Page 94 of The Potter

Get your priorities straight, Halle. You aren’t going through mental anguish by reliving a friend’s death and having attorneys ask you why you didn’t know your friend had sleep apnea?

Gah, I’ve wasted so much time just sitting here.

I need to find Vance.

Vance didn’t answer his phone.

No surprise there.

But, at least, Astor did. Apparently, they met at the gym early this morning to spar or beat the hell out of each other, and Vance was so preoccupied, he left his phone there.

Astor grabbed it, but by the time he made it out to the parking lot, Vance was gone.

He never made it to the office, which is where I am heading to join in the search for him.

“There she is!” Astor greets me at the door, wrapping me in a big hug. “I can’t believe my brother forgot to lock you up today. What’s it been—a week since I last saw you?”

It has, but that’s not the concern here. “Have you heard from him?”

Astor doesn’t seem as worried as I think he should be, considering his brother disappeared a couple of hours ago.

“Duke found him at the cemetery, where Logan is buried.”

A sudden ache spreads throughout my chest. How terrible he must feel to have gone to the cemetery. “Is he okay?”

Astor guides us down the hall toward our offices. “Duke’s sitting with him. He hasn’t said anything yet.”

Oh, my gosh. “I should go to him.”

Astor opens the door to my office. “Let’s see if he can work it out. Duke is there just in case.”

Just in case he runs? Has a blackout?

“Why don’t you help me with the patients we have backing up out front? Serena called out sick, and Autumn could use the help. We can reschedule Duke’s patients for her. Vance only has one consult today. I don’t know if we should reschedule her or wait to see if she shows. It’s later in the afternoon, before the…”

Deposition.

Why would Vance schedule a consult on the day he was supposed to give his deposition?

I nod slowly, chewing my lip so I don’t burst into tears. This patient must really mean a lot to Vance for him to see her today.

He won’t reschedule her. I know it. He’ll show up for this consult.

Straightening, I inhale and flash Astor a go-getter smile. “So, how many patients do you have?”

At least he has the nerve to look ashamed, lowering his eyes and fighting back a grin. “I might have overbooked a little bit.”

“Of course, you did.” I shake my head and walk into my office, stowing my purse in the desk. Really, I could use a distraction from worrying about Vance. Like Astor said, Duke is with him. He’ll make sure he returns to me safely. “All right then, let’s get these patients taken care of.”

Astor and I haven’t stopped working in five hours. It’s been a whirlwind of rescheduling, apologizing, and escorting patients into exam rooms.

My feet are tired, I’m hungry, and am still very much concerned about Vance, who still hasn’t shown up this afternoon.

“Excuse me.”

Looking up from the stack of papers on the counter, I find a woman, likely in her early fifties, with a soft smile. “Yes, ma’am. How can I help you?”

“My daughter has an appointment with Dr. Potter at three o’clock. Charlotte Adams. She’s on her way. We drove separately.”

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