Do Harm

DO HARM RADA JONES MD APOLODOR This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Copyright © 2023 by Rada Jones MD All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. APOLODOR PUBLISHING CONTENTS Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Afterword About the Author Other books by Rada Jones Excerpt from BECOMING K-9 PROLOGUE The ship’s rocking lulled Nadja to sleep. She closed her eyes, wrapped her left arm around his waist and snuggled until their bodies touched from head to toe to steal his warmth. His skin smelled like bittersweet aftershave and lovemaking. She smiled and planted a kiss on his shoulder. “I love you. Isn’t it wonderful to be together like this?” “Yes.” Nadja sighed. “I’m so tired of hiding! I can’t wait to be together all the time, day and night. Just think about all the places we’ll go and all the things we’ll do. I’ll make you breakfast, and we’ll walk hand in hand on the beach, and we’ll play ball with the kids… How many children do you want?” His body tightened. “Children?” “Yes. I’d like two. A boy and a girl would be ideal, but I wouldn’t mind having just boys. They have it easier. That’s why I don’t want two girls. A woman’s life is always harder.” “I bet.” He threw off the sheets and sat up, escaping the arm trying to hold him back, then pulled up his scrub pants and T-shirt and turned to the door. “Where are you going?” “Back to my cabin. I remembered something I need to do. I’ll see you tomorrow.” “But… whatever it is that you must do, can’t it wait until tomorrow? We were having so much fun!” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, it can’t. See you tomorrow, beautiful!” “Gimme a kiss, at least,” she said, uncovering her breasts and puckering her lips to entice him. He sighed and leaned over for a quick kiss. Nadja wrapped her arms around his neck and wouldn’t let go. He laughed and pulled back. “See you tomorrow.” When the heavy metal door slammed behind him, Nadja rearranged her pillow and smiled, basking in the afterglow of their lovemaking. Even her windowless cabin felt cozy instead of cramped now that it smelled like him. She couldn’t wait until they could sleep together through the night, wake up in each other’s arms, and… Someone knocked at the door. Nadja glanced at her phone. Almost midnight. Who on earth could be coming so late? An emergency? But she wasn’t on call. And even if she were, they wouldn’t come to her cabin. They’d page her. Another knock, louder now. It’s got to be him. He finished whatever he had to do, and he’s back. She jumped out of bed and opened the door, wearing nothing but a smile. “Hi, Nadja. You have a moment?” It wasn’t him. “Now? It’s so late!” “Look what I got you!” Nadja glanced at the unopened bottle of Stolichnaya and sighed. She didn’t want vodka. If she couldn’t be with him, she’d rather be alone to remember his touch and dream about the days when they wouldn’t hide anymore. But she couldn’t say no to her little elf. God only knows how her Karlik managed to get hold of that bottle of Stolichnaya. Certainly not in the crew mess, where the only thing stronger than beer was some Vietnamese liquor smelling like bug juice and strong enough to strip paint. Nadja pulled on the crumpled T-shirt she’d thrown on the floor and opened the door to let Karlik in. “How on earth did you get it?” Karlik laughed. “It wasn’t easy. I almost had to sell my soul to get it, but I did it for you. I know you miss home, and I wanted to get you something special. How are you doing?” She got two coffee mugs from the bathroom, filled them, and handed one to Nadja. They sat next to each other on the crumpled sheets that still smelled like him. Karlik smiled. The crystal-clear vodka burned Nadja’s throat and warmed her inside. She shuddered. “Na Zdorovié! This is real!” “Of course, it’s real. Only the best for you, my friend. Especially now. You know, Nadja, I’ve been worried about you.” “About me? Why?” “You just… don’t seem to be yourself lately. You seem preoccupied. The other day, you forgot about that insulin. Yesterday you were late for the morning clinic. Half of the time, you don’t even hear me speak to you. That’s so not like you.” She refilled the cups. “Is something bothering you? Trouble at home? You know you can tell me.” Nadja laughed. “No trouble. I’m good. Very good, in fact.” “Tell me.” Nadja hesitated. But then, why not? For weeks, she’d been bursting to tell the whole world, let alone her best friend. And the vodka made it easier. She was tired of hiding. And why should she? “OK, I’ll tell