Page 38 of Lake's Legacy

Lake and Toff follow Dr. Martinez.

“I should probably get back to work,” Dr. Solon says, squeezing Annette’s arm. “You’re headed to New Orleans tomorrow, right?”

Annette jolts. “I forgot. Yes. I start work at Tulane the day after tomorrow. I need to move into my apartment tomorrow.”

“Tulane Hospital?” Hex asks, glancing at me.

“Annette is doing her residency there. We’ll be working together,” I tell him.

“You know about what almost happened to Olivia, right?” Hex asks.

His question has Dr. Solon stopping and turning back to our little group. “What happened?”

Hex explains about my missing friends and how someone tampered with my car before trying to kidnap me. “The cops are finally making some headway. An anonymous caller had them questioning Olivia’s patient. The cops got her statement along with the statement of the man who intervened. They also havea report from the car repair shop about the sabotage. They’re linking several disappearances together and think they’re after a gang of men who are targeting young women, mostly pregnant women.”

“Maybe you should postpone your residency,” Solon says. “Or find a different hospital.”

“I can’t, Dad. You know I can’t do that. Look, I’ll be careful. Olivia already warned me. My apartment is only a few blocks from the hospital.”

“I don’t like it. Maybe Toff can…”

“No, don’t say anything to Toff. He has enough to deal with right now.”

“We can carpool,” I offer. “I don’t know if we can get on the same shifts, but we can try.”

“What if they figure out where you live?”

“You can stay at the clubhouse,” Hex cuts in. “Olivia is staying there. We have a room available. A prospect will be driving Olvia to and from work. They can drive you, too. You don’t have to worry about being on the same shift. We have enough people to drive both of you.”

“I admit I’d feel better,” Solon says, looking at Annette. “Please.”

Annette glances at me. “How bad is it?”

“Not quite as bad as a frat house, but close,” I admit, causing Hex to smirk. “However, the food is fantastic. Nora, who does all the cooking, is about to open a restaurant. Hex’s mom and girlfriend live there, so it’s fairly tame.”

“Well, I don’t think I’ll be spending much time there, in any case. Residents don’t sleep, right, Dad?”

“True. But I’d feel better knowing you had these guys looking out for you.” He hugs his daughter and leaves us.

“Thanks,” Annette says to Hex. “You don’t have to open your home to me, but I appreciate it.”

“No problem. You’re friends with Lake and we take care of our own. Do you need any help moving?”

“No, I wasn’t going to take anything more than clothes. I’ll pack tonight and drive to New Orleans in the morning.”

“I’ll go with you,” I tell her. “Lake wants me to return to the clubhouse.”

“Lake will probably come to the clubhouse tomorrow or the next day,” Hex says.

“Why?” I ask.

“Let’s just say he has some business to attend to. Club business,” he adds when I open my mouth to ask.

I close my mouth, knowing that there is no sense in asking. When the guys say club business, the walls go up, and they’re impenetrable.

When Lake and Toff return to the waiting room, Annette and I rush over to them. They both look exhausted.

“How is he?” Annette asks.

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