“It’s found me,” he whimpers.
Maybe it really is the seagulls.
???
I manage to grapple Richard into his car, pushing his head down like I’m shoving a criminal into the back of a police vehicle. His eyes dart around, even checking behind him in the back seats before clicking his belt into place and speeding off.
Heading back into the office, I pick up my wallet and phone from the desk drawer.
“I’m popping out to buy lunch. I’ll be back shortly,” I say to Mia, who is sliding the strap of her purse over her shoulder. She lifts it back up and untucks the long black strands that were caught underneath it, flicking them over her shoulder as she beams at me.
“Great, I’ll come with you. I didn’t bring lunch today.”
No. No. No.
I can’t exactly run my errand whilst Mia is there.
She wouldn’t understand, and given that it isn’t strictly legal either, I don’t want her involved. I sigh audibly and see her flinch a little, which only adds to the guilt of committing a felony over my lunch break. Well… given that it would be my first time getting caught, I’m sure a judge would bring the charge down to a simple misdemeanor. Because whilst I do need to grab some lunch whilst I’m out, I also have a patient that I need to track down. Vincent Dodd is the man I’m looking for. A patient who attended a session this morning and made a throwawaycomment about going to a specific café for lunch. So that’s where I’ll be going too.
“Sorry, I was thinking about Richard and the seagulls.”
Her eyes crinkle at the edges, and I note that she might need to work on her therapist-face before she finishes up with me and graduates. Despite my usual professionalism, I feel a distinct tug at my lips, which only seems to encourage her further. Her hand flies to her mouth after an ungodly snort frees itself from her nose, and she starts to howl with laughter, doubling over her desk as her bag slips down her shoulder.
“Mia…” I warn.
“I’m sorry, Dr. Adams, but honestly, when he started screaming, I had to shove my head into one of the couch cushions. It was so high-pitched.”
“I thought the window might split open and the bird would really fly into the office,” I admit as she wipes a tear from the corner of her eye.
She blows out a breath, pursing her lips tightly so that it looks like she’s pouting, and makes her way to the door.
“Come on, we won’t have time for lunch at this rate.”
???
As we enter the café, Mia heads straight to the counter as I hang back, looking for Vincent.
“Alfie!” she calls out with the enthusiasm of a town crier. “What do you want?”
She’s pointing at the various sandwiches available, and I take a quick glance. I don’t particularly care, and my attention is caught as I spot Vincent’s curly, bleach-blond hair coming out of the men’s bathroom.
“I’ll have what you’re having.”
The server behind the counter nods, her eyes dipping down to my stomach. “The Scooby Snack. Got it.”
“Thewhat?” I ask, my head swiveling back to her, but before I can clarify, she screams toward the kitchen.
“TWO SCOOBY SNACKS!” My eyes widen. Richard has seagulls. Is the Scooby Snack destined to be my downfall?
A clattering of pans rings out as a large Albanian-looking man with tattoos up his arms and a hairnet on despite having a shaved head.
“This guy?” He eyes me up and down with a slow assessment that annoys me more than it should.
“Alexei, this is my boss. He can handle it, I promise,” Mia sings. “Besides, his brother is an NHL player—strong stomachs.” She pats her belly as if that might alter his opinion of me.
“Who’s your brother?” he says, his accent thickening.
“Teddy Adams.”
