Profile of Fear: Book Four of the Profile Series (Volume 4) by Alexa Grace Page B

this?”
    “Anemia is one of the more common blood disorders. It occurs when the level of healthy red blood cells (RBCs) in the body becomes too low. This can lead to health problems, because RBCs contain hemoglobin, which carries oxygen to the body’s tissues. I suspect Becca’s anemia is caused by the lack of vitamin and iron-rich food. A healthy diet is critical for Becca.”
    “Not a problem.”
    Folding her hands onto her desk, she looked at him with concern. “It’s a lot of responsibility to foster a child like Becca. Right now, her emotional and physical needs are critical. Are you sure you want to take this on?”
    “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. If we’re finished, there is a little girl who’s waiting for me at the hospital.”

 
    Chapter Eighteen
     
    Just back from the hospital cafeteria, Diego carried a hot cinnamon roll and a large coffee as he headed toward the visitor’s room on the floor where he’d seen Juan’s kid. The room was empty when he entered. He took a seat near the door so he could see down the hall, where he noticed a couple of nurses chatting outside the kid’s room. He’d wait until they moved on, and then he’d have a look-see of the kid so he could report back to his boss.
    Juan Ortiz was the most volatile boss he’d ever had or feared. The man had the disposition of a rattlesnake and was just as dangerous. There was no predicting what would set off his vicious temper, and when he got angry, he got violent. Lessons learned: One did not steal from Juan Ortiz and get away with it unscathed. One did not bungle a mission or disappoint. Your life depended on it.
    Julio Garcia was one of Juan’s drug dealers who got greedy and started shaving proceeds off the top for himself. Unfortunately, Juan found out about it, but was unable to find Julio, who had disappeared. So Juan broke into Julio’s sister’s house in the middle of the night, slit her throat, and wrote a message to Julio with her blood on the walls of her bedroom.
    Juan Ortiz was the ultimate bully, and Diego knew a thing or two about bullies. When Diego entered junior high school, he was barely five feet tall and had a raging case of acne. That made him a target for the Disciples gang of teenaged hoodlums. When not indulging in petty crimes, they looked for kids like him to harass and use for a punching bag. One day five members of the gang followed him after school into an alley. Knocking him to the ground, they kicked and pummeled him and left him for dead. A store owner found Diego and got him to the nearest hospital, where he nearly died. His father pledged that he’d make sure this never happened again. Not to his kid. It was the only promise the man ever kept before he deserted his family.
    It took Diego six weeks to heal from his injuries that included a concussion, broken facial bones and ribs, and a bruised spleen. He’d never been in so much pain. During that time his mother, Rosalita, helped him keep up with his homework; his father, Benito, taught him how to fight dirty. Knives were his dad’s favorite weapon. He’d learned how to use a knife to his advantage in the Army, same place he learned to fight dirty.
    Benito took Diego to a pawn shop to look for the ideal knife that was sized for the boy’s hand. The pawn dealer measured his grip from his index finger to the second knuckle of his pinkie. They settled on a five-inch blade, then looked for a switchblade that Diego could conceal in the pocket of his jeans. While they were in the store, the owner took out some oil and taught Diego how to clean and maintain his new knife. A folding knife needs to be oiled regularly to keep the action as smooth as possible. He explained, “A dull knife is a dangerous one. It is important you keep your knife oiled and sharpened. It may someday save your life. A dull knife may not.”
    Now it was time for the training to begin. His father and his Army buddy, Rex, joined Diego on the patio. Rex