Sweet Billionaire Stepbrother(38)

“You work at the downtown rehab center?”

Cagey, I answered, “Yeah. Does this have to do with any of my patients?”

“I sorry but I can’t say anymore until you get here. Can you be here by five this afternoon at the latest?” It was more of a command than a request.

Glancing at my watch I saw that it was three already, I couldn’t wait another two hours. “I can get there in the next hour.”

“Even better. Maybe you can bring a friend or family member with you?”

My blood instantly ran cold. “Why?”

“It’s just a suggestion, Miss Forbes, but it’s up to you.”

I scribbled the address he gave me onto a piece of paper. This was scaring the shit out of me and even more so because I had no idea what it was about. I knew the person on the other end of the line was only doing their job, but did they have any clue as to how upsetting it was to get a call like that out of the blue and not be given any real information.

Taylor gave me a quizzical look. “You look pale. What’s wrong?”

“Um, I just got this weird phone call. I have to go to the police office in the city. They want a word with me.”

“Really? What about?”

“I wish I knew. It was a strange conversation and it’s freaking me out. I’m thinking it must have something to do with one of my patients, but he wouldn’t give me any more information until I got there.”

Still clutching the piece of paper I’d written on in my hand, I grabbed my car keys from the counter and headed towards the door.

“I’m going to see what it’s all about. Be back soon.”

“Can I come with you?” Taylor asked, wrinkling her nose. She hated not knowing what was going on even more than I did.

“Oh honey, it’s going to be boring as bat-shit. I’ll have to fill in forms and probably answer a load of questions. I’m not exactly sure what to expect, but one of the girls at work told me about this happening to her once.”

“Damn, it doesn’t sound good.”

Worry knitted my brows together.

“I know. Sometimes it’s about a patient who has been in another accident—which I hope to God it’s not.”

Mentally I ran through the list of patients I’d been working with. I didn’t want anything bad to happen to any one of them.

“I just didn’t think I’d be called on so early in my career. I mean, I’m only a casual staff member. I wonder why my boss wasn’t called instead?”

Taylor moped. “You’re going to miss the best part of the show.”

I laughed out loud. “I think I’ll survive. You can fill me in later, okay?”

Walking to my car, I wondered if I should have changed into something smarter and more professional than the jeans and t-shirt I was wearing. The thought lasted all of fifteen seconds—the sooner I got there, the sooner I’d know what was going on.

I drove in silence. Usually I played my favorite playlist and sang along, but I was feeling sick in the pit of my stomach and dread filled me the closer I got to the police station. My hands trembled lightly as I parked the car and made my way inside.

Grateful for the air conditioner that offered relief from the outside heat, I announced myself at the reception desk and was told to sit and wait. Fifteen minutes later, Sargent West appeared from an office out the back.

“Miss Forbes. Thank you for coming so soon.” His tone was polite, yet distant. “Sorry for the wait, I was busy on a phone call.” Maybe this was just routine for him, but I was virtually biting my nails while I agonized waiting for him.

“No worries.” I gave him a half-arsed smile.

“Follow me.” His beady eyes were hard and cold.

Goosebumps scattered my skin and I rubbed my arm with one hand to try and warm myself.

A single pot plant against the stark white wall did nothing for the office he led me into, neither did the bright light and cheap furniture. It was only when I saw three pictures on his desk, two of who I assume were his children and one of a woman with the two kids, that I managed a genuine smile. Detective West was human after all. Unless this was someone else’s office, of course.

He pointed to the chair closest to the door and I sat down, crossing my legs and arms as I waited. He lifted a single file off his desk and opened it.

“Is Carmen Fernando a patient of yours?”

I breathed in sharply. Of all the people, of the twenty-five patients I had seen over the past year, it had to be Carmen?

Too stunned to speak, I nodded.

“Her mother asked for you by name even though you aren’t the senior staff member at the rehab center.”

“W . . . what happened? Is Carmen okay?”

“She’s alive, but barely. The poor girl was hit by a car.” A fleeting glimpse of sympathy passed through his eyes. “She’s in hospital, but she’s in a critical condition.”

I swear the air conditioner sucked all the oxygen from the room. My head was spinning.

“Whose car was she in this time?”

So help me God, if her father had been drink-driving again.

“She wasn’t a passenger. A car ran her over.”

My hand flew to my mouth to try and stifle my scream.

“No. Oh, no.” I couldn’t control the trembling of my hands. Detective West placed a boney hand on my shoulder.