Page 86 of Two for Joy

Zander rushed towards him. “What’s wrong with your arm?”

“I can’t lift it.”

Paul huffed. “It’s cuffed to the bed.”

Romeo shook his head. “No, not that one I can—I can feel that one.”

Zander touched his right hand. “Feel that…”

Romeo looked down at it. “No, I don’t know. I just—I can’t…”

“It’s okay, just relax.”

Zander turned to the governor pinching his lips, rocking back and forth on his heels.

“There could be something seriously wrong…”

“Like what?”

“A bleed on the brain … a clot. A stroke.”

“Stroke.” Paul laughed. “Your face is supposed to drop.”

“His face is so swollen I don’t think we’d tell if it had.”

“A stroke?” The governor said. “Can you not deal with it here?”

“I don’t have the equipment. We have no MRI scanner on the hospital wing.”

“You really think he needs an MRI?”

Zander hugged his clipboard to his chest. “He’s presenting with stroke like symptoms…”

“Exactly,” Paul said. “Stroke-like, he’s faking it.”

“He got punched in the face by Justin. We all know his fists are lethal, his coach died from a bleed on the brain. That’s the reason he’s in here.” Zander said.

Paul laughed. “And the reason Romeo’s in here is because he’s a murdering psycho.”

Romeo slurred something in Zander’s direction. His eyes went comically wide, and Romeo had to keep his cool not to laugh.

“What did you say?”

Romeo tried again, slowing down his words, talking as carefully as he could without moving his tongue. “My head feels strange.”

“Does it hurt?”

“Strange.” Romeo slurred.

Zander turned back to the governor. “He needs an MRI scan.”

“He’s a criminal.” Paul argued.

“We still have a duty of care. He’s still my patient.”

“He’s an animal…”

“Enough.” The governor said, glaring at Paul. “I’ll make the arrangements.”

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