Chapter 6
Matt
When Jamie’s name flashed on my phone screen, I racked the weight bar, ending my bench press set early. “Thanks, man,” I said to the guy spotting me as I sat up. “I’ll be right back.”
“Robinson,” I answered, like I always did.
Technically, I had the day off, but I’d work if they needed me.
“Hey Matt, sorry to interrupt your Saturday, but we need someone to come hang out at the clinic for a few hours.”
The clinic? As in the clinic where Madi works?
“Is Madi okay?”
“How’d you know it’s Madi’s clinic?” I could’ve done without the accusation in his voice.
“It’s a logical conclusion given the tension in your voice, and you mentioned the clinic like I’d know exactly where you meant.”
“Sorry, I’m just worried.”
“When do you need me there?” If Jamie was calling me, that meant no one else was available and there was no way in hell I’d leave Madi unprotected.
“Not going to ask what happened?” Jamie asked. He talked to someone in the background, but I couldn’t make out his muffled words.
“Does it matter?” If Madi were in trouble, I’d do what I could to help.
That’s what friends do.
“No, I guess not.”
“I’m at the gym. Give me time to change and I’ll head over.” I covered my phone and whispered to my spotter that I had to go and apologized for not finishing our set.
“Thanks. I’d stay but Em has a doctor’s appointment,” Jamie said. His wife was due to give birth in a month, but everyone predicted the twins would arrive before her due date. “And I’d rather not ask Jack.”
“Don’t worry about it.” I was already in the locker room.
I’d seen Dr. Greenfield for my physical and drug screen when I started at SSI, so I knew the address.
“See you soon.” Jamie hung up.
I was tugging on my jeans when an address popped up on my screen.
Jamie didn’t trust my memory. Not that I blamed him.
In the truck, I grabbed my gun from the center lockbox and started the engine.
My GPS system provided me with the fastest route, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, I’d be at the clinic in thirteen minutes.
Gotta love small towns.
Jamie was standing at the base of the porch steps when I arrived.
“Thanks again,” he said, reaching out to shake my hand.
I nodded towards the lawn with fresh scorched grass. “What happened?”
“Someone tossed burning garbage on the lawn. WFD and WPD are investigating. So am I.”
“What can I do to help?”
“Stay here until the clinic closes, then make sure Madi gets home safely.”
Does he think she’s in danger? My blood simmered at the thought.
“Do you think she’s the target?” I asked while scanning the street. “And what about the back door?”
“Back door has a camera, Doug sent you the feed link.” He looked up from his phone. “This may have been a prank, but until we know otherwise, we’re treating it as a threat.”
As he answered, I pulled up the video feed for the back.
“Why doesn’t the front have a camera?”
“Dr. Greenfield doesn’t want to scare her patients or give them cause for privacy concerns.”
Her logic was faulty, but only because she didn’t understand how security cameras work. Doug could program the camera to be closed circuit, so it’d only be seen if needed.
Like when someone tosses burning trash onto your front lawn.
“Copy that.”
“You didn’t shower,” Jamie said.
“I was in a hurry, but I did wash my face, wipe my pits, and put on extra deodorant.”
He chuckled. “Thanks, I think.”
“A threat won’t care if I’m sweaty or stinky.” Though Madi might.
I couldn’t think about her being close enough to smell me. My only concern was the potential threat.
Jamie laughed. “Just try not to scare off her patients.”
“Who else is working today? Do I need to escort them home too?” I asked.
“Alice, but Sammie said she’d come back at close and follow her home.”
“Are we providing protection?” I asked. I couldn’t imagine Alice earning someone’s hatred, but unstable minds didn’t follow logic.
“No, she doesn’t want it.”
I’d bet my paycheck Madi didn’t either. “Does Madi?”
“No, but I’m not taking any chances.” A flicker of fear crossed his eyes before he blinked it away. His family had been through hell recently, so I wasn’t surprised.
“She’s staying with Jack and Meg to help with Natalie, so she’ll be safe once she’s home.”
Like everyone at SSI who owned their home, Jack had a state-of-the-art security system installed by Doug, SSI’s tech guru and resident hacker. The Air Force vet didn’t mind asking for forgiveness rather than permission when it came to gathering information, and loved all things tech-related.
Jamie glanced at his watch. “I have to go. Call if anything happens.”
“Will do. I’m free for the weekend, so let me know if you need extra coverage.”
The clinic was closed on Sundays, but that didn’t mean Madi wouldn’t have plans.
Jamie nodded before heading down the stairs. As he walked past the black spot on the grass, he scanned the street again.
Like me, he’d parked on the street rather than in the small clinic parking lot.
He waved before getting into his black SUV.
I spent the next few hours standing outside the clinic. When I went inside to use the bathroom, Alice asked, “Would you like a coffee or water?”
“Thanks, Alice, a coffee sounds great.”
“How do you take it?”
“Black.”
Madi was with a patient, so I didn’t see her. On my way out, Alice carefully handed me a ceramic mug that threatened to spill over the rim with the slightest tremor.
“Thank you, Alice.” I lifted the mug under her watchful eyes and took a sip. “Mmm, just what the doctor ordered.” I lied. I wasn’t the pickiest coffee drinker, but I liked my coffee darker than dirty water. Though I appreciated her generosity.
She laughed at my joke, then turned serious. “Thank you for watching out for us.”
“You’re welcome.” I handed her my card. “I’m right outside if you need me.”
Wishing I had a large coffee from Grannie’s, I watered the lawn with the rest of the flavorless coffee.
What Alice doesn’t know won’t hurt her.
At three-thirty, Alice walked the last patient out and invited me in while they closed up.
“Thank you, but I’ll wait out here for Officer Campbell.” I used Sammie’s official title.
“Suit yourself, dear.” She held her hand out for the empty coffee cup.
Sammie pulled up a few minutes later, wearing jeans and a hoodie.
She greeted me with a head tilt. “Robinson. Everything quiet?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Seriously, quit the ma’am shit.”
“Everything’s fine. Sammie. They’ll be done soon.”
Sammie turned to face the street. “You’re covering Madi?”
“I am.”
She laughed. “Does she know?”
“She does, and she’s not happy about it.”
“You think she’ll try sneaking out the back?”
“It’s not like I won’t notice.” I held my phone up, the video feed open. “Plus her purple Jeep stands out.”
“It’s pretty awesome. I doubt Madi will do anything to piss off her brothers. She may argue about their overbearing ways, but she loves them and won’t add to their worry.”
I agreed.
We caught the last half of Madi’s sentence when the door behind us opened. “If you need anything.”
“I will,” Alice answered.
Sammie and I stepped away from the door and turned towards them.
She’s fucking beautiful. She’d braided her hair, but a few strands had escaped. I itched to brush them off her face.
You have a job to do, Robinson.
And that job did not involve touching Madi Sheppard.
My boss’s daughter. My other bosses’ sister.
Not to mention, I didn’t want a relationship. Madi may have initiated our one-night stand, but she had family woman written all over her. And I couldn’t give her that.
“Matt. Sammie.” Madi said, greeting us with detached professionalism.
No doubt she’d already had it out with Jamie, and would probably read Jack the riot act when she got home. I understood their protective streak, though; family meant everything to them.
I’d be the same way with my sister if she’d lived.
But she hadn’t. She’d died way too young.
She shouldn’t have, but she did. Leaving me, just like our mother had.
I hated myself for lumping my sister in with my mother. Disease took her life, unlike my mother who left because she couldn’t deal with the stress of taking care of a sick child.
My father didn’t leave physically; no, he just checked himself out of my life by spending his days at the bottom of a bottle of the cheapest booze money could buy.
Sammie disrupted my pity party when she said, “Hey, Madi. Hi Alice. You ready to go home?”
“You don’t need to follow me home, dear,” Alice tutted.
“I don’t mind,” Sammie answered. “And Madi’s brother kind of insists on it, at least for today.”
Madi waited until they were out of hearing range before saying, “I’m surprised they sent you.”
“Me too.” What else could I say?
“You know you don’t need to follow me home?”
“On the contrary, it’s my job.”
“I didn’t hire SSI.”
“You didn’t need to.”
“Fine.” She rolled her eyes, but gave up fighting. “Do you have Jack’s address?”
I did. Before letting her get in her Jeep, I inspected it for obvious signs of tampering.
“I’ll be right behind you.”
“Thanks.”
Ignoring the sarcasm in her voice, I waited for her to lock her doors before walking to my SUV.
At Jack’s, I waited until she closed the door to the house before leaving.
If I’d expected a wave or smile, I would have been disappointed.
I shook my head and laughed; Madi hadn’t so much as tilted her head in my direction.
A few seconds later my phone buzzed with a text from Jack. Thanks.
Madi was upset with her brothers, not me, but I was caught in the crossfire.
At least I got to watch her perfect ass as she strutted to the door.