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I was avoiding my grandmother’s calls because I hadn’t been home in four days. Something was going to have to give. I sneaked out of Alexei’s bed, creeping over to the bathroom for a quick shower before making my way out of the house. Thankfully, leaving was easy since it didn’t require his fingerprint or code that only he knew. I could just open the door and let myself out. Heaven help me if I left something inside the house. I’d have to call him to let me back in.
I took the stairs like a zombie, trying to use the exercise to wake up. I only made it about two floors before giving up and taking the lift the rest of the way. When I stepped outside the glass doors of the building, I blinked as the early morning sun was a little bright for my eyes. Three mornings I’d snuck out of Alexei’s bed to avoid questions about where I was going. I didn’t know how much longer I could do this.
I’d left my bike at the club on the first night and never really retrieved it, so I called a driver to take me to work.
I walked into the hospital with my head down. Every day I expected to be summoned. Cole Hutton was not a man toforgethe had dirt on me. If he was keeping my secret, there was a reason for it.
He probably likes knowing that I’m in a constant state of dread.
I nodded and smiled at the receptionist and headed to the locker room to change.
“Miss Young?”
I froze, turning to see my supervisor bearing down on me, looking grim.
Here we go.
My heart sank.
“Miss Young, what time is it?” Mrs. Smith asked me.
I frowned at her, not understanding, and then glanced at my watch. “It’s… 9:10 a.m.,” I said slowly, a flush staining my cheeks.
“And what time does your shift start?”
“Nine, ma’am.” I looked down, trying to seem appropriately contrite.
“This is the third day you’ve been late, Young.” She stared at me despairingly. “I can’t tolerate that in my staff. That’s not how we work here, and you know it. When your sister disappeared I cut you some slack. I can’t imagine what you went through, Nora, but you must find it in yourself to get it together, okay?”
I nodded slowly, feeling embarrassed to be reprimanded in front of the receptionist and anyone who cared to listen in. I quickly walked away, changing as fast as I could and getting to work. Mrs. Smith was right. Ihadbeen dropping the ball. I just didn’t know how to pick it up again.
I had enough self-awareness to admit that I was overwhelmed.
I tried to make up for it by bringing my A-game to the job. Smiling at every patient, taking barely any coffee breaks, and definitely not answering any calls I got. My phone was continuously vibrating in my pocket though, so I fished it out between patients to check who was blowing me up.
Of course, it was Alexei—which really made no sense since he’d seen me just that morning and would see me again in the evening. Whatever it was could surely wait. I put my phone onDo Not Disturband continued with my day. I caught a glimpse of Jodie in the distance in conversation with a doctor and I ducked out of sight like a coward.
The truth was that I was ashamed of what I was doing. This had not been the plan at all. I was just supposed to snoop around, ask some questions, and maybe find answers to what happened to my sister.
Now I was lying to everybody I loved and sleeping with the man who possibly harmed her. Mrs. Smith walked by the triage room, looking in on me with a jaundiced eye. She stopped, staring at me. “Where’s your badge?” she asked.
I tensed, looking down at my uniform.
Shit.
I had no idea where I left it. I cleared my throat. “Um, I must have forgotten to wear it. I’ll go get it right after this next patient.”
She nodded. “See that you do,” she said before sauntering off.
No doubt she’d be back to make sure I did.
I sighed, knowing that I had to do something. I got up and walked slowly to the locker room as I thought frantically about where my badge could be. In truth, with everywhere I’d been in the last few days, I could only hope and pray I hadn’t dropped it in the club or—God forbid—Alexei’s apartment.
Then I remembered that I had left my spare badge downstairs. In the morgue. With Jodie.
“Fuck!” I whispered in despair.
With my shoulders slumping, I changed direction.
