Page 19 of Hidden Desires

He spoke her name exactly the way she dreamt. The soft breathless sigh of his desire, something she knew she gave him. She couldn’t help smiling to herself.

The phone rang, pulling them from their cocoon of security. Autumn groaned, and Jackson gave her a smile and one last kiss before she left his embrace to answer it.

“Hello?” She grabbed the phone and sat on the coffee table in front of Jackson.

He reached for the remote and muted the cartoons on the screen before wrapping his arms around her. He pressed light kisses against her thigh, something that made her want to end the conversation before it even began.

“Autumn, you need to get to the clinic.” The voice of a frantic Summer rushed through the lines. “Someone broke in last night and the place is a mess.”

“Broke in?” Jackson’s head popped up. “Did they do anything? Are the animals okay?”

“The animals are fine. There’s damage though. The police need to talk to you.” Summer’scalmed somewhat. “Marc called me to let me know. I’m on my way there now.”

Autumn silently thanked her lucky stars that Summer’s boyfriend Marc worked on the local police force. “Okay. We’ll be right there.”

She clicked the phone off and replaced it on the charger. “ The clinic was broken into last night.”

“Do you think it was him?” Jackson stood and followed her down the hall.

“I hope not.”

They dressed in a hurry and were on their way to the clinic within twenty minutes. Upon arriving, Autumn first noticed the windows were shattered and police swarming everywhere. Summer’s car was parked in the back of the parking lot, and Jackson pulled in beside her. Someone even took the time to paint “Bitch” on the brick side of the building.

“Jesus.” Jackson turned the key, killing the engine. He turned his head and Autumn looked away. “You okay?”

“Let’s just see what the police found out.”

He held her hand as they confronted the police about the damage. Summer stood to the side talking with Marc, her boyfriend.

“What happened?” Jackson asked.

“Vandals,” the officer said. “We did a fingerprint check and nothing came up. I need to know if anything is missing for my report.”

Autumn walked inside with the officer, Jackson and Summer following close behind. From the outside, the damage looked worse than it did on the inside. Everywhere was red paint with the word “whore” written across one wall. The paint dripped, like fresh blood from an open wound. She took a deep breath and felt Jackson’s hand on her shoulder.

Her files were emptied all over the floor, crumbled and ripped. The documentation was something her patients depended on. She glanced around the room taking in everything. The faux leather seats were sliced open, stuffing spread about. The pictures that hung on the wall now lay on the ground, smashed to pieces. Magazines were ripped and spread about. Whoever broke in even took the time to clip the TV wires.

Jackson massaged her shoulders lightly. “This is more than just vandals.”

The officer looked around. “Maybe. Dr. Callahan, I need you sign off on any property missing.”

Autumn shook her head and moved toward the hall that led to the back. Five cats, a litter of puppies and their mother, a dog named Bear, and Dodo stood in their cages waiting for her attention. She checked all the animals, trying to sooth them.

“Hey, babies,” she greeted them, grabbing a handful of biscuits. “You guys must have been so scared.”

Dodo was anxious to see her, she knew, and she gave her a pat on the head along with a couple biscuits. After giving the animals that could have one a treat, she petted the ones who couldn’t and took note of their conditions.

“Autumn?” Jackson came to the back and stepped inside the cage room. Immediately, Dodo started to growl. “Uh, is everything okay back here?”

“Shh, Dodo. It’s okay.” She scratched behind the dog’s ear. “Yeah. The dogs are fine. A little scared, but they’re okay and accounted for.”

Jackson leaned against the door, afraid of the beast Autumn kept at her side. “Do you see anything noticeably missing that the officer can write in the report?”

Autumn grabbed another biscuit and gave it to the dog before stepping out of the cage and locking it behind her. “No. It wouldn’t matter though even if I did.”

She walked past him to tell the officer and hopefully get him out of her hair. If it wasn’t one thing, it was another.

---