“Excuse me, are you Ariel?” asked Brooks.
“Yes. That’s me. Is something wrong? I’ll be done with your room in just a moment.”
“Oh, no. It’s not our room. We’d like to speak to you about Dr. Alden Johns.”
“Is he okay? Did he get hurt?” she asked filled with concern.
“No,” said Mitch realizing that this young woman cared for him. “He’s not hurt but I have to be honest, he is in trouble and we need your help to find him.”
She sat down on the bed looking defeated, shaking her head.
“I knew it was too good to be true,” she said. “He’s helped me so much. For the first time in my life I have money in the bank and a safe place for my son and me.”
“We’ll try to help you, if we can,” said Mitch. “Can you please tell us which hospital he’s working at?”
“Yeah. Yeah,” she nodded. She reached for the paper and pen on the desk and wrote down the name of the hospital. “Here. He’s working in the Emergency Room. I don’t know why you need him but he’s a good man. He’s done a lot for that hospital and saved a lot of people. He saved me.”
“I’m sure he has,” said Mitch. “Is there anything else you can tell us?”
“His mother is driving him crazy,” she smirked. “It’s kind of funny. He ignores her calls, maybe even blocks them. He didn’t tell me why but he curses every time she calls.”
“I know this will be hard, Ariel, but please don’t call him and tell him we’re coming.” She nodded.
“I can’t afford to be in trouble,” she said with tears in her eyes. “My son. My son needs me and I’m just getting on my feet, finding our way as mama and son.”
“We want to make sure that continues,” said Brooks. He handed her a roll of bills and she shook her head.
“No. No, I won’t do that with the two of you,” she said.
“We want nothing, Ariel, except to help you and your son. That’s it. Take it, please. This will help for a while.” She took the roll of cash and nodded. “Don’t call him, Ariel.”
“I never break a promise,” she said. “I won’t.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Dr. Alden Johns was sitting at the emergency room desk talking to the staff and laughing. It had been an extremely slow morning and he was grateful for it. When the doors slid open, he stared at the large shadows walking toward him, the sunlight behind them.
He realized who they were too late. He stood, then grasped there was nowhere to run.
“Hello, Alden,” said Mitch. Yoz walked toward the desk with the hospital administrator.
“Dr. Johns, we need to talk to you about an issue with your license,” said the administrator.
“Seems everyone wants a piece of my ass,” he frowned. “My license is revoked, Yoz. I’m sorry. I just wanted to start over, work again. But I have a feeling, these men are going to come first.”
“Where’s your mother?” asked Brooks.
“I have no idea. She’s been blowing up my phone leaving threatening messages about Marnie and me. She’s that kind of mother.”
“What’s going on here?” asked Yoz. “I trusted you!”
“And I’ve been a good doctor while I’ve been here, Yoz. I’m sorry. Truly, truly sorry.” Local and federal authorities walked in and Dr. Johns walked casually around the desk, holding out his hands. “I have to go away, Yoz. I’m sorry I’m leaving you in the lurch. You’ll find someone great. You’re all amazing. All of you.”
Mitch and Brooks stared at one another, then back at the man who seemed completely remorseful for his actions.
“Why does your mother want Marnie?” asked Mitch.
“She thinks she’s the root of all our issues. Honestly,” he said shrugging, “I did too.”
