More Lies and Alibis (Using Lies as Alibis #2) Read Online Free Page A

you the deal and you’d been charged and sent to prison.  On your first Sunday back to church after your release, how would you testify about your experience?”
    I burst into laughter.  “Are you serious?  I don’t know!  Thank God, I don’t have to give that testimony.”
    “It’s an exercise,” Dr. King says with a smile.  “Try to imagine it. You spent six months in prison and you’re finally out.  What would you say to the congregation?”
    I swallow hard.  “Honestly, I wouldn’t even go back to that church.  I’d never show my face there again if I had to serve prison time.”
    “That is interesting.  You just said you mostly felt accountable to God and only a little bit to your family, but you would’ve hidden your face from your church if you’d gone to prison.”
    I think she just tricked me. 
    “Well, I just mean I wouldn’t feel the need to go back there.  None of them matter that much to me, so I’d just want to be elsewhere.”
    “I understand.”
    “But if I did have to give a testimony, I’d probably say that all things work together for the good for them that are called according to His purpose.”
    “Would it be more powerful to say you made a mistake, endured the consequences and learned a great deal from your experience?”
    I don’t know that I have a response.  I can honestly say that I’ve never heard anyone testify this way. 
    “That sounds more like a confession.”
    Dr. King says, “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed.  That’s James 5:16, I believe.”
    “What are you telling me Dr. King?”
    “You’re going to own your choices.  I do believe in tests and trials.  But there are some things that we decide to do, that render consequences.  These decisions can be opportunities for learning.”
    “Learning.”
    She nods.  “Absolutely.  Let’s learn together.”
    Okay, she’s a little strange, and I’m not one hundred percent sure she is saved.  But I think I like her.  So even though this is completely unnecessary, I may just decide to come back.

 
    Chapter Five
    Sydney
    The nurse’s station is abuzz with chatter about Fatima, and the cackling is expected.  I am trying to overhear it for anything juicy, but I don’t want to participate.  I don’t want anyone to know why I can’t stand the sight of Fatima.  Actually, I don’t want anyone to think I think of her at all.
    Leah, who’s recently died her blonde hair a fire engine red says, “I don’t know her, but I already hate her!  She’s the chief’s niece, and her body is perfect.  What is there to like?”
    “Well, her body isn’t perfect,” Connie says.  “Those boobs were bought and paid for.”
    I stare at the chart I’m pretending to read and try to hide the smirk on my face.
    “So, Sydders,” Connie says, “were you friends in college?”
    I should’ve known Connie wouldn’t miss that.  That eagle eyed heifer catches everything. 
    “Everyone called me Sydders.”
    “So you weren’t friends?” Leah asks.
    “We were,” I say truthfully. 
    “But you didn’t keep in touch?” Connie asks.
    I shake my head.  “She went to work at Baylor Medical in Texas.  We didn’t keep up with one another.”
    I quickly walk away from what is beginning to feel like an interrogation.  Anyway, I have a new patient waiting for me in the ER.  My favorite intern, Jillian, paged me for a consult.  Jillian is an extremely gifted surgeon and the only one of the interns I can stomach.
    Jillian is practically jumping up and down when I walk into the ER.  This must be a really good case.  We doctors are pretty sick about where we get our thrills.
    “What you got?” I ask.
    “Two college girls, brought in by another one of their friends.  Both presenting with cough, shortness of breath, and high fever.  One of the girls has some paralysis in her lower extremities.  Should we quarantine them?  Is it an outbreak of some