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Tansy and her brother had inherited an old fishing lodge up in Vermont. Tansy had moved in almost a year before and started upgrading the place to be off the grid.
Tansy created her scientific wonders on the property and she’d fallen in love with her Sam, who’d started a personal protection business there as well. Kind of like a bodyguard school and a fitness camp combined.
The idea of being surrounded by people who loved what they did sounded perfect. Although she wasn’t entirely convinced she was ready for the people part.
Dr. Beth’s voice filled her head. People aren’t meant to live in isolation, Lia. We all need connections. You’ve lost a career, not a life. It’s time to stretch yourself.
Lia had been working with the therapist since the shooting a few months ago. The woman was smart and kind, but didn’t put up with any of Lia’s bullshit. Carlotta wouldn’t have put up with it either.
So Lia was finally doing something about it. Moving to another state had to count for something. Even if she didn’t have a clue what to do with her life from here on out, at least she was moving.
The cab waited for her outside. They passed by the exit for the hospital on the way to the airport and Lia’s heart ached. She’d enjoyed performing surgery there. Good leaders. Excellent staff with very few exceptions.
Casilda and Tabora had refused to let Lia fade away into her apartment on her own. They’d brought food and friendship many times over the past few months. They both cheered her decision to head to Vermont. They both assumed Lia would be back in Atlanta once she’d healed inside and out.
It would all depend on Lia’s ability to find her purpose. As far back as she could remember, she’d wanted to be a surgeon. A person who fixed what was wrong. Like the team who’d fixed her broken leg.
That option was permanently off the table, no matter how she’d tried to change the outcome. Her hand would never regain the ability to operate. The fine motor skills required were beyond her forever. At the moment, her next personal goal was to be able to buy shoes with laces.
In the airport, Lia blinked back her tears and shifted the bag over her shoulder. Between it and the suitcase she rolled behind her, she now had all her possessions with her. She’d donated her furniture and housewares to a local women’s shelter. Like the apartment, none of it held memories for her.
Her entire identity had been built around being a trauma surgeon. The career had consumed her all day, every day.
Dr. Beth tried to convince her she was still worthwhile, still had a fulfilling life ahead of her. You could even craft a better future for yourself. You’ve already proven that nothing’s impossible. Do it again.
Do it again.
Did she have that kind of drive and energy left inside her? Could she create a future when she couldn’t imagine doing anything other than surgery?
There was only one way to find out.
Lia pulled out the compression sleeve and glove she’d had made for her hand. It should help her deal with the pain from the changes in air pressure.
Now to convince herself her identity wasn’t confined within what that hand was capable of doing.
Chapter 4
Breaking News
Joe sighed as the board changed, showing the plane had arrived. From Atlanta. He hadn’t realized that’s where Tansy’s friend Julia was flying in from and it brought back tough memories.
His own flight had arrived in Burlington a couple of hours earlier. With the drive to Midnight Lake, it hadn’t made sense for Tansy to drive all the way up here and then back, when Joe could wait for a few hours and drive the woman himself.
The waiting should have given Joe time to decompress, but his brain refused to settle and his mood was about as low as it got.
It had taken him the better part of a week to deal with the aftermath of the hostage situation in Ann Arbor. The kid, aka Steven Marimon, aka Stevie, was indeed in deep shit.
First time away from home. On a full ride scholarship for computer science. At one point, he’d been giddy with freedom and dreams of the future.
Now he was in a cell facing a manslaughter charge. Joe had managed to get it talked down from murder, but the kid was still facing definite jail time. His girlfriend and parents were standing with him, and Joe figured he had a chance to turn the mess around eventually.
With Stevie’s help, they’d arrested the dealer with a quick sting and had at least closed off another stream of drugs. Not that another one wouldn’t pop up soon to take its place.
Too many aspects of the case reminded him of the mess in Atlanta. Another kid making crappy choices even though he was at heart a good kid.
At least Sneaks had been a minor and Gogo was going to make a full recovery. Almost there already. But the two cases had got to him. Joe needed a break from his job. Maybe a permanent one.
He believed in what he did. Loved the FBI and what they did to make things better. But he was worn out. Worn down. Was he down and out?
