Page 19 of Grant
“And while we gather that, Spencer remains in danger. Luca, I want a chance with Spencer. I want to see if we can build something together. But I can’t ask while he pays me to watch over him.”
Spencer couldn’t breathe. He wanted to step out from behind the curtain and claim Grant for himself. But Grant had a point, and Spencer had to leave him to make his own choices. Besides, while Luca sat gaping at Grant, Fritz was pushing the conversation where Spencer wanted it.
“I won’t call the police without data,” he said. “But Grant is right, Luca. We need to find this man.”
“His name is Matthias Sharp. He’s a procurement manager for this hospital.”
The A&E, a place Spencer knew like the back of his hand, winked out of existence. For half a dozen heartbeats, he stood unmoving. Then he spun and sprinted down the corridor to the lift.
He'd wished for this. Now here was his chance to end this whole mess.
Procurement had offices on the third floor, grouped around a small reception area. The reception desk stood empty when Spencer arrived, but the offices bore name tags, and that was all he needed.
He raised his hand to knock on Sharp’s door and hesitated. He only knew Matthias Sharp by sight. Had never exchanged a single word with him. What was he going to say?You’re welcome to Carlo. Now stop trying to kill me?
Spencer gained a better appreciation for Luca’s dilemma. Then he knocked anyway.
No invitation to enter came.
He turned the handle.
The door opened on an empty room. Had Sharp stepped out for a coffee? Should Spencer wait wait? If Sharp came back and found him here, he’d have surprise on his side.
Before he had the chance to close the door, something heavy hit the back of his head.
Chapter Eight
Grantwasnostrangerto A&E department waiting rooms. He knew that while triage and treatment rooms were frantic, time in the waiting area ran in fits and starts. It felt as if hours had passed since Spencer had whisked Rylan out of sight, yet his watch told him they’d been here for two.
Which was still too long to be left without news. Even in a busy A&E.
Suddenly antsy, he rose and peered into the corridor leading to the treatment rooms. Nurses and orderlies passed back and forth, and when Grant spotted a face he recognised, he called out.
“Do you have any news about Rylan?”
The nurse joined them in the waiting area. “They’re just settling him now. You know he had his scan, yes? Mr Corel said he was going to update you. Didn’t he speak to you?”
“Not since we came in.”
“That’s odd. Someone must have grabbed him on the way. Let me see where he is.”
She disappeared down the corridor while Grant mulled that over. Spencer knew they’d worry about Ry. He wouldn’t attend a fresh case without at least sending someone along to tell them how he was.
“Ry’s had a scan, and the nurse said Spencer was coming to talk to us,” he said, rejoining Cap and Luca.
“He hasn’t.”
“I know.” A feeling of dread unfurled in Grant’s gut. “That’s not like him. He’d have come as he’d promised or sent someone. What if Sharp cornered him?”
“We need to find Matthias Sharp.” Cap stood, ready to hunt the man down.
“You don’t think—”
Grant met Luca’s troubled gaze. “What?”
“Could he have heard us discussing Matthias Sharp?” A wave of his hand encompassed the waiting room. “There’s not a lot of privacy here, and those curtains—” He pointed at the cheerful check drape separating the treatment rooms from the waiting area. “They don’t stop sound.”
Grant couldn’t breathe. Of course Spencer had heard! And he’d want to settle the matter himself! “Bloody hell! He’s gone after the bastard!”
