Page 45 of Doctor Wolf's Human Nurse

“I’ll call them now and my team will be out here in an hour.”

“Send me the bill,” Sawyer said.

“I can pay for it,” Abby said.

“No. You’re only on her radar because of me.”

Abby knew that it was fruitless to argue. She went into the living room and slumped onto the couch. Sucking in a huge breath of air, she stared into space, feeling numb. She wasn’t afraid, mad, sad, or anything else.

Sawyer sat down next to her. “Why don’t you come stay with me for a while?”

Shaking her head, Abby replied, “No. I’m not going to let her or anyone else chase me out of my own house. That means that she wins.”

“You being dead means that she wins. You staying at my house means I can sleep tonight knowing that you’re safe,” Sawyer argued.

“Sebastian is making sure that I’m safe.”

Abby’s head was spinning and a sharp pain was creeping up from her neck up the back of her head and to her temples. Everyone was talking, asking questions, and making noise. The chief had called the forensic team and they were busy taking fingerprints on the door, cabinets, counters, refrigerator handle, and anything else they thought Dahlia might have touched.

It’s going to take me forever to clean up this mess.

A couple of hours later, Sebastian called her into the kitchen.

“Let me show you how everything works.”

He gave her the codes to the alarm and showed her how to look at the camera pictures from her phone and laptop.

“You can see what’s happening in real-time or you can see anything that’s been recorded for the last thirty days.”

She nodded.

“Every window and door have a sensor, which will alert the call center immediately if the code isn’t punched in within sixty seconds. I’ll make sure that the operators know that your place is a top priority.”

“Thank you.”

Sebastian looked at her sympathetically. “I know this must be hard for you. I’m sorry. My wife, Talia, who is a science teacher at the high school, wants to know if you would like to have dinner with us tonight. She makes a killer hamburger and potato casserole.”

Abby smiled weakly. “No, thank you. I would love a raincheck, though. Beth and the other ladies told me that Talia and Sadie are amazing people.”

“They are,” Sebastian agreed. “Sadie recently went through the mating ceremony with our local hero, Dakota Higgins. She recently gave birth to their first youngling.”

“Sawyer told me about them. I would love to meet them someday – just not today. My head hurts, and I just want to sit on my couch and breathe.”

Sebastian patted her knee. “I understand. It’s a bit overwhelming and I think you’re incredibly brave for sticking to your guns.”

“Stubborn is more like it,” Sawyer muttered.

Sebastian laughed. “Brave and stubborn both work. We’re going to get out of your hair. Call me if you need anything. Sawyer can text my number to you.” He grinned. “Don’t worry, Sawyer pays all the consulting fees. He makes the big bucks since he’s a doctor.”

Sawyer coughed and shook his head.

Soon everyone had cleared out except for Sawyer. “Why don’t you come to my place for dinner at least. You don’t have a lot of food here anymore.”

“I’m fine. Really, I am. I just want to sit here and veg. Please, don’t worry about me.”

“In other words, go home and leave me alone.”

Abby felt guilty for saying it, especially after the wonderful gift he had given her that morning, but she needed him to go. “Yes, please.”

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