Chapter Fourteen
WHEN GRITS MENTIONED that Rodney was meeting with his team leader, Julie became concerned that he might face penalties for her injury. Would they hold him responsible for something beyond his control? She sincerely hoped not. She was ready to advocate for him to ensure his record remained unblemished if they did.
She felt an impossibly heavy burden as she navigated her fear during the drive, particularly on the return trip. Without Rodney by her side, an overwhelming sense of vulnerability washed over her, making her feel like a deer caught in headlights, exposed and defenseless against the looming threat.
Confusion and fear tore through her—a tempest swirling in her chest. It had become painfully clear that she was a madman’s target. The uncertainty twisted in her stomach like a knife as she desperately hoped those tasked with uncovering the truth would find answers before it was too late. This was no longer merely a fear but a nightmare clawing into reality.
Could this really be about Carlos or the Newmans? She had always seen the good in everyone, nurturing a belief that neither of them could have harmful intentions. This viewpoint underscored her unwavering optimism and raised questions about the possible naivety of such a perspective. In her mind, the very idea of betrayal by those she trusted seemed unimaginable.
Carlos and his wife, Renee, were her friends. They had always treated her kindly.
Deep in thought, she jumped when her phone rang. Fumbling with her purse using her right hand, she rushed to find her phone and answer it before the caller hung up. Managing tasks one-handed was challenging, and she felt the weight of all her patients who had experienced limited limb movement after surgery.
She found the phone and answered the call. “Hello, Mary,” she said to Carlos’s office assistant.
“Dr. Banks, you need to come to the clinic. Someone has trashed your office.”
Julie sat on the bed’s edge in disbelief. “What did you just say?”
“Someone has trashed your office.”
Overwhelmed by the surrounding chaos, she struggled to comprehend the magnitude of such wanton destruction. Was someone desperately searching for a patient file, or had the madman pursuing her orchestrated this scene? A wave of despair washed over her, and her shoulders sagged under uncertainty. At that moment, all she wanted was Rodney. The reason eluded her, but the longing surged within her, an ache for his presence that she couldn’t ignore.
“Don’t touch anything, Mary. Have you called the police?” Maybe Chief Wise had some answers for her.
“No. Should I?”
She should, but Julie wouldn’t let them poke around in patient files. She had to follow HIPAA regulations. “Wait until I’m there. I’m on my way.” She ended the call.
Now, how was she supposed to persuade these men to take her to a scene that only contributed to the disarray of her life?
When she heard the door open and close, her heart fluttered excitedly. She listened intently, and then her heart leaped for joy. Rodney was back. Just the thought of him sent butterflies dancing in her stomach. He would take her to her office because he understood her need to control something in her life.
What she couldn’t control was how she felt about Rodney, which concerned her. Yes, she had come to rely on him for her safety, but she also enjoyed his company—more than she should, considering their doctor-patient relationship.
Driven by a profound sense of anticipation, she flung open the bedroom door and rushed to the stairwell to meet him. A bright smile lit up her face as she descended the stairs, but her heart sank at the sight of him. He seemed to have been at a disadvantage in his meeting with the team leader, serving as a stark reminder of his struggles. Surely, he needed her support now more than ever, and she wouldn’t let this moment slip by without offering him the encouragement he so desperately needed.
When he caught her eye, their gazes locked, and everyone in the room must have felt the heat flaring between them. Someone cleared their throat, and she knew it had not gone unnoticed.
She broke eye contact and fiddled with her sling, sending a sharp pain through her arm.
“What’s up, Julie?” Rodney asked as he approached her. “You look like something’s bothering you.”
She did—him. However, it felt like the worst time to let her heart wander. Her life was filled with danger and turmoil, demanding that she maintain a careful distance. Yet, despite the upheaval, her heart had other plans, whispering for closeness she couldn’t resist.
“My office—” she started, then cleared her throat and looked back at Rodney. “Someone has trashed my office at the clinic.”
Rodney narrowed his eyes. “How do you know this?”
“The clinic assistant called and let me know.”
“Was the clinic completely wrecked or just your office?” Rodney asked. He glanced at Casper and Pup as the men exited the front door.
She hadn’t thought to ask. She assumed it was only hers since Mary referred to her office. However, they could have destroyed the entire clinic. “I’m not sure.”
He crossed his arms over his broad chest. The muscles in his arms bulged, catching her attention. “I’m guessing you want to see for yourself.”
“Um,” she said, licking her lips. As she mentally shook her head to clear it, she continued, “I mean, yes. I have to. The police can’t be there without me because of my patient records.”
Rodney wore a knowing smile that made her cheeks redden. “Then let’s check it out. The guys are already getting a vehicle ready.”
That’s why they left. She thought it was to give them privacy. “I just need to grab my purse from upstairs.”
He nodded. “You handle that while I make a call.”
Julie hurried up the stairs to grab her purse and phone. When she returned downstairs, she heard Rodney say, “Thanks, Chief.”
Shocked, Julie gasped. “Did you call the chief of police about my office? That’s a minor issue compared to what he handles daily.”
Rodney pocketed his phone and extended his hand, a gesture that appeared simple yet filled with unspoken reassurance. She grasped his hand, stepping into the outside world, where vehicles waited silently. The warmth of his grip enveloped her in a cocoon of safety, shielding her from her thoughts. His presence was profoundly soothing, radiating an innate calmness that whispered promises of comfort. In that moment, she sensed he had the strength to confront her demons and face the shadows within her world.
She felt lost in both mind and spirit when she let go of Rodney’s hand to get into the SUV. She needed to ponder the ethics concerning a former patient—one who had released her from his care. Perhaps there was a loophole for such a situation.
Despite the lingering doubt gnawing at her heart, she couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling. The burden of strict ethical standards loomed over her, casting a shadow over every thought of Rodney and what they could become.
“Earth to Julie!” Rodney called, snapping her out of her heavy thoughts.
She gazed at him, puzzled. “What’s going on?”
“I’ve been calling your name for ages. Where have you been?”
Julie shrugged. Her attempt at a smile faltered. “Oh, you know, just lost in thought—about everything, honestly.”
Rodney sighed. “Do you want to share what’s on your mind?”
She did, but what should she share? The fact that someone is trying to kill her? The possibility that she might be falling for a patient—no, a former patient? Or that her life has been turned upside down? It all felt too heavy for a conversation in the SUV with others listening, so she chose to discuss what they had in common.
“Does HIS have any information about who might be trying to harm me?”
Rodney shook his head. “We have eliminated the Newmans.”
He didn’t elaborate, but she understood his meaning. They hadn’t removed her clinic partner. “Oh,” was all she could say. Was Carlos trying to harm her? Why? She hadn’t expected her testimony in his case to attract this level of attention. Was it about the practice? Did he want to take it over without compensating her? In their wills, they had both stated that their share of the practice would go to the other partner in the event of their death.
Could that be it? He’d rather pay hired killers to take her out than buy her out? It seemed so sterile.
“Of course,” Doc said, considering whether Carlos was her madman. “With the shooting, that eliminates the hospital, so we’re certain you’re the target.”
She figured that out on her own. But why trash her office? That wouldn’t harm her personally. It might hurt her a bit professionally, though, if files go missing. It didn’t seem to make sense.
Julie closed her eyes, prepared to abandon all the danger that had come to define her life. At least Rodney and the others had stuck around. Naturally, she intended to compensate them for their time and expenses, regardless of the cost.
Grits, seated in the front passenger seat, began outlining their entry and maneuver steps. Julie turned her gaze towards Rodney, noticing the tension in his jaw—a subtle yet telling sign. Had they truly usurped his command? Was this the very scenario his team leader had encountered? If that was indeed the case, relief washed over her that they had entrusted Rodney's care to her.
Grits might expect her to go to the safe house instead of Rodney’s, a prospect she weighed carefully. There was something undeniably appealing about the warm charm of Rodney’s home. It may not have been the expansive estate she grew up on, but it radiated a sense of belonging that resonated deeply within her.
As they stopped before the clinic, Julie waited while the agents inspected the small building. She and Carlos saw only a few patients each week—those they had treated in the ER who needed follow-up care. It wasn’t a major money-maker, so surely Carlos wouldn’t want to kill her over it.
Rodney nodded and glanced at her. “Are you ready?”
Was she? She couldn’t endure another hit to her life, but it had happened, and she had to confront it. Putting on a bravado she didn’t truly feel, she smiled. “Yes.”
Walking into the clinic, Julie appreciated having Rodney right beside her. Earlier, he had been a step ahead, like a bodyguard. Now, he walked as her equal. Perhaps that was the change his team leader had anticipated. She wanted to know, but their relationship hadn’t progressed to that level of personal understanding.
Mary stood at her desk, grimacing. “Dr. Banks, I’ll help you clean your office and organize the files.”
Julie smiled and nodded. “Thank you, Mary.” She paused outside the closed door of her office and took a deep breath. Why had the agent who cleared this area shut the door again? It must be worse than she anticipated, and they wanted to give her time to prepare.
She closed her eyes and silently counted to ten. Afterward, she opened them and exhaled. Extending her right hand, she opened the office door.
The next thing she knew, she was in Rodney’s arms, crying.