Between patients, she made calls—first to follow up with her insurance company about the broken window. Then to a window company that promised they could come out within a couple of days.
Susie had followed up with a few clients who hadn’t shown the day before. Each one had told her they got messages about their appointments being canceled.
Then her thoughts shifted to her phone call with Ethan yesterday. Who had filed a complaint against her? And why? How far would the board take this?
Panic rippled through her at the thought of possibly losing her license. She didn’t want to think that could happen. But if someone was a good enough liar then she feared it could.
One thing was certain: Someone had gone out of their way to make Hadley’s life difficult.
Her phone buzzed just after she finished her last appointment. Was it Ethan calling with more bad news? Or maybe the state board had decided to contact her?
Instead, she saw Max’s name on her screen.
“Hey,” she answered.
“I wanted to call before it got too late. I hate to do this, but I don’t think I’m going to make it back in time for dinner. I’m really sorry.”
She leaned against her desk, glad he couldn’t see her frown. “Are you still out with the sheriff?”
“I am. We’re following up on a lead, and it’s taking longer than we thought.”
Hadley nodded, even though he couldn’t see her. “That’s okay. I understand.”
“I don’t want to cancel. I just don’t think I can get back in time.”
“It’s fine. Really.” Though Hadley was disappointed, Max’s reasoning was valid.
A brief pause stretched before Max finally said, “Thanks for understanding. I’ll call you later.”
“I look forward to it.”
Maybe they’d finally find some answers about Lyndee.
Hadley prayed that was the case.
After Hadley finished at the clinic, she stepped outside and headed up the narrow wooden staircase that ran along the side of the old building.
The apartment above had once been part of the antique store’s storage space. She’d renovated it, and now it was a cozy living area.
As she unlocked the door at the top landing and stepped inside, she shrugged off her coat. Her gaze swept the room as unease crept in again.
Everything looked the same as she’d left it that morning. Nothing was out of place, and there were no signs that anything had changed.
Still, she double-checked the locks.
Dinner was simple, a salad with some baked chicken. Then she went to bed.
For a while, she lay under her covers listening to the faint hum of the building and the distant sound of a car passing outside. Gradually, she began to relax as the tension of the day loosened its grip.
Then . . . a sound cut through the silence.
Hadley’s eyes opened.
She didn’t move. She lay still, listening, her heart beginning to pick up speed as her mind tried to place what she’d heard.
Another sound followed, closer this time.
Her breath caught.
