Page 49 of Mountain Freedom
Greg smiled. “I knew I liked you.”
“You’re leaving early.”Beverly’s voice, as smug as ever, echoed down the hallway as I locked up my office and headed toward the exit.
“I need to run by the post office before it closes. Feel free to leave early too,” I said, attempting to be friendly. “You and Danny both,” I added, trying to catch his eye.
He’d been awkward with me ever since I’d turned him down, which was less than ideal considering I needed to be able to rely on him in the clinic.
“We’re done with patients for the day,” I continued. “No need for you guys to hang around for another twenty minutes. Go ahead and lock up, head home before the five o’clock rush.” I laughed, thinking they would get the joke—there wasn’t a five o’clock rush here, unlike Memphis, where traffic could be completely gridlocked as everyone tried to leave work at the same time.
But neither of them even cracked a smile.
“Absolutely not,” Beverly said with that same smugness still in her voice. “Someof us get paid by the hour and can’t afford to jet off early whenever we feel like it, now can we? Besides, we have a responsibility to be available should anyone call for a last-minute appointment.”
“We don’t schedule appointments after four twenty,” I pointed out. “So they would have to wait until tomorrow anyway.”
“Still, they might want to know they have a slot scheduled, right? Goodness, I’m gladsomeof us still care about our patients.”
I clamped my lips and took a deep breath, refusing to argue. “You’re right,” I said, forcing myself to play nice. “You’re a blessing to the clinic.”
Danny spoke up. “Um, since you won’t be here to see patients, is it okay if I knock off early? I have some stuff to do.” He glanced at Beverly, who glared at him.
“Of course,” I said, giving him a bright smile.
He sighed in relief and grabbed his bag, hitting the door before Beverly had a chance to pick her jaw up off the floor.
“Call me if you need anything,” I said, feeling like I had won some sort of victory. “Have a good night, Beverly.”
She gave me one of her classic fake smiles and bustled out of the room, acting like she had important work to do and couldn’t waste time saying goodnight. I just shook my head and walked out.
After stoppingat the post office to drop off a package of local goodies for Mama—a peace offering of sorts—I drove through a fast food drive-through on my way home. It wasn’t the healthiest choice, but I felt emotionally exhausted after a day that had turned out to be as draining as every other day at the clinic. I wanted comfort food, a hot bath, and TV.
Going back to my house without Jackson felt a little unnerving, but I reassured myself all would be fine. Other than a quick text telling me he was working late, I hadn’t heard from him. But it was okay. Like Greg had said, Jackson was in the middle of a big case. I couldn’t depend on him to be around every night. And nothing had really been wrong the day before anyway. It really might have been as simple as someone poking around out of curiosity.
Still, I added a voice memo to my phone to order a taser to carry for self-defense. I hadn’t bothered in Memphis, as I wouldn’t have been allowed to carry it inside the hospital anyway, and walking to and from the parking garage to the hospital doors was the most unnerving part of my routine there. But here, I could carry it in my own clinic, and it would make me feel safer when I eventually started jogging again.
I pulled up in my driveway, eyeing the house. Nothing appeared to be out of place. No windows open this time, nomovement anywhere. Still, I sat there for a good five minutes, watching everything carefully before making my approach.
I stuck my keys through my fingers as a makeshift weapon and walked up to the door, my heart pounding in a way it never had before for something as simple as coming home. A quick test revealed that the front door was still locked, a fact that made me sigh in relief. Everything was okay.
Safely inside with the door locked behind me, I moved to the kitchen, humming to myself as I pulled out a plate and dumped my burger and fries onto it. The sight of the sad meal made me instantly regret my choice—tired or not, I should have taken the time to get something better. This didn’t even look appetizing.
I went to the fridge, thinking I could at least throw together a salad or something to add a little nutrition to the meal. Then I froze, as I heard a creaking noise from upstairs. My heart pounded as I gripped the refrigerator door.
You probably imagined it.Still, I didn’t move. I stood frozen, adrenaline coursing through my body, straining my ears to listen.
Nothing.See? It was your imagination. Everything’s fine.
Just as I began to relax, I heard another creak.
Then another.
Footsteps, slow and deliberate, came from my bedroom above.
I grabbed my phone and keys and ran for the door.
Chapter Twenty
Jackson
