Stephanie’s gaze flicked to Elias and he noted the look of approval before she looked at Wren again. “I’m not talking about myself, dear. If you could convince the big galoot to take one of my classes, I’d be shocked. What do you say we get you signed up as a member while these guys go take care of business? First week’s free.”
Gabe placed his hand on Stephanie’s shoulder. “You sure you don’t want to…” He tilted his head toward his office.
Why would Stephanie sit in on our meeting?Elias wondered.Unless this has something to do with her?Angered, adrenaline shot straight to his heart at the thought of anyone messing with Steph.
“I’m good, boss.” Stephanie patted Gabe’s hand. “I’ve got a new friend here to talk to.”
Gabe smiled then looked at Wren. “Careful. That means you’re in for an interrogation.”
Stephanie rolled her eyes. “I’ll behave.”
Elias gave Wren a gentle nudge with his shoulder. “You good here?”
“Yeah, I’ll be fine,” Wren replied casually, though her eyes flicked to the group, clearly curious about them. “Go play with your friends.” That got her another laugh from Stephanie.
“We’ll be just be a minute.” Elias grabbed her hand and squeezed it as he leaned in and kissed her.
He turned to join the other men as they headed down the hall toward Gabe’s office. They joked and ribbed each other, but when the office door closed behind them with a definitive click the atmosphere in the room shifted.
Gabe didn’t waste any time. “Stephanie asked me for help finding someone.” He looked back and forth between Elias and Waylon standing next to each other. “Evan Roy, the guy you and Waylon saved that day at the clinic.”
Elias recalled the day vividly. They’d gotten the call that a man at the rec center had suffered a possible heart attack during one of the public health clinics they held once a month.Heart attackwas putting it lightly. Elias glanced sideways at Waylon who nodded.
“He was in rough shape,” Waylon said. “Didn’t think he’d make it.”
“It was a miracle he survived,” Elias added. They’d taken him to the hospital in Longmont while still trying to get his heart restarted. Longmont had stabilized him and the last Elias had heard, he’d been transferred to a bigger hospital specializing in cardiac care.
Gabe’s tone carried a weight that made everyone listen a little closer. “Evan was a regular at the clinic. Used to bring homemade fudge in for the staff even though he couldn’t eatsugar himself anymore. He came to Sue’s daughter’s soccer games. Sue’s one of the clinic nurses,” he added, looking at the rest of the men. “Always brought Stephanie flowers on her birthday. Real peach of a guy.”
“Sounds like more of a friend than a patient,” Shane said.
“Some get that way,” Elias said.
“Especially when you loan them your scrubs top,” Waylon murmured under his breath.
“Fuck off,” Elias murmured back.
“Got something to share with the class?” Gabe said, looking annoyed.
“Sorry,” Elias said.
Gabe continued. “They all visited him in the hospital and made sure that when he was discharged, he had help at home.”
“No family?” Ben asked.
“Nope. When he came back to the clinic the first time, everyone threw a little party for him with sugar-free cupcakes.”
Gabe picked up a thin stack of paper off his desk and handed it to Ben, who took a sheet and passed it on to Elias. Gabe had printed out a photo of Evan and his stats underneath—age, address, height and weight, brief background. Evan smiled out from the photo as he posed between the two nurses who helped save his life. Gabe and Stephanie flanked the three of them. Everyone held plates of cake. Evan looked like a scarecrow and Elias guesstimated that he’d lost at least thirty pounds since the heart attack.
When the sheets were all passed out, Gabe continued. “Evan came back a couple more times, but he didn’t show up at the last clinic. And he’s not answering his phone. Sue and Fran, she’s the other nurse, stopped by his place yesterday and it looks like he’s not there. They said there was a big Dumpster in the driveway full of furniture.”
Bear frowned. “Hate to say it but, sounds like he died.”
“Nope. When he was in the hospital, Evan gave Sue power of attorney in case that happened. She’s checked all around, too. He’s not dead, just missing.” Gabe sighed. “Of course Stephanie’s worried too. She says it’s not like him to just disappear, especially after everything he’s been through. If he was moving, he would’ve told them.”
Elias crossed his arms over his chest. “He have any enemies?”
Gabe shook his head. “Not that we know of. Like I said, peach of a guy. However, he was a bit of a gambler.”
