Page 33 of The Library on Plum Island
“Uncle Sam’s contacts had found Doctor Jackson within an hour and got Emily back.” Daniella felt her throat constrict. “He claimed that he was protecting her from me. But Emily didn’t know him except from the hospital, and Doctor Jackson was arrested for kidnapping.”
“That was until his congressman father got him released,” Sam told them. “We managed to get Doctor Jackson to recant his assessment that Daniella was unfit to work. Her medical license was fully reinstated, and we got a restraining order against him.”
“I got the partnership at the private practice. Emily and I temporarily moved to Carly’s Bel Air house while she was trying to sell it,” Daniella explained. “I thought it was over until three weeks after that, the threats, stalking, and him breaking into the house started.”
“Daniella and Emily were terrified. He even poisoned Hicks,” Sam told them. “But they managed to get him to the vet in time to save his life.”
“The only way we were ever going to get away from him was to leave everything we had behind, change our names, and disappear,” Daniella told them. “Thanks to Uncle Sam and his friends at the US Marshal’s office, we were able to do it.”
“Doctor Jackson had been so careful up until he got overconfident and left Daniella a voice message telling her there was nowhere she could run or hide that he wouldn’t find her,” Sam’s words sent shivers down her spine as he repeated that threat. “After we were able to get Daniella and Emily new names.”
Harley’s phone beeped. He read the message, and a smile spread across his lips. “That was a friend of mine from… I can’t tell you where. But I’ve just been sent some very interesting information about a highly illegal business run by Doctor Jackson and his father.”
“Seriously?” Daniella’s heart jolted. “What business?”
“The less you know, the better.” Harley handed his phone to Sam.
“I’ll make a few calls,” Sam told Harley. “Send that to me, then delete it from your phone.”
Sam looked at Daniella with confidence. “Your cousin may just have found a way to put Doctor Jackson and his father behind bars.” He smiled. “This is your ticket to finally being free from the shadow of your past and no longer living in fear.”
The prospect lifted her spirit, but nothing could happen until Harley handed over the information.
“Until the doctor is arrested, we need to be careful. Doctor Jackson has obviously had Daniella under surveillance for the past six months,” Harley warned them. “This means he knows who her close friends and acquaintances are. And until we’ve had time to go through the proper channels and take Stanley Wells in for questioning, all of us here need to be vigilant.”
“The last time he went after Daniella, the first people he targeted were anyone within her close circle,” Sam explained.
“When Gail wouldn’t believe Doctor Jackson and stuck by me, he started sending her…” Daniella didn’t get to finish her sentence as a voice at the door made her heart flip in her chest.
“Threatening messages?” Alex had all their attention turned to him, where he was leaning against the door frame, holding up his phone.
CHAPTER 8
Alexhopedhelookeda lot stronger than he felt. All the eyes in Sam’s living room turned to stare at him as he held up his phone propped against the doorframe. “Leave Doctor Thornton alone, or else you’ll both pay.” He read the message on his phone.
“Alex, I told you to wait for me to finish that call before taking off on your own,” Dawn said, rushing into the house behind him. “If you’d fallen and hit that thick head of yours, I’m the one Harriet’s going to skin alive.” She skidded to a halt when she saw the room’s occupants. “Oh, hi!”
She was greeted by a chorus from the living room.
“I was just showing everyone the message I got half an hour ago,” Alex told Dawn, staring at her accusingly.
“Where is Emily?” Daniella’s eyes widened in concern as she.
“She’s with Harriet at my house,” Alex told her. “Don’t worry, she’s in the safest place she could be.”
“Unless Harriet has a gun!” Jennifer said beneath her breath.
“No, but her invisible team of bodyguards do,” Alex told Jennifer, remembering that Harriet had accidentally shot Jennifer in the arm a few months ago.
“Harley, help Alex to the sofa,” Daniella ordered her cousin.
“Let him walk there on his own!” Dawn tilted her head slightly and smirked at Alex. “He managed torunin here on his own.”
“I can get to the sofa!” Alex said defensively. “I wasn’t leaning against the doorframe to prop myself up,” he lied. “I was standing here waiting for a moment that would be appropriate for me to interrupt the intense conversation.”
“You were eavesdropping,” Daniella accused him.
“How long were you standing there for?” Ethans’ eyes narrowed on Alex.
