Chapter 3

He walked behind his patient, putting a reassuring hand on the man’s meaty shoulder and the stethoscope on his back. “Breathe in for me, please.”

Nick concentrated on the liquid rumbling. “How long have you had this cough?” Based on the color alone, the poor guy had been draining for a while.

“Only a couple of days.” Mr. Gonzales shrugged. “It’s not as bad as it sounds.”

“Don’t let him kid you, Doc.” The friend straightened upright and pulled his long legs under the chair. His heavy work boots left a trail of dried mud on the floor. “He’s been hacking and spitting up crap for a week now. The last time I saw something so nasty was when my neighbor’s dog had puppies.”

Nick let the earpieces slip back down his neck, amused at the disgustingly accurate description. He risked another quick glance at the attractive man in the corner.