Part 4 of The Sixth Degree

Part 4 of THE SIXTH DEGREE

Dr. Nia Shoreheart nudged her tightly braided dreadlocks out of her eyes and focused on her client. This was her last case of the day before she went back home and shoved Edy’s low-fat chocolate ice cream into her mouth like an unattractive pig. “Lean back, Mr. Houston. This will all be over soon.”

The old man leaned back in the paisley dentist’s chair. “Now open,” ordered Dr. Shoreheart.
The man shoved his long beard out of the way and quickly complied. Dr. Shoreheart hefted a wicked-looking tooth drill and headed for the mouth.

“AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!”

The screaming was audible in the waiting room next door, where David Schultz-Lancaster was reading an old coffee table book. He looked up in mild surprise. What manner of creature could make a noise like that? He contemplated a moment, then shrugged and resumed his reading, while trying to find a way to appease his wife after their latest fight. She liked tulips, didn’t she? He honestly couldn’t remember, but resolved to get her some anyway, on the way back home. Tulips were flowers, and flowers were always good.

“Mr. Schultz-Lancaster?”

The nurse’s small voice barely reached the contemplative man, but he looked up. He shed the book, and eyed the woman. She was a bit short, but he could manage. David stood and flashed the petite nurse a dazzling smile. She smiled back, uncertain, and as she turned to lead him through the lavender doors, he caught sight of a wedding band shining on her finger. His grin dimmed a bit, and he followed the nurse deeper into the recesses of the building.