Angel Food and Devil Dogs by Liz Bradbury Page A

was next to her desk. The damn thing must be close to two hundred pounds. She hefts it in the air and hurls it five feet into the window. Smashing the glass completely... All our jaws dropped open." Bouchet chuckled, "Oh man, you should've seen the look on Dan Cohen's face. It went from incredulity to total admiration in one second. And before that, did you see her with the ice for Georgia? When we got outside, I asked her how she knew what to do and she yelled that she was a Girl Scout! You know, I'm gonna have to give her a raise."
    Something was going on at the nurse's station. I opened the curtain. It was Miranda Juarez. In a tone of concern and relief Miranda called, "President Bouchet, are you all right? I am so glad to see you." There was genuine emotion in her voice, as she walked toward us. "And Ms. Gale..."
    "Miranda, are you all right? I need to know what's happening," said Bouchet emphatically.
    Miranda Juarez snapped into her efficient assistant role immediately. Her hair didn't even seem mussed. She actually took out a small steno notebook and flipped it open. "First, I want you to know that I called your wife."
    "Thank God," sighed Bouchet rubbing the back of his neck in relief.
    "She was on her way here when I got her. I told her you had not been seriously injured in the fire because I had seen you standing and talking with the EMTs outside. I hope it was all right to say that to her?"
    "Yes, yes, I really appreciate it. Thank you so much, Miranda."
    Miranda nodded and went back to looking at her notes, "The news people are outside. They want a statement, and I think you should speak because if you do not, it will be... harder for you to..." she hesitated.
    "It will be harder to keep media speculation out of the story. Yes, I see," finished Bouchet.
    Miranda merely nodded.
    "All right, I'll speak to the press, but first I need to know if there is any information on Bart or Georgia's condition."
    "Alive, but very serious. I have contacted Georgia Smith's husband Adam Smith already and he is here. I found that Bart listed Alicia Wellington as his Aunt. I contacted her, she is in Palm Springs." There was a note of surprise in Miranda's voice. She didn't bother to ask if this was the same Alicia Wellington the new library wing was named after.
    "Very well, tell the TV crew I'll go on the news live, and then let me know when they want me. I need to get cleaned up and I need to speak to Ms. Gale for a minute." Miranda Juarez didn't have to be told anything twice. She left the emergency area to return to the press.
    Bouchet immediately faced me and said, "What do you think? What was this?"
    I said simply, "I think it's related to Carl Rasmus's death, but I don't have any idea why."
    Max Bouchet said, "Well I can't say that to the press but yes, it could be. I'm doubling your bonus. Find out who did this and stop him..." then as an after thought he said, "or her?"
    Miranda came back in to say the press people were ready. She had a clean suit jacket for Bouchet. Where the heck did she get that, does she carry his clothes around in her car?
    "Oh, and Ms. Gale," said Miranda, "I brought your shoulder bag." She had my brown leather bag under her other arm. She handed it to me. I could see that my laptop was in it. I could have kissed her, but I was too dirty.
    Someone burst into the emergency room. It was an attractive African American woman in a business suit with a look of distress so palpable it hurt my heart. She began to say something to the desk nurse but then she saw Max Bouchet standing next to me.
    "Oh, Max!" She rushed to him. They hugged and kissed for a full minute. She was so overcome she couldn't speak except to cry, "Oh, Oh."
    Bouchet made consoling noises then looked into her eyes and said in a strong direct voice, "I'm all right Shanna, really." Then he said to me, "Maggie, this is my wife Shanna Allen." He turned back to Shanna and gestured at me, "Maggie's a hero."
    I shook hands with her and said, "Max