Operation: Healing Angel

by Margaret Kay

  “No, we couldn’t trap them, so we opted to give them the slip.”

  “Exactly who is this Augie guy? My team tells me he’s a whiney, fidgety bastard. They couldn’t wait to sedate him last night and complained to me when he woke up, bitching, this morning.”

  St. Vincent laughed a full belly laugh. “Oh, I needed that this morning,” he said when his laughter subsided. “Yeah, Augie is a unique person, isn’t he? I’m pretty sure he isn’t too different when he’s not fearing for his life. But he stepped up with proof on a counterfeiting and money laundering case the Atlanta FBI was working. He’s a normal guy who worked for an unsavory business, found out what they were up to quite by accident, and turned whistleblower. We need more men like Augie.”

  “He’s driving my guys crazy,” Shepherd told him with a chuckle.

  “I’d be bitching too if I woke up to discover you drugged me. Honestly, have you ever asked the people you take into your protection if they would just drink your Mickey cooperatively and take a little night-night?”

  “We have once or twice when the subject exhibits the qualities of someone who will cooperate. But your man did not show those traits.”

  St. Vincent chuckled again. “No, I’m sure he did not.”

  “I’ll send you the link for the video testimony tomorrow. The session convenes at fifteen hundred, DC time.”

  “Okay, thanks. I’ll expect a call from you after on where and when we meet to transfer him back into your custody.”

  “That will be on Monday. I need that long to get his new identity set up. He’s going completely under.”

  “Is he aware of that? He has roots in Atlanta, brought my team to his church to retrieve the flash drive.”

  “Yes, he knows. It was actually him that wanted a new identity, knows his employer will take him out for turning over evidence.”

  “Okay. I’ll wait to hear from you. I have to go, Vinnie. I have an appointment I’m late for.”

  “Sure, I’ll send that meeting link an hour or so before the meeting tomorrow.”

  “I’ll be watching out for it. Thanks!” Shepherd said.

  Diana’s morning was packed with patients. Before she knew it, it was noon. As she walked Ben Rosenblum, another one of her patients to the front desk, Sam Shepherd entered with her mom’s help to get the door. She really did need to get a handicapped opener installed. “Hi,” she greeted with a smile. It was a forced smile. She still felt put off from the episode the previous evening. “No Doc today?”

  “Hello Diana. Hello Peggy. I didn’t think you worked on Saturdays.”

  “Taylor, the girl who normally works the desk in the evening and on Saturdays needed today off, so I am filling in,” Peggy said.

  “Mom, Ben will need three appointments next week. You may need to get creative with schedules to make it work.”

  “Thank you,” the man replied. “Have a good weekend.” Then he turned his attention to Peggy, who had taken her place behind the tall counter.

  Shepherd watched him. There was something about him that made him take notice. Something shifty.

  Diana was impressed that Sam remembered that her mom normally didn’t work on Saturdays. “Debra is just finishing up with a client. I’m sure she will be out to get you in just a moment.” She glanced out the window. “No Doc today?” She repeated.

  “He’ll join us before my physical therapy appointment.”

  “Okay, good,” she said. “I’ll see you on the floor in about an hour.” Then she hurried back down the hall. Her next patient waited on the physical therapy floor, and there was no reason to linger in the waiting room.

  Shepherd continued to watch the man, who was checking his calendar on his iPhone, negotiate times with Peggy. He surely hoped he didn’t sound that self-impressed or entitled when he was making appointments. He didn’t like the way he talked to Peggy. This asshat was beyond rude. He had to restrain himself from stepping in with a few choice words.

  Finally, the appointments were made, and he left. Shepherd’s eyes met Peggy’s. He could see by her expression that she was glad the prior patient’s needs were concluded, and maybe even a little embarrassed that he had seen the display. “If I am ever that insistent, please tell me to remember my manners.”

  Peggy smiled wide. “Most people try to be pleasant, but it is not always a fun thing to schedule medical appointments, I realize that.”

  “Well, you certainly did not deserve to be treated like that. I am sorry on his behalf. I know you went above and beyond to reschedule my appointments earlier this week, and then I had to cancel on Tuesday, anyway. I am very sorry if I was not pleasant during any of it.”

  “Colonel, trust me when I say that you were very pleasant. You were apologetic, asked kindly, did not demand anything, and said please and thank you.”

  Shepherd had not heard those words come out of the asshat’s mouth during the entire conversation. His tone was not kind, and he did make irrational demands. He gave Peggy a smile. “Thank you and I am sorry that not all do.”

  Just then, Debra came to get him. He realized that he was more tense after seeing the ungrateful SOB berate Peggy as he had. No, more accurately his muscle tension had increased because he had said nothing, and he really had wanted to. He was looking forward to the massage.

  Debra did not disappoint. When he rolled onto the main physical therapy floor an hour later, he felt much better. He had to admit that there was something about the heated table, the dark room, the soft music, and the aromatherapy scents that made the massage here so different from what he was used to with Vic and even different from the ones he received from Lexi on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. And maybe, too, it was because his phone was put away and he knew that he would not receive any calls.

  Doc joined them a few minutes into the therapy session. Diana had Doc do the hands-on portion, watching him and advising his technique. Shepherd was sad that she didn’t touch him after that until he laid on her chiropractic table. He knew his feelings for her were not platonic. His erection the previous evening had not been for no reason. When he laid atop her, his body reacted specifically to her.

  Diana decided to give Sam a thorough adjustment, given the level of sensation he had the previous evening. She adjusted every joint and put him completely back into alignment, including his hands and feet. “Make sure you soak in the hot tub this afternoon. I adjusted everywhere, so you might be sore.”

  Shepherd transferred himself back into his wheelchair. “Doc, go ahead and take off. I’ll talk to you later.”

  “Sure,” Doc said. He glanced back at the two of them as he left.

  “Diana, if you have a moment, I would like to ask you something,” Shepherd said.

  “Of course,” she replied.

  Shepherd could feel that she was still upset with him throughout the entire session. Even though she had a pleasant enough expression on her face, her answers were short, and she had been all business like this session. “Are you upset with me because I walked, fell, and took you down yesterday?”

  Diana felt anger flare because he could tell something was different with her despite her attempt to conceal her feelings. “No, but as I said last night, you don’t want to try that if you are not on the harness. I know you are feeling stronger. Your body just isn’t there yet. You need to be more patient.”

  “Diana, whatever I did, it was not intentional, and I am sorry. I missed you at dinner.” Diana appeared to get flustered.

  “You did nothing,” she insisted. “I had plans last night.” She tried not to sound too defensive or curt.

  “If I did something, you can tell me,” Shepherd said while watching her closely. She was bothered by his pressing it.

  “I know and there isn’t anything to tell. I have a packed schedule, Sam. I’ll walk you out and I’ll see you Monday.”

  “Okay. See you Monday.”

  He followed her from the room, disappointed she hadn’t confided what the issue was. Maybe on Mon
day she would after she had more time to think about it. She was a reasonable person. He would see how she was then.

  Diana slipped her favorite light blue dress on. She gazed at her reflection in the mirror. She was glad she had accepted Mike’s invitation to dinner. He was a likable guy. They studied well together. She considered him a friend, but why not be open to a possibility that it could be more? She rarely allowed herself time for such things. School, work, and studying always took precedence. And her last relationship when she was in Med School had ended so pathetically, with a whimper, that she was in no hurry to repeat it.

  Even as she poked her favorite silver dangly earrings through her lobes, thoughts of Sam Shepherd crept into her thoughts. He had given her the opportunity to tell him what was bothering her. She now regretted that she had not talked with him. His words that he missed her at dinner the previous evening echoed through her thoughts and her lips pulled into a small grin. Yes, she had missed him too, and she did wish she was getting dressed up for a date with him, instead of Mike.

  He arrived five minutes late. She watched out her window for him. Lateness was a pet peeve. She grabbed her purse and locked her door. “Hi,” she greeted, swinging the passenger door open.

  “Hi, sorry, I’m a little late. Traffic was horrible.”

  “No problem,” she replied. “Did you get through the medicinal herbs self-test yet?”

  “Let’s make a deal, no class talk tonight,” Mike said. “I like you Diana and I want to get to know you beyond class stuff.”

  Diana was taken aback by his words. Her work and her school were her life. She wasn’t sure what else she could talk about. But she was determined to enjoy the evening. “Deal, though I have to warn you, besides work and class, my only other interests are kayaking and hiking.”

  Mike chuckled. “I would love to hear about both.”

  Diana smiled. “And, I guess I do not know much about your out-of-class interests.”

  “Exactly my point of not discussing class.”

  “I will admit, if you have time for that many things outside of class, I am jealous,” Diana said jokingly.

  Shepherd put himself through a grueling work out after he had returned from his appointment with Diana. Then he soaked at length in the hot tub. He felt fatigued, but great. No pain. He enjoyed an early dinner, fish, cleaned the dishes up and then wheeled into his bedroom intending to catch up on some reading. He maneuvered into the workout room to use the device he kept on his treadmill.

  While in there, he realized that he had complete feeling all the way down his legs to his toes. No numbness. No sensations of pins and needles. No pain. He moved his feet from the rests on the wheelchair and placed his feet on the ground. He sat up taller in his chair. Certainly, if he stood there, he could hold on to the table and if he fell, his butt would re-seat itself in the chair.

  He grabbed the edge of the table and pulled himself to a standing position. He felt strong. He felt stable. He took a step, still holding onto the table. He felt steadier than he had the previous evening. He took a few more steps and even let go of his hold on the table. He took a few more steps.

  “Excuse me, Doctor Diana Palmer,” a female voice brought her attention to the two people who stood beside their table.

  Diana gazed over them both. They looked familiar, but she couldn’t place from where. “Yes, I’m Diana Palmer.”

  The woman opened a wallet and displayed a badge. “Madison Miller, FBI. I’m very sorry to interrupt your dinner, but I am going to have to ask you to come with us. Your expertise is needed. It is a matter of national security.”

  Diana’s eyes glazed over. Seriously? “National security,” she repeated.

  “There is a patient that urgently needs your help,” Madison said. Her eyes went to the man seated with Dr. Diana. “I’m very sorry to interrupt. I’m glad you at least finished your dinners.”

  “Dr. Palmer, please, we need to leave now,” Cooper prompted.

  Diana looked again at this blond man with the unusual honey brown eyes, trying to figure out where she’d seen him before. She was very confused. She nodded and came to her feet. Her eyes focused on Mike. “I’m sorry. I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

  Mike merely nodded. He appeared as stunned by this as she was.

  As the woman put the wallet with the badge into her pocket, Diana saw a gun holstered on her hip. It was partially hidden by her jacket. She followed this familiar woman from the restaurant, still trying to figure out where she’d seen her before. The man followed. For a fleeting second, she wondered if it was possible that they were not who they said they were. Was she willingly going with someone who meant her harm? She dismissed that thought as ridiculous. Who would want to hurt her? That kind of thing only happened in the movies.

  “Is your car here?” Madison asked when they exited the restaurant.

  “No,” Diana said. “But wait a second. I have a few questions. How did you find me here?”

  “We tracked your phone,” Madison said.

  Diana took her phone from her purse. She saw two missed calls from Sam Shepherd and a text message from him. She forgot she had silenced her phone earlier. She looked back up at the blond woman and man, and that was when it occurred to her that she had seen them at the Shepherd Security Building.

  “Wait a second, you work for Colonel Shepherd,” she said.

  “We do. And he is in excruciating pain. He tried to reach you, and when he could not, he dispatched us. Please, we must hurry,” Madison said.

  Diana nodded and rushed across the parking lot with them to the big, black SUV. From the backseat, she watched the man drive them, a route she knew would bring them to the ten-story office building near Woodfield Mall.

  “I’m sorry, what did you say your name was?”

  Madison shifted in her seat to view Dr. Diana. “Madison Miller. This is John Cooper,” she introduced. “Shepherd sent us to bring you to treat him. Something you did at your appointment earlier really hurt him this evening.”

  Diana doubted that. But if he was in excruciating pain, she didn’t mind the interruption. She felt bad that he had been unable to reach her. “He was fine when he left my office. This doesn’t make sense,” she said.

  When they arrived at the building, Cooper drove into the parking garage. They travelled to subbasement level two, and a private parking garage that was behind a gate and two garage doors that required Cooper to press his palm to a plate and enter a code into a keypad. Diana was amazed that the security duplicated what was in the building. She had to wonder who these people were and just what work was it they really did.

  The security process was repeated at the elevator. Diana glanced around the private parking area. She counted twelve vehicles parked there. For seven p.m. on a Saturday night, that struck her as odd. As the elevator door opened and they all stepped in, she reminded herself that this whole thing was odd. Colonel Shepherd said they provided armed security. Madison carried an FBI badge. If they were federal authorities, why didn’t he just say so? None of this made any sense.

  She quietly followed them to the door to Colonel Shepherd’s apartment, where Cooper repeated the palm press, code thing to unlock the door. The living room area was dark. A light glowed up the mouth to the hallway that led to his workout area and bedroom. She took the lead, assuming that was where he’d be. The sight that greeted her when she entered the workout room and gazed through the door into his bedroom proved that the two who came to get her had not been exaggerating.

  Sam Shepherd laid on his side on the bed. His face was twisted into an anguished grimace. Even from this distance, Diana could hear his gasping breaths and pain-filled moans. Doc knelt beside him on the bed. One hand grasped Shepherd’s hip, the other was pressed into his back.

  Diana rushed to them. “What are you doing?” She asked Doc.

  “Trying to help him. He said this pressure here makes the pain less.”

  “Help me roll him to his stomach!” She ordered
. She kicked her heals off after Shepherd laid face-down. She pulled the skirt of her dress up and straddled him. She felt over his lumbar region and hips. They were severely out of alignment, but not so bad that he should be in this much pain. Then her hands moved up his spine. At L-4 and L-5, she felt the culprit. He had severely decreased extension and left rotation. That would explain the majority of his pain. “Help me roll him to his side.” Doc helped her, and then she bent his knees up to his chest. She gave him two quick thrusts to release the pressure on the nerve.

  Shepherd’s body immediately relaxed. “That’s much better,” he said in what was still a breathy voice.

  “How did you get so badly out of alignment since this afternoon?” She then adjusted his hips, sacrum, and lumbar regions, all of which were spasming. “Doc, I need a large heating pad and an ice pack to put on his lower back.”