“That’s what he said.”
“Then where do you get off with this bullshit that he’s dumped you for good?”
“It’s just…where my head always goes.” Her mom had left. Then her brother and sister. Her father had never made any bones about his contempt for her, especially at the end. “They’re the first people to really want me in their lives. I guess…I have trouble accepting it.”
“Or trusting it. You’re holding your breath, waiting for something bad to happen. When it doesn’t, you create it, even if you don’t mean to. It’s all you know. And it’s up to you to figure out why and how to change. All they want is your soul, princess.”
Yes, and that scared the hell out of her. “What happens if I give it to them and neither wants it anymore?”
Beck leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the dark table. “You won’t break. You’re too strong, Raine. The more important question is, how much happiness are you throwing away because you’re too afraid to give either of them a real chance?”
Maybe a lifetime of it.
She looked at Beck with bleak eyes. He patted her hand, then took her plate away. As he set it in the sink, the phone attached to his belt trilled. He yanked it from the clip. “And there are your knights in shining armor now. What do you want to do?”
Raine pulled the bottle from the brown paper bag. “Think. Got a shot glass?”
Beck pulled one from the cabinet and set it in front of her as he brought the phone to his ear. “I’ll be back.”
“What do you mean, Dr. Beckman has left for the day?” Hammer demanded of the office manager. “Explain.”
Liam glanced at his Calibre de Cartier. It wasn’t even noon. “You mean he’s not merely breaking for lunch?”
The petite woman stood behind the counter of the empty waiting room, looking at the pair of them as if she’d lost her patience. She shoved her glasses back up the bridge of her nose and straightened her shoulders. “No, he canceled the rest of his appointments about an hour ago and told me to close the office for the day. If you had an appointment, you’ll receive a call to reschedule. Now, if you’ll excuse me…”
The woman glanced pointedly at the door, jangling the keys in her hand. She made it more than clear that she wanted them gone, probably to enjoy her unexpectedly free Friday afternoon. Liam glanced at Hammer. His old friend knew Beck far better, but playing hooky at the last minute didn’t sound anything like the doctor. Beck could be a dodgy prick, but he wasn’t irresponsible.
Liam could see that Hammer was a bit suspicious as well.
“You’re Vicki, right?” Macen asked.
She looked surprised that he knew her name. “Yes.”
“I’m a friend of Dr. Beckman, and he’s spoken highly of your efficiency in the past,” Hammer explained. “We need your help. We’ve got an emergency.”
“If it’s medical, you’re better off in the ER.” She scrutinized them quickly and frowned in confusion. “Adjoining building, first floor, at the back. I can call and have someone take you on a stretcher or in a wheelchair, if you need.”
“No,” Liam corrected. “Crisis might be a better word. We have a missing person and think that Beck may have seen her recently. Do you know if he received any unexpected visitors?”
The forty-something office manager set her keys down and looked as if she was weighing how much to say.
“The woman is petite, a few inches shorter than you. Dark hair, blue eyes. She would have looked distraught,” Liam volunteered.
Vicki hesitated for a moment, then nodded. “She was here.”
Oh, thank Christ! Relief flooded through him, knowing she was safe—or had been an hour ago. Beside him, Hammer looked equally relieved. Liam couldn’t fathom for the life of him why she was with Beck, but he hoped like hell the sadist would have calmed her. Unless…
“Was she injured?” he demanded.
“No,” Vicki assured, her starch softening.
“And? What happened then?” Hammer demanded.
The woman shrugged. “I don’t know.”
Liam frowned. “How long was she here? Did she speak to Beck?”
“Yes. Less than five minutes,” Vicki said. “Dr. Beckman finished an appointment, then came out here to speak with her. I couldn’t hear the discussion, but the doctor seemed somewhat agitated. He canceled all his appointments. The woman you’re looking for left. The doctor took another call, then gathered his things and departed. He didn’t say where he was going.”
“He must have her,” Hammer said under his breath.
Liam agreed. He was grateful…but bloody confused. Her reasons for seeking out Beck now didn’t matter. He just had to lay eyes on her.
“Thank you, Vicki. You’ve been very helpful, and we’ll not delay you any longer,” Liam said.
Turning together, he and Hammer exited the office with its faux-friendly décor. They headed back down the corridor and bypassed the elevator to sprint down the stairs. Hammer was already reaching for his phone, scrolling through his list of friends.