Merciless by Diana Palmer Page A

photo. She was working in an office that dealt with violent crime, so perhaps she felt being excited by the process of crime-solving was expected.
    Joceline shook her head and went back to work.
    When quitting time came, she grabbed her purse, called good-night through the closed door and almost ran out of the building. She’d had enough for the day, after Phyllis’s strange questions.
    Even the fact that she had a worrisome meeting with school officials next was less disturbing than her boss’s odd behavior. Joceline kept dark secrets. She had no wish to ever display them, least of all to Jon Blackhawk.

5
    The head of the school, Mr. Morrison, and Markie’s teacher, Ms. Rawles, were very nice about it. But they were emphatic that Markie’s antics were disruptive and that he needed medication to prevent him from being a distraction to the other students.
    Joceline just looked at them. She didn’t agree or disagree.
    â€œWe would like your assurance that this matter will be resolved,” Mr. Morrison said kindly. “Your pediatrician can put Markie on a medication to control his outbursts.”
    She smiled blankly. “In other words, you want me to go to my doctor and order him to put my four-year-old son on drugs?”
    There were shocked, indignant looks.
    She stood up, still smiling. “I’ll have a long talk with myson. I’ll also speak with our family physician. We don’t have the funds to afford a pediatrician, I’m sorry to tell you. Markie’s hospital visits are expensive, and we have an allergist in addition to a family physician, but we’re rather limited in our budget. I have to have medical care for both of us, and a family practitioner is the best we can do right now.”
    They were still speechless.
    â€œI will, however, speak with my family doctor about your insistence that Markie needs to become drug dependent. And if my physician agrees with you,” she added sweetly, “then I will find another family physician.”
    â€œUh, Mrs., that is, Miss, I mean Ms. Perry,” Mr. Morrison stammered.
    â€œI believe the politically correct designation is Ms.,” she said helpfully.
    â€œWe only think Markie, being so young, requires some help with his difficulty in focusing…”
    â€œThat’s right, sir, make sure that every child obeys without question so that teachers don’t have to deal with any behavioral problems.”
    He glared at her. “Ms. Perry…!”
    â€œIn our defense,” Ms. Rawles said gently, “our class has thirty-five students. We’re much in the same boat as many other schools where teachers have to manage classrooms with thirty to forty students. We do the best we can. We really care about our students. But it’s so hard to teach when we have children who simply can’t pay attention.Markie is disruptive. He can’t sit still, he talks out of turn, he gets into things…”
    Joceline studied her. “Do you have children, Ms. Rawles?”
    â€œI’m not married. I certainly wouldn’t put the stigma of illegitimacy on my child,” the other woman said at once, and then flushed, because she realized that Joceline had a child out of wedlock.
    Joceline smiled, but she wasn’t happy with the remark.
    The principal cleared his throat. “I’m sure that whatever you and your physician decide will be fine with us.”
    â€œOf course,” Ms. Rawles said, obviously distressed. “I’m very sorry. I never should have said such a thing to you!”
    Their attitude took the edge off her temper. She could see their side of the issue, as well. “Actually Markie likes you very much, and so do I,” Joceline cut her off. “It’s all right. A lot of people have said worse things to me. His father was a very good man. We had too much to drink and did something out of character for both of us. He went missing in action