Chapter Forty-Two
The next morning, I awoke nestled beside Patrick. Just the two of us—nothing between us—no secrets, ties, or handcuffs. Not anymore. Not ever again, unless…
“Patrick, I still have so many questions. What’s happening with your job? Are you in danger from that previous case?”
“The force is tracking the situation. We’ll continue being cautious, vigilant, the opposite of what you were when you went to see Crawford. June, what possessed you to go there alone?”
“I went alone because we were broken up.”
He sighed.
“I want to explain what happened these past couple of days, starting with the evening I was at Aram’s.”
“Tell me, my love.”
“When I had told you I’d be at a friend’s house for the evening, that friend was Aram, which you already know.”
I peeked at Patrick to see his reaction, but he remained immobile with a poker face.
“Aram and I were on the computer all evening, looking at the files on the flash drive. Case by case, reviewing results. He behaved appropriately, but then we reminisced. I made it clear how you and I were together. When I left, he followed me outside and kissed me. It was then I knew.”
“Knew what?” Patrick stroked my arm.
“He wasn’t you.”
I sensed honesty, love, and passion glowing in Patrick’s deep blue eyes. He was all I wanted, and I snuggled closer.
“After that horrible night, I went back to my apartment, distraught about having lost you. Thoughts about the case circulated in my head, and I recalled something distinct when I went to the hospital to visit David Moreno. Dr. Crawford had been in David’s room and asked the nurse for David’s personal possessions, and if he had a ball bead keychain. That detail struck me as being very specific because the USB had been on a chain just like that.
“The next day I called Dr. Crawford and told him I had a memory stick and asked if he’d look at it and give his opinion about what it contained. He suggested we meet at the hospital, which sounded logical. Never would I have imagined he was evil. But then when I got to the clinic, nobody was there. I got a weird sensation inside.
“We chatted; he gave me bottled water. I cracked open the lid and drank a few sips. As I was about to leave, he said he’d look into billing discrepancies and fraudulent treatments. But I hadn’t mentioned anything about either. Suddenly, I knew something was very wrong, and I had to get out of there. But I became very dizzy. Things are hazy after that.”
“Because he drugged your water.” Patrick’s body tensed.
“That’s one thing I don’t understand. When I opened the water bottle, the seal cracked open. How could the water have been drugged if the cap hadn’t been tampered with?”
“The bottled water was analyzed. It contained a high concentration of GHB—gamma-hydroxybutyrate—the date rape drug. And the bottle had a pinprick hole in it. Crawford had used a needle and syringe to inject the drug into the bottle to keep the cap intact so you wouldn’t suspect anything.”
“How could I have been so na?ve? Sorry I botched things up.”
“No. You did quite the opposite. While drugged, you managed to tape a murderer’s confession and save yourself from being potentially murdered. You single-handedly caught a ruthless criminal.”
“What if you hadn’t shown up when you did?”
“It doesn’t matter. I’m impressed by how you decked Crawford with a gun to the jaw,” Patrick said. “I can see the headline now. Lab scientist turns badass crime fighter.”
I shook my head. “Hardly. You’re the hero. In every way.”
“I was just doing my job. In dealing with people, I’ve seen the worst in many and how easily people will lie, steal, and hurt others, without conscience. And then I met you with your nose in your work. Focused, with an amazing work ethic. I asked you out, and you said no. I knew you were the one for me. I just had to convince you.”
“And you did,” I said and kissed him on the nose.
“You’ve been brave through all of this, and even in prior times when you had the courage to report your underhanded co-worker.”
I shook my head. “You make it sound like I was decisive and fearless, when all along I was uncertain and terrified.”
“You rose to every difficult situation, and I won’t let you downplay what you did when times were tough, and what you went through. You, June Harber, are heroic. I want to love you until the end of my days, if you’ll have me.”
My eyes moistened. “Patrick.” I kissed him with all the love and tenderness in my heart. “I want to spend my life with you, too.”
He wrapped his arms around me, and he kissed my lips, cheek, hair, neck. I laughed, elated.
A question popped into my mind. “Patrick, how did you know I was with Crawford?”
The flurry of kisses stopped. “Ah.” He scratched his neck. “I installed a tracking device under the driver’s seat of your car. I also monitored your phone’s GPS.”
“What? That sounds so creepy.” But I wasn’t angry. He was a cop, protecting me, and, as proven, the situation had warranted it. “So that’s how you knew I was at St. Eugene’s Hospital.”
Patrick nodded. “Tracking you was the only way I could have let you leave. Gad, I’m a stalker.”
I giggled and then became curious about something. “Patrick, you know my dating backstory, and I’m wondering about yours. All that time you were trying to go out with me, did you date many women?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“No, not many?”
“None at all.”
“How was that possible? I mean, you’re so hot.”
Patrick chuckled and sloughed off the compliment. I didn’t think it was possible, but his modesty made him a hundred times more attractive. And sexier.
Amusement left his face, and he stared off.
“What is it?”
“About the time we met, I was bogged down with work, and dealing with a back injury.”
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”
“You couldn’t have known, babe. Thankfully, it’s much better now,” he said. “It’s the reason I wasn’t very ‘pleasant’ the day we first met.”
I caressed his chest as he spoke. “I remember that day. I thought you were a jerk. I’m sorry I judged you wrongly.”
He kissed the top of my head. “Don’t be. I was a jerk. But the truth is, after meeting you, I became disinterested in pursuing anyone else. It’s why I suggested you take a job with police forensics. What could have been a better way to get to know you?”
I snuggled closer. I remembered the countless times I had rejected him. “I never made it easy on you. Thank you for not giving up on me. You are my one and only love. Never doubt that. But—”
He froze. “But what?”
“On your next case, could you count me out? I’d prefer to work in a safe, predictable, controlled lab setting.”
“Whatever you want. Anything. Anyhow.”
I raised a brow. “Do you mean that?”
“I do,” he said firmly.
“Good.” I reached under the pillow and pulled out a pair of handcuffs. He smiled, knowing the “drill.” He didn’t hesitate to extend his arms. I bit my bottom lip in anticipation. I held up my hand and locked one end of the cuffs onto my wrist.
“There’s been a change of plans, Officer. Are you willing to engage?”
Passion brewed in his eyes. “Affirmative. Ready and able to engage, my love. Now and forever.”