Page 79 of Booked for Kidnapping

After retrieving his phone, Mr. Hampton tapped on the screen and held the device to his ear. “Ah, hello? Is this Dr. Castor? Excellent. My name is Paul Hampton. Dr. Mansfield gave me your number regarding a rescheduled convention?” He listened, and he grinned at what the woman said. “I think I have a suggestion that is the best of both worlds. If you could text the address to your home to my phone, I’ll see how long it takes to reach you. I’m currently in the California area with my son and his fiancée, and she wishes to do a procedure on me. I would appreciate a temporary escape from her schemes, as she doesn’t have a scalpel or other medical—” His grin widened. “Ah, it’s heart disease, and she wishes to purge the cholesterol causing it and handle anything else associated with the problem.”

Clever, clever man. I waited, joining him in grinning.

“Ah, yes. I’ve had a diagnosis for a while. It’s fairly severe, I’m afraid, but it’s nothing little Janette can’t handle. Oh. That? Yes, I’ve known her since she was a little girl.”

Well, close enough. I’d let him have it, although I hadn’t been that little when the Hamptons had barreled into my life.

Mr. Hampton laughed. “I’ve learned doctors are simply fascinated with other talents. Hold on. I’ll ask her. Which town do you live in?” After a pause, he said, “Janette, how do you feel about a drive to the ocean today? Dr. Castor would like to observe the procedure, and she promises she has anything you might need in her home. She has a lab in her basement to work on her research.”

Of course she did. I bet there was an ICU in there somewhere, too. Or at least an operating table.

“I’m okay with that, as long as Bradley or I are driving. I don’t want you to get cut off and have a heart attack on me.”

“I have been driving here just fine. You will not have an anxiety attack over me driving some more tonight.”

“I absolutely will!”

“You will not, young lady. Bradley, put your woman in a corner until she behaves herself. She’s in bodyguard and nurse mode at the same time, and she needs to remember I’m not actively in process of having a heart attack, and even if I were in process of having a heart attack, she could stop it because she’s an exsanguinator.”

Right. “Can we leave now?”

“We can leave now, although I would like to know how long it would take for us to get there before we decide to drive right this minute.” Mr. Hampton listened to Dr. Castor, and he chuckled. “All right. I’ll herd the children out the door. Please text me the full address. Thank you.” He hung up. “Dr. Castor asked if she should acquire a prescription for an anti-anxiety medication for you, as you seem to be rather twitchy.”

“I’m not twitchy, I just don’t want to have a heart attack because you have a heart attack, and you’re a walking heart attack risk.”

“I take my medication on time daily. I’m sure it’ll be fine for an hour and a half.”

I glared at him. “I could just find some scissors and fix this problem now.”

“No. We are going to go meet Dr. Castor, and you will just have to cope with having a backup doctor who probably has a fully functional ICU in her basement.”

I hesitated at that, and then I narrowed my eyes and held out my hands. “Keys.”

Mr. Hampton laughed, and to my astonishment, he handed me the fob for the rental. “If you have a single symptom of PTSD while behind the wheel, you will immediately pull over, and I will drive the car. I will sit in the front seat with you so I can take hold of the wheel if necessary, and you will tolerate this assault to your delicate sensibilities.”

I scowled, but after a moment of consideration, I bobbed my head. “Okay. I can work with that.”

“Go make yourself pretty. Bradley, wear your suit. I’ll sit here and relax so your little lady doesn’t finish having a meltdown because she forgot I had heart disease and have had it for years.”

“She really doesn’t like heart disease, Dad.”

“Of course not. And she particularly hates she forgot I have it, so she’s upset she hasn’t dealt with this already. Remember. We’re pretending we have no idea Dr. Castor is our top suspect in Janette’s kidnapping. I want to see what cards this doctor plays.”

As I did, too, I went to my clothes, which hung up in the room’s small closet, and browsed the selection until I found a silk blouse, a blazer, and a skirt, the most formal of my new clothes. “You know what the best part of Bradley wearing a suit is, Mr. Hampton?”

“I’ve heard this question before. If you want to enjoy stripping him out of his suits, that’s your business and not mine. Just try to leave his suit somewhat intact. He likes his clothes just like his cars: ridiculously expensive.”

“Buy cheap suits I can destroy at my whim, Bradley,” I ordered.

“As you wish.”

EIGHTEEN

I feel like we’re doing something incredibly stupid.

After so long of not driving a vehicle of any sort, I bounced to the SUV and struggled to contain my excitement at reclaiming yet another piece of my life. I got behind the wheel, adjusted the seat, and sighed my satisfaction, giving the dashboard a loving pat.

“I can’t buy this vehicle for you,” Mr. Hampton warned me as he slid into his seat and buckled in. “Although I’m rather pleased to see how happy you are about driving. I was not expecting blissful excitement. I was expecting shaking, anxiety, and some whimpering, honestly. But if you like the way this SUV drives, we can look into one for you when we get home. You’ll want a practical vehicle to go with your sports car. But you aren’t getting behind the wheel of a sports car until you pass my test.”