The Devil You Know

by Morgan James

  Three excruciating hours later, Victoria sat back in her chair and rubbed her temples. She felt as if she’d been through an emotional wringer, and she hadn’t even reached the pinnacle of the day yet. Already, she’d had to play referee during several altercations between Mr. and Mrs. Walters, and console two weeping patients—one of whom was Mrs. Walters herself, as well as her second patient of the day, Mr. Norris.

  On the cusp of retirement, Philip Norris was apparently having his two-thirds life crisis. They’d had a progressive half hour before he’d broken down and sobbed uncontrollably for the remainder of their session. She empathized with the man. She worried too, occasionally, that she’d end up in his shoes—more than halfway through life, all alone. On days like these, she longed to have someone to go home to, someone who would welcome her with open arms, cuddle her close and kiss away the sadness.

  Along with that train of thought came the memory of Blake’s eyes burning into hers this morning. She let out a heavy sigh. So much for pushing him from her mind. Pulling open the bottom drawer of her desk, she extracted her purse and locked up her files before striding into the reception area. Phyllis was watering the plants near the windows and turned to Victoria with a smile as she approached.

  “All done for the day, Doctor?”

  Victoria nodded and scrunched up her nose. “Here, anyway. I still have to go to the police department, then stop by the hospital and check on Kate.”

  Phyllis affected a sympathetic look. “Would you like some company?”

  Touched by the offer, Victoria smiled. “I couldn’t ask that of you. Besides, I have no idea how long it will take.”

  “All right,” the older woman conceded, “but if you need anything at all, just let me know.”

  “I appreciate it. And thank you again.” She cleared her throat. “Especially for the advice.”

  With a wink, Phyllis ushered Victoria out the door, and she rode the elevator down to the lobby, heart racing in anticipation. Would she catch a glimpse of Blake, or was he busy making rounds? The doors slid open and she stepped from the small compartment, already scanning the large open area. Disappointment settled in her stomach when she realized the room was empty. She’d just reached the front door when footsteps echoed in the hallway to the left, and Blake rounded the corner.

  His steps hitched as he saw her, and she froze with her hand on the door. They locked eyes across the room, tethered by some invisible connection that seemed to go soul-deep. Her hand dropped from the door and she took a step toward him just as she heard Benny call Blake’s name from the control room. His eyes darted to the left then flicked immediately back to her. He held her gaze for another moment before nodding, and Victoria released a sigh as he turned away and strode toward the building manager.

  Pushing open the door, Victoria turned her face upward, basking in the warm glow of the sun, and took a deep breath. Maybe there was hope, after all. He hadn’t looked upset or angry—he’d just been his normal, intense self. Hitching her bag higher on her shoulder, she crossed over to the parking garage and used the key fob to unlock her car.

  Nearly half an hour later she found herself glancing around the bustling police department downtown. The harried-looking officer waved her over to the enclosed desk and spoke through the glass. “What can I help with, ma’am?”

  “Hello.” She shifted uncomfortably on her feet as she introduced herself. “I’m looking for Mister, um, Detective Sanchez.”

  The officer nodded and pressed a button to unlock the door. “Come on in, he’s expecting you. Have a seat and he’ll be out in just a minute.”

  “Thank you.” Pulling open the steel door, she entered the room and took a seat in one of the hard, blue plastic chairs lining the hallway.

  Victoria hugged her purse in her lap and glanced around the busy space. The incessant ringing of phones and sounds of shuffling papers filled the air, countered by the din of low voices. Several long moments later, a short, dark-skinned man with graying hair rounded the corner, and she recognized him from their previous interactions.

  “Dr. Carr, how are you today?” He held out a hand as he approached, and she slipped her palm into his for a quick shake.

  “Fine, thank you. How are you?”

  His eyes widened exaggeratedly as he glanced around the room. “Just a normal day here. Come on back.”

  Victoria stood from the chair and followed the man to a small office off the large bullpen area. The office was crowded, most of the free space taken up by the wide, scarred desk and two tall, beige filing cabinets, both dented and beginning to rust in places. She took a seat in another of the standard issue chairs and leaned forward, eager to get the interview over with.

  Navigating his way through the narrow space, Detective Sanchez settled into the chair behind his desk and picked up a pen and yellow legal pad.

  “Dr. Carr, could you please walk me through the events of last night?”

  Victoria took a deep breath and relayed the events, Detective Sanchez intermittently asking questions, when she finally reached the end of her tale.

  “I’m not sure why,” she began slowly, “but it felt like I knew him.”

  “Why do you say that?” The detective tipped his head to one side, his eyes boring into hers.

  She shook her head as if she couldn’t quite figure it out either. “I just got this... feeling. I kind of wonder if that’s why he didn’t come after me. Maybe he didn’t want me to recognize him.”

  “You’re sure the suspect was male?”

  “Absolutely.” There was no hesitation in her voice this time.

  “And do you have any idea who might want to harm Dr. Winfield?”

  Victoria paused. “I’ll be honest, the first person who came to mind was her husband Steve.”

  “And why is that?”

  “Isn’t that the way it always works?” Her mouth quirked into a tiny smile. “It’s usually someone close to the victim: the husband, the boyfriend.”

  Sanchez’s expression didn’t change, though she had the feeling he wanted to outright agree with her. “Occasionally, that’s correct.”

  “Well,” Victoria continued, “I can tell you this—Kate and her husband, Dr. Steven Gerber, are in the middle of a divorce right now, and I know he harbors some animosity about the proceedings.” Detective Sanchez nodded as if the logic behind that was perfectly understandable. “As of now, they are still sharing the office at the healthplex, but I know they’re working to determine who gets to keep the practice. They did have an argument in the lobby a couple days ago.” Victoria paused as Sanchez jotted down notes. “But I don’t think Steve was responsible for this.”

  The detective’s features remained bland. “And why is that?”

  “I just... I know it sounds strange, but I saw him at the hospital. He looked... ravaged.” The detective lifted a brow, and she held up a hand. “I know what you’re going to say. But I deal with people on a daily basis, most of whom are dealing with serious emotional issues. In my personal, and professional, opinion, I believe his reaction was sincere.”

  Sanchez studied her for a moment before heaving a deep sigh and leaning back in his chair. “We’ll have to follow up with him as a precaution anyway. Is there anyone else you can think of? No lovers?”

  She shook her head. “No, not that I’m aware of. I can’t be one hundred percent certain, of course, but Kate was really hurt by Steve’s infidelity. I don’t think she’s been seeing anyone, but you’ll have to ask her for sure.”

  “Alright. Well, I think that’s everything we need, unless you can think of anything else?”

  Victoria hesitated, twisting the straps of her purse between her fingers. She released a deep breath and met the detective’s eyes. “I don’t know if this is in any way related, but a few weeks ago I released a patient from my care. I caught him antagonizing another patient of mine, Rachel Dawes, who took her own life shortly after.”

  Pity and anger flashed across Sanchez’s face i
n quick succession, and he held the pen poised in midair. “Name?”

  “Greg Andrews.” She watched as he scribbled the name on the legal pad. “He obviously wasn’t happy with me at the time. I referred him to a colleague of mine, Dr. Johnathan Martin, but apparently Mr. Andrews never reached out to him.”

  “Have you had any contact with Mr. Andrews since the altercation in your office?”

  “Last weekend.” Victoria nodded. “I was at the mall when he approached me. He asked to come back as a patient, but he got angry when I refused. He made some nasty remark and stormed off.”

  “Nothing since then?”

  She shook her head. “No.”

  “Think it could possibly have been him?”

  “I just don’t know. The men’s builds are similar, but with the mask and everything...” She raised her hands in a shrugging motion. “I can’t be certain.”

  “Thanks for coming in. We’ll contact you if we have any additional questions.”

  “Of course, anything to help.” She paused, and Detective Sanchez lifted his eyebrows in silent question. “I, um... I was just wondering if you had any news on Monique Henderson’s murder.”

  He regarded her shrewdly before responding. “We’re following some leads, but we don’t have anything concrete yet. Have you been contacted since that night?”

  She shook her head, picking absently at her thumbnail. “No. I just worry.” She met his eyes, her gaze sincere, almost pleading. “I don’t want there to be a second victim.”

  He let out a commiserating sigh and laced his fingers together over his stomach. “I don’t either. Until we catch this guy, just be aware of your surroundings and let us know if anything happens.”

  “Thank you.” She rose from the chair and shook his outstretched hand.

  She left the station, then slid into her car and drove to the hospital. She stopped at the front desk to get Kate’s room number and followed the attendant’s directions to the sixth floor. Peeking her head around the doorway, she saw Kate laying in the stark white hospital bed, Steve in a chair by her side.

  His head lifted and he waved her in. Climbing to his feet, he pulled her into a hug.

  “Hey,” Victoria said, pitching her voice low so they wouldn’t wake Kate.

  Steve released her and gestured to the chair he’d recently vacated. “Here, have a seat.”

  “How has she been today?” Victoria sank into the uncomfortable chair and glanced at Kate before returning her gaze to him.

  “Good, just really tired. No internal bleeding and her brain scan showed normal activity, so they don’t believe there’s any permanent damage. She’ll be weak for a bit, but she should be out of here tomorrow.”

  “That’s wonderful.”

  Kate shifted on the bed and her eyes fluttered open. At the sight of Victoria, a small smile crossed her face. “Hey.”

  Victoria stood and leaned over the bed to pull her friend into a gentle embrace. “How are you feeling, honey?”

  Kate lifted a hand to her head and laughed low in her throat. “Like I got hit by a train.”

  A sympathetic smile crossed Victoria’s face. “Do you remember what happened?”

  “Bits and pieces. I remember finishing up with Mr. DeLuca and going back to my office to get my things, but it’s a little fuzzy after that.”

  “Someone attacked you in your office. I don’t know exactly what they used, but he hit you pretty hard. You lost quite a bit of blood.”

  Kate nodded. “That makes sense. I remember hearing your voice, but it sounded really far away, almost like a dream.”

  Steve laid a hand on Victoria’s shoulder, his eyes fixed on his wife. “Victoria saved your life.”

  “I just wish I’d checked on you sooner.”

  Kate shook her head. “Don’t blame yourself. Thank God you were there at all.”

  “I’m going to go down and get some coffee, let you two talk for a few.” Steve stepped forward and kissed Kate on the cheek. “Victoria, do you want anything?”

  “No, thank you.” She smiled at Steve as he left the room, then turned to her friend. “He’s playing the doting husband pretty well.”

  Kate rolled her eyes, immediately picking up on the underlying question in Victoria’s tone. “Amazing how almost losing something can make you realize how badly you’ve messed up.”

  “Are you going to try to work things out?”

  “No.” Kate closed her eyes for a moment. “I don’t think I can ever forgive him. And, even so, I don’t think last night changed anything for him, either. He’s been nice, but I’m pretty sure his plans are still the same.”

  Victoria nodded. “Maybe he feels like he owes her. He did get her pregnant.”

  Kate’s gaze dropped to the sheet. “I heard him take a call a little while ago. He thought I was asleep, but I overheard him talking to her. He told her he loved her.”

  “I’m sorry.” Victoria laid a hand over Kate’s, unsure of what else to say. “Everything will work out the way it’s supposed to, I’m sure of it.”

  “Speaking of, you owe me some gossip,” Kate joked.

  Victoria knew her friend was trying to push away the sadness, so she allowed the change of subject. She dropped her head to the bed. “Oh, Kate. I think I messed up.” She told her friend all about Johnathan insisting she go with him.

  Kate’s lips pressed into a firm line as Victoria continued. “As if herding me out of there last night wasn’t bad enough, we left my car there so he had to take me back to work this morning. And naturally...”

  “Blake saw you show up with Johnathan,” her friend finished. The corners of her mouth turned down. “I know he’s your friend, but... I think this will just get worse unless you do something about it.”

  Victoria dropped her gaze, knowing her friend was right. “I know. But I think he truly does have my best interest at heart.”

  Kate looked like she wanted to say more, so Victoria eagerly changed the subject. “Do you think you’ll get released tomorrow, then?”

  Her friend lifted a hand in a shrugging gesture. “I feel fine, so as long as everything looks good, I don’t see why not. I’m ready to get the hell out of here and sleep in my own bed.”

  Victoria laughed. “You’ve only been here one night.”

  “One night too many,” Kate remarked with a grimace. “Hospital beds suck. I have a whole new appreciation for long-term care patients.”

  “You can come stay with me.”

  “No way.” Kate shook her head. “I wouldn’t impose on you like that.”

  “Don’t be silly, of course you can. You’re my best friend.” Victoria crossed her arms over her middle. “You really should have someone around, just in case. I don’t know who the creep was or what he wanted, but he came after you for a reason.”

  “I’m not too worried about it. My condo’s in a pretty safe area.” Kate shrugged. “Plus, I haven’t had a chance to update anything, so my old address is listed on almost everything. Unless someone would try to follow me home, they’d have a hard time trying to find me.”

  Victoria opened her mouth to say more, but motion outside the door caught her eye as Steve entered the room. She turned to her friend. “Listen, I’ll let you get some rest, but I’ll stop by tomorrow to see you. We’ll talk then.”

  Pressing a kiss to Kate’s cheek, she waved to Steve and drove home. Victoria unlocked her front door and stepped inside, then kicked her shoes off, curling her toes into the thick pile of the rug in the entryway. All she wanted to do was drink a glass of wine and unwind on the couch, maybe get caught up on a couple of her shows. Dropping her purse and keys on the side table, she walked down the hallway toward the kitchen.

  A strange tension hung in the air and her steps slowed as she glanced around. Something felt... off. She peered through the archway of the living room, her gaze flitting around the room. Nothing appeared to be missing, but she couldn’t help the prickle of unease that slithered down her spine. Her eyes
landed on the coffee table and she examined the cluttered surface. Her fingers trailed over the magazines and books stacked haphazardly in one corner. They looked slightly out of place as if someone had riffled through them then tried to put them back just the way they’d found them.

  She turned slowly in place. Something was wrong here. Backing toward the door, Victoria snatched up her purse and strode from the house, digging her phone out as she went. After everything that had transpired over the past couple weeks, it was all too much.

  Standing outside on the lawn, phone in hand, she hesitated. The police wouldn’t be able to do anything. There was no evidence of a break in, nothing missing that she could see. Victoria tapped her nails against the screen and bit her lip. There was only one person she could call.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Blake turned into the driveway and pulled alongside Victoria’s silver sedan, his heart in his throat. This was not at all how he’d imagined their next meeting. He’d driven like a bat out of hell the whole way here, breaking every law imaginable in his need to see her. He still wasn’t entirely sure why she’d called him of all people, but he wasn’t going to look a gift horse in the mouth. She’d sounded terrified on the phone, her voice vibrating with fear even as she’d tried to remain calm. Throwing the truck in park, he hopped out and was already jogging toward the front porch before the door fully closed behind him.

  Victoria popped up from where she sat on the bottom step and he froze in his tracks, eyes raking over her. Her arms were wrapped protectively around her waist. “Thanks for coming.”

  “Of course.” He ached to pull her into his arms but stopped himself just in time. He flexed his hands at his sides. “Want to tell me what happened?”

  She glanced off to the side. “It sounds silly, but I got home and things just felt... wrong.”

  Blake ambled closer, his steps slow and measured as he closed the distance between them. “Is anything missing or out of place?”

  “I... I’m not sure. I mean, I don’t think anything is missing, but it feels like someone went through my stuff, like it’s not exactly the way I left it.”