Hideaway At Hawk's Landing

“It’ll go faster if we divide the list,” Dexter said.

“Thanks. I’ll take the head nurse and receptionist.”

“I’ll talk to the others,” Dexter offered.

Brayden noticed a file on the desk, one that was labeled Hawk. His gaze shot to his brother, then he gestured to the folder. “What’s that about?”

A wary look flashed across Dexter’s chiseled face. “A file on Chrissy.”

“You were looking for her all these years?”

Dex nodded. “Glad that’s settled.”

Unfortunately, she was dead and had been since the day she’d gone missing.

“Guess I can put it away now.” His brother swept the folder off the desk and jammed it in the drawer.

Something about how quickly he removed it made Brayden suspicious. He could usually read his brother like a book. But not tonight.

Was Dexter keeping something from him?

Chapter Six (#u402f873b-7859-5b97-9746-6a8a7e5d8571)

Mila jerked awake from her nightmares, only to realize that she was living a real one. The dark holding cell was cold and lonely, and felt a million miles away from home and her daughter.

She scrubbed her hands over her eyes, wiping away more tears. If she lost Izzy, she didn’t know what she’d do.

Desperate to keep it together until she was released so she could find her little girl, she forced her mind to her work.

Images of former patients, children in need, their parents’ gratitude that she’d given their children a chance at a normal life, flashed behind her eyes.

Little Robin, who had a scar from falling through a window. Seven-year-old Jacob, who’d suffered abuse at his father’s hands—she’d repaired the damage to his face, although the sweet child would never get his vision back in his left eye. Tiny Sariana, whose leg had been burned in a car accident. Baby Jane Doe, who’d been left for dead in the woods and mauled by an animal.

There were other children and families out there who needed her.

But what would they think if they discovered she’d given a new face to a human trafficker so he could escape?

Carina had borne the brunt of his vile ways and barely survived.

Mila had promised to protect her baby. But she’d failed. Now Izzy was in the hands of DiSanti’s goons.

We know you helped some of our girls escape, the man who’d stormed into her clinic had said.

She massaged her temple. How had they known?

Had they been watching her? Or had they found one of the girls and forced her to talk? Maybe they’d discovered the underground ring that helped women and children and young girls escape abuse to find a better life?

Carina... Was she safe and still in hiding?

* * *

BRAYDEN WOKE TO a text from Lucas.

Bond hearing for Dr. Manchester at ten a.m.

Brayden took a quick shower, then dressed and rushed out the door. He drove to the diner near him, picked up coffee and a sausage biscuit and wolfed it down as he drove to Dr. Manchester’s clinic.

It normally opened at eight. A truck and sedan sat in the parking lot while an SUV was parked in the employees’ spaces. He spotted a woman in a nurse’s uniform at the door with an older lady holding a baby, and a thirtyish woman with a teenage boy.

“I’m sorry, folks, the clinic is closed today,” the nurse said. “Dr. Manchester won’t be here.”

Brayden hung back and listened to see if she offered more of an explanation, but she didn’t.

“We’ll reschedule as soon as I hear from her and we adjust our schedule,” the nurse said.

The lady with the baby walked toward the sedan and the young woman and teenager climbed in the truck.

Brayden approached the nurse cautiously. If she conspired to help DiSanti, he’d find out.

The nurse tacked a sign saying Closed on the door, then retrieved keys from her purse.

“Excuse me, Miss Zimmerman?”

Her eyes widened as she looked up at him. “Yes?”

“The clinic is closed?”

“I’m afraid so. Did you have an appointment?”

He shook his head.

“Well, if you need one, call back and leave your number, and I’ll have our receptionist get back to you.”

“I’m not a patient,” Brayden said, then introduced himself. “Were you aware that Dr. Manchester was operating on a wanted fugitive yesterday?”

The nurse gasped. “What? My God, that’s not true.”

“I’m afraid it is.” He showed her a picture of DiSanti. “Do you recognize this man?”

The shock on her face looked real. “No, I’ve never seen him before. Why do you think he was here?”

“We know he was here,” Brayden said matter-of-factly. “You didn’t see him yesterday?”

She shook her head again. “No. And Dr. Manchester would never help a criminal, not if she knew who he was. She devotes her time to families, especially children in need.”

That was what everyone kept saying. “Maybe so, but she performed plastic surgery on him yesterday.”

A tense second passed. She shifted, then glanced through the glass door with a frown.