Total pages in book: 154
Estimated words: 142764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 142764 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 714(@200wpm)___ 571(@250wpm)___ 476(@300wpm)
She relaxes further as if she was anticipating having to tell me she couldn't help. Now that she can, her reason to live is restored.
She brushes away some stray hairs at her hairline and refreshes her smile. "Just head down this corridor. His office is on the left. If he's not in there, come back here, and I'll page him."
I nod once and head in the direction she's pointed me. The office has his name outside on a brass plate. I knock on the door, and when there's a muffled noise on the other side, I take it as a request to enter.
The second I shoulder the door open and the doctor catches sight of me, he jumps out of his chair and puts the length of the small room between us. His voice is all panic. "I told them I wouldn't say anything. I'm working like normal. Nothing has changed." Despite his tone, his back is straight, and he meets my eyes squarely. Scared but not going to run.
"Doctor." I mirror his position, holding my own hands up. "I'm not here to hurt you. I only want to ask you a few questions."
He shakes his head back and forth, trying to squeeze between the cabinet and the couch on the other side. "No, I'm not. I told them I wouldn't talk or they'd come back. I can't."
I enter the room and close the door behind me. This sets him practically shaking, but he still doesn’t make a move to hurt me or try to get past me. He’s got more balls than he thinks.
"Please, Doctor, it's important. You took an oath, didn't you? All I need is information, and no one will know it came from you. Besides, once it comes out that I even have this information, it won't matter anyway."
He looks like he wants to ask questions, but I shake my head gently, discouraging him as gently as I know how.
He still looks scared and hesitant. "What...what do you want to know?"
That tells me he wants to help. He doesn't like leaving my mom in her situation any more than I do.
I ease down on the end of the couch, putting myself a little lower than him. "I just want to know what you know. What did my father want to keep hidden?"
His eyes turn a little darker, a little calmer now, and he eases away from the wall to lock the door and take his desk chair again. "Your father is a monster." He waves at his face where it’s battered and bruised.
I chuckle. "Don't get it twisted, Doctor. I'm a monster too, but I love my mother. But yes, I’ve been on the receiving end of his handiwork as well."
The words threaten to stick tight in my throat. She's not my real mom, a tiny voice blasts in the back of my mind. But she's the only source of kindness, of love, I've had in my life until Bel, and I won't just walk away from her after that.
He gives me a long look and nods. "I think she's being poisoned. Or has been and is currently. It's a long, slow death he's building for her."
I swallow hard. "Is it too late?"
This makes me think of Bel's mom. Her body had lain right down the hall when Seb had it moved from the emergency room. I hadn't been here, but I'd gotten the information out of the nurses then too as I kept track of Bel.
"I don't believe so. When I was working with her, I started to synthesize an antidote, but I didn't get very far when your father returned and requested I leave your mother's care team." The last is bit out, an edge in his voice now.
Good, this doctor has some fight at least.
"What do you need to finish it?"
"More of your Victoria’s blood. I have to make sure he hasn't changed things now that I've interfered. You should probably hurry too. It seems like he might want to end it if he thinks he might get caught."
I snort. "My father has always underestimated me. He thinks I'm stupid, or maybe he just has low expectations. Either way, he won't end things just because of me. Not yet."
Doctor Brooks nods, and I consider Bel's mom again. And what I considered that day in the kitchen that made me think we were related. "Doctor, do you know the name of the doctor who was treating Ms. Jacobs before she passed?”
He eyes me and shakes his head. "I can look it up, though."
Once I have what I need from him, I give him my cell phone number and tell him to get to work. I'll pay whatever he needs.
Then I go find the doctor who helped Bel's mom. She's tall and thin with dark hair and dark eyes. Younger than I thought. "Doctor?"