“Standard intake. Referral, or they contact the office directly. Why?”
“Rafael had her card. Personal handoff. If he wanted access to her?—”
“He’d just call and book an appointment.” Walsh’s voice sharpens. “Shit. You think he’s on her schedule?”
“I think I’m not waiting for your database to tell me.” I’m already moving, grabbing my jacket. “Get that cross-reference done. I’ll call you back.”
I hang up before she can respond.
Tatiana’s on her feet, reading the situation. “You’re going to her office.”
“I’m calling her security first.”
I dial Darius. It rings once. Twice. Three times.
“Dr. Palmer’s office.” His voice is calm, professional.
“It’s Longo. I need you to check something for me. Nina’s schedule today—does she have a new intake? Someone who booked recently, maybe in the last few weeks?”
A pause. “Why?”
“Just check. Please.”
“She’s in session now. New intake—Adán Pareto. Referred himself, had Dr. Palmer’s card. He was vetted. He checked out.” His tone shifts slightly, protective instinct surfacing. “Why? What’s wrong with him?”
The name lands like a fist to the chest. One of Rafael’s aliases. The one I just gave Walsh to cross-reference.
I check my watch. 10:23 AM.
Twenty-three minutes. Rafael’s been alone with her for twenty-three minutes.
“Darius. Listen to me carefully.” I keep my voice level, even as my pulse hammers. “The man in that room is not who he says he is. His real name is Rafael Marcano. We’ve been tracking him for weeks in connection to threats against Amador and Flores. He targeted Nina specifically to get access to them.”
Silence.
“Get her out. Now. I don’t care how—interrupt the session, make up an emergency, whatever you have to do. But get her away from him.”
When Darius speaks again, his voice has gone cold and hard. The voice of a man who spent years doing exactly this kind of work.
“I’m moving.”
The line goes dead.
I’m out the door before the screen goes dark, keys in hand, running for my car.
Twenty-three minutes. He’s had twenty-three minutes alone with her.
I don’t let myself think about what Rafael might have already done. Whether Darius will get there in time. Whether twenty-three minutes is long enough to hurt someone.
I just drive.
47
Nina
I’m used to adapting.
New clients, shifting dynamics, the occasional crisis that rewrites a session plan mid-sentence. You meet people where they are, not where you expected them to be.
