“Take us back to the hotel,” I said as I fastened my seat belt.
Mr. Hammond’s eyes wandered from me to Kate and back again in the rearview mirror. I wondered if he’d seen the photos of us and whether he recognised her. If he did, he didn’t let on. “Of course, sir.”
I glanced at Kate as we drove off. The air from the heater was pleasantly warm, but she was shivering as if chilled to the bone. I longed to pull her close to me and warm her with my body, but I sure as hell wasn’t going to touch her without her consent.
“Why didn’t you call me?” I asked sternly. I was angry, not at her, but at myself for delaying the search, even though I’d had a bad feeling for hours.
“My phone is broken.” It was dark outside, and the interior lights were so bright that I could see her face, which she’d turned away from me, in the window’s reflection.
“You could have come to the hotel.” I had offered her that too.
Her reflected eyes narrowed, and she turned to me abruptly. “I can look after myself.”
“You clearly can’t,” I said and promptly regretted my words when her face darkened. I understood. She’d been too proud to ask for help, and as a result, she’d unnecessarily put herself at risk. However, there was no point in telling her off. Worst-case scenario, it would scare her away, and that was the last thing I wanted. “I’m sorry. You obviously know far more about surviving on the streets than I do. But I wish you’d reached out instead of letting me look for you in the rain.”
“I didn’t ask you to look for me.”
“You didn’t. But I wanted to.”
At these words, something flashed across Kate’s face. She turned away to look out the window again, even though there was nothing to see in the rain besides blurred lights.
I sighed, closed my eyes, and leaned back against the headrest. The conversation could have gone better.
“Thank you.”
I blinked and looked at Kate again.
She watched me in the reflection. Her gaze was steady, but the anger had disappeared from her face. “For looking for me. The next few hours would have been terrible otherwise.”
I smiled. “You’re welcome.”
12
The patient was admitted to A&E after being attacked by two men on the street. She sustained severe bruising and abrasions to her head, face, and body, and reported chest pain. Initial examinations revealed no fractures.
Excerpt from Kate’s medical records, dating six months back
Kate
I was afraid.
To be unafraid would have been foolish.
I knew many criminals, jerks, and shady characters who had no moral qualms about hurting women. Henry didn’t seem to be one of them, but my experience over the last few months had taught me to be cautious and never trust anyone. Which is why I clutched the pocketknife in my raincoat in a painfully tight grip as Henry’s chauffeur drove us to The Darlington. If the wind had been slightly less icy or the rain not quite as torrential, I probably wouldn’t have taken up his offer, but the storm was bad. Worse than I’d expected it to be.
I had initially planned to spend the night in a homeless shelter, something I rarely did, but when I had arrived, they had alreadybeen full for hours. I was sent from one shelter to another until I finally gave up. I had even briefly considered calling Henry, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask him for more. He had come anyway, which meant I was now indebted to him. Which I hated. Especially since I’d paid off my debts to Randell just a few hours ago. All I wanted was to be free.
“We’re here,” Henry said, as if I could have missed the hotel. Our little fight from a moment ago had been forgotten. The chauffeur drove the car with its expensive leather seats into the underground garage and parked it among a row of similarly luxurious vehicles.
Before I could get out with my belongings, the chauffeur opened the door for me. He was older, with brown hair and thin lips that gave a friendly smile despite the late hour and the terrible weather.
I smiled back. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome, Miss...” He hesitated.
“Kate,” I helped him out.
His smile broadened. “You’re welcome, Miss Kate.”
