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Friends. “I don’t have many of those.”

“Well, you’ve got me now and you’re stuck with me.” Her over-exaggerated grin and waggling eyebrows make me laugh.

“I like that idea.”

“Good. Now let’s get out there before Margot decides to fire us.” Linking her arm through my non-bruised one, she tugs me toward the door. “Oh, wait. You already quit, it’ll just be me that gets fired.”

“I’ll get you a job at the Lodge.”

“You know, the more I think about it, the more I like the idea.”

I like it too. But I don’t get a chance to tell her because when we step out of the staffroom there’s a wall of people waiting for us.

Gilbert Denier—head of hospital security, Gerald from the parking lot, two police officers, and our boss, Margot.

Stopping, I swallow. Take a deep breath and wait. I hate that this has turned into a big deal. I thought telling my ex I didn’t want to date him anymore would be simple. It should have been simple.

Except it wasn’t—isn’t.

I lost my apartment, I’m changing jobs, lied about having a boyfriend, and now I’m dealing with the police. Again.

Will this nightmare ever end?

GRANGER

The call comes in just after I hand the last of the day’s work orders to Jack. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I see Asha’s name on the screen and my gaze snaps back to Jack. “You good?”

“Yep. Fixing the high school fence that idiot drove through should be easy. I’ll call if we hit any issues.”

“Okay, you’ve got Fineas and Roger with you.”

He nods and heads out of my office. With a quick swipe, I answer my phone before it stops ringing.

“This must be⁠—”

“Where are you?”

The edge in Asha’s voice has me sitting up straight. “My office. Why?”

“I need a car towed. It’s evidence.”

“Okay…”

A call like this would normally go through the front office but for some reason Asha has called me direct—son of a bitch.

“Is Brooke all right?” I bark as I shove my chair back so hard it hits the wall, get to my feet, and search my desk for my keys.

“Yes.”

I wait but he doesn’t give me more. “Ash,” I growl.

“Just bring a tow truck and meet me in the Lodge parking lot. The staff section,” he adds before hanging up.

Leaving my keys, I jog through the depot to the lot where we keep the town tow trucks. I don’t bother letting Keely at reception know I’m heading out. If she needs me for something, she’ll figure it out when she can’t find me.

I head for the nearest truck and hop in. Thankful we leave the keys for our equipment in each vehicle, I fire it up as I slam the door. I’m pulling out of the lot before I even get my seatbelt fastened. Every muscle in my body is wound tight like my grip on the wheel and no matter how many times I repeat the words ‘Brooke is okay’ in my head, nothing loosens.

The drive is a blur. I don’t remember any of it and the eight minutes it should take me become five. Turning into the Lodge’s driveway, I hang a left and head for the staff parking area. When I see several police cruisers, Asha and two of his officers standing next to Brooke’s trashed Rav 4, the tension holding my body stiff snaps.