I started my search for Elijah Hamilton in the medical and mental service practitioners license database that I had access to. To no surprise, there were several screens worth of Elijah Hamilton licenses. Eventually, I went to the Brentwood Mental Health Services site and began digging. The building looked to be in an affluent area next to the Beverly Hills area where Brandon grew up. I browsed the directory looking for Elijah but found nothing. It was likely that he had moved on.
When I revised my internet search for ‘Dr. Elijah Hamilton and Brentwood Mental Health Services,’ a picture of the man on Brandon’s Instagram account popped up. The first link that came up was from a medical journal blog from several years ago. As I read about Elijah, my blood began to boil.
Born in 1974 in Santa Clara, California. Obtained his psychiatry degree from Harvard in 2002. Had practiced at Brentwood Mental Health Services since 2003. Specialized in youth counseling.
Annoyed, I leaned back in the chair and re-read his brief biography. Specialized in youth counseling. Mmhmm… And human trafficking, brainwashing minors, and I was sure there was a list of transgressions that the medical board and FBI would be very interested in hearing about. I scoured the internet for something that would show his medical license number. An hour later, I found it and entered it into the medical license database. Seconds later, the asshole appeared on my screen. I skimmed his record for a current employer, but nothing came up. His last known employer was at Brentwood Mental Health Services.
I picked my cell phone up and called Garrett. As soon as he answered, I bypassed the greeting and cut right to the important info.
“His name is Elijah Hamilton. Brandon told me in the middle of the night. The prick is still listed as holding a valid license as a practicing doctor.”
“Fuck,” Garrett drawled out slowly. “Okay, one second; let me get to my desk and get some info.”
“Are you working today?” I asked.
“When am I not working?” Garrett laughed, but I didn’t doubt he didn’t have a nonstop job that required him to be on call nearly all of the time. “How is Brandon? Salem felt terrible for having upset him.”
“Brandon is okay. He’s a strong young man. His confidence in our relationship took the brunt of our lunch meeting.”
“How so?”
“He’s terrified of being abandoned. Salem’s reaction to the picture of Elijah upset him, and then his mind went running wild. He knows some of his fears are irrational, but it doesn’t prevent him from having them.” After a short pause, I asked, “How has Salem been?”
“She’s been okay, but I haven’t been able to get the name out of her. I think she’s embarrassed. Okay, I have my pen. What was the name of the last known employer again?”
“Brentwood Mental Health Services. Search for ‘Dr. Elijah Hamilton and Brentwood Mental Health Services.” I gave him a few moments while I heard him typing. “Grab the first link. Though it’s from a few years ago, his bio is there.”
“Okay, bringing it up now.”
“It says he specializes in youth counseling,” I said dryly.
“And then some,” Garrett mumbled. “Okay, I’ll begin to do some digging and see if we can find where the doctor has run off to.”
“Thank you, Garrett. Please keep me in the loop.”
While I waited for the text from Brandon, Andrew, and Joshua, I passed the time by reading articles Elijah had written. I found it both interesting and disturbing that he had an entire series of articles written on Stockholm Syndrome. The articles had been written for a Harvard journal, and it appeared that each year he gave seminars on the topic around the country. Even more repulsive was the fact that Elijah had earned several awards and accolades for his expertise on the topic.
“Sick son of a bitch,” I said under my breath.
It came as no great shock to me to see that he had quite the information amassed in the articles. I wondered how long he had been doing this. I focused on the articles that were dated as having been written during the time Brandon was with Sebastian.
Another disturbing thought crept into my mind. Had Elijah had access to Brandon while he was captive with Sebastian? My mind drifted to play out that possible idea. Maybe it was part of their agreement that Elijah had access to those he sold. Through surveillance, he would have firsthand knowledge and be able to monitor each youngster as they experienced different stages of captivity. As the enormity of how widespread this could possibly be wandered into my mind, my cell phone vibrated. I smiled when I saw that it was my pup.
Brandon: Lakers won! The game just ended. We just got to the car. Josh’s GPS says that we’ll be at the restaurant in about 35 minutes.
I sent him back a quick text confirming the restaurant location and the time that I would meet them. Before I set my phone down, I sent him one more text.
James: I love you, pup.
Brandon: I love you too!
I tried to concentrate on reading another article, but an unpleasant thought that kept pushing to the forefront of my thoughts demanded my attention. Somewhere out there was Elijah Hamilton, and it would be careless of me not to assume that he knew Sebastian had been arrested. Elijah would also know that there were at least two people who knew he sold them to Sebastian. Though Sebastian and the others had been quiet about Elijah’s hand in all of this, it didn’t mean the other two would remain quiet. How desperate would he be to make sure those voices stayed silent? Since he held a valid license still, he could possibly have access to hospital records.
It was that uneasy thought that pushed me out of the chair to head to the restaurant early. Rationally, I knew Brandon was safe with Andrew and Joshua. But until I had Brandon next to me, my nerves wouldn’t settle down.
Once at the restaurant, I found a table that Brandon would feel more comfortable sitting at. I sipped on my draft while my attention jogged back and forth from the TV overhead with the Lakers recap and the parking lot. I planned on contacting Garrett again this week to make sure he had taken into consideration all the things that I had thought about. Elijah needed to be found fast and before he found Brandon or Salem.
When I saw Joshua’s SUV pull into the parking spot beside my car, I relaxed. Thinking anything involving Elijah was most likely irrational, and I reminded myself that the man had no morals or ethics, which meant there wasn’t a line that he wouldn’t cross. I stood as the gentlemen approached the table and had no shame about gathering Brandon in my arms and roughly rubbing on his back and arms as he leaned against me.
