“You live together?”

“No, silly, he is just across the hall so he can stay till beddie bye time.  We agreed on it.  No sex till after there is a wedding.  Of course giving me massages isn’t off limits.  When I got the cast he bought an intercom so I can call him if I need him.  He is a good guy.” 

“What an airhead. ” Penny thought.  She sat on the chair in the room to wait.  As she did she thought, “Anyone who can turn on a guy by wearing a cast and letting him massage her can’t be too much of an airhead.”  She looked down at the cast on her stump and shook her head.  It was exactly what she had just done in the last week to a guy named Jack.  At first she felt cheap then the feeling changed to one of warmth. Jack was attracted to her cast or stump, she was not really sure which.  Had she known that a year ago she would have found a way to have a cast she could put on when she wanted to attract a guy.  It would have been a full-length removable cast, of course.

DAY SIXTY EIGHT

Mindy Zehr had her things together and was ready to leave the hospital.  She was nearly thirty years old, in fact one of the older women on the 911 crew.  She had six years on the desk, more than anyone else.  And she was recognized as the best there.  Had she not been shot this week she would have moved to watch officer.  Now all of that was history.  How could an amputee be a watch officer?

Jan King was across the room getting ready to leave too.  She had just passed her exams to move up also in the force.  The approvals were pending.  Now they would not come.  The gloom in the room was thick.  She packed her things into a backpack that the therapists suggested they get to carry things. 

About ten Jan’s husband Phil came in.  It was finally time to leave.  She had her things ready.  She needed only to say good-by to a woman she knew only as a calm voice on the radio two weeks ago.  She looked at Mindy sitting over at the window looking out as if she was a mile away.  Jan sat in the wheelchair and rolled over to her new friend.

“It’s going to be fine.  They’ll keep you on 911.  You’ll get the watch officer’s position.  You can do it.  You don’t need two legs to do it.  It’s not like being a cop.”

“But you don’t understand.  It isn’t whether they will keep me or not.  I’ll not stay if I am going to jeopardize someone on the street.”

“But you don’t need two legs to do your job.  And you are good at it.  Take it from someone who was on the street, you are very good.  Your voice never seems to convey any tension, no matter what.”

“Thanks, but I have to be sure.”

“Well, you be sure, and if you aren’t or you want to get together, you call me, here is my phone number.  I have some cops from on the street that you need to talk to.  They know you, by voice.  You talk to one of them you will know for sure.”

“OK, but they will find something for you.”

“Thanks, I wish I was as sure as you are.”

Jan wheeled over to the door where the nurse was waiting to take her downstairs.

Mindy sat looking out the window for nearly a half hour till her husband Dan came in.  She said little as the nurse took her to the elevator.

To read more of this story click here.  There are links to the other chapters in chapter 1.

The Night Sniper Chapter One: On the Beat

The Night Sniper: Ch. 042 Barb Picks Up Unit 55 and Dwayne

The Night Sniper: Ch. 044 Sylvia Gets a Chance to See What They Do