Chapter 5: The Briefing

On Monday I went to work, because the doctor said routine might help.

I also wanted to see what I did for a living.

I was a dental hygienist. I had been one for six years.

I picked up a scaler in the first room and my hand knew what to do with it before I did.

The first patient was a Mr. Prichard, who said I had a gentle touch.

I wrote it in my notebook: Prichard, 1 compliment, owe him one.

The second patient said I had a gentle touch too. I wrote that down as well.

The third was a boy of nine who said nothing at all.

I told him he had excellent molars, to stay even.

The scaler was the one part of my new life I didn't have to ask anyone about.

Selena ran the front desk, the schedule and the supply closet.

She also ran most of the people who worked there.

At lunch she pulled me into the small conference room and shut the door.

"I made you something," she said.

She set a white three-ring binder on the table. It had a clear cover and a laminated spine.

On the spine, in a clean blue font, it said GUS.

"I know it's a lot," she said. "I'm only doing it because I love you."

She opened it to the first tab.

The first tab was MONEY. It held a printed list with a column of dates.

"That's every month you paid him," Selena said. "Eight years, Hattie. And he took it."

"He didn't cash the checks."

"That's what he told you."

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