Health Services, Inc. is owned by her
friend. Miz Ruth had a contract with them. They billed Medicaid
through the clinic.”

“I can’t say I’m surprised.” Andrea shook her
head. “So what’s that got to do with you?”

Denny’s gaze slid sideways again. “I helped
her do paperwork. She paid me extra. She said it wasn’t
illegal.”

“But you knew better,” Andrea added.

Denny nodded. “We was always juggling.”

“Show me what you did, okay?” Andrea stood.
Denny’s brows pulled together in a worried expression. “But—”

“I’m not asking you to help gather evidence
against yourself,” Andrea broke in. “You were following
instructions, right?”

“For sure.” Denny’s face muscles relaxed a
bit.

“Then show me these doctored records.” Andrea
jerked a thumb toward the file room.

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And, Denny?” Andrea put a hand on his
shoulder to stop him. “Your grandmother has reason to be proud of
you these days.”

Denny stared at his shoes. “Nah, I still got
a ways to go. Anyway, I got an idea where most of the files were
put up.” He darted off ahead of her.

For the better part of the morning they
sifted through a stack of paper that made Andrea want to scream.
Get-ting a clear picture of the situation was not quite as easy as
she’d hoped. The invoices listed Health Services, Inc., not Thelma
Cresson. Andrea read through the files and boiled with outrage. The
woman was crafty. Andrea would have to consult with the auditor,
but her gut feeling was that they should make the best of it and
start from scratch. The clinic would only suffer from more bad
publicity, especially since it would not be easy to prove anything.
Besides, Andrea wanted to start fresh and give the staff successes.
Morale had been low when she’d taken over. No need to pull it down
again when the guilty would escape punishment anyway. With iron
determination and Denny’s enthusiastic assistance, they managed to
put the records in order for the auditor. Andrea marveled at their
achievement. She gave Denny permission to take extra time for his
lunch break as a re-ward.