Page 79 of Doctor Mile High
Me:I love you too. I’ll be careful. I promise.
Dove:And you’ll run if anything goes wrong.
Me:I won’t run. I’ve never been the kind of man to run away from my problems. Don’t worry about me. Everything is going to be fine.
She doesn’t text me back. I know she’s upset and worried. She’s everything I’ve always wanted, but running won’t solve anything. As long as I can get that evidence in hand, I’ll be fine. My word over Landon’s will always mean more.
I stand on the other side of the street, staring at the building that kept Dove prisoner for far too long. My knuckles crack as I tighten them, the layout of the building playing in my mind likea movie. I spent hours studying the blueprints, so I know every nook and cranny just in case I do need to hide.
Checking the road, I look left and right for any vehicles, then run across, my boots splashing in puddles. Headlights come down the road, glaring off the glass of the doors that I need to break my way into. When I swipe my card on the black scanner next to the door, the light turns green, and the buzz of the door clicks. I push my shoulder against the handle and it opens, allowing me to step inside enemy territory.
The lights are off and most of the hallways are dark. I keep them off, remembering that I need to turn left to get to the janitor’s closet. The thud of my boots is the only sound in the entire building, scuffing against the floor. There’s a lowlight glaring every few feet, reflecting off the perfect polished tile.
Scanning my card to open the janitor’s closet, I snag the cart and head to the elevators. All I need to do is get to Landon’s office. A wheel on the cart squeaks with every rotation, alerting anyone that’s here that someone else is in the building.
I just hope it isn’t Landon.
As I walk down the hall, the jingling of keys has me grabbing the broom from the cart. The floors are already clean from what I can see, but whoever’s coming hopefully won’t question it.
The jingling becomes louder, the security guard coming around the corner. I keep my head down and a tight grip on the broom’s handle. I’ll swing it if I have to. There’s nothing I won’t do to get into Landon’s office.
“Damn, you guys are back tonight?” the guard asks, glaring his flashlight onto the floor. “This floor is spotless. I’m impressed with how well Mr. Vain keeps this place.”
“Can never be too clean, am I right?” I chuckle. “I’m only here for this hallway and one upstairs. My buddy messaged me and said he thought he forgot these areas. I shouldn’t be too long.”
“I love the dedication.” He grins, clicking his flashlight off. “Have a good night and don’t stay too long.”
“I won’t. I want to get home to my wife at a reasonable time.”
“I hear that,” he says. “The missus hates when I have to work night shifts, but it’s time and a half. More money to spoil her with.”
“I hope you get paid well without the time and a half,” I snoop, making note of his answer because whatever everyone’s salaries are here, they will need to be raised when they come to work for me.
He snorts, shaking his head. “Hell no. I haven’t gotten a pay raise in two years, but I need this job, and the benefits are good.”
I clench my teeth together so hard, I’m worried they’ll crack. “That’s a shame. With how much money he makes, you should have a living wage,” I state, then pause sweeping when I realize my mistake. “I’m sorry. I’m crossing the line, but I relate as well. We don’t get paid enough either.” I snag the giant dustpan and sweep the small amount of debris into it.
“Just the way it is, right? I have to go make my rounds. Have a good night!”
“You too!” I keep up my sweeping until the security guard is out of sight. “Finally,” I whisper to myself. Tossing the broom into the cart, I slam my hand on the button of the elevator.
It opens immediately and I take my cart with me. Out of habit, I turn to say, ‘Doctor’ to Dr. Greene, then scoff at myself,remembering where I’m at. I press the button to the top floor, remembering the layout of the office.
The elevator moves fast, so it doesn’t take that long to get to the top. Pushing the cart out when the doors open, I keep walking until I get to the door that leads into his main office where his top assistants work, like Dove. His office is situated in the southwest corner.
Scanning the card again, I step inside and take the cart with me to his office so nothing looks suspicious. I pass Dove’s desk. Her nameplate is still there, glistening and waiting for her to come back. All I want to do is break it in half and throw it away, but that would be too obvious.
Landon’s door doesn’t have a card scanner, and it’s wide open. That surprises me. Everyone who works here must not dare enter his office or they would probably get fired. Taking one last look over my shoulder to make sure I’m alone, I sneak inside and begin to rummage through all of his drawers.
Nothing is in his desk drawers.
“Come on,” I snarl, slamming the final door shut when it reopens from the force and the false bottom pops out.
I grin, knowing Landon couldn’t be that smart to keep things hidden too well. I lift the lid; files are stacked in the middle. Opening them one by one, my mouth drops when I see the amount of money he’s been scamming from the insurance companies, and the incorrect marketing receipts for medical equipment that has a high failure rate.
Every patient who has these devices has to be called to get a new one put in, or they could die. He’s overcharged for the equipment price and has lied to doctors about the success rate.Taking out my burner phone, I snap pictures of every single piece of paper. It takes me a while. I’m there longer than I thought I would be, but it’s worth it if Landon finally goes down for good.
What’s insane is this situation would have never come to this if he would have just left my Love Dove alone.
