Page 114 of Bad Blood

Once the elevator dings its arrival, I pull the phone from my ear and put her on speakerphone as I step inside. I shoot a quick text to Bree.

Me: Family emergency.

The three dots dance along the bottom of the screen.

Bree: Haha. Funny.

Me: Not joking. Can’t get a hold of Liam.

An incoming call pops onto the screen, accompanied by Bree’s sneer and her middle finger.

“Brighton? Let me take this call. Don’t hang up.”

“Is it Liam?”

I shake my head, knowing she can’t see me. “Give me a second.” I don’t wait for her reply before I switch calls to Bree. “Hey.”

“Isn’t he at the hospital?”

“He never showed.”

“And you know this because . . . ?”

“Brighton called. Dr. Fields—Liam’s doctor.”

I can imagine the wheels turning in Bree’s head. Why am I on a first-name basis with Liam’s doctor? And why is she the last to know this information?

“His doctor?”

“Yeah.” I hang my head in shame.

“Did you try his cell?”

“Are you serious?” How dare she ask such a stupid question. “Of course I called his fucking cell. I’m not an idiot.”

“No one said you are.”

“I’m headed home. I’ll call you when I find him. I’m calling the police.”

“Hey, slow down,” she interrupts. “Aren’t you jumping the gun?”

“What if it’s her?”

“She’s not that stupid.”

“You highly underestimate Dani’s need to get back at me, especially after our recent run-in.”

“Shit. You’re right. I’ll call the police. See if you can get a hold of him.” She exhales, and I picture a stream of smoke flowing from between her lips.

“I’ve been trying.”

“Fuck. I’ll try him too. Call me back.” She hangs up, and I switch the call back to Brighton.

“Hey. That was Bree, my manager,” I say, feeling the need to explain. “She’s gonna try Liam. Anything?”

“No. I—” A distant static interrupts her as the PA system crackles to life, “Dr. Fields, you’re needed at the nurses’ station. Dr. Fields to the nurses’ station.” Her rushed footsteps mask the sound of the page, and I can’t make out the rest.

“I shouldn’t have left him. I’m getting in the car. Like I said, I’ll be there in a couple of hours. If you hear anything, call me.”

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