Page 59 of Dying to Meet You

“Leave with them? No.” His brows lower as he looks down the road to the west. He turns back to me. “Gal that came a while ago left with them. Is there a problem?”

I try Becca’s number, but it won’t go through. “Yes, there’s a problem.”

The deputy gets on his radio, giving out information about the vehicle, while I lose it. Every call to her gives me a disconnected message, and Keir isn’t answering. I try Matt, then Eden, with no luck. Blaine and Chris come running from the house when they see us at the roadside from the family-room window.

“Where are the girls?” Blaine asks. “Don’t you dare fucking tell me…”

Closing my eyes, I beg God to hear me. I start to recite, “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

We need help…we’re in trouble, God. So much trouble.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Deeply Lost

Matt

Myfeetcan’tcarryme quickly enough. Off to the side of the main building at the wellness center is an event space. When Caleb brings the therapy dogs to meet with residents, that’s where they gather. I have no idea what’s waiting for me there, but if it’s not Weston…

Hutton said go to the event space. There is a large, black star made of stone inset into the floor, and there are numbered rooms on the perimeter of the space. The utility room is room number thirty-nine, and it’s the third door from the entrance to the main building.

I’m running down the stairwell when I realize Hutton isn’t right behind me, but I can’t wait; I need to get to our son. Pulling my phone out, I text as I’m running. I may need reinforcements. I don't know what I’ll find.

I don’t want to entertain the thought this could be a diversion and not about getting Weston. Or the video was filmed three days ago, not recently.

The backside of the event building has a set of double doors that are held open by doorstops. It’s empty as I barrel inside, and all the tables and chairs are stacked on a platform in one corner. Looking for the small, green, plastic numbered plates over the doors, number thirty-nine is the third one. There is another plastic placard screwed into the door that says, “See Dr. Wallen for keys”.

I rattle the doorknob just in case it’s unlocked, but it doesn’t budge. “Weston, Weston do you hear me?” I whisper loudly against the door. Louder, I repeat myself, but there’s no response.

Hutton could be wrong…maybe it was a coincidence.

Regardless, I head to Dr. Wallen’s office for those keys. I don’t know how thoroughly the police and agents were in checking each room, closets included, but I’m not leaving here without picking through every inch of the building.

The doctor’s door is closed, but I hear him talking. I don’t care if I’m interrupting a session. I open the door and see Dr. Wallen at his desk, hanging up his phone before turning to look at me. “Matt, what ca-”

A loud bang sounds from the direction of his window.

Every last thought grinds to a halt.

The splatter of blood is warm on my face as my stomach flips. No. This isn’t real. This can’t be real. With shaking hands speckled dark red, I wipe frantically at my pants, blinking repeatedly at the scene in front of me. What the fuck just happened?

Dr. Gregory Wallen’s body lays half out of his chair, most of his head missing.

I can’t believe what I’m seeing, taking seconds to kickstart my brain. The window has a large hole in it. When I move around the edge of the desk to look outside, I catch no movement, and there doesn’t appear to be anyone there. My hand shakes as I dial 911, giving the details to the operator. Then I text Harrison and Bristow. The local police may have a homicide on their hands, but I’m not going to quit trying to find my son.

Where in the ever-loving fuck is Hutton?

A surreal feeling moves in as I skirt the body to leave the office. I was trained to push past fear and revulsion. To keep a clear head when adrenaline threatens to take over. When you watch your wife’s colleague get his head blown off, though, there is no amount of training or preparation to handle that. Nauseated, I gulp down air as another staff member and the police rush into the building minutes later.

Eden…Christ Almighty. I don’t want her to see this if she happens to be here. I upend the dish with keys in it while others are concentrating on covering up the body, shielding the patients from what happened. How did no one else hear the gunshot blast?

I pocket every key before slipping back into the hall toward the event center. I look up to see Steve heading my way. His eyes scan the blood splattered over me. “Doc? Is Eden-”

“Oh, oh…no. Fuck…no.” I interrupt. Steering him by the arm into a restroom, I continue, “I have to fill you in…”

Chapter Forty

Saved…or sabotaged?

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