Page 76 of Prince of Tides
“Because that’s my job,” the officer said. “It’s what I have to do. It’s not you, not just you, I should say. I’m here to stop everyone, ID them, and make sure they have a reason to go inside.”
“It’s a hospital. Why wouldn’t I have a reason? She’s in there. I must get to her.”
“Can I have your name and her name, then?” the officer said. “I’ll radio it in. If you’re cleared, you can show some ID and go inside. No problem, I promise.”
“My name is Rip. I am here to see Laurie Stiller. She was admitted three days ago—”
Before I could finish my sentence, I stopped, noting the complete change in the officer’s demeanor.
“LaurieStiller, you say?” he asked carefully, spelling her last name out, though it wasn’t difficult.
“That’s correct. I’m her … boyfriend, I guess. I was out of town on business and couldn’t get back until today. Now, can Ipleasego see her?”
“One moment,” the officer said, turning away to speak into his shoulder radio, thinking I wouldn’t hear. “Sir, we have a man claiming to be Laurie Stiller’s boyfriend outside. Name of ‘Rip.’ What do you want me to do?”
“What’s going on?” I growled, taking a step forward. “Where’s Laurie? What’s wrong?”
Other officers tensed nearby, one of them reaching for his sidearm.
The hospital doors opened, and a familiar figure came striding out.
“Sir,” I said, standing up smartly as Mark Stiller came up to me. “Is Laurie okay?”
“I don’t know,” he growled. “I thought she was with you, but now that you’re here looking for her, I don’t know.”
“Is she not here? I was told she was sick.”
“Shewashere,” Mark snapped, looking around. “Then someone came in, knocked out my other daughter, andtookher.”
I went still, a cold chill running down my spine. “Who did this?”
“It was Eric.”
Plants nearby wilted, trees drooped, and the fountain ran dry as I pulled water toward me in a fury.
The officers looked around uneasily, and I let the water go before one of them noticed the stream from the fountain headed toward me.
“Eric did this?” I said, walking away from the police officers.
Mark followed.
“Yes, according to the footage. I …” Mark shook his head. “I thought you two were in league with one another. That you were the mastermind behind it all maybe.”
“Absolutelynot, sir,” I said respectfully. “But why would he do this?”
Mark sighed. “I found out what Eric was involved with. He owes some big loans to some bad people after the bank refused to finance his business anymore. They’ve come to collect, and he was hoping that by marrying my daughter, he could get some ofhermoney to pay them off.”
“No wonder he’s so desperate,” I said. “Why kidnap her?”
“Ransom, I assume. The note hasn’t come yet, but I suspect it will,” Mark said angrily. “I’m ready to go to war with these people, Rip. I have men standing by. But my daughter is my priority. I willnothave her caught in the crossfire.”
“I understand,” I said softly. “That means you know where she is?”
He looked around, suddenly uncomfortable. “We don’t talk about it much, but all of my family have tracking devices implanted under their skin. Just in case. I don’t like to admit this is a possibility, but it's not unheard of in my line of work. Usually not for this reason, though.”
“So you know where she is,” I confirmed.
Mark nodded.
