by Natalie Ann
They rode down in silence now, then headed out to the parking lot. “I’ll see you in a couple of days,” she said. He nodded and walked in the other direction. She turned toward her car. “Shit!”
He was back at her side fast. “Well now, Doctor, is that any way to talk?”
It was wrong, she knew it, but she couldn’t stop it. All of those years of control flew out the window just now. Right in front of her. Her brand new Mercedes that she’d had all of three weeks had two tires slit.
“Sorry. I think that warranted it,” she said with a nod toward the tires.
“Guess you don’t make everyone feel good after all.”
Feel Better
Ian had nothing else better to do, so he called it in and then stood there while an officer made a report. There was no reason to hide that he was seeing the city shrink. Everyone knew what had happened and that he’d need a release to return to work. Nothing to be embarrassed about there.
“Any idea who could have done this?” Officer Richards asked her. He was young, only on the force a few years, and glancing at the sexy doctor more than he should be. But since Ian was guilty of it himself, he didn’t say anything. She was something to look at, for sure.
“If I knew that, I’d tell you.”
“Any patients you’ve ticked off lately?” Richards asked.
“I’m sure a few. But again, client-patient confidentiality. I couldn’t give you the names even if I wanted to.”
“There’s not much we can do then. I’ll check and see if there are security cameras in the parking lot.”
“You could ask around for witnesses too,” Ian jumped in to say, wondering why that hadn’t been brought up.
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll go inside and talk to the receptionist at the front desk.” Richards wasn’t doing a good job of hiding the flush on his face.
The officer left and now the calm doctor was standing there scrolling through her phone impatiently. “Do you need a lift home?”
She looked up, startled. “Yes. I’d actually appreciate that. I’m even going to break a cardinal rule with letting a patient know where I live. But I need this towed to the dealership first.”
“I know a guy, if that is what you’re looking for.” He knew a lot of people. It came in handy.
“I was just going to call the dealership,” she said.
“You could do that. Probably pay a lot more, but sure go ahead.” It wasn’t his concern.
“This is going to cost me enough as it is. If you know someone and they could get here right away, I’d appreciate that too.”
He pulled his phone out, found his contact and made the call. “Peter. Price here. I’ve got a job for you.” He gave out the information and then disconnected the call. “He’ll be here in about ten minutes.”
“How did you manage that so fast? Have some people on the inside?” she asked, smirking at him.
“Mick’s son owns a garage.”
“Mick, as in your partner?”
“Yes. He said he’d drop what he was doing and come over.”
“Thank you,” she said.
“No problem.”
They stood there now, the two of them looking around the parking lot. He was comfortable with the silence. He figured she was too, except she said, “What do you think about the weather?”
He burst out laughing. Guess she could make people feel better, even if they weren’t in her office getting grilled. She got points for that.
***
Cam was annoyed. Ticked off. Furious even.
She was trying not to show it, but it was hard. Keep calm and move on. She’d lectured herself enough that a professional would do that. Not swear, not think a bad boy was worth a thrill, not even to lose her patience over her car.
It was the first time something of hers had been messed with. It probably wouldn’t be the last either. It just had taken years for it to happen.
She was highly regarded in this area for giving testimonies in court. Her educated opinion. Medical analysis. Whatever words the attorneys wanted to put on it, she was sought after.
But with that oftentimes came a price. People trying to bribe her. Blackmail her. Shut her up.
Normally she brushed it off. Again, those years of control put her in the professional position she strove for. She was fully aware that clients and patients alike spoke in anger but never really made good on those threats. Which was normally all it was. A threat.
She took precautions at her house. Cameras outside and inside her property. That had always seemed good enough.
She’d never been vandalized. Never really had anything more than verbal threats. Until now.
The tow truck was there in less than ten minutes, and in that time she’d already called the dealership and explained what happened. They said they’d send a driver over for her in the morning to pick her up when her car was ready. She didn’t have any appointments until ten, so it worked out fine.
“Are you ready now, Doc?” Ian asked her.
“Cam,” she said. They were off the clock. He was helping her out. No reason to be formal. She could drop a little of her protective shield.
“I expected you to go for the longer version. More professional.”
She smiled as she followed him down a few rows of parked cars. “If I’m aiming for professional, then I’d say call me Dr. Mason, Detective.” She might be pushing it, but she didn’t see any harm in it at the moment.
He’d made a point with her name and what she called herself. But it was the one thing she hadn’t wanted to change all those years ago. She was Cam, whether she changed her behavior or not.
His lips twitched. “Ian is good. In or out of the office.”
He stopped in front of a black SUV with tinted windows, and that didn’t surprise her in the least. Big, mean, and dark looking. Exactly the type of vehicle he’d drive. One she would have been drawn to in the past. She climbed in the passenger side and buckled in, then gave him her address.
“Sorry to be taking up so much of your time tonight.”
“Not a problem. It’s not like I’ve got anything planned at the moment. Not until I get that release.”
She laughed. “Are you trying to guilt me into it?”
“Would it work?” he asked, looking at her.
She liked this side of him. One that wasn’t guarded. Of course, he wasn’t all that guarded in her office either. Just not really forthcoming, which was completely different. “No.”
“Worth a shot. I get the feeling you’re tough as nails and everyone knows it. Most would be upset, shaking or crying right now. Worried about their safety. Not you.”
She was good at putting up a front when needed. Years of practice. “There are a lot more important things in life to cry about than slashed tires on a brand new car.”
“Even more reason to be mad.”
“Oh, I’m mad, all right. But I can’t do much about it. As for being worried about my safety. I’m not stupid. But right now there isn’t an immediate threat.”
“To anything other than your pocketbook.”
“No crap,” she said. Those tires were going to set her back close to a grand.
“I like that you aren’t so professional outside of the office.”
“Don’t get used to it. You’ve caught me at a weak moment and for some reason I feel you’re one of the few that might understand that.”
She couldn’t remember the last time she slipped like this or even admitted it to herself let alone another person.
“That I don’t have weak moments often?”
“Exactly.”
They were at a red light and he turned to look at her, really look at her. “You’re taking notes right now, aren’t you?”
She smiled and winked at him. “What do you think?”
“I think I’m always on the clock whether you admit it or not. But if it gets me closer to my release, I can play along.”
She laughed, surprised she’d felt the urge t
o. That she was pretty relaxed at the moment, with a tingle of that thrill she was missing in her life. “You’re a pretty sharp detective.”
“An idiot could have figured out what I just did.”
“Oh, I don’t think so. Brick house on your right,” she said when they turned down her street.
“Want me to go in and check the house for you?”
She paused for a minute. “Why?”
“Because your car was just vandalized. Don’t you want to make sure your house is fine?”
She hadn’t thought of that. She should have but didn’t. He was actually making her a bit more nervous than she was before. Correction, she hadn’t been nervous. She’d been pissed. Now she was slightly nervous.
“I would have gotten a notification from my alarm system if anything wasn’t right. I should be good.”
“So you do protect yourself then?”
“Probably better than you since you aren’t armed.”
She was getting ready to close the door when he said, “Who says I’m not armed?”
“You had to hand your gun over during the investigation.”
“Police issue, yes. You think it’s the only gun I own?” he said. “I killed a homeless teen hopped up on heroin. I don’t think anyone is going to come after me for that. She’s got no one. No one seeking revenge. They can’t even find her family right now.”
She was surprised he’d brought that up. Brought up the incident at all. “And that bothers you, doesn’t it? That someone died and they may not be grieved? That they died alone? That you shot her and she might not be missed by anyone.”
The muscle in his jaw ticked. “Someone is missing her. Even if it’s her drug dealer,” he said. “But I saved my partner and that’s all that matters. I’ll see you in a few days, Doc.”
She’d pushed her luck, she knew it, but she wouldn’t be sorry about it either.
Type of Encouragement
“I had to open by myself this morning,” Tiffany said the next day. She was sporting what some guys might call an adorable pout, but to Cam it just raised her hackles. Not that she’d show that, because she never did.
“I had some car trouble when I left last night.”
“Is everything okay?” Tiffany asked.
Since Tiffany looked concerned, Cam took a deep breath and calmed herself. Tiffany was silly and superficial, but not a bad person. Sweet in some ways, just annoying in others. Like the way she was dressed today. A tight white T-shirt with a jean skirt and leather flip-flops. It wasn’t a beach party; it was a professional office.
“Someone slashed two of my tires. My car had to be towed and I just picked it up at the garage.”
“At your house? Someone broke into your garage?” Tiffany asked, her mouth hanging open.
“No,” Cam said. “Here in the parking lot. When I left, it was hard not to miss it.”
“Oh. Maybe I should pay more attention. I didn’t even notice anything.” Tiffany pursed her lips. “Wait, you don’t park in the back, do you?”
“No, Tiffany. I’m out front. But thank you for thinking of that. If you do ever notice anything, please let me know.”
Tiffany parked in the back because by the time she got here at exactly nine each morning—sometimes a few minutes after—the front lots were filled and she had to go around back. Probably leaving and entering that way too.
“Do you know who could have done it? Did you report it? You had that sexy detective here with you when you left, right? Maybe he could help you.”
Cam sighed. “No, I don’t know who did it. I did report it to the police though.” She wasn’t going to address anything in regards to Ian.
“I bet it’s someone from the Arrow trial.”
“Tiffany, you know I can’t divulge any information on any patients. Nor can I release names to the police department. Nor can you if someone calls and asks.”
“But everyone knows about the Arrow trial. How is that breaking any laws?”
“Confidentiality,” Cam corrected and wondered why she had to again. Tiffany didn’t get it; she never would. She greeted clients and patients, gave them their initial paperwork for insurance purposes and scheduled appointments. Not much more.
Tiffany wasn’t allowed to access files. She didn’t type any notes. She didn’t have anything to do with any personal information. Only Cam had access to that and only Cam ever would. Everything was electronic and everything was backed up on a server offsite.
“Oh,” Tiffany said. “Well, at least you got your car back. I made coffee already too. Would you like me to get you a cup before your first appointment in twenty minutes?”
“That would be nice. Thank you for offering.”
“Cream, no sugar, right?”
“Yes,” Cam said, making her way through the inner office where patients waited before they were called in. There was a smaller area out by Tiffany where paperwork and appointments were taken care of.
Under it all, Tiffany was a nice girl. Just a bit ditzy and not having her priorities in the right place.
Cam would like to blame it on the generation, but she didn’t want to cast blame on a whole generation when it seemed everyone else did. Not all twenty-somethings were like Tiffany. She sure the heck hadn’t been like any of the twenty-year-olds she went to school with.
Well, correction. By the time she was twenty she was figuring out everything she’d done wrong and why and trying to make all those changes at once.
Top of her class, up and coming. She had the ability to change her demeanor and tone to match her patients, or meet their needs. She could be cool, she could be nice, and she could be sympathetic. She gave them what would work the best, all the while keeping a safe distance. Controlled. She’d mastered that years ago. Well enough to get away with things under her parents’ noses.
That was probably why she was so good. She never got attached, even when she should have. Even when sometimes she felt she’d like to. Even when she wanted that risk and thrill. When she was done, she moved on. Maybe she was just heartless. She’d explored that possibility too.
Bottom line, she just wanted to help. Her goal had been child psychology and that was where she started out. Trying to figure out why she behaved the way she did.
But it was harder for her to keep her distance with the younger kids. Harder for her to shut herself off. That was when she realized she wasn’t so heartless after all.
She kept thinking of the reason she went into that field, and at times she worried it’d cloud her judgment. So she’d moved away from it.
Did she still see kids now and again? Sure. Pampered, wealthy clients brought their kids to her to talk. A child like she used to be. But she never took on serious mental health diagnosis in children. She referred them on now.
Tiffany brought her coffee in and placed it on her desk. “Let me know if you need anything else.”
“Thanks, but I think I’m good. Just let me know when my patient arrives.”
“Will do,” Tiffany said, then strolled out of her office, shutting the door behind her.
***
A little before four-thirty, Ian made his way into Dr. Mason’s office. She was Dr. Mason to him right now. Especially after he felt tricked into saying what he did to her when he dropped her off the other day.
He’d been frustrated by his lack of control resulting in those words, when he realized he had no one to blame but himself.
She hadn’t asked him specific questions about the incident on the way home.
She hadn’t said much at all about it. Not until he brought it up. Not until he had made the comment about why he was still armed.
He didn’t have to answer her. He could have just said bye and pulled away, but he defended his actions. Like he’d been doing for weeks.
Everyone told him to stop doing that. That he’d done nothing wrong and the investigation would prove it. He knew that. He knew Mick was lucky to be alive too. But it didn’t stop the fact that he’d killed s
ome teenager.
She might have been a junky. Probably a prostitute too. But she’d been someone’s daughter at one point in her life. And someone, he hoped, was looking for her. Someone might need that closure.
But he’d been told to let it go. That he couldn’t and shouldn’t do anything about it.
She was stabbing Mick. She would have killed him. He almost died as it was, and would have if Ian didn’t wake back up and call 911 before the pain in his head forced everything black again.
Why couldn’t he remember much from that night? Just waking up a few times, then passing back out.
“Well hello there, Ian,” the secretary said to him, all bright-eyed and smiles. Tiffany. That was what Cam had said her name was. He didn’t forget much in life. Always caught the details and held onto them like a Doberman with a T-bone in his mouth.
That Ian couldn’t remember much from that night was more than slightly frustrating.
“I’ve got an appointment at four-thirty.”
“She’s expecting you. Said for you to go right into her office.”
“Thanks,” he said.
He walked through the waiting room between the front desk and Dr. Mason’s office after Tiffany hit a button to let him in, knocked on the open doorframe, and waited until Cam looked up.
“Ian. Come on in.”
He nodded, then walked in and sat in the chair again, waiting for her to get her pad and walk from behind her desk.
“No greeting?” she asked. “Are you still annoyed from the other day?”
He smiled. He wasn’t going to let her know that he’d been ticked at himself. She was just doing her job, even if he hated it. Even if he put himself in that situation.
“Not at all, Doc.”
She lifted her eyebrow but didn’t correct how he’d addressed her. He didn’t think she would. They were in the office. She said she was formal here and he didn’t think she’d back down from that.
“Anything you’d like to talk about today?” she asked.
He looked at the navy pants she had on. Nice and fitted to her body. It was hard not to miss that when she stood up and walked to the chair across from him after she’d shut the door.