Page 26 of The Chance

Staffing was the biggest headache she faced. She made the schedules for most of the department heads—they handled scheduling for their departments, with her oversight. That was the way Caine wanted it—but with one hundred and sixteen people employed by BCGH, it could be a bit of a problem at times.

Like when she was busy with other things. She had to sign off on monthly audits of each department, as well, making certain that all the numbers added up. Her audits weren’t well known around the hospital, and were a last look before reports were submitted every month. After Wallace Henedy had almost killed Nikkie Jean, Aubrey and Caine had combed through everything Dr. Henedy had touched—and discovered billing fraud going back fifteen years. His, and other doctors Caine and Jordan were still working hard to identify. They were still picking through records of other long-term physicians. Just…checking. Just to be on the safe side. She had a short list she was watching now—via Ten Laughlin, Caine’s investigator of choice. But mostly, the billing fraud was being handled by Ten’s older brother, Thoreau. Aubrey didn’t have much to do with it at all.

Once the culprits were fully identified, the FBI would be getting involved. Or…someone would handle it from there. She wasn’t sure who; she just knew someone would.

She and Caine had discussed in great detail places to watch within the hospital. Caine felt there were ghosts in the closets at BCGH. Aubrey couldn’t put her finger on where or why, but she did agree. She just hadn’t been able to find them yet.

She and Caine and a pair of private investigators were still looking.

One of those investigators was in her office waiting for her after she returned from lunch.

Tennison Laughlin was one of those men who women were drawn to. Big, strong, dark and dangerous, he would always getsecond looks. Much like the Doctors Chad and Guthrie floating around BCGH all the time, too hot for their own good.

Aubrey had looked over the last two years—but there was no way she was getting close enough to touch. Caine had mentioned once that Ten had been the victim of a money-grasping gold digger after Laughlin family money or something, who had nearly gotten him embroiled in a drug scandal or something with a hospital he had worked at once before. Only the FBI and help from Caine had cleared his name.

Ten avoided women in the medical profession like the plague. Especially young, brown-haired, brown-eyed nurses, Nikkie Jean had said in her hearing once.

Sometimes when dealing with the blue-eyed man, Aubrey was glad she was a blue-eyed blonde and not a brown-eyed brunette. He could be very intense—and hard to take.

Sometimes he had a way of looking at Aubrey that scared her far too much. Not that she would ever let that show. He wasn’t the enemy—she’d reminded herself of that far too many times before. When he would turn especially intense.

“Aubrey—” This time, he stood when she entered her office, where he had already been shown by the admin she and Caine shared. He stopped. She knew what he was seeing. “What in the hell? Who hurt you? Who did that?”

One hand rose to her face, to the bruises she had covered with makeup that morning. Her sleeve fell back, revealing the bandages. “So you haven’t heard about what happened with Dr. Hodges?”

There was one person in the hospital who hadn’t, at least. She really hated gossip.

“I’ve been in Michigan for a few weeks, doing a small investigation into a clinic on the Michigan-Indiana border Carrington is considering buying. Good old Jordan keeps me and Thor rolling in the green lately. What happened?”

“Dr. Hodges attacked Genny Hiller in the ER a few nights ago. And…me. With scissors. Genny was stabbed before Dr. Hodges was pulled off of us. I have a few cuts and bruises.”

“That bastard. I’ve always hated that asshole. Is Genny okay?”

“She will be. Chad Fields took her home this morning, actually.” And talking about what happened with this man made her feel a bit uncomfortable. He took intense to a whole new level. Rather like Caine—and Dr. Guthrie Hiller, too. Why did she somehow always find herself surrounded by men like them? Men capable of churning a woman up inside completely? “I didn’t realize we had a meeting scheduled today. I’m sorry, I’m…a bit behind on everything. I ended up taking two days off to be with Genny and deal with some fall-out.”

“Two? Hell, kid, you should have been given at least a week.” To her shock, he almost fussed as he stood and shooed her to her own desk chair. “Sit. Tell me exactly what happened and why Doug Hodges attacked my two favorite women in this damned hospital. Was he using drugs?”

Aubrey shook her head. “We don’t think so.”

“Then why did he attack you?” A flash of anger went through his eyes. It had her wanting to back away—like a man’s anger always had. Always would. “Tell me.”

She explained to him everything she knew, then…it was time to find out what he was doing there. “So why are you in my office?”

She’d checked her calendar—the man was not scheduled anywhere.

“I have six reports from last months’ audit. The ones you flagged. I’m here to find out why there was an uptick in the amount of fentanyl being marked as damaged or destroyed. Something’s not adding up. And a handful of people on your list for my brother have ended up on mine.”

Great. This was just what she needed to hear now.

Aubrey was starting to think she seriously needed a vacation.

This had not been her month at all.

24

Guthrie finally foundthe woman he was looking for. She was coming out of her office with a big-looking brute he’d seen around the hospital a few times before.

Usually lurking behind Jordan Carrington, or Carrington’s daughter, like a thug.

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