Page 99 of Sky Song
Returning, she immediately noticed Yanet’s absence. “Did Yanet already finish?” She’d given her a slew of records to log.
“Nah, she remembered she had to check on something in the supply room,” Terrance said from his station, dispensing chemicals into the sample tray with practiced movements.
“How long ago was that?”
Terrance gave her a questioning look. “When you left for the break. What, is she not allowed to go?”
“No, I’m just wondering. Thanks, Terrance.” Her heart beat fast and it was hard to maintain her composure.
Cricket picked up a tray with pathology samples ready to be frozen and aimlessly moved it to a different counter, creating an appearance of being busy while inching closer to the supply room door. Terrance, absorbed by his work, wasn’t paying her any attention. Salty had her back to them, acting like they weren’t even there.
After several minutes of unbearable anticipation, a sibilant hiss heralded the opening of the supply room door. Bathed in the glow of blue lights, Yanet emerged. Legs spread wide, Cricket planted herself square in Yanet’s path.
Not expecting an ambush, Yanet squeaked in surprise. “Emma!”
“What’s in there?” Cricket peered around Yanet. No matter how hard the nurse tried to block Cricket’s view inside the door with her body, Cricket’s superior height allowed her a glimpse of a short corridor with shiny steel walls reflecting the mellow blue lights, a set of steel pipes running along the ceiling,the kind that contained cables, a round unblinking eye of a security camera mounted on one on the pipes, and the stairs. Going down. There may have been a sound, a distant howling scream…
The door hissed shut.
“Nothing! I mean, it's a supply room, what else?” Yanet giggled nervously. Her eyes darted from Cricket to the metal cabinet to Terrance who was watching them.
“Why are you acting so nervous?” Cricket pressed.
“Because you scared the daylights out of me, popping up in front of my face like an evil clown. Jeez!” Yanet patted her hair to ensure it lay flat at the crown of her head. The pulse beat rapidly at the side of her neck.
Cricket took a step closer. “What’s up with the steel walls?”
“What walls?” Yanet feigned surprise. The shock was wearing off, and her sly nature was reasserting itself.
Another step toward Yanet. “Blue lights, steel walls. There’s a camera there, too.”
The nurse held her ground. “Cameras are everywhere,” she retorted and pointed her tablet at Cricket. “Back off, Emma.”
“And what’s in here?” Cricket snatched the tablet from Yanet’s hand.
There was a moment of stupefied silence before Yanet lunged at her. “Give it back! You’re crazy.”
Cricket whirled around, deftly evading Yanet’s grasping hands as she scrambled to get away, the tablet clutched firmly in her hand. Chased by enraged Yanet, she jumped behind absolutely discombobulated Terrance and pushed Salty out of her way with unintentional force, causing her to fall against the counter and start hiccuping.
“What’s so important about this tablet?” she shouted, running around the lab, probing the access with one hand.
“That’s none of your business. Give me back my tablet at once!” Yanet wasn’t as fast or agile as Cricket, but she was determined. Her non-slip shoes squeaked furiously as she pivoted on the tiles.
In constant motion, Cricket managed to bring up the login screen and was trying to get the access code in.
Yanet noticed her efforts. “It won’t let you in, stupid.”
“And if it does, what will I find?”
Her distraction cost her, and Yanet grabbed the other end of the tablet. “It’s a… privileged… information…”
They engaged in a tug-o-war, both huffing from exertion.
“Privileged, huh? Secret gauze pads… and clandestine… hospital gowns?”
“There’s sensitive equipment!” Yanet wailed and gave one mighty pull, succeeding in ripping the tablet from Cricket’s damp hands.
They fell apart, breathing heavily. Yanet recovered first. She righted herself and stuck the tablet under one arm, hunching her shoulders over it protectively.
