“Alrighty, then, I’m gonna go and get my stuff ready for work tomorrow.”
Nick frowned and flopped down on the bed. He was taken aback by how soft it was, way softer than it looked. Rebecca’s home was not only decorative but functional.
“Work? You’re actually going to work tomorrow?”
She leaned against the wall, landing her soft, brown gaze on him. “Yes. Why wouldn’t I? There is no way Boogie could get to where I work in the institute. There is way too much security.”
Nick leaned forward and glared at her through narrowed eyes. Her nonchalant attitude towards everything that had happened over the past week was astonishing.
“Rebecca, you had a heart attack or did you forget?”
Her shoulders slumped and a soft sigh escaped her lips. “I know,” she whispered, tucking a few loose, curly strands of auburn behind her ear.
“That’s a big deal.”
“I know,” she repeated.
“Well, don’t you think you should take it easy for a little while?”
She shifted as if the conversation was making her uncomfortable. “I’ve been in the hospital for a week, Nick. I’m doing good now.”
He got the feeling she was being more than just nonchalant. He pushed off the bed and moved closer. She appeared unnerved by the lack of distance between them. Nonetheless, he pushed a curly strand behind the other ear and looked deep into her eyes.
“Rebecca, have you had a heart attack before?”
She looked away, avoiding his scrutiny. “Geesh, Nick.” She chuckled nervously. “I’m fine.” She pushed off the wall and side stepped until she was near the door. “If you need me, I’m right down there,” she told him, pointing in the direction of her bedroom.
He was fully aware that she was avoiding the conversation, but he didn’t want to push. Because, whether she shared with him or not, he knew he’d get answers. After all, he had a source.
Dr. Thantos…
10
Cato
“So, Nick, what’s new?”
Nick’s smirk was meant to let Dr. Thantos know he knew he was referring to Rebecca King. “Not much, Doc. Same shit, different day.”
Dr. Thantos raised a brow and leaned back in his chair. “Might be a different day, but definitely not the same shit. Rebecca King?” The doc didn’t waste a minute getting right to the point. He scratched his beard and waited for Nick to respond.
“She’s part of a case I’m working. How do you know Miss King?”
“Part of a case? That’s it?”
“Yep.”
Nick had waited all week for his appointment with the doctor so he could get answers, but it was the doctor doing the interrogating. Yet, he was determined not to let Dr. Thantos shrink answers out of him. He needed the doc to spill.
“Now that you know what I was doing in her room, tell me why you were there. Don’t you specialize in grief counseling?”
The doctor nodded with a grin. “I have many specialties, Sergeant. I am the director of psychiatry at this hospital. Now, it’s my understanding that Miss King had the misfortune of having to kill someone in self-defense. No?”
The doctor was good, but he didn’t realize Nick had seen Rebecca in his office before she was attacked.
“Look, Doc, I’m working a case. For Rebecca’s sake, I need to know what’s going on with her.”
The doctor crossed one leg over the other and grinned at him as if he’d just fucked up. “Rebecca? Is that what you call her?” He reached for his pen and notepad and then slid his glasses on his nose. “How is the baby holding up?”
