Chapter 15
Harvey saw Paddy in the distance, leaning up against his car and smirking.
“Hey, brother. I thought you were never going to leave your love nest.”
“I wasn’t in a love nest, you asshole.”
“But you’re tucked away with someone, aren’t you? Who is it? Go on, tell me.”
“You’ll meet her when she’s ready to meet you.”
“Why isn’t she ready to meet me?” Paddy stood straight with his hand pressed against his chest. “Are you ashamed of me, brother?”
“Yes,” Harvey said dryly, “I’m ashamed of you, which is why I’m not going to introduce you to her until you straighten up your act.”
“What have I done to deserve such hatred from my big brother, the one I’ve always looked up to, who I’ve always loved the most?”
“You’re so full of shit,” Harvey told him. “Now, I asked you to come in with me so that I didn’t go too far in front of witnesses.”
“Shit, should I have brought my brass knuckles with me?” Paddy asked.
“Please tell me you don’t have brass knuckles.”
Harvey thought he was joking, but with Paddy, you could never be too sure.
“I don’t have brass knuckles,” Paddy repeated.
“Just help me figure out if this asshole is lying. You’re good at that.”
Paddy was good at reading people. Which was the other reason Harvey wanted him with him.
He didn’t like leaving Lily to come do this, so he’d waited until she was asleep. His only real concern was that she’d have a nightmare while he wasn’t there. But she hadn’t had one the last two nights.
And honestly, things were starting to get a little bit strained between them, especially at night when he went to bed on the floor.
The urge to climb up and in with her was so strong that he found himself having to take a cold shower before bed.
She wasn’t ready for that, and he wouldn’t be taking things further until she agreed to be his.
Which she was going to do. He was certain of that.
So, getting out of the cabin was probably a good idea, for both of their sakes.
And he had the camera feeds all set up on his phone, along with the alarms. One of his guys was outside, just to make sure she was completely safe.
Harvey knew that in order to ensure her safety, he had to get some answers.
“I’m on it,” Paddy said in a rare display of seriousness.
They headed into the small reception area of the clinic. This place looked expensive. How the hell was this doctor affording this if he didn’t have many patients?
He’d had someone observing the clinic for days, and it was very rare for patients to go in and out. Paddy hadn’t been able to find out anything more about what this clinic did or the doctor.
He seemed to be a workaholic. He went home late at night to his house and returned around midday. Which were quite strange hours for a doctor to keep.
As soon as they entered the reception area, a young-looking receptionist glanced over at them. Her smile faded slightly.
“Hello. Can I help you?”
“We’d like to speak to Doctor Wallace, please,” he said to her in a firm voice.
“I’m so sorry. Dr. Wallace doesn’t take walk-ins. We’re not that sort of clinic.” She glanced away again as though she thought that would be the end of it.
Paddy walked over with a charming grin. “We’re here to ask him a few questions about a patient of his.”
A wary look filled her face. “Are you the police?”
Hmm. She seemed quite concerned, didn’t she? Was she worried about the cops because they were doing something illegal here? Did she know that her boss was up to something wrong?
“No, we’re not the police,” Harvey told her. “My name’s Harvey Gallagher. I’m actually a lawyer. I’m here on behalf of a client. She’s a patient of the doctor.”
“Oh, right. Why would a lawyer need to come here on behalf of a client?”
“Because she’s currently under my guardianship,” he lied. “And I need to find out more about her health in order to care for her properly. Now, I know I should have called first. However, I’m certain the doctor can make time for us considering Lily has been a patient of his for a while.”
“Um, I’m not so sure—”
“Why don’t you get Dr. Wallace on the phone and tell him that we’re here to speak to him about a patient of his, Lily St. Clary.”
If anything, she grew more alarmed. She definitely knew something. This whole place felt off.
And Harvey was going to get to the bottom of it.
She quickly picked up the phone and started speaking in hushed, urgent tones. Harvey glanced over at Paddy, who had moved partially behind the desk, probably so he could see the computer screen.
Paddy winked at him, then widened his eyes.
He was glad his brother was here, even if he was a pain in the ass most of the time.
“Dr. Wallace will be out soon,” she said, glancing over at him, and then she frowned. “Where is your associate?”
“I’m here,” Paddy said, stepping forward.
She jumped in surprise. She obviously hadn’t noticed him glancing over her shoulder.
“What were you doing there?” she asked.
“Looking for the toilet,” he replied glibly.
“Oh. Right. Well, it’s over there, not behind the desk.”
“Nice. I don’t have to go anymore.”
“What?”
“I’ve got a wonky bladder. Sometimes I need to go, sometimes I don’t. I never know what it’s going to do next.”
“That doesn’t sound very nice,” she said.
“It’s really not. Do you think the doctor can fix me?”
“Fix what?”
An older man stepped through the door and into the reception room. He looked relaxed, not at all worried about why they were here.
He had a full head of gray hair and a light tan. He looked trim and fit—like a man who didn’t have a worry in the world.
Well, that was all going to change if he was the one drugging Lily. Because his life was about to become absolute hell if he’d hurt Harvey’s girl in any way.
“Hello, gentlemen. I’m Doctor Wallace.” He held out his hand to Paddy first, who was closer. His younger brother shook Wallace’s hand firmly. Harvey could tell from the way the doctor winced that Paddy wasn’t holding back.
Their grandfather had taught them that a firm handshake made a good first impression.
“Hey there, Doc. I’m Paddy, and this is my brother, Harvey.”
Harvey walked over and shook the doctor’s hand as well.
“You both have quite a good grip on you, don’t you?” Wallace said.
“We like to keep fit,” Harvey replied. “Now, we’d like to speak in private with you about my ward.”
“Your ward?” the doctor asked. “And who would that be?”
Right, as if the receptionist hadn’t told him who they were here about.
“Lily St. Clary,” Harvey said. He kept his voice carefully neutral, along with his face.
He knew that Paddy would be studying every reaction of the doctor’s, trying to figure out what he knew.
What he was hiding.
“Ahh, Lily. How is she?”
“Not very well.”
Doctor Wallace nodded solemnly. “I imagine not. Please, come with me to my office and we’ll discuss her care in private.”
They followed him into an office that was actually larger than the entire reception area, which showed him that not many people sat and waited to get into the clinic.
Doctor Wallace gestured to a small sitting area and Harvey took a seat on the sofa.
“Can I get either of you a drink? Tea, coffee?”
“No, thanks. We’re fine,” Harvey replied. There was no way that he was taking any substance this man offered him.
“I must start off by saying that I can’t share anything about Lily due to patient-doctor confidentiality. You understand that I’m sure.”
“Of course we do,” Harvey said. “However, I believe I did mention that I’m now her legal guardian. As such, I am privy to any medical information so I can arrange the best care for her.”
“Well, I only have your word for that. I’d need some sort of court order from a judge before I’d pass over any medical records. You do understand, of course, that I could be in a lot of trouble if I broke confidentiality.”
“Of course,” Harvey replied. “We’ll get that court order for you. In the meantime, perhaps you could tell me if there is anything that Lily immediately needs for her care. I don’t want her to suffer in the meantime.”
“Actually, I think the best idea would be for you to bring Lily here. She is rather sick, I’m afraid.”
Hmm. So he wouldn’t tell them anything about her medical needs, but he wanted them to bring her here because she was ill?
Alarm bells were going off at how eager to have her back in the clinic.
“You want me to bring her here when I don’t even know what you do here?”
“I’m sorry, I don’t quite understand how you became her guardian? Has something happened to her mother?”
Did he know about Lily’s mother, or was he just pretending to be ignorant? He was quite a good actor, so Harvey wasn’t sure.
“My apologies, I should have explained. You’re obviously not aware that Mrs. St. Clary is currently in quite a lot of trouble with the police.”
“Good God, no. I had no idea,” the doctor said.
“Lily’s unable to look after herself, so I’ve stepped in as a family friend in order to take control of her care.”
Did something flicker in the doctor’s eyes? He was certain that he knew more than he was letting on.
“Most admirable of you, I’m sure. And I’m certain that Mrs. St. Clary will be most happy once she gets this all sorted out.”
“Yes, it’s obviously a complete mix-up,” Paddy said with a smile.
“I am more than happy to keep Lily here until her mother is free and clear of this issue. I won’t even charge for the time that she’s here.”
Now, that was overly generous, wasn’t it? Considering the look of this place, he thought that a one-night stay would be more than most people could afford, and Doctor Wallace was offering to house her indefinitely for free?
Definite alarm bells.
“Does she need that?” Paddy asked.
“Oh, yes, I’m afraid she does. Lily isn’t well.
Her mother was taking care of her, of course, which is why I was able to release her.
But without her mother’s care, I’m afraid she might just grow more and more sick.
She’s days overdue for her checkup. Has she been telling you rather outlandish tales? ”
Hmm.
“Outlandish tales? Well, I suppose some of them could be considered that,” Harvey said.