Chapter 347.
Java recurity at Emerald er den, Allam said, “Keep it low key though, I don’t want to scare her of the Tldr:
Thorns Netilated. Your dad callou, George wants to sou you,
Already been Adam’s mouth tightened. He chewed Vietor out big me. Told him if he goes anywhere near that doctor again, Hell personally cut him off completely.”
A hint of a smile crossed Adam’s face. ‘Grandfather’s old schoof, but even he has lines nobody crosses. Trying to hurt a doctor’s hands? That crossed it.
“Keep your eyes open,” Adam told Thomas. And move my afternoon tuff around, I’m picking up Irene later.”
Across town, Irene walked into the medical center lobby and was immediately surrounded by concerned coworkers.
“You’re back!” A young researcher rushed up to her. “llow are you feeling?
Irene miled “Much better, thanks. Just caught a bug.” No need to mention being kidnapped, tied up, and nearly having her hands smashed. Just another day in Silver City.
Walking through the building triggered flashes of that night–being dragged out the back door, rough hands grabbing her, the fear. When she passed the hallway to the rear exit, she sped up without thinking, her muscles tensing.
Breathe, she told herself. Don’t let them win by being scared.
“Irene!” Matthew’s voice snapped her back to reality. He hurried over worry all over his face. “Thank goodness you’re okay. I was going crazy when you didn’t show up.”
He handed her a cup of tea. “Just how you like it.”
“Thanks.” Irene took the cup gratefully. “Sorry for disappearing on you.”
“Well, you never miss work,” he said, walking beside her. “So when you didn’t show up…” He stopped himself. “Anyway, everything ran pretty smooth while you were out. Jennifer actually stepped up, handled some projects.”
Irene raised an eyebrow. “Really?”
“She’s not that bad,” Matthew shrugged. “Just competitive.”
When they walked into the lab, Jennifer looked up from her workstation. For a split second, something crossed her face- surprise, then fear, then disappointment–before she pulled herself together.
“You’re back,” she said flatly. “Thought you’d be gone longer.”
Irene noticed how Jennifer wouldn’t look her in the eye. Weird, but not shocking given their rivalry.
“Just needed a few days,” Irene said, putting down her bag. “Thanks for covering.”
Jennifer nodded stiffly and turned back to her microscope. “Barrett samples are ready. Results tomorrow.”
Throughout the day, Irene caught up on work, falling back into her routine. Research felt normal, a good distraction from everything else happening in her life.
She never noticed Jennifer watching her.
1/2
hapter 34
Bahne bergpionational mask Jennifer mind was racing. The night
i thote men mal trend the then moment when
* Trout fun the team AND get Maliker i otteniton.
trenes kidnapping played in loop in her hand hiding in the Could have called for help but didn’t. The fleeting mought
she not dead? The thought hit fennifer before she could stop, shocking her with its darkness. She wasn’t a bad person, was ako ż she hadn’t wanted Irene dead- just… gone.
As the day wound down, Irene’s phone lit up with a message from Ahm that made her stomach flip like a teenagers,
“On my way. Thought I’d save you the drive. Already hending your direction.
Irene smiled as she texted back: “My knight in shining armor. See you in the lobby,”
She didn’t notice Jennifer watching her, or the dread on the younger doctor’s face as Irene gathered her things to leave.
She’s connected, Jennifer realized with growing horror. Powerful people are protecting her..
As Irene walked away, Jennifer’s hands trembled slightly over her keyboard.
She was in way over her head.
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