Page 35 of Estranged Heart
Elijah
“I’m sorry, Mr. Pena, but I’m not able to give you that information. It’s a violation of privacy to share employees’ work schedules with others.”
“So you can’t tell me who was working with my husband or who handled all his testing?”
“I can’t. I’m sorry. That was a very long time ago and could be difficult to track anyway.”
“And all his lab results?”
“Those should all have been shown to him when he was last here.”
“Yes, but I’d like them too. My name is on all his medical release forms.”
Looking at his computer, he types on the keyboard. “You’re right. You are. We can always email them to you? But can’t you just ask him yourself?”
“I probably could if he wasn’t dead.”
His expression changes. “I’m so sorry, sir. I had no idea.”
“Yeah, well, I’m sure someone here did. One of your employees violated my husband’s privacy after he put all his trust in this place. Someone knew his blood type and that he was a match for customers involved in organ trafficking. They’re the reason he was tracked down and killed like an animal. You don’t have to help me find out who was involved today, but mark my words, the truth always comes to the surface eventually.”
His brow furrows. “I really am sorry for your loss, Mr. Pena, but you can’t come here accusing my employees with no proof. Accusations like that can be dangerous. I’m not sure how those people got your husband’s information but I can promise you it wasn’t through here.”
“You can’t know that for sure. I doubt you keep track of everyone coming in and out of this hospital, let alone what they do when they think no one’s looking. For all I know, you could’ve been involved yourself.”
“That’s crazy, and I think you should leave now. Again, I’m sorry, I truly am, but this is a family clinic. I can’t have you in here raising your voice and scaring the other patients. We will email you all your husband’s results as promised but I think it’s best if you don’t return.”
Bunching my fists at my sides, I nod and rush toward the exit. He’s not going to help me. The cops won’t either. They haven’t come here yet after promising to look into it, so I checked it out myself without much luck. I arrived with no answers and I’m leaving without them too. As I’m exiting the elevator a woman in navy scrubs squeezes past me, but it isn’t until the doors are closing that I realize who she is. “Stacey,” I say out loud without realizing at first.
She looks up at me with piercing gray eyes. “Elijah?” She tilts her head and the doors shut. I didn’t know she worked here.Landon did mention she was a nurse but never said where. Had he run into her here before too?
Shaking my head, I rub my eyes and walk to my car. Screaming and pounding the steering wheel doesn’t make me feel any better about all the time I’ve wasted today. Picking up my phone, I call the police station, asking for the man in charge of our case.
“Mr. Pena. How are you today?”
“I’d be better if I had new answers.”
“I know, and unfortunately I can’t offer you that today. We’re still doing everything we can—”
“Are you? Why haven’t you looked into the doctor’s office he went to, then?”
“Mr. Pena, we can’t just enter the hospital and start asking questions until we know what needs to be asked first. We also need warrants before any information can be released, along with a reason to believe anyone there was involved in what happened to your husband. Anyone knowledgeable enough can hack into a private system and take information. Even from places sealed tight like medical facilities. All it takes is for them to know what they’re doing, and believe me, the people these trafficking rings hire do. I’m sorry, but all we can do for now is wait until more evidence shows up or we find another lead.”
“It’s hard for me to believe there hasn’t been anything yet. No one saw anything? Nothing was left on or with his body aside from his ring?”
“Everything was either burned or washed off in the water. We’re still looking into the disappearance of the man who rented Landon the boat. We did have a lady who runs a restaurant near the lake say she’s seen him before, based on the sketch made off the description you gave, but that’s all we have so far. I know it’s not much but these sorts of things . . .”
“Take time, I know.”
“Look, as soon as we know anything else, I will call you. I promise. But for now, try to shift your focus elsewhere. Be with your family. Bury your husband. Hopefully the rest will fall into place on its own. But you have to remember, these men are good at covering their tracks and are notorious for disappearing without a trace.”
“If you’re saying I may have to accept the fact that my husband’s murderer will be running free forever, then you’re more delusional than I thought. If you won’t do your job, then I’ll have to find someone who will.” I end the call before he can respond, tossing my phone into the passenger seat, screaming at the top of my lungs. Today was supposed to help me move forward but all I did was take two steps back.
Before reaching our favorite spot on the lake, I go past the docks where I held Landon’s hand for the first time, hoping to see Hank standing near the boats. He’s never there. I won’t stop looking, though. He has to appear again eventually. Maybe to fool some other people. Glancing out the window, I slow my car enough to see all the faces hanging out by the party and rental boats. No Hank. Sighing, I keep going until I’m pulling up in a familiar parking lot. I’m about to walk toward the water when I spot someone resting against a tree at the trail entrance. They appear to be out of breath.
I approach them to see if they’re okay. It’s not until I’m close enough that I catch Flower Shop Guy’s eyes locking onto mine.
“You again,” he huffs out, gripping his chest.
