The doctor nodded as he pulled out another syringe and tube before turning toward Dalton. "I'd like to take some of your blood as well so I can make sure the drug is fully out of your system."
Dalton flopped out his arm. "If this will help put Brasov behind bars, you can have whatever you need."
I knew something was up when the doctor went still and started to turn pale. My heart sank. "Dr. Brashear?"
There wasn't an ounce of blood in the man's face when he turned to look at me. "Anatoli Brasov?"
"Yes, how did you know?" I knew I hadn't mentioned Brasov's first name.
Dr. Brashear's lips thinned as he pressed them together.
"If you know something, you need to tell me."
"I'm not sure I can," the doctor replied. "I took an oath, and part of that oath is that I can't share patient information without their okay or a court order. If you have either of those, I'd be more than happy to tell you everything I know, but until then..."
I shot Dalton a quick look. He was staring at the doctor with wide, fear-filled eyes.
I knew about the Hippocratic oath that doctors took, and I applauded the man's dedication to his patients, but I really needed to know what he knew. "Can I ask a couple of questions, simple questions? If you feel like I'm asking anything that might violate your oath, you don't have to answer."
"You can ask, but I can't promise to answer."
"We suspect that Brasov is kidnapping and selling people. Do you believe you have treated one of his victims before?"
"Yes."
Okay, now we were getting somewhere.
"Was it someone he had already sold or someone Brasov had in his care?"
Dr. Brashear's eyes narrowed for a moment before he said, "Yes."
That wasn't a helpful answer.
I sucked in a breath when the meaning behind the doctor's words hit me. "You've treated more than one of his victims."
"Yes." Dr. Brashear's shoulders slumped. He looked relieved that I had gotten what he wasn't saying. "I've encountered Mr. Brasov on a couple of different occasions. He is an...abrasive man."
He was something all right.
"I know you can't violate your oath." I'd taken the same type of oath when I became a lawyer. "But you need to understand, this man is kidnapping people and selling them. He tried to do the same thing with Dalton. He drugged him and tossed him into a room so he could sell him to some rich guy."
"You should follow the money." Dr. Brashear cracked a smile. "Isn't that what they say in all those movies? Follow the money?"
"Are you saying we should be looking into who Brasov is selling people to?" Dalton asked.
Dr. Brashear shrugged. "That's what I'd do if I was trying to find answers."
Oh, I wanted answers all right. I just wasn't sure where to start looking for them. I'd follow the money, but I needed a starting point. I doubted Brasov's bank statements listed the money he made off of selling people.
"I might be able to get a list of the VIP customers who have come into the club," Dalton said.
I shook my head without even thinking about it. "That wouldn't be a good idea. We don't want Brasov knowing where you are."
Dalton snorted. "You don't think he already knows where I am? You didn't see the fight your boss started. Once Brasov thinks about it, he'll put two and two together and figure out exactly where I am. The man is an ass, but he's not stupid."
"I still don't think it's a good idea for you to go snooping. I'm sure one of the Russians can do that. It's kind of what they do."
"I'm sorry, one of the Russians?"
