Page 8 of Rescuing Ryder

“Dr. Garrison speaking.”

“Hello, Dr. Garrison. It’s Claire Meyers. I’m calling to confirm that David Kilner still resides there. I received a package today, and it contained a severed head of an animal.”

“I’m sorry, Dr. Meyers. Due to HIPPA, I can’t confirm or deny anything. I’m sure you understand. If you recall, he’s not up for parole for another five years.”

“I do. I hoped, as a professional courtesy, you might confirm his whereabouts for me,” she pleaded.

“As I mentioned, I can’t but I will tell you to rest easy, Dr. Meyers. You have no reason to fear,” he soothed. “If anything changes, the state will notify you immediately.”

“Yes. Thank you, I appreciate the reminder.” She hung up the phone and sat at her desk. Recalling the evil expression on the man’s face when he realized they ruined his plan to get out, she bit her lip and let out her breath.

Claire grabbed a bag and scooped the box and contents into the garbage. She hoped the incident remained a one-time prank. Tying it securely, she held it out, her clipboard and list forgotten, as she walked to the dumpster outside and threw it away. She smiled pleasantly to the patients who greeted her in the hall as she returned to her office. Grabbing the items she originally entered her office for, she tried to assure herself of her safety. But the hair on her neck stood up, warning her to take caution.

Dr. Garrison dialedthe number to the unit.

“Unit Seven, Helen speaking.”

“Helen, it’s Dr. Garrison. Can you take your phone down the hall and tell me where patient Kilner is right now.”

“Of course,” she stated as she walked down the hall. “He’s asleep on the bed in his room. He started taking the new medication you ordered yesterday and seemed tired after lunch.”

“Thank you, Helen. I appreciate you checking right away.”

Dr. Garrison started to hang up the phone when a gurgling sound came over the line. “Helen? Helen?” He dropped the phone, hit the lockdown button, and ran toward the unit.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Caroline’s phone rang and she sifted through her purse to catch it before it stopped. Seeing her friend Tex on the video screen, she hit the button.

“Hi,” she cheerfully greeted him. “The guys just returned from dinner. Perfect timing.”

“Hey Ice, Patch isn’t answering. Can you take your phone to him? I need a private moment with him.”

“Sure.” She scooted from her seat and handed Patch her device. “Wolf and I need some fresh air.”

Ryder sighed and waited for the door to close. “Damn it. It’s bad enough you sent them to stay with me. Now you’re calling me nonstop.”

Tex held his hands up in surrender as he stared at his friend. Ryder’s face appeared even more gaunt and haunted than the week before. “If you answered, I wouldn’t call as much. I need to speak to you and I’m on limited time.”

Ryder held his head down and pinched his nose. “What do you want now?”

A soft feminine voice caught his attention. “Hello, Patch. My name is Claire. Tex flew out and met with me today and I wanted to ask you a few questions if you don’t mind.”

“He flew where?” he asked skeptically.

“I live in a small town in Serenity. It’s about forty minutes outside Seattle. I work for the Jonathon Winters Foundation.”

“What foundation? I’m sorry he wasted your time, lady. My buddy keeps butting his nose where it doesn’t belong,” he griped.

Her soft chuckle sounded like a melody to his ears. He adjusted the phone to catch a better view of the woman who filled the screen.

“It’s a hospital on top of a mountain in Serenity.” She smiled at him while he took in blonde bangs swept to the side and the rest pulled into a bun. She sounded professional yet wore a T-shirt with one of his favorite bands.

“What are you? A doc of some kind?”

“Yep, I’m a certified head shrink. These are my friends. Dr. Chase Winters and his wife, Nurse Practitioner and teen ward supervisor, Kassie Winters.” A man with black hair and a smiling redhead filled the screen.

“Hi, Patch. We’ll give Tex back his phone, but we wanted to introduce ourselves to you. He came out to see if we might be a good fit. We run a recovery hospital for veterans and teens. We’re having a family BBQ tonight and wanted to invite you to our next one,” Kassie explained cheerfully.

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