Page 42 of Inevitable Dream

“Okay. Let’s get you in to see a doctor and get some X-rays. Jack is going to take you through those doors and get you settled,” I tell him. I turn my attention to the older police officer, who is now standing behind me. He looks over my shoulder at his partner.

“Don’t let him out of your sight,” he tells his younger partner. Once Kane and his partner are out of earshot, the officer continues. “This guy may have killed a man. A man was lying dead beside him when we found him.”

“He might be, or he can be another victim. He has a gash on his head, that I know for sure. The doctor will probably run more tests, and we could discover more injuries. If he has a head injury, he could be in serious trouble,” I reply.

The officer nods and joins his partner while I call the doctor on call. With a slew of other patients waiting, I leave Dr. Simon to order the tests and move along to tend to other patients. I should have taken my break half an hour ago, but we’re backed up, and I hate to leave Amy, my partner nurse, on her own. Amy’s older and has been working at the hospital for over a decade. Her experience is invaluable, and I’m lucky to get to work with her this week. It’s Amy who insists I take my break.

“You need to recharge. And you aren’t doing yourself any favors trying to work a ten-hour shift without taking a break. You’ll burn out. This is a tough but important job, and if you’re not looking after yourself, you can’t take care of anyone else.” She waves me away. I decide to go down to my locker and check my phone. Two text messages from Rebel are waiting for me. The first one says:Love you, baby. Missing you tonight.

This is the first night since I started working that I haven’t been home to have dinner with him. I’ll admit that this part of the job sucks. I like that Rebel and I can sit and eat together to talk about the day.

The second text says:When you get a chance, come down to the main lobby. I’ll wait for you there.The message was sent over half an hour ago. I slam the locker closed and race down to the lobby. The elevator opens, and as I’m walking out, I see Rebel is waiting to get on.

“I was coming to find you,” Rebel says with a grin, holding up a large tote bag. “I brought you dinner.” I walk straight to him, wrap my arms around his neck, and press a swift, hard kiss on his lips.

“I was going to call you, then I saw your texts. I miss you,” I tell him.

With his arm around my waist, he moves us away from the elevators to allow others to pass. “Babe, get used to this. Whenever possible, I’m going to try to make it over. Now, where can we go to eat this?” He lifts the bag.

I lead him to a semiprivate lounge area, and Rebel unpacks our dinner. Chicken and vegetable stir-fry, and vanilla cupcakes for dessert. Rebel even thought to bring cutlery and my favorite fizzy strawberry water drink.

“How’s your night going?” Rebel asks, taking a bite of his meal.

“Pretty normal. Busy, but it’s always this way. There’s a patient who came in with the police. They brought him in to get checked out. The police think he killed someone, but with the blow to the back of the head, I think he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. The doctor is ordering tests,” I tell him.

Rebel’s ears perk up, and his jaw clenches. “I know it’s your job, but I don’t want you alone with this guy.”

“There are two cops with him at all times. And I don’t think he’s dangerous. It’s not for me or you to decide. But he is a patient, and he needs medical care. He wasn’t high. The bloodwork came back. He was having trouble focusing, probably because of a concussion,” I explain.

“I could talk to the cops, maybe get more information. I know most of them on the force in this area.”

“That’s not your job either,” I remind him, reaching out to touch his arm. “I understand you want to fix everything and make everything perfect for me, but life’s not like that. I’m treating this patient like any other. The police will do their job, and in this case, all you need to do is bring me dinner and tell me about your day. How’s Wire doing?” I ask to change the subject.

“He seems better today. Falcon checked in with Phineas about the family. It seems that Mitchell caught on to the cartel, and before he could alert Phineas, they took Remmi. The cartel wanted him to find a flaw in GWO’s system so they could go public and the shares would drop. It would have ruined the company, and the cartel would have bought it for next to nothing,” Rebel explains. “The cartel boss wasn’t impressed by the disastrous results, and rumor has it that their frontman, Diego, has gone into hiding. The Fontaines are safe, and Mitchell is officially retiring.”

“I’m glad it’s all over. I really like Remmi. We’re supposed to go out for coffee next week. I’m hoping we can build a friendship. She said she was going back to her house. I know her parents are worried about her being out there on her own.”

“Wire’s set up a full security system. No one will be able to get close to Remmi without being noticed. It’s good that you’re spending time with her.”

“Wire put in a security system? And she let him?” I ask, confused.

“I’m not sure he gave her a choice.” He chuckles. “Considering Wire’s the one who carried her out of that hellhole and is looking out for her, I think she feels safer knowing he’s around. She must be, or she’d tell him to get lost.”

Rebel hangs around until I have to go back to work. “Tomorrow night, same time,” he says, and I watch him walk away. He’s just as hot walking away as he is coming toward me.

Back in Emergency, I notice Dr. Simon speaking with the two police officers. “Highly unlikely that man killed anyone. He was hit so hard in the back of his head that he would have been out cold immediately. And whoever hit him didn’t stop at his head. His back has consistent bruising. His hands have no gunpowder residue. He’s not your guy.”

The older officer jerks his head toward the small room next to them. “Take off the cuffs and tell him not to leave town, just in case we need to ask more questions.” He sighs. The younger officer leaves to do his bidding, and as I’m walking by, Doctor Simon stops me.

“Sadie, Mr. Barret will be with us overnight. See if there’s a bed upstairs for him. Concussion, for sure, and some bad cuts. Let’s clean him up and give him a day or two in the hospital. I want to make sure there aren’t any long-lasting effects from the hit to the head,” he says.

“I’ll let Amy know I’m back and get right to him,” I reply with a nod. I look up at the policeman. “I don’t know why, but I knew he couldn’t have killed that man.”

“We have to follow up on all leads,” the officer says. “I’m glad he’s innocent. When I asked him his name when we picked him up, he said Sargeant Kane Barret. It shook me. Our boys shouldn’t be in a dirty alley after all they’ve given to our country.” He gives me a weak smile. “Take good care of him.”

“We will,” I answer. The younger officer reappears, and I leave them to it. I head toward Amy to let her know my next task. She gives me a quick rundown on what’s happening before she takes her dinner break.

“I didn’t kill him,” Kane says as I tend to the cut on the back of his head. The doctor has stitched it up, but the bandage needs changing.

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