And I walk toward the door, holding tight to the strap of my bag, ignoring the way my heart pounds against my ribs.
This is it.
Time to save some lives.
CHAPTER FOUR
BLAKE
Someone opensthe door while my arm is halfway to the bell. A woman, not much older than me, and dressed from head to toe in black. For a moment, I wonder if she’s one of us and beat us here, but then she speaks.
“Dr. Hyland?” She pulls the door and looks at me like I have something in my teeth. “You’re late.”
“Oh—I apologize. I?—”
“Let’s go.” She steps aside and gestures for me to enter. No introduction. No pleasantries. The complete opposite from the house we just left.
I cross the threshold into a massive foyer. A huge crystal chandelier hangs overhead, its bulbs dim. The interior matches the exterior. Cold and quiet. It’s like one of those staged houses, except there’s no way in hell I’d be buying. You’d never know it was Christmas Eve in here.
She walks me over to a sweeping staircase that leads to the second floor. The front door closes with a thud, and I jump. “Mr. Patton was expecting you fifteen minutes ago.” Her voice is flat, emotionless. “Follow me.”
Damon is in my ear, barely audible through the comm. “I’m at the side entrance. It’s locked but I can get through. Give me two minutes.”
I don’t respond. She’d hear me and we’d be screwed. Knowing he’s close helps to steady my racing heart though.
She leads me down a long hallway lined with expensive art. I wish I could make some kind of small talk. Comment on the weather. Anything other than the echo of our footsteps on the marble. It’s clear she doesn’t want to talk, and even if she did, I shouldn’t. It’s too early to poke around for information.
We reach the staircase and start climbing. Every step makes me hyperaware of how loud my breathing sounds. The house is so quiet, it’s unnatural. There’s no life anywhere.
As we go, I make mental notes of everything I see. Exits and windows, rooms with closed doors.Where are they keeping the victims?
Damon’s voice picks up again. “I’m in. Heading toward you.”
My pulse quickens, but I keep it hidden except for the tension creeping into my shoulders.
Finally, she stops and opens a door. “Here we are.”
It’s a stocked exam room. There’s a medical table with stirrups in the center, cabinets to the side, and other standard equipment like an IV pole, a portable ultrasound machine, even a crash cart in the corner like they’re preparing for complications.
Everything else about this house seems residential… and then there’s this.A fucking exam room.They must have been preparing for this day for a long time. Either that or this isn’t the first time they’ve hired a resident for their “checkups.”
“Mr. Patton will be with you shortly.” She gestures me inside and leaves before I can ask a single question.
“I’m in a room on the second floor. An exam room. Alone, for now,” I whisper to Damon.
“I know where you are. You’re never out of my sight, Angel.”
I smile, feeling some relief. I may be alone in this room but I’ve never been truly alone.
I set my medical bag on the counter, keeping it positioned so I can reach the hidden compartment holding my taser quickly. My stethoscope goes around my neck, and I wash my hands in the sink against the wall.
“There’s only one other closed door. No guards,” Damon whispers.
Weird. I figured there’d be a bunch more rooms. “Maybe they’re all stuffed in one?”
I pull out supplies from my bag with shaky hands, arranging them on the counter like I’m actually preparing to do this job. Blood pressure cuff. Penlight. Gloves. It’s all so surreal. I know it’s my hands going through the motions, but I’m in another place mentally.
Footsteps sound from outside the door. Multiple pairs.
