So, from that point on when either of them happened to see that time displayed on their phones, watches, or a clock on a wall, they’d text each other. No words…just 222.
Then one day, the texts stopped.
Guess our luck ran out.
Ignoring the ache in her heart, Ellena slid her badge along her office door’s sensor. Turning the knob, she held the door open for Gabe before flipping on the light switch.
Gabe bit out a low curse causing her to swing her head around. She gasped, the scene before her stealing every ounce of air in her lungs.“Oh, my god.”
The place was in shambles.
As he pulled his phone from his pocket, Gabe instructed, “Call hospital security.”
Feeling almost as if she were on autopilot, she made her way to her desk, doing her best to keep from stepping on the strewn files and papers covering her office floor. From her peripheral, she could see Gabe taking pictures of the mess.
As soon as she was off the phone, Ellena stood by her desk and looked around as she spoke. “Security’s on their way up here now. I can talk to the staff. See if anyone saw anything.”
“I have that covered.” Gabe looked at her from across the room. “When was the last time you were in here?”
She took a moment to consider the question, shock from what they’d found slowing her thought process.
“I’m assuming right before the wreck. According to a couple of other doctors I work with, I came to the hospital, saw my appointments for that day, then went home at the usual time. You know the rest.” She stared at the mess covering her office floor. “I-I don’t understand why someone would do this.” Meeting his gaze, she crossed her arms, hugging herself as best she could with a sore shoulder. “Or why is any of this happening?”
“Neither do I, sweetheart.” Sympathy mixed with the anger filling Gabe’s dark eyes. “The man who came to see me—”
“Adrian Walker,” Ellena interrupted. “That’s his name, right?” When he shot her a look, she reminded him, “You mentioned the name earlier.”
Gabe’s brows turned inward as he gave a slight shake of his head. She’d seen that look before, could tell he was mentally cursing himself for the apparent slip-up.
Though she was scared of the answer, she asked him, “What exactly did this Walker guy tell you?”
He shoved his phone back into his pocket, the defining line between the muscles in his arm deepening with the movement. “The knowledge she has could help stop them. Those were his words.”
“Them who? And what knowledge?” Uncrossing her arms, Ellena’s voice rose with frustration. “I’m a freaking psychologist, Gabe. I help my patients work through issues affecting their daily lives. I help them learn to open up about their troubles and then teach them ways to cope with it all. That’s it.”
He stepped forward. “Clearly, someone thinks you know something. And whatever it is, it’s worth going through the trouble of breaking in here and doing this.” He glanced around the room. “Which only affirms our theory that one of your patients is also involved.”
“You said Adrian Walker wasn’t a friend.”
A muscle in his strong, sexy jaw twitched. “He’s not.”
“Then who is he?”
“No one you need to worry about.”
“Don’t do that.” Ellena shook her head.
“Do what?”
“Shut me out.”
“I’m not.”
“You are,” she challenged back. “You’re doing what you always do.”
“What I always do?”
“You’re trying to protect me by leaving me in the dark.” Ellena crossed her arms again. “It didn’t work when we were together, and it’s not going to work now.”
