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"But not on assignment." It was a statement.
"No. I'm here because – " Fuck it would take too long to tell him everything here and now and anyway, I wasn't ever going to tell him everything. Certainly nothing about Cole St. Martin and being sold. "I'm here because someone in PD thought there was someone here who could help me."
I waited then, to see if he'd make the connection.
"With your problem."
"Yes."
"Did – he or she?"
What was I supposed to tell him? "It's complicated," I said. At least that was the truth. "I haven't found him yet."
Confusion on the other end of the phone and then Mark said, "Isn't that where you went last time?"
"Yes. But the place is hidden." Please don't ask me anything else.
He was silent for a beat, then said, "Like for celebs and shit?"
I blew out a breath. "Exactly." It was hidden. Technically, I wasn't lying. If he'd just stop asking questions. "Mark, I need to know about my dad."
"I'm sorry," he said instantly and he really did sound it. "I shouldn't be asking you questions right now. I think we need to talk though. Okay, let me fill you in on your dad."
And he did. It wasn't end of the world bad news, but it was bad enough. "You need to get here if you can, though," he said, as if I weren't already on my way.
His next words stopped me cold. "For your mom."
The blood pounded in my ears and my vision blurred. "You just said there was a good chance he's going to make it through this!"
"What? No, I don't mean that. Shit, it's a good thing I'm going to be a doctor and not a chaplain."
"Especially since you don't believe in God," I said. "Please explain."
"I meant, because your mom needs support while your dad goes through procedures and heals."
I took the phone away from my ear and looked at it. It was the first time I had ever done that. "What are you talking about?"
Now he sounded surprised. "What do you think? You're your mother's rock."
I started to giggle. He had a nerve asking me what I was taking. "You're out of your mind."
But he didn't even laugh at that. "You really don't know, do you? You're the one your mother depends on. She knows you make smart decisions not snap decisions. She knows you're brave and resourceful. She knows you're interested in more than what your kid ate for lunch. She depends on you, Annie."
The world did a fast spin around me and let me settle again.
Wow.
"I'm on my way," I said.
