Page 46 of Lake's Legacy

Before taking her to the ward where she’ll work, I show her the cafeteria and the doctor’s lounge. To lighten our moods, I take her past the nursery so she can see the babies. We watch them briefly before moving to the nurse’s station. We pass a small group of men and women led by Joyce. She shows them the nursery and explains how their babies will sleep there so they, as new mothers, can get some rest.

“What if I want the baby to be in the room with me?” asks a young black woman wearing a lavender scarf over her naturally curly hair. The scarf matches the lavender silk blouse tucked into light grey trousers and covered by a matching grey blazer.

“Of course, you can keep the baby with you,” Joyce assures her. “It’s encouraged, but we also want to ensure the mother is well-rested when ready to leave the hospital with her newborn.”

When Joyce turns back, she sees me. Her eyes widen slightly before she nods at me and glances at Annette.

We continue to the nurse’s station to find Sylvia talking with Dr. Merkel.

“Olivia!” Sylvia calls out when she sees me. “You aren’t scheduled to work today.”

“No, I’m not. I brought Dr. Annette Solon in for a quick tour. She’s starting her residency tomorrow. Dr. Solon, this is Dr. Merkel and Sylvia Bonner.”

“I heard you were starting tomorrow; it’s nice to meet you. I’ve heard good things about you,” Dr. Merkel says, shaking Annette’s hand. “I look forward to working with you.”

“Joyce is giving a tour for expectant mothers, but she should be wrapping that up soon. If you want to wait and meet her, too.”

“We can stay a few more minutes,” I assure Annette.

“Did you hear about Talia?” I ask them.

“What do you mean?”

“The police found her body.”

“Oh my god, she’s dead? Talia? How?”

“They haven’t released the details yet.”

“That’s awful,” Sylvia says.

“You’re being careful, right?”

Sylvia gives me an odd look. “Careful? What do you mean?”

“Didn’t Joyce tell you about what happened to me on the way home from my shift the other night?”

“No, what happened?”

I tell her about my near miss. Sylvia clasps her hand over her mouth, her eyes wide with fear.

“You think they work here?”

“I don’t know. The two men dressed like surgeons, but they could have just stolen the gear. Keep your car keys and your phone on you. If your car breaks down, abandon it and get somewhere public.”

“You know, the night Dr. Carver disappeared, I saw her car on the side of the road,” Dr. Merkel says. “I wonder if that’s how they got her? Maybe I should tell the police what I saw.”

“That’s a good idea,” I tell him. Once he walks away, I turn back to Sylvia, who looks pale.

Sylvia nods. “I can’t believe Joyce didn’t tell me what happened. There she is. I’m going to ask her.”

I turn around and freeze. Joyce is talking to a man at the end of the hallway. He has his back to us. Standing next to me, Annette gasps.

“Recognize that kutte?” I whisper. She nods slowly.

“We need to move,” I tell her before pushing her against the wall behind a lunch cart that blocks us from view.

“What is he doing here?” Annette hisses.

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