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  I arrived at Autumn Valley prior to my appointment time with Agent Moss so I could see King and get an update on Mimi. Thankfully he’d been giving me regular calls through the night. Mimi, like Mac’s mother, now had police protection at the door of her suite.

  “Good morning, Sam.” The timbre of King’s voice seemed to calm the storm in my head, if only for a moment. He was dressed in scrubs, and although he was as handsome as ever I could see from the dark circles under his bloodshot eyes that he hadn’t been sleeping either.

  I paused on the sidewalk and dropped my head, afraid of what was waiting for me inside the building. “Good morning, King.”

  “Come here,” he said as he swallowed me into his arms and hugged me tightly. “Just answer their questions and be done. Are you sure you’re okay?”

  “I am. And I appreciate your concern.” I lightly tapped my fingers across my cheeks, hoping to keep from staining my face with tears.

  “Don’t cry, sweetheart.” Brushing a tear from my face, he lifted my chin and gave me an honest smile. “Tell me what I can do for you.”

  “I’m fine. I just have to get through this and then I’m going home.”

  “I saw the agents on my way down the hall. Why isn’t Mac here?”

  I shook my head and choked back more tears.

  “Just know I’m here.” King squared my shoulders in his hands and stooped down to look me right in the eye. “Okay? I am here.”

  I nodded, unable to speak.

  “Are you ready?” he asked.

  “I’m as ready as I’ll ever be.”

  King escorted me into the building and gave me a wink as I walked into the administration office. Suddenly all that had become familiar seemed wrong. I felt as if I didn’t belong.

  Miller’s office had thankfully been taped off, but it was still an eerie walk down the hall to my office. I opened the door and found a mess. There was nothing left. My photos of Dax and Daniel sat alone on my desk. Even my leather notebook had been taken.

  I didn’t know what everyone expected of me. I was confused by what I knew and how I felt. It was an all too familiar feeling of loss. Unable to bridge the gap between my head and my heart, I was lost—numb.

  I sat in my office for fifteen minutes waiting to be called, and as I looked around the room, I realized just how empty and quiet it was. Empty and quiet—just like my broken heart.

  “Samantha Peterson?”

  “Yes?”

  “Miss Peterson, I’m Special Agent Tom Moss. Thank you for coming this morning. I know you’ve had a rough couple of days,” said the slender agent. “Won’t you please join us in the boardroom?”

  I followed him into the massive room and sat at the head of the large table. Agent Moss looked like a really tall elf to me, with a small mouth and pointy ears. I didn’t know if he was going to be nice, or just pretend to be nice.

  “Good morning, gentlemen,” I said as I took my seat.

  “Miss Peterson, we aren’t here to interrogate you.”

  Step one of the questioning process–make me think we’re friends.

  “You began working at Autumn Valley just three weeks ago. Is that correct?”

  “Yes.”

  “And when you took this position, did you know that you would be working with the—” he paused to look at his notes. “Physician’s Development Corporation?”

  “Yes.”

  “But you were employed by Autumn Valley Health.”

  “Yes,” I said again, thinking the less I said the better.

  “In the two weeks that you were here, you managed to garner a tremendous amount of information about PDC.”

  “Yes.”

  “Wanna tell me why?”

  “It’s my job to recruit new doctors and top ancillary staff to this facility. There were no past files explaining how that had been done. I wanted all the contracts and recruiting receipts for the last couple of years to see how much had been spent per recruit, how the contracts were written, and then compare it with the plan Mr. Miller had given me. I was responsible for coming up with a budget to accomplish the goals set forth by the board of directors and Mr. Miller.”

  “Did you know of the Ansible Star group?”

  “Only as a consulting group.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “A consulting group?” I didn’t know if he was being serious or setting me up. “My understanding is Autumn Valley is planning an expansion over the next five years. The Ansible Star Group is a consulting firm that’s putting together the business plan.”

  “Have you ever met with anyone from Ansible Star?”

  “No.”

  “Do you know who owns Ansible Star?”

  “No.”

  “Did Mr. Miller ever discuss Ansible Star with you?”

  “No.”

  “But yet you had all of their invoices in your office and stacked here in this boardroom.”

  “As far as I was concerned, they were superfluous files I didn’t need.”

  “If you didn’t need them,” he said, leaning in for the first time. “Why do you think you had them?”

  “I asked James Miller for all the files,” I said, holding my ground. “Everything I have, everything you have now, came from him.”

  “No files from Stacy Little?”

  “Stacy didn’t want me to have the files.”

  “Why not?”

  “I think it’s pretty obvious, don’t you?”

  He raised his eyebrows and sat back in his chair.

  “Were you aware of Agent Mac Callahan’s work on the case?”

  “No.”

  “But you spent some time with him.”

  “Yes.”

  “Did you share any of the evidence with Agent Callahan?”

  “First off, your evidence was just my work. And no, I didn’t share anything with him.” Just my hopes for the future.

  “Did you know Hector Quintes?” he asked, changing the subject.

  “He was the regular custodial person in the administration office.”

  “Did you find it odd that he was the only custodial staff in the administration office?”

  “I wasn’t aware he was the only one. But frankly, I could see where Mr. Miller would want only one person around the sensitive files contained here.”

  “What type of sensitive files?”

  “When a complaint comes into Autumn Valley, it comes here, it’s resolved here. When a new person is hired, their salary is kept here. When a new doctor is recruited, the terms of their salary and contract are archived here.”

  “Fair enough,” he droned, satisfied with my answer. “Miss Peterson, would you consent to a polygraph test?

  “May I ask why?” I tried to remain calm on the outside, but I started to feel like I was going to be sick.

  “There were only three people in this office. One is dead, one is awaiting arraignment, and one is sitting in front of me. We just want to be sure you’ve left nothing out.”

  Mac was right. They didn’t believe me. “Guilty until proven innocent, huh?” I asked.

  “Not at all,” he said with a fake smile. “It’s for your own protection.”

  “I hardly believe that’s true,” I replied. “Yes, I’m happy to take the polygraph.”

  “If we feel it’s necessary, we’ll get back in touch with you.”

  “So you don’t want to do it?” I asked. “You just wanted to see if I would consent?”

  “Miss Peterson, Agent Callahan has vouched for you. We don’t have any reason to believe you need to be investigated, but you sure did have a lot of evidence piled up in your office.”

  “Are we finished here?” I asked giving him my own fake smile, wanting to adjourn to the ladies room so I could puke.

  “Yes, ma’am,” he agreed, standing with me. “Please don’t leave Shadeland until our investigation is over.”

  “I don’t have plans to go anywhere.”

  33

  MAC


  She emerged alone with her sunglasses on. She was upset. And why wouldn’t she be? Two days ago, her boss went down in an FBI raid, and now his crazed lover was after her—all because of me. No wonder she never wanted to see me again. No wonder King’s open arms seemed welcoming.

  I’d followed her early this morning knowing she was on the schedule to be questioned by Moss. I wanted to be there and answer the questions for her. Sam was smart and would do fine, but I longed to be in the room with her—even if it was just to give her an it’s-gonna-be-okay look across the table. Instead, I’d climbed out of the car in a jealous rage at the sight of King holding her in his arms. I wanted to deck the bastard as they turned to walk into the building, his hand wrapped around her shoulder.

  Now that she was finished, I wondered how it went—if they were hard on her, and if King was there to console her when it was over.

  Starting the Honda I’d borrowed from Timms, I followed her as she made her way home. Picking up my phone, I desperately wanted to call Sam. I wanted her to know I cared—that I loved her, and I was right behind her.

  As she pulled into her garage I dialed, but I called Randall, and not the girl of my dreams.

  “Yes,” he answered.

  “She’s back under your watch.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Everything okay there, Randall?”

  “Yes.”

  “I’m going to Lone Oak to shower and change. I’ll call you when I make it back here and you can take a break to sleep.”

  “Don’t you need sleep, sir?”

  “I’m fine, but if you’re going to be there and on watch, you better catch a little shut eye.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  I drove to Lone Oak as quickly as I could, calling Micah on the way.

  “Why are you calling me? You’re supposed to be relaxing.”

  “Micah, he’s after Sam.”

  “I know.”

  “What do you mean you know?”

  “The APB came across your desk this morning. I saw it. How are you doing?”

  “I’m in Alabama.”

  “I should’ve known that.”

  “I’m just keeping an eye on things, that’s all. Samantha doesn’t know I’m here. And I’d like to keep it that way. I can watch over her and Dax, but stay out of her life.”

  “Don’t you think that’s a little creepy? Stalking a woman you love, who wants nothing to do with you?”

  “Well, maybe a little when you put it like that.”

  “Be careful, okay?”

  “I just can’t let her go, Micah. Ya know?”

  I waited for her response, but was met with silence. “Micah, have you ever loved someone so much you’d do anything for them? Go anywhere, be anything, just to keep them happy and safe?”

  “Yes, Mac.”

  “Really? Cause that was more of a rhetorical question. But now that you’ve brought it up, who?”

  “It doesn’t matter. The point is, I have.”

  “So, you know.”

  “If you can’t live without her, then tell her. Just be careful, okay? You’re a dickhead. I can tolerate you as a dickhead. I just can’t handle you dead.”

  “I appreciate that. And Micah? I’ve never been someone who tells the important people in his life that they matter, but you matter to me.”

  “Don’t be an asshole, Mac. Go get her,” she said, completely ignoring my short but loving moment with her.

  “I’ll check in later. Do me a favor?” I asked.

  “Anything.”

  “Call me if you hear something.”

  “You know I will.”

  “Yak atcha later?”

  “Yeah,” she answered softly. “If you’re lucky.”

  34

  SAMANTHA

  Three and a half days. That’s how long I’d been under the watchful eye of Randall. Stir crazy, I hadn’t been out of the house since my interview with the FBI. It’d been quiet—too quiet. While they searched for Hector, we were the ones seemingly in custody.

  “I’ve got to get out of here,” I said complaining non-stop to Polly. “I’m going to see Mimi.”

  “You know he’s not going to allow that,” Polly said, motioning with her head toward Randall.

  “I don’t really give a shit. I’m losing my mind, and what’s worse, I’m losing my sense of humor.”

  “It’s gonna hit the fan soon, huh?”

  “It’s almost eleven a.m.,” I said, glancing at the clock. “I’m going to tell him I’m taking a shower and a nap, and I’m sneaking out.”

  “Are you sure that’s such a good idea?”

  “I need to see Mimi, and I need to get the hell outta here. I’ll be back in one hour, tops. He’ll never even know I’m gone.”

  Polly nodded. “Do you think it’s safe?”

  “Are you kidding? No one has seen Hector since the night we saw him on the road. And the more I’ve thought about it, that was purely coincidental.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Do you really think Hector drove around on the off chance that the car you’d just had serviced would die on a rural highway, thus giving him the opportunity to kill us? Really?”

  “I don’t know, Sam.”

  “I do. I’m getting out for a while.”

  Leaving our discussion in the kitchen, I found Randall in the front room on his laptop.

  “Randall? I’m going upstairs to take a shower and a nap. My head hurts.”

  “Should I call a doctor, Miss Samantha?” he asked politely.

  “No. Nothing like that,” I assured him. “Just your run-of-the mill headache.”

  Bolting up the stairs, I turned on the water, showered with lightning speed, and quickly dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, pulling my long ponytail through a baseball hat. I picked up my sunglasses off the nightstand and couldn’t help but notice the note from Mac still perched on my jewelry box.

  Yours is the light by which my spirit’s born: you are my sun, my moon, and all my stars. – M.

  Peeking out my door, I could see Randall sitting in a chair by the entrance. I decided it was best to sneak through the garden, going out the side door. I didn’t want to make too much noise or kick up any dust executing my escape. I knew Randall would have to leave Dax and Polly in order to follow me. Hopefully that decision would give me just enough time to get away.

  I’d taken the spare set of keys to my car earlier in the day and carried them around in my bathrobe all morning. I was driving without a license, without a real plan of action, and without most of my common sense. At this point, I didn’t care.

  “Thank you, Lord,” I shouted in my car, finally feeling free. The ten-minute drive seemed like thirty seconds when I rolled into the parking lot at Autumn Valley.

  I pulled my badge out of the ashtray as I approached the gate, only to be met by a maintenance worker.

  “Sorry, Miss… Peterson,” he paused, looking at my security badge. “We’re working on the gate today.”

  He swiped my card, and I watched the gate rise. “Thank you.”

  I was one step closer to seeing Mimi and maybe, just maybe, feeling like myself again. I hopped out of the car and clicked my key fob to lock the doors. Nothing happened. No beep. Realizing the fob was dead, I walked on, not giving a damn. I couldn’t wait to see Mimi.

  I went straight to the administration office wanting to collect the last few items left behind by the FBI. Passing the boardroom, I waved to the president of the board of directors as I walked the hallway to my office. He’d been running Autumn Valley from the makeshift space for the last couple of days with the help of the accounting department.

  I sat in my chair and was happy to see Dax’s little face smiling back at me from the small frame on my desk. I checked my messages. Most of them were about Miller. With everything in the possession of the FBI, the small stack of mail on the corner of my desk didn’t seem very important. Still, I managed to knock it off in my eagerness to leave and get to Mi
mi.

  Picking everything up, I noticed an envelope with a bulge. There was no return address, but I recognized the handwriting, and a lump formed in my throat.

  As I opened it, Dax’s small Matchbox car came rolling out. I read the note quietly as the tears streamed down my face. I read the last two sentences over an over: Please don’t let me go. I’m no good without you.

  I desperately wanted to hear Mac’s voice. To tell him I was sorry for acting the way I did. I called his cell phone from my office line and got no answer. I pulled his business card from my Rolodex, deciding to call his office in D.C.

  “Mac Callahan’s office,” rasped the voice on the other end.

  “Mac Callahan, please.”

  “He’s out today.”

  “Um.” I hesitated. “When do you expect him back?”

  “Who’s calling?”

  “This is Samantha Peterson.”

  “Samantha?” she said as if she knew me.

  “Yes? Who is this?”

  “I’m Micah. I’m Mac’s assistant.”

  “Oh, it’s nice to meet you, Micah. Can you tell me where Mac is? I tried his cell phone, but there was no answer.”

  “Really?”

  “You seem surprised.”

  “I am. He’s not in D.C., Samantha. He’s in Alabama with you,” she said with an edge of anger to her voice.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “He’s taken a leave of absence. He’s back in Shadeland. He went back to watch over you.”

  “Why wouldn’t he tell me?”

  “Maybe because you told him you never wanted to see him again.”

  “How do you know that?” I asked, hurt that Mac had shared so much with her.

  “Because you broke his fucking heart, sweetie.”

  I took a deep breath and exhaled, pausing for only a moment. “Micah?” I asked sincerely. “I need your help. Will you help me?”

  “Why should I?”

  “Because I love him. I can’t live without him.”

  There was a long pause at the other end and I knew Micah was deliberating.

  “He’s at Lone Oak. I just spoke with him. Randall is supposed to be watching you while he got a shower.”