Page 50 of Stalkers Anonymous

I do not look at Dr. Chen. I cannot look at Dr. Chen. If I look at her right now, I’m going to lose my poker face and this man is going to feel humiliated. Humiliated patients shut down, and shut-down patients lose body parts.

“Okay.” My voice doesn’t waver, which feels like a major win. “How many, Brandon?”

He makes me wait a few seconds before giving me an answer. “Six.”

Six.

“And how long ago was this?”

“Four days.”

Four fucking days.

Dr. Chen is typing rapidly on her laptop, not missing a single word. I focus on Brandon’s face, which has gone a shade of white worryingly similar to the skin tone of a corpse I worked on in med school.

“Did any of them come back out on their own?”

He shakes his head, a regretful tear sliding sideways into his hairline.

Dr. Chen steps forward, calm and professional as always. “Brandon, I’m Dr. Chen, the attending doctor tonight. We’re going to get some imaging and have urology come down here right away. You’ve got a real risk of a tissue infection that can spread very fast, so we’re going to start IV antibiotics immediately.”

He nods. “Okay. I understand.”

A nurse gets the IV in and starts antibiotics while Dr. Chen does the exam I’m grateful is not my job tonight.

As the transport team arrives to take him for imaging, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. Normally I wouldn’t check it unless it’s a slow night, but with Brandon out of my hands for a moment, I sneak a quick glance.

Cole: I just heard from Jack… Skydiving tomorrow after you wake up?

My heart does that odd little skip it always does when I think about seeing him. It’s embarrassing, really. I’m a grown woman. And a medical professional. I’ve held people’s intestines in my hands without flinching. But one text from a cute guy and suddenly I’m a fourteen-year-old girl at a boy-band concert.

And skydiving? Tomorrow? I’m suddenly giddy. I’d jump up and down if I were anywhere else.

Hailey: TOMORROW??? I’d love that. I’ll text you in the morning when I get off and we can figure out a more exact time.

His reply comes instantly.

Cole: Can’t wait. Have a great shift, gorgeous.

Gorgeous. I stare at the word for probably too long, like a moony-eyed teenager. Get it together, Hailey.

I shove my phone back in my pocket just as Marco appears in the doorway with a serious expression.

“Hailey, got a minute?”

I step out with him. “What’s up?”

“Just got a strange call asking about you specifically,” he says, lowering his voice. “Guy wouldn’t give his name, just asked what time your shift ends. I told him we don’t provide staff information to callers.”

A chill runs through me, making my spine straighten. “What else did he say?”

“Nothing. He hung up when I asked who was calling. Probably nothing—could be family trying to reach you—but I thought you should know given the Winters thing last week. They didn’t stay on the phone long enough for me to place his voice.”

Great. I’ve got options now. Potentially multiple creeps to worry about.

“Thanks for the heads-up,” I say, fighting to keep my expression neutral despite the sick feeling settling in my gut. I’ve only told Rachel about the note and my car being keyed. “Hopefully it’s just my dad trying to make a surprise visit or something.”

Marco doesn’t look totally convinced, but he nods and circles back to the charge desk. I take a moment to compose myself before returning my attention to the floor.