Cassia, p.29
CASSIA, page 29
Jack now reached Lillian, limping with a cane. She was pleased to see his legs had healed well, and he was walking again, albeit with the sturdy cane.
“They finally let you go?” she asked, smiling warmly. “Or did you break out of your cell?”
“Probation.”
“You coming back to work?” she asked.
“If I ever get my medical license back. That could take a while.”
“Too bad. We miss you. Dr. Fielding sends her regards,” Lillian added.
Jack, though, was looking past her. “How’s she doing?”
“Amy! There’s someone I’d like you to meet,” Lillian called to her.
Amy jogged up to them, all shy grins and a scrunched up nose, and plenty of unruly blonde hair.
“Amy, this is a friend of mine. His name is Dr. Temple.”
Amy shyly put her hand out and Jack shook it. There was no hint of recognition in Amy.
“Hello Amy. How do you do?” Jack asked, awkwardly.
“I scraped my knee. Wanna see?” Amy started to pull a bandage off.
“Amy, honey, don’t do that,” Lillian told her. “Dr. Temple doesn’t need to see your scab.”
Amy blushed and sprinted back to the merry-go-round.
“Inside she’s still a child,” Lillian said. “But she’s learning fast.”
Jack began to say something but was interrupted when a soccer ball bounced off his cane. Some Spanish kids had been playing nearby. He picked up the ball as one ran to him, a little embarrassed.
“¿Disculpe Señor? You okay?”
“Estoy bien. No te preocupes,” Jack replied.
“¿Nos regresas la pelota?”
“Claro. Diviertanse.”
He lobbed the soccer ball over their heads, and the whole bunch raced off to continue their game.
“I’m impressed,” Lillian said. “I didn’t know you spoke Spanish.”
Jack grinned. It looked like he might say something more but instead just turned and walked away, limping with his cane, but not too badly.
Lillian eyed him, puzzled. “Doctor, are we feeling okay?”
He paused and looked back at her. “Yes, we feel fine.”
He strolled away through the park.
Lillian followed him with her eyes, but he was soon lost amid the blossoming trees and the warm sun and the endless whispers of life itself.
Kudos for DC Mallery’s DARKSIGHT:
“An action-packed thriller full of authentic human drama skillfully depicted. ... an intelligently conceived work, driven more than anything else by fully developed characters in the throes of real human emotions.” - Kirkus Reviews
“An engaging female protagonist, a mind-bending plot, and some marvelously gruesome pseudoscience make DARKSIGHT a true page-turning thriller about the fine line between emotional blindness and physical sight. ...DARKSIGHT is a scintillating read.” - IndieReader
“Mallery’s novel is a fast-paced thriller that is part X-Files mixed with a dash of CSI.” - The US Review of Books
“‘Darksight’ by DC Mallery is an insightful psychological suspense that will take you on a thrilling ride! ... The heroine begins as a person with depth, but as she faces challenges, she really evolves into a woman of incredible strength. ... Fans of science fiction, suspense, and thrillers will love ‘Darksight.’ It would also make an excellent selection for a fiction readers group. Lively conversations are guaranteed!” - Reader Views.
“Author DC Mallery has clearly done his research as Darksight is brimming with science and technology that makes it feel like a Michael Crichton novel. ... Ultimately it is a book that asks what you would do if you could have your one big wish come true: your sight restored...but there is always a caveat, and sometimes those caveats cost lives.” - San Francisco Book Review.
Kudos for DC Mallery’s CASSIA:
“Where does research end and madness begin? What would we do to save those most important to us? “Cassia” by DC Mallery is a dramatic thriller examining these questions with a profound depth of emotion. Jack is a brilliant, obsessed protagonist whose decision-making is at best flawed, but proves most interesting throughout the book. The storyline alters from drama to thriller in a flawless manner, the pacing of the action is well done. An excellent read.” Awarded Five Stars - The San Francisco Book Review.
“An electric storyline, impeccable character development, and thought-provoking implications make Mallery’s work a must-read for all audiences.” - The US Review of Books
“All the components of a truly stunning psychological thriller are found within the pages of ‘Cassia,’ from the characters to the dark and haunted scenery, and the twists abound. Readers that love being kept up at night with their books and enjoy the unreliable, sociopathic personalities are sure to find the ideal concoction within these pages. You will not see this one coming, and it is so worth the read.” Awarded 5 Stars - Reader Views
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
DC Mallery is a writer of suspense/thrillers and other novels, as well as short fiction. He can be found at www.dcmallery.com and on social media @dcmallery.
Daniel Mallery, CASSIA
