Critical Diagnosis (9 page)

Emily nodded slowly, still not buying it. James extended his hand, and her niece let go of Lily’s hand and reached out for James’s. Lily caught Bethany staring at her and lifted her palms in a
go-figure
gesture.

With a satisfied smile, James led her niece to the car. “You, your mom and Mr. Bear can sit back here.”

Emily giggled and hugged her stuffed bear. “That’s not his name.”

James frowned. “Well, what’s his name?”

“Just Bear.”

“What kind of name is Just?” James opened the back door of his SUV and gave Emily an exaggerated smile.

“No, silly. His name is Bear.”

“Okay, that works.” He boosted Emily up into the vehicle. “Make sure Bear is buckled in.”

Once they were all settled in the vehicle, Lily studied James, who didn’t seem to be paying her much attention. He was so good with children. He’d make someone an awesome husband someday. He’d make an awesome dad.

Once they were on their way, he flicked a glance in her direction. His brow furrowed at catching her staring at him. “What?”

Heat crept up her neck and she quickly shook her head. “Just daydreaming.” She shifted in her seat and studied the changing landscape. The country homes gave way to brick buildings constituting a small town that had seen better days. Several storefronts were empty. Glancing over her shoulder, she winked at Emily, who was holding her mother’s hand. Lily really loved that kid.

Once they passed the center of town, they headed toward her childhood neighborhood. Her mother had rented half of a nondescript duplex. Not exactly located on the right side of the tracks. Some of the houses looked familiar; others had fallen into such disrepair as to be unrecognizable. One porch sloped forward under the weight of the junk stored on it. James slowed and turned on his directional. The first time she had come to the clinic, she was surprised to find it housed in a well-tended, green two-story home with only a small shingle with the words Orchard Gardens Clinic neatly painted on it. This was the only indication the home was actually a place of business. It seemed so cozy, quaint. Not at all the sterile clinic she had imagined.

Lily picked at a hangnail as James drove up the driveway and parked in the back parking lot. Her gaze was instinctively drawn to the pine trees bordering the property, separating the clinic lot from the apartment building behind it, shielding anyone who wanted to hide.
Stop it.

Throwing back her shoulders, she opened the car door for Emily. The child scooted out and took Lily’s hand. Lily swung it playfully and smiled. “It’s going to be all right, kid.”

James led them around to the front door. Up a short ramp landed them in a standing-room-only waiting room. Nancy, the nurse practitioner, had opened the clinic only twenty minutes ago.

A baby wailed in his mother’s arms. A few other kids played with beads on a curvy wire set up on a wood table. The adults nodded and smiled when James walked past. They all seemed to know who he was.

“Good morning,” James said. “We’ll have you back to see someone as soon as possible.”

“Thank you, Doctor,” the mother of the baby said.

Mrs. Benson, the older woman who had been there on Saturday, sat in a corner seat with her granddaughter on her lap. The woman looked absolutely exhausted. Lily noticed her first and went over to greet her. “Mrs. Benson, is everything okay?”

The older woman slowly closed and opened her eyes. “This one keeps me running,” she said tiredly. “She hasn’t slept well the past few nights. I’m worried the antibiotics aren’t working.”

Glancing over her shoulder, Lily watched James leading Bethany and Emily toward one of the examining rooms. She placed her hand on top of the older woman’s work-worn hand. “Give me a minute and one of us will check her out. Sometimes these things just take time.”

The little girl slipped off her grandmother’s lap and reached up and tugged on Lily’s hair. “Pretty.”

Lily took the child’s hand in hers. “Thank you, Chloe. Now sit here with your grandma. I’ll be back in a few minutes.” She cupped the little girl’s cheek and smiled into her chocolate eyes. “Can you do that for me?”

Chloe scooted back into the empty chair next to her grandmother and ran her little hands up and down the metal arms of the chair. Lily handed her a Winnie-the-Pooh book. “I’ll be right back. Do you want to read this while I’m gone?” The girl’s eyes opened wide and her little chubby hands clutched the book. Smiling, Lily hurried down the hall and met the small group in the cramped examining room.

Bethany glanced at her. “I feel so bad taking up your time when you have all these other people in the waiting room.”

“It’s okay. There are two nurse practitioners on duty—” he glanced at his cell phone “—and a buddy of mine agreed to come in and see a few patients today. There are a number of doctors who rotate through this facility. Including me.” He tipped his head toward Lily. “And your sister, of late.”

Emily seemed calm holding her mother’s hand.

“I’ll step into the hall. Give everyone more elbow room.” Leaning over, Lily planted a kiss on Emily’s forehead. “Dr. James will take care of you, okay, sweetie? I’ll be right outside.”

“Okay.” Emily nodded, squeezing her bear close to her chest.

Lily slid out of the room and made her way to the nurses’ desk. The nameplate read Nancy King. Ah, the infamous Nancy. The nurse put down the phone and looked up at her expectantly. “Morning. It’s Dr. McAllister, right?” The nurse smiled tightly, obviously too busy for idle chitchat.

“Yes, it is,” Lily said, a little surprised because she had never met the woman. Lily had worked at the clinic only on Saturdays, Nancy’s day off.

“Dr. O’Reilly told me you’d be in this morning.”

Ah.
“Can you make sure the bill for—” she pointed to the room down the hall “—my niece comes to me? I don’t want the clinic to absorb the fee.” Lily handed over her business card with her work address. “Please send the bill here.”

The nurse studied the card as if she didn’t know how to handle the request. The phone rang and the nurse gave her a curt nod before taking the call.

Lily made her way back down the hall as James was coming out of the room. A smile brightened his face. “Bethany is helping her get dressed. I drew some blood and did a quick exam. We’ll have to wait and see.”

Lily swallowed around a lump in her throat. “I’ve been praying it’s not a relapse.”

James touched her arm. “One day at a time.”

Little feet padded across the floor. Mrs. Benson’s granddaughter ran down the hallway and wrapped her arms around Lily’s legs. Lily touched the tiny braids crisscrossing the little girl’s head. “Hey there. Did you finish reading Winnie-the-Pooh?”

The little girl nodded emphatically. Something tugged at Lily’s heart. Mrs. Benson, her arms full of her granddaughter’s things, limped down the hall. “Oh, that child is going to wear me out.”

James offered his hand and Chloe eagerly took it. “Come with me.”

Mrs. Benson sighed in relief. “You’re a lifesaver, Dr. James. A real lifesaver.”

Lily patted the woman’s arm as she passed. “You’re in good hands.”

The older woman smiled for the first time. “I know, dear.”

EIGHT

L
ater that afternoon, Lily swiped her badge and pushed open the door to her lab. She snatched her lab coat from the hook and slipped her arms into the crisp, cool sleeves. Sarah, one of her assistants, looked up from the microscope. She tucked a long strand of silky, black hair behind her ear and slanted a sideways look in Lily’s direction. “I thought it was some major holiday that I wasn’t aware of.”

“I had a family emergency.” And the sketch artist at the police station had taken longer than she had expected. But the composite was done.
Done.
Maybe now they’d catch this creep.

“Everything okay?” Sarah sat on the stool and crossed her arms.

“My niece wasn’t feeling well. She seems fine now, but James took a blood sample to be on the safe side.”

Sarah seemed to stare right through her. Sometimes Lily forgot there were two other people committed to her research, as well. They may not have a personal stake in it, but they took pride in their work.

Sarah smiled convivially. “We’re on track, Doc. We’re going to have a treatment available soon. We won’t stop until we find a cure.” She tapped on the paperwork on the table next to her.

“From your lips to God’s ears.” Glancing around the lab, she realized for the first time that it was just the two of them. “Talia not in again today? That’s unlike her.” Talia had rarely had one sick day, never mind two in a row.

Sarah lifted her palm in a semishrug, distracted by something at her workstation.

“Did she call in today?” Lily’s gaze darted to the phone on her desk. The red light blinked, indicating she had a message. She strode across the room and picked it up. She pressed in a few numbers, then listened to the messages. None from Talia or from Human Resources indicating Talia would be out sick. Lily buttoned her lab coat. “That’s strange.”

Foreboding, like cool air from an air-conditioning vent, skittered across the back of her neck. Sitting on the corner of her desk, Lily brushed her knuckles across her chapped lips. “Everything been okay with you? Anything strange happen lately?” A detailed image of the mutilated rat left on her doorstep scraped across her brain.

Sarah tapped the cap of her pen against her lips. “No...?” She took a step closer. “I mean, other than the excitement at the O’Reillys’ party last weekend.” A hint of fear flashed in her eyes. “I thought that was just some random intruder.” Apparently, most of the guests hadn’t learned of the intruder’s connection to the clinic.

Lily threaded her fingers through her hair. “It’s probably going to hit the news soon, so I’ll tell you.” She relayed the recent incidences. “The guy seems to be specifically targeting me, but all the same, be careful coming and going to work. My car was vandalized in the parking lot.”

Sarah’s ivory skin turned deathly white. “Just great.” She pulled her cell phone from her lab-coat pocket. “I’m texting my boyfriend. He can pick me up after work. I’m not going to take any chances.”

“I don’t think you’re in danger, but it couldn’t hurt.”

“Do you think this could be some radical animal-rights group?” Sarah tipped her head toward the rats. “Someone left a rat on your doorstep.” She paused to let that sink in. “Once we had problems at the university I was working at. Some psycho started harassing all the researchers.”

Lily focused on buttoning her lab coat. “I don’t think that’s the case here.” She cleared her throat. “Unfortunately, I was in the wrong place at the wrong time at the clinic. I believe it has more to do with a druggie looking for a fix. Now he wants to make sure he doesn’t get caught.” And the jerk made sure she knew that he knew exactly who she was, making her feel vulnerable every minute of every day. Once again she cursed the stupid feature article in the newspaper profiling her research. Revealing her identity.

A new surge of fear swept over her. The news should be broadcasting the composite image soon. Had she done the right thing by pushing for the release of the image?

“This is crazy.” Sarah shook her head, muttering something. She bent over the microscope, indicating she was done discussing this.

A nagging feeling haunted Lily. “I’m going to walk down to HR and see if Talia called in.”

Her assistant’s head snapped up. “Wait. Do you think Talia’s in some kind of trouble?” Sarah fingered the top button on her lab coat. “I thought you said I’m not in any danger.”

Placing her hand on Sarah’s forearm, Lily said, “Let’s not jump to conclusions. Maybe she called in sick.” Fear radiated from Sarah’s dark eyes. “Unless you know of anything else that might be going on.”

Her assistant glanced down, then back up. She tapped a pen on the edge of the counter. “Talia’s absence probably has nothing to do with her being sick.”

“What are you talking about?”

“She told me not to tell you, but—” she hesitated a moment longer and tossed the pen onto the counter “—she didn’t get into the Ph.D. program.”

“Really?” Lily rubbed her forehead, confusion clouding her brain. “No wonder she seemed quieter than usual. She must have been devastated.”

“You could say that.” Sarah rolled her eyes. The two assistants had been known to butt heads. Sarah was well liked and had a quiet confidence. Talia was eager to please and boastful of her accomplishments. “Talia wanted to go to the state school so she could stay close by. Her mom’s not in the best health.”

“I’m surprised she didn’t get in. She had good grades. I wrote her a strong letter of recommendation. I wonder what happened,” Lily mused out loud. “Why didn’t she tell me?”

“Talia was worried you’d fire her. And I think she might have been embarrassed. She told everyone she was a shoo-in for the program.” Sarah picked up the pen and put on its cap. “You know what they say about counting your chickens before they’re hatched and all.”

“True, but she didn’t have to worry. She doesn’t need a Ph.D. to do the work she’s doing.” Lily’s gaze drifted to the spot where Talia normally worked. Maybe Lily’s letter of recommendation for Talia hadn’t held as much weight with the admission counselors as she had thought.

Sarah folded her arms over her white lab coat. “She doesn’t want to be an assistant forever. No one does.”

* * *

In the middle of the day, the halls of Medlink’s complex were bright and filled with people, a pleasant change from the gloomy atmosphere at night. Lily smiled and nodded at all the familiar faces, but kept her pace brisk. The employees didn’t bat an eyelash as she breezed past. She was never known for her idle chitchat.

“Hey there.”

Lily spun around to find Kara standing in the small kitchen nook in the front office. Her friend waved her over frantically. “Come here. I heard that guy who crashed the party has been relentlessly stalking you.”

Lily pulled her arms against her body.
Stalked
seemed like such a strong word. But he
was
stalking her, wasn’t he? She ran her fingers down the edge of her lab coat and forced a smile. “I’m fine, really. Thanks for asking.”

If Kara had registered Lily’s sarcasm, she didn’t acknowledge it. “Look over there.” Kara jerked her thumb toward Stephanie’s glass office. Muffled voices sounded through the closed door. “James and Stephanie are arguing.”

James is here?
She’d thought he’d be at the clinic.

“They’re arguing? About what?” Curiosity made Lily’s scalp tingle.

Kara lowered her voice. “I can hear a lot better when I’m sitting at my desk.” She arched her brows. “But of course, Stephanie asked me for coffee right when it was getting to the good part.”

“The good part?” Lily’s pulse kicked up a notch.

“Stephanie wants you to get out of town. Like, yesterday. I’m only getting bits and pieces now because I don’t want to make it obvious I’m listening. But she doesn’t want you in the carriage house. She’s worried you’ll bring danger to their grandparents’ doorstep.”

“Seriously?” Lily’s stomach hollowed out. “But my research.”

Ignoring her, Kara tossed her long hair over her shoulder. “This guy actually left dead rats on your doorstep?” She turned up her nose. “How gross.”

“It was one rat.”

Kara twisted her lips. “Still creepy.” She glanced toward the closed office door. “Do you think the rat came from Medlink’s labs?”

Lily slumped her shoulders and stuffed her hands into the pockets of her lab coat. Why hadn’t she thought of that? Denial?

“Listen,” Lily said, changing the subject, “did Talia call in sick today?”

Scooping the coffee grinds into the filter, Kara’s face brightened. “No. You mean to tell me the queen bee of research is out sick? She must
really
be sick.”

“Did Talia call in?”

“No. Maybe she’s too sick.” Kara went over to the sink and filled the coffee carafe. “Once I was so sick I could barely lift my head. But of course, Mrs. O’Reilly had urgent business I had to attend to.” She grimaced and glanced toward Mrs. O’Reilly’s office, which was next to her husband’s. She didn’t have an official job at Medlink. Mostly she ran social functions, but she still had an office. “Good thing I didn’t toss my cookies on her expensive imported rugs.”

“We’re not talking about you, Kara.” Lily gave her friend a close-lipped smile. “I’m worried about Talia. It’s not like her to not show up for work.” What if this stalker was targeting more than her? None of this made sense.

“Excuse me.” Kara brushed past Lily and poured the water into the coffeemaker and set the carafe on the hot plate. “Maybe she had a mental breakdown from telling everyone how great she is.”

Lily scratched the back of her head. “Talia’s really not that bad, is she? She’s a smart girl lacking just a tad in the social arena.”

“You think?”

“Be nice.” The smell of the rich coffee filled Lily’s senses. “Do you know if Talia lives alone?” She found her gaze drifting toward Stephanie’s office. From this angle, all she could see were James’s hands and arms as he gestured to his cousin in what seemed to be a heated discussion.

“I think she might live with her mother.” Kara opened the cabinet and pulled out two mugs. She glanced over her shoulder. “Can you imagine? And I hear her mother puts a lot of pressure on her. Talia’s the first one to go to college.” Kara shrugged. “Maybe that’s why she always goes on and on about her research and her plans for a Ph.D.” Lily detected a hint of compassion in her friend’s tone.

Lily tore off the lid to a coffee creamer. “Am I the only one who didn’t know Talia was rejected from the Ph.D. program?”

A flicker of a frown pulled at Kara’s lips before she recovered. “You’re always busy working. You rarely take lunch. The rest of us chat in the cafeteria. Besides—” she took the creamer and set it next to one of the mugs “—ah, I shouldn’t say.”

“What is it?”

“No.”

“Please, tell me.” Lily struggled to bite back her mounting frustration.

Kara leaned on the counter and braced her hands behind her. “Talia was upset because she assumed it was the letter of recommendation that was lacking.”

Lily’s chest grew heavy. “Why would she think that?”

“Apparently, she’s supersmart, has really good grades—she certainly tells us all the time—so she assumed the letter of recommendation did her in. Maybe she’s taking a few personal days because she’s mad at you.”

Lily smoothed a finger across her eyebrow. She had written a glowing letter of recommendation highlighting Talia’s attention to detail. Perhaps she’d contact the university and see if there had been a mistake in the admissions process.

Lily turned to Kara. “Any chance you can get Talia’s phone number? I’d like to check in on her.”

“Sure.” Kara lifted two mugs. “Let me wait for the coffee, then I’ll look up her home number on the computer.”

Lily hung back while Kara finished making the coffee. Based on the posturing she observed in the glass office, the intensity of the discussion between Stephanie and James had escalated. After arriving at Kara’s computer, Kara clicked a few keys, then wrote something down. “Here’s the number.” Kara handed the Post-it note to her friend. “Talia has also been talking about some guy. Maybe she’s all tied up in a new romance.”

“Missing work for personal reasons doesn’t sound like Talia. Work has always been important to her.”

Kara scrunched up her face. “You’re right. Let me try her phone number.” She dialed the number and waited. After a minute, she hung up. “Maybe she’s sleeping.”

Lily nodded. “Thanks. I’ll try her again later.”

The ache in the back of Lily’s throat told her something was wrong. Very wrong.

* * *

James found his cousin, Stephanie, in her well-appointed office adjacent to their grandfather’s windowed corner office. His grandfather spent less and less time here. James thought he’d never see the day. He ignored the nameplate to the right of his grandfather’s. It bore the name James O’Reilly, but it had been intended for his father. Not him. Those plans had come crashing down when he was fifteen. Now—in his grandparents’ eyes—it was James’s turn to take over since his father wasn’t around.

The thought of being stuck in a corporate office made him want to sign his reenlistment papers before he became trapped here.

Yet James also possessed a keen sense of obligation and a heavy dose of guilt. But just how much did he owe his grandfather? James stopped in Stephanie’s doorway. She had on a tailored suit and her blond hair was pulled back in a smooth bun away from her perfectly made-up face. Seated in a rich leather chair behind an expansive mahogany desk, she looked comfortable. As though she belonged. A feeling he’d struggled to achieve for most of his life.

Stephanie slowly lifted her gaze from the paperwork in front of her. Her eyes widening behind rimless glasses, she flipped a file closed and rested her laced fingers on it. “What brings you here? I figured you’d be at the clinic.” She turned her wrist, checking her expensive watch. James leaned on the credenza against the glass wall separating her office from the reception area. “We need to talk.”

Angling her head, she pursed her red lips. “Something that couldn’t be discussed over the phone? You’ve got me worried.” Her gaze shifted toward the door, then back to him. She lowered her voice. “Security briefed me on the incident in the parking lot.”