Page 29 of Down and Dirty

“He got a phone call and told me he had to leave.”

“Okay, and did he?”

“Yeah,” I said, turning my head to stare up at the ceiling. “He did, and then next thing I know, I saw my sister Nina running toward me, and that was it. I think I passed out.”

“That’s good,” Patricia said.

My brows dipped. “Good that I passed out?”

“Good that you remember,” Patricia clarified. “Do you know what today is?”

“Taco Tuesday,” I answered.

“ItisTuesday,” she said as if I were a child in need of reward. “I like the tacos at Market Place. What about you?” Patricia asked.

I scrunched my nose. “Market is too dry. You should try Los Angelita on Fifth Street. My sisters and I eat there all the time.”

“I’ll have to do that.” The ambulance slowed in front of hospital lights, which were shining in through the window.

“We’re here.”

“Oh no,” I said, trying to sit up. “I can’t go back in there. Just let me go home.”

If Patricia was annoyed, she didn’t show it. She’d probably dealt with women a lot crazier than me in her profession. She smiled in understanding. “You need tests. This is twice you’ve hit your head in less than a week, Faith. Nina’s following behind the ambulance. Let the doctors take a look at you and then, if you want to go, then you can leave. They can’t keep you here, but I really think that you need to be checked out.”

I dragged in a long, painful breath. I knew she was right, but Lord have mercy, I dreaded having to breach those electric doors. The last time had been mild, but no way was I getting lucky twice.

“The ghosts in the ER don’t know they're dead.” I swallowed hard as the rear doors opened. I wobbled on the gurney as Patricia and another paramedic unloaded me. Ceiling panels flashed overhead as they wheeled me toward the electric doors.

“Just breathe, Faith,” Patricia whispered as she pushed me inside. “I’ll see if they can get you processed and into a room away from the ER since you’re a repeat offender.”

Every spirit in the vicinity stopped and turned in my direction, making it hard to breathe.

I closed my eyes as if that would turn off my spirit magnet personality from attracting the ghosts toward me.