Chapter 4

Tell me about the men here, Della, you've known them for years... anything I should know, to keep things going smoothly."

"They're just the same as any patient for a medical practitioner." She replied, running her hand carelessly through her hair. "Yes, some are violent in nature, some unbalanced... but they are all in need of help and guidance."

"I like your optimism, and combined with your sarcasm, that's quite a contradictive combination."

"As long as it keeps me focused to do my job well." Della slowly walked toward the door.

"Oh, yes." He nodded hurriedly. "As far as I've seen, you're doing a great job here... I've a lot to learn from you."

""You're not flirting, and certainly not teasing..." She eyed him curiously. "I'm not quite sure what then you're doing."

"Just getting down to business, my dear." Rochester fiddled with a pencil on his desk. "I too prefer to keep profession and pleasure on alternate tracks."

"Well, I hope I've given you all the info you needed for today... I've got to get home and crash."

"Have a good day's rest, Della... I'll see more of you tonight."

"More of..." Her laugh was spontaneous. "There you are... and just when I thought you were getting all stuck up on me."

"Ha, not a chance, Miss Swanson." He eyed her swaying hips as she walked away.

"See ya later, Doc." She waved back at him and left the room.

"I certainly will see you later, my dear..." The young doctor chuckled under his breath. "And I'd want to see it all."

As the door closed behind the night nurse, Rochester accessed the database on the computer, pulling up info on all inmates known as Mel. He found two. Picking up the phone, he requested the jailer overseeing the men to have them sent in one at a time for routine check-ups. After a few minutes a tap on the door made him look up.

"Prisoner 847-125 as you required, Doctor." A uniformed guard standing outside his door announced.

"Send him in, thank you... and keep guard outside."

"Yes, Doc."

Rochester looked carefully at the man entering the room. His hands were cuffed and he had an inquisitive look on his narrow face. He was heavily muscled and the standard issue prison garb stretched impressively over his chest and shoulders. The tattoos on his forearms and upper arms were very distinctive, but none that he could recognize.

"Prisoner 847-125, Melchestore Malone." He addressed the man. "Or Mel, for convenience. I am Doctor Liam Rochester."

"Hey Doc, whassup? How you duin'?" The deep rumble was instantly recognizable as the one he had heard the night before.

"I'm quite all right, Mr. Malone?" The young man smiled. "And how are you?"

"Call me Mel, Doc." The muscular convict rumbled. "And I'm duin' okay. Heard youse from New York. I'm from New York too... it's all good, yeah?"

"Yes, it's all good, Mel." Rochester nodded, fiddling around with some of the equipment. "I called you hear to see if everything's fine with the inmates, health wise."

"Yeah, we're all good here, Doc." Malone grinned and flexed his bulging biceps. "Lookit me, Doc, I'm stronger than an ox."

"Very impressive, Mel." The young doctor smiled as he typed on the keyboard. "And I understand you were all taken good care of... by the late Doc Scott and Nurse Della."

"Too bad about Doc Scott, man." Malone shook his large head. "He was a good guy... and Nurse Della, she's an angel, that sweet woman."

"Yes, that she may be." Rochester agreed with a smile. "I hope she's taking care of everything in the night shift."

"Don't worry about her, Doc." The convict grinned, a gold tooth glinting. "She takes good care of us dumb fuckers... we don't deserve a goddess like her."

"And yet here she is, spending her life in the service of men like you." The young doctor sighed, strapping a pressure reader onto Malone's dense upper arm.

"Like I said, Doc," he shrugged his immense shoulders. "...she's an angel, that Della."

"We could all do with an angel every now and then." Rochester said sagely. "Makes life a little easier to live."

"So why'd you call me here, Doc?" Malone flexed his arm as the pressure increased. "Is everything okay with me... am I goin' ta die?"

"Far from it, Mel... you're in the pink of health." The doctor from the big city laughed, reading the report on the monitor. "I just wanted to run a few tests, is all... for pressure, heart rate, etc."

"So what do you think?"

"I think you're as strong as an ox." Rochester unstrapped the device and patted the man's broad shoulder.

"Hey, I already told ja that." Malone grinned, flexing his powerful triceps a few times.

"Is there anyone else like you?" Rochester inquired, narrowing his eyes. "I mean, big and strong..."

"Sure." Malone nodded indifferently. "Schnitzel Reinhold... he's from Europe."

"Schnitzel?"

"Yeah, everyone calls him that... his real names a bitch, way too long to remember... Schwatzellingermeyer or somethin'." Malone laughed out aloud. "The guy's a hoot... you'll like him."

"I'll see him next. Thank you for your time, Mel." Rochester stood up and signaled the guard outside. "You've been very cooperative. I'll see you again soon."

"Nice meeting you too, Doc." Malone called out as he left. "Say hi to Nurse Della for me."